
I want to talk to you about something that might be hitting close to home: the struggle with alcohol. It can lead us down some pretty rough paths, hurting ourselves and those around us. It's important to really think about the ripple effect our choices have, you know? We have to own our actions.
If you're finding yourself in situations where alcohol is taking control, please know there's support out there. Don't hesitate to reach out and get the help you need to stay safe and healthy.
From my perspective, alcoholism, like any addiction, is a form of idolatry. Anything we turn to instead of God to fill that deep need in our hearts becomes an idol, and ultimately, a spiritual chain.
I want to share something that can truly set you free from this struggle. It's the power of Christ's blood. I believe it's strong enough to cleanse you, detoxify you, and make you a new person. There's real freedom waiting for you.
thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways:
Wake up, you who drink too much, and weep. Scream over the sweet wine, all you wine drinkers, because it is snatched from your mouth;
because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished; their stupor will clothe them in rags.
Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse,thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
It’s a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister.
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.
It isn’t for kings, Lemuel, it isn’t for kings to drink wine, for rulers to crave strong drink.
The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good,idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry,jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
Doom to those who wake up early in the morning to run after beer, to those who stay up late, lit up by wine.They party with lyre and harp, tambourine, flute, and wine; but they ignore the LORD’s work; they can’t see what God is doing.
Don’t hang out with those who get drunk on wine or those who eat too much meat,because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished; their stupor will clothe them in rags.
Who is suffering? Who is uneasy? Who has arguments? Who has complaints? Who has unnecessary wounds? Who has glazed eyes?—those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine.Don’t look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, going down smoothly.In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will speak distorted words.You will be like one who lies down while out on the sea or one who lies on top of a mast.“Though hit, I feel no pain; though beaten up, I don’t know anything about it. When I wake up, I’ll look for wine again!”
You have wasted enough time doing what unbelievers desire—living in their unrestrained immorality and lust, their drunkenness and excessive feasting and wild parties, and their forbidden worship of idols.
In the same way, servants in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money.
It isn’t for kings, Lemuel, it isn’t for kings to drink wine, for rulers to crave strong drink. Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law, and violate the rights of the needy.
Indeed, there’s a cup in the LORD’s hand full of foaming wine, mixed with spice. He will pour it out, and all of the earth’s wicked people must drink it; they must drink every last drop!
“Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly,
Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession.Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.
But now I’m writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls themselves “brother” or “sister” who is sexually immoral, greedy, someone who worships false gods, an abusive person, a drunk, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with anyone like this.
Give strong drink to those who are perishing and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.Let them drink and forget their poverty and no longer remember their toil.
jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
Happy is the land whose king is dignified and whose princes feast at the right time for energy, not for drunkenness.
They staggered and stumbled around like they were drunk. None of their skill was of any help.
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother.
You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over!
And suppose they began to beat their fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunks?
“But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk.The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren’t expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful.
God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Each of you goes ahead and eats a private meal. One person goes hungry while another is drunk.
I tried cheering myself with wine and by embracing folly—with wisdom still guiding me—until I might see what is really worth doing in the few days that human beings have under heaven.
Dear friends, since you are immigrants and strangers in the world, I urge that you avoid worldly desires that wage war against your lives.
Oh, the majestic garland of Ephraim’s drunks and the fading flower of its splendid beauty on the head that flows with perfume of those hammered with wine.Look! The Lord has someone who is powerful and strong; like a hailstorm, a disastrous tempest, like a downpour of mighty, overflowing waters, he can level them to the ground with his hand.The majestic garland of Ephraim’s drunks will be trampled underfoot.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory.
Though his talk is smoother than butter, war is in his heart; though his words are more silky than oil, they are really drawn swords:
Intelligent children follow Instruction, but those who befriend gluttons shame their parents.
Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.
Don’t drink water anymore, but use a little wine because of your stomach problems and your frequent illnesses.
Folly is joy to those who lack sense, but those with understanding walk straight ahead.
Don’t you know that all the runners in the stadium run, but only one gets the prize? So run to win.Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything. The runners do this to get a crown of leaves that shrivel up and die, but we do it to receive a crown that never dies.So now this is how I run—not without a clear goal in sight. I fight like a boxer in the ring, not like someone who is shadowboxing.Rather, I’m landing punches on my own body and subduing it like a slave. I do this to be sure that I myself won’t be disqualified after preaching to others.
for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth.
A wise person is mightier than a strong one; a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.
Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work.
So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too.
If, my child, you stop listening to discipline, you will wander away from words of knowledge.
Better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.
Don’t let my heart turn aside to evil things so that I don’t do wicked things with evildoers, so I don’t taste their delicacies.
I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
because God satisfied the one who was parched with thirst, and he filled up the hungry with good things!
So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.
I will fulfill my promises to you, God. I will present thanksgiving offerings to youbecause you have saved my life from death, saved my feet from stumbling so that I can walk before God in the light of life.
Yet the Human One came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by her works.”
Yet the Human Onecame eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully consider what is in front of you.Place a knife at your throat to control your appetite.Don’t long for the ruler’s delicacies; the food misleads.
A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do.
“Come! I’ll get some wine! Let’s drink beer! Tomorrow will be like today, or even much better.”
But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren’t acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin.
But I wasn’t talking about the sexually immoral people in the outside world by any means—or the greedy, or the swindlers, or people who worship false gods—otherwise, you would have to leave the world entirely!
A man who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but one who spends time with prostitutes destroys riches.
We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves.Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up.
But you, God, bring the wicked down to the deepest pit. Let bloodthirsty and treacherous people not live out even half their days. But me? I trust in you!
If you find honey, eat just the right amount; otherwise, you’ll get full and vomit it up.
The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good,
Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor will themselves call out but receive no answer.
Don’t be conformed to your former desires, those that shaped you when you were ignorant. But, as obedient children,
Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up.
These also stagger from wine and stumble from beer: priest and prophet stagger from beer; they are confused by wine; they stray on account of beer; they err when receiving visions; they stumble when making judgments.
The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace.
Rather, I’m landing punches on my own body and subduing it like a slave. I do this to be sure that I myself won’t be disqualified after preaching to others.
Since he wore curses like a coat, let them seep inside him like water, seep into his bones like oil!
Listen, my child, and be wise! Keep your mind straight on the path.Don’t hang out with those who get drunk on wine or those who eat too much meat,because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished; their stupor will clothe them in rags.
Let all those who celebrate my misfortune be disgraced and put to shame! Let those who exalt themselves over me be dressed up in shame and dishonor!
I’ll say to myself, You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.