WINE IS A MOCKER AND A DESTROYER
Many are trapped by the demon of alcohol. Families destroyed, careers ruined, lives destroyed, shame and dishonor engulfing the youths and the elderly consumed in regret from the bad effects of alcohol. Are you one of these people or do you know someone in this situation. If the person or you are not dead, there is still hope, only if you can come to the Cross of Calvary and talk with Jesus Christ.
There are two kinds of wine spoken of in the Bible. For one not to acknowledge this, the burden of proof is on him to explain a great contradiction. There are two kinds of cider. There is sweet cider which was not fermented. There is also a hard cider all over the world that is fermented. In Nigeria they have palm wine, which they get out of palm trees. It is unfermented. But most of the time they let it ferment, called old wine. Some call it sweet wine and fermented wine. Fermented is old and of course alcoholic.
Then I understood more fully the terms Jesus used as He said that they put new wine into new bottles. New wine is unfermented. It could be put into new pigskins. As it fermented, it expanded, which made the pigskin stretch. After then the pigskin must be used only for old wine, which is already fermented, for it would break if it stretched anymore (Luke 5:37-39). To me this was plain proof that there was a difference between old wine and new wine. God’s Word says for us not to look upon the wine when it moves itself aright (bubbling) in the cup. Pour new wine out and it does not move of itself aright; it does not form beads. Fermented wine does. Fermented wine is not used for taste, as it is hot and bitter. It tastes unpleasant and is used for effects. Old wine has no food value. Jesus made good wine. It was better” than the old wine.
When Jesus made bread, He did not make old, stale bread. You can’t prove that His bread was leavened bread. When He created fish, He did not create rotten fish. Do you accuse Jesus of breaking His own commandment, which says, “Look not upon fermented wine”? When Jesus put His approval upon marriage, He did not create something that is a known home-breaker, or alcohol, which is responsible for millions of divorces each year. You wouldn’t dare accuse the one who delivers a man from alcohol, of being in the business of manufacturing it. When He created fresh, sweet and good wine, it was a rebuke and a disapproval of the old wine. He replaced the old with the new.
Alcohol has no food value. I was ministering to a young man and asked him if he believed it was a sin to smoke? He said, “No, I don’t.” So I would not pray for him. God has not promised to forgive our sins unless we confess them (1stJohn 1:9). That is why millions of people are not delivered from sin. They justify themselves. Some say it is all right to drink fermented wine because Christians overseas drink it. When you go across the water you should be a missionary and teach the people to live holy. Some say that they drink fermented wine while they are overseas, so they will not offend some of the Christians who drink there. That is wrong. Jesus Christ in USA is the same anywhere in the world and His word changeth not.
If you drink to keep from offending certain people in one country, why not chew tobacco to keep from offending people in another? Why not have five wives as in Nigeria because some professing Pentecostals practice polygamy? Many people were offended at Jesus, because He told them how they should live. They would not walk any more with Him (John 6:61-66). Are you better than Jesus? Can you improve on His doctrine? Because of the Word a certain group were offended (Matt.13:20-21). They are the seed that fell on stony ground. I hope that you fell on good ground.
Some say it is all right to drink if you are moderate. Would it be all right to be moderate with murder, lying, stealing, tobacco or adultery? To be temperate is to refrain from sin completely, and not to go to the extreme with legitimate things, such as eating, sleeping and talking. Moderate drinkers influence our youth to drink more than drunkards do. It is the wrong example. If we cause our weak brother to stumble, we commit sin (Rom. 14:2). A certain amount of the young people that you influence to drink wine, become alcoholics and divorcees. Some say drinking is all right because it is legal.
God said that the bishop must not be given to wine. If He told a deacon not to commit adultery, did that mean that it was all right for the members to do? He wanted the bishop to be an example for all the children of God to follow. God does not have two classes of people, one holy and the other unholy. He is no respecter of persons. All Christians are in the royal priesthood. They are a holy nation. Those who are separated unto Him must not drink fermented wine (Numbers 6:3). We must be separated from all these things (II Cor. 6:14). Wine is a mocker, remember to study Proverbs 20:1-3.
Samson had power with God. He was not allowed to drink wine (Judges 13:4-14). God especially blessed the Rechabites for not drinking strong drinks, making them an example to us (Jer.35:6). John the Baptist came preaching holiness and a clean life. He drank no wine. God’s holy people do not drink strong drink (Lev. 10:9-10). “Do not drink wine or strong drink, or thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” Ministers who touch fermented wine break God’s commandment (Lev.10:9).
A drunkard shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Some say that wine is all right because it is used at the Lord’s supper. You cannot find that fermented wine was ever used in the Holy Communion by Jesus or His disciples. The fruit of the vine was a type of His blood. Alcohol is a type of destruction. Medical dictionaries do not classify alcohol as food. It has empty calories and overworks the liver. It can’t repair or assist in the development of the body.
