 |
Beloved, are you a sipping saint?
If you are, can you give a good reason why? By now I
can hear the endless echoes of the famous quote of Sinners &
Saints alike, “Jesus drank wine!” Can
anyone honestly not feel guilty making that statement,
considering the affects & consequences that alcohol beverages
will bring upon this Nation this year alone…
*Countless
numbers of DUI traffic violations;
*The deaths that will incur from DUI’s of innocent victims & the drinkers themselves. (The innocent usually suffer the
greatest lose by the hand of the fool)
*The rapes, violence, vandalism, divorce, fights and many other
sin-stricken hurts that will stem from alcoholic beverages. ETC; ETC.
Why partake of such things. In essence in you drink, your supporting it, keeping them in business!!!
This Bible study is to make us think, give us Biblical logical and spiritual counsel. Don’t be offended on one side or the other, just consider the whole counsel of the Word of God
ASK
YOURSELF
-Why do
people get defensive when you discuss this subject?(Are people afraid they might
have to give something up to follow Jesus?)
-Why do
Sinners & Saints both make the same statement? “Jesus
drank wine”(Take heed and beware because
common spiritual sense will tell you if Sinners and Saints agree
on something that more favors the Sinners lifestyle something is
wrong)
#1 Bible
facts about wine (taken from Dakes reference
Bible page 152)
Hebrew= Yayin, wine in the broadest sense, including all types of both fermented and unfermented.
1. Yayin when fermented make drunk (Gen 9:21-24; 19:32-35; 1 Sam 25:37; 2 Sam 13:28; Esther 1:10; Ps 104:15; Pr 23:30; Isa 5:11) compare Eph 5:18
2. Yayin refers to wine when newly made and before fermentation (Isa 16:10; Jer 48:33) compare Mt 9:17; Mk 2:22; Jh 2:3-10
3. Permitted in moderation under the law of Moses(Dt 14:23,26; 16:13; 18:4)
4. Nazarites forbidden it (Num 6)
5. Used in drink offerings to God (Ex 29:40; Lev 23:13; Num 15:5-10; 28:14)
6. Distinct from strong drink (Hebrew= Az, strong, vehement; and shathah, to imbibe; drink, Lev 10:9; Dt 14:26; 29:6; Judge 13:4,7,14; 1 Sam 1:15) compare Lk 1:15
7. Makes eyes red (Gen 49:12)
8. Is a mocker (Pr 20:1)
9. Not to be used when red (Pr 23:31)
10. Not for kings (Pr 31:4)
11. Often mixed with spices and other drinks (Pr 9:2; 23:30; Song 8:2) compare Mk 15:23
12. Offered by Melchizedek to Abraham (Gen 14:18)
References to wine in the New
Testament:
1. New or
newly made wine as grape juice (Mt 9:17; Mk 2:22; Lk 9:37-39).
The new wine of Acts 2:13 refers to sweet wine. The
Greek word is sometimes used in Greek literature of fermented
wine
2. Mixed
wine (Mk 15:23)
3. Contrasted
with strong drink (Lk 1:15)
4. Used as
medicine (Lk 10:34)
5. Jesus
made wine (Jn 2:3-10; 4:46)
6. Advice against
it for Christians (Rom 14:21)
7. Warning
against drunkenness by wine (Eph 5:18), excess of wine
(1 Pet 4:3 ), and one not to be given to wine
(1 Tim 3:3,8; Titus 1:7; 2:3)
8. Timothy
advised to use a little for his infirmity (1 Tim 5:23)
9. Used
figuratively (Rev 14:8,10; 16:19; 17:2; 18:3)
10. Ruthless destruction of it forbidden
(Rev 6:6) compare 18:3
It
must be remembered that the word wine
is used of both fermented and unfermented drink, in Scripture;
and it therefore cannot always be determined which is the
absolute meaning in every one of the above passages. Knowing
that the Bible speaks of the juice of grapes as wine
while it is still in the cluster (Isaiah 65:8), and calls it new
wine when it just pressed out of the grapes
makes it impossible to decide in every case whether the reference
is to that which is fermented or unfermented. One
thing is certain : a drunkard shall not inherit the
kingdom of God (Lk 21:34; Rom 13:13; 1Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21)(End of Dake notes)
Was the wine of the Last Supper was fermented or unfermented? This represents “The Blood of Jesus” which is pure and undefiled. He is the spotless lamb which never sinned. SELAH
#2 A little
wine for the stomach
Paul’s reference to : “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23 is in the context of using it as a therapeutic/medicine sense, not for drunkeness because he also states:
1 Timothy 3:2-3
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
Titus 1:7-8
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
…though he speaks of a Bishop, it’s general application is to a leader, a person who sets the example; and Christians, whether we are leaders in the Church or not we are an example to the world round about us. Beloved, walk circumspectly; For even someone who is not saved will tell you that Christians don’t drink , smoke, cuss, prostitute, etc, etc…
Another quick reference for us to consider, is how the Bible uses the phrase “Oil & Wine”
Luke 10:34 “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” Again we see it used it a medical sense.
#3 A stumbling
block or an occasion to fall
A Christian should not drink wine based on one fact alone. Because there is so much division on whether it is right or not. ½ of Christians say it’s wrong, ½ of Christians say it’s right You may not feel condemned by eating or drinking different things, but if your brother is grieved and feels that it is sin; don’t do it, for the kingdom of God is not meat or drink(wine)
Romans 14:13-23
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Concluding Scriptures
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:29-35
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 31:4-5
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Romans 14:21
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
1 Peter 4:3-4
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Galations 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Beloved walk worthy of your calling towards them that are without, as wise, giving them no occasion to blaspheme that Holy name by which you are called!!!
Conclusion of the Whole matter:
*Because of what alcohol does to a people, (fights, divorce, DUI manslaughters, etc) and the effects it has on even the innocent having to suffer…-A Christian shouldn’t drink.
Nevertheless, Wisdom is
justified of her children
