It is hard to find a faithful man and woman of God. A person that is sober minded, loves the Lord and walks in His ways. God calls every Christian to be sober, when it comes to having a clear mind and not having anything being an obstacle to Him showcasing His power in your life. And one thing that can severely deter us from being sober is alcohol. Giving over to this gets us in trouble and sadly drunk. Not only does drinking kill innocent lives, it is also appalling to God. Peter said, 3“be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” This is so important as drinking will only lead a person away from the Holy Spirit and into world. It is because, 1“wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise,” as Solomon said. Christians know this to be true but still people that also proclaim themselves to be followers of Jesus, are also drinking and getting drunk. They are then, continuing to live in their sins, instead of becoming free, through Christ Jesus. Because it is an addiction, they justify how hard it is to stop doing it, instead of allowing the Lord to heal their wicked hearts. What these people need is repentance, in order to change their lives, but instead they justify what they are doing for a time. They say that God still loves them the way they are and justify their current good standing. Solomon dealt with this in his own time, when he said, 1“most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” It is obvious that the things we think are good, are not the same as what God sees. That is why God continues to convict the hearts of the wicked to repent. He never gives up on us but our own stubbornness can easily get in the way and make us give up on Him.
I pray that everyone in the faith that has a drinking problem will eventually come to their senses and give it over to God in prayer. However, what I desire and God as well does not always happen and instead people deal with things in their own ways. When they finally need help, more often than not, find their way of dealing with their problem in AA and other self help Programs. And with smoking, patches, e-cigarettes and such. And unfortunately God is left out of the equation. What they do not realize is that their solution is not permanent. Because these solutions are man-made and not of God, the flesh will continue to crave the addiction and often times for a life time. It can be a big struggle to stay away from alcohol, drugs, pornography or anything else we find addictive, if God does not free us. It is only the Lord that can take away the evil cravings that come from addiction. Only He can wash our sins away and sanctify us, that we may not fall back into the same sin over again. What happens is, Christ’s blood is cleansing us and renewing our lives. We are then made new through Christ Jesus. This is what God can do in anyone’s life that trusts in Him alone. However, there is a warning from God, that if a person leads a lifestyle of drinking, in order to get drunk and then dies, they will not 2“inherit the kingdom of God”, as Paul said. Instead of going to heaven, these unrepentant sinners will be thrown into hell fire, after judgement is finished. If you have an addiction in your life, then come to God today in prayer. No longer find different avenues to find freedom. The Lord God is our refuge and will give you the ultimate power to break the chains of addiction.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for those that are addicted to alcohol. Will You come into their lives and deliver them this day? I know that these strong drinks are evil and will only bring us away from Your presence. You are unable to come into our lives when we are freely clouding our minds. I pray this night for sobriety. Bring clarity to people’s minds like never before. Help them see what they are missing out on when they giving themselves over to drinking. Help them know that You cannot dwell inside of them when they are dwelling in darkness. Lord, I’ve seen so many people casually drink, get drunk and go downtown to bars like it is nothing. And it really saddens me when I see somebody I know that says they are a Christian do such things. My heart is troubled by this and I know that this is because their faith is not firm but on the rocks. Encourage these people, through Your Word and through prayer. Convict them of their wrongs and give them wise counsel to stop. I know that only You can break the chains of addiction. I trust in You, Jesus. Help me share your gospel truths with them, that they may have a desire to change their lives. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Proverbs 20:1-15 (KJV)
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
21 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
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.
31 Peter 4:1-8 (KJV)
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
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:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