Some say they don’t drink enough wine to hurt. The least amount of alcohol affects the brain and slows down judgment. The brain is the center of your whole nervous system. It prevents self-criticism and self-control, especially when driving. Alcohol is not a stimulant. Some say it improves their eyesight. It only interferes with the interpretation of the image, as it reaches the brain. Then it disturbs the muscles and the adjustment of your eye, sometimes making you see double. It actually dulls the brain and makes you take a chance. It affects your decision and slows down your reaction time. Would you want your employee to drink, or your pilot, or an engineer on a train, your doctor, or your minister? It lowers your alertness and your sense of caution. Some say wine is all right because Paul told Timothy to use wine. Timothy was told to use it for his stomach’s sake. Fermented wine causes stomach trouble. It makes men sick (Hosea 7:5). You are neither Timothy nor do you have a stomach problem, unless you are wishing that on yourself. Alcohol causes delirium tremens. It causes an early death. Some say it helps them to be more skillful. You can’t make a decision quickly if you have the least amount of alcohol. It hinders your appetite and digestion. It upsets stomach acid and irritates the stomach. Your body is supposed to be the temple of God, so why dump alcohol and smoke into it. If we know a bridge is out and fail to warn a man, we are guilty of his death when he plunges into the river. So we are warning.
It breaks homes and causes divorces. It gives you a false sense of security and distorts perspective. It gives an illusion of superiority and affects speedy reaction or muscular control. Because it encourages extreme behavior, it lessens caution and causes murder and rape. Alcoholism is a self inflicted disease. Seventy per cent of the alcoholics began drinking in their teens. Over half of them die under 50. The Lord says whatsoever ye sow that shall ye reap. Being a social drinker influences people more than a downright drunkard would. It is more dangerous to day, when we have high-speed cars, planes, trains, bombs and missiles and prescription drug available to all including those under the influence of alcohol.
Now to face alcohol as a disease you need divine help in what steps to take. The steps are to confess that the habit is a sin. God said, that He would forgive your sins if you would confess them {1st John: 8-10. Forgiveness is an important step. Some people try to self reform, by their own power.The old account must be settled. God will not only forgive your sins, but He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1st John 1:9).} You will become a new creature in Christ Jesus and all things will become new (2nd Cor. 5:17). After this step you are clean, swept and garnished. You must cooperate with the Lord. Don’t expect God to do everything and you do nothing. When God sees that you are doing your best He will help you. When you do your best He will do the rest. You will seek for Him and find Him when you shall seek for Him with all your heart (Jer. 29:13). Some say they like it because they forget their troubles. Fermented wine is a mocker.
Your body is the temple of God (1st Cor. 6:19). Your body is holy (1st Cor. 3:17). God does not want you to defile it. He wants you to present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto Him (Rom. 12:1). He wants to dwell in your body. Jesus taught that what comes out of the heart that defiles a man. It is when you become willing in your heart to take tobacco, alcohol, dope, or anything that is not good for your body, that you become defiled. It is a sin as soon as you become willing in your heart to drink, before it enters into your mouth. God commands you to cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh (2nd Cor.7:1). You do it and He will furnish you grace. His grace is sufficient. His commandment to you is to do all that you do, to the glory of God (1st Cor. 10:31). Can you drink strong drink or smoke to His glory?
The devil gets glory out of it until you quit. Can you win more souls by using it? One soul is worth more than anything in the world. Jesus gave His life for you. Jesus is our example (1st Peter 2:21). We should follow His steps. Would Jesus drink, smoke, or chew tobacco? The reason some folk do not want to quit a habit is because they like it. They love it more than they do Jesus, or they would quit. They want to serve the Lord and hold on to that habit. They are double minded. They are unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). They see double. If their eye is single their whole body shall be full of light (Luke 11:34). God is Light (1st John 1:5). If your body is full of God there is no room for the ungodly habits to stay in your body. If our heart does not condemn us we have faith (I John 3:21). So you put your faith into action. Run to Jesus Christ drop the alcohol and smoking and cry to Him for mercy.
You need a backbone, and a will power. If they could do that for a man, you can do something for the Lord. Could it be that you want to satisfy yourself, and just hang on to that cigarette or that alcohol? The alcohol company is wrong. They say that it satisfies. The very fact that you are always reaching for another one, proves that they do not satisfy. That is true with any habit. You should remember how Jesus suffered for you. If you do, I don’t see how you can refuse to sacrifice something for Him. You say you can’t give up alcohol. Suppose a man gets saved and says he can’t give up adultery. Would that excuse him on the Day of Judgment? Learn to say “No”. That is the reason that ninety percent of the people hold on to a habit. The wisest man that lived said, “If sinners entice thee consent thou not, Proverbs 1:10” You are to blame for most of your temptations because you find it difficult to say “No”.
Don’t try to taper off. Many people are like a man climbing out of a well. When he gets nearly to the top he falls back to the bottom. He has all that climbing to do over again. You would not try to taper off on murder, lying, stealing, adultery, or any other sins. Try fasting with your praying. That kills out the lust of the flesh. When the natural strength weakens in your body, the power of God is stronger. When you are weak then you are strong. The Holy Spirit dwells in your body. Let not sin reign in your mortal body. If you live after the flesh you shall die. Glorify God with your body, shun alcohol for the love of God.
Confess to God all your sins on your knees, He will hear and forgive you. Be filled with the Spirit. That is a commandment (Ephesians 5:18). When the unclean spirit leaves your body you are left empty, swept and garnished (Matt. 12:44), some people stay empty. They try to match wits with the devil. This you can’t do. You must be filled with the Spirit. Put up a sign, “No Vacancy”. Then when that unclean spirit returns he cannot come in. God gives you power over all power of the enemy. You shall receive that power after the Holy Ghost has come in (Acts 1:8). Without the power of the Holy Ghost in your life, to help you fight, you are like a soldier boy without a gun. If you are taking alcohol, you are gradually allowing a small unrecognized demon to influence you. Sooner or later as you continue to advance in your alcohol use; the small demon grows along with you to become your domineering demon. You have lost control and do not know it. You need to run to the cross of Jesus Christ for help before it is late. Watch out and be sober.
Many months after a man is saved he suddenly feels like he is not saved. If he says that he is not saved he isn’t. You have what you say (Mark 11:23). Many months after you are set free from alcohol you may suddenly be tempted. The craving may return suddenly. Don’t say, “I have it back.” Quote this scripture, Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law but under grace,”and pray. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Stand firm against that thing. It is not a natural craving. It is the power of Satan to resist you. If you will not agree with it; if you will stand firm it will leave in just a few minutes. You will be stronger than ever. You may go for years without that battle again. All the time you are growing. Soon you are so strong spiritually that you are so much larger than it, that it does not bother you. Seek the anointing of the Spirit. Stay full of the Spirit. If you are full of the anointing there is no room for alcohol in your body. The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing (Isaiah 10:27). The anointing that you have received of the Lord abides in you. Whether you feel it or not, it is there. Jesus is with you always even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Romans 8:35-39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, or depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Don’t spend your money for alcohol or tobacco. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2). Your strength is your very life. Your life is a part of God. It is divine. It is a sin to waste God’s money. If you are God’s child, then all you have belongs to the Lord. You are not your own. You are bought with a price. Keep your mind on the Lord. Don’t believe the advertisements that lie about alcohol. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Keep your mind busy at something worthwhile. Then you will not be tempted so much. Commit thy ways to the Lord and your thoughts shall be established. The way to quit thinking of an evil habit is to replace that thought with good thoughts. Memorize Philippians 4:8. Do what it says. Then you will think about that which is pure, honest, and true.
Look on alcohol as you would a rattle snake that comes and wraps himself around you. Don’t treat the devil nice. If you love the world the love of the Father is not in you (1st John 2:15). If you will come out from the world and be separate, He will receive you; if you will touch not the unclean thing (2nd Cor. 6). Don’t wait any longer. That habit is like a big snake that wraps around you. It is growing each day. Soon it will be large enough to squeeze your life out of you.
Many people train their children to use alcohol and tobacco. Many babies are born crying for, craving, and reaching for these things. It is in their blood. Change your companions. You pray that prayer, “Lead us not into temptations”. Many people will go where angels dare not tread. They have no protection. No wonder they yield to temptations. They match wits and strength with the devil. Quit running with your old associates. Birds of the same feather flock together. If you let them know where you stand you will not be bothered with them anymore. You won’t have to quit them; they will quit you. Tell them you are through hanging out in the old places. Tell them you have better company and a better place to go. The way to quit the old associates is to get better ones to replace them. Sad to say, there are many secret drinkers of alcohol, both among believers and unbelievers. They need to repent and give up this deadly habits that are powerful, destructive weapons of satan.
Memorize scriptures. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of your testimony. Say what God says. Testify what He does. The Bible is the Word of His testimony. Memorize Luke 10:19. What you say becomes a part of you. Speak the truth. Read and say, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” “He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world”, “Nothing is impossible unto me”. Heavenly Father, I take authority and dominion over every evil spirit that comes against me, in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
A portion of this tract is adapted from W.V. Grant’s sermon book entitled, Break That Habit.