Breaking up with the enemy over alcohol

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Finish last week

Watering the dead patches of your life.

Recap of what we have covered. How the enemy uses temptation to entice us into sin.

The enemy will us this to build strongholds in your life

So far we have covered pride which I believe is the greatest sin.

Money - It’s a tool that God gives us to build his kingdom

Relationships - The enemy will use those that are close to you to hurt you.

Food - We only get one body here on earth. It’s important that we take care of it.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Last week we talked about over indulgence but I want to touch on the opposite. Those that have an eating disorder like belimia or anorexia. Or even if you have a poor self image of yourself.

The enemy is so good at having Christians hate themselves. They hate the way they look always wanting to change something about themselves.

But Why do we want to change? What is it that you don’t like about yourself?

I think that it’s the enemy’s perversion of what God has designed as a spiritual process.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

I am here to say that you are beautiful.

Why do you drink?

There’s one thing I ask for today. Please be honest with yourself and let God speak to you.

It’s important that as we begin to talk about this subject that we take our stones of condemnation and put them down.

There is so much condemnation concerning this topic.

If you don’t drink then you really love Jesus and you are more of a christian

Those that do drink do the same thing. They look at those that don’t drink and look at them as religious.

It is not my hope to persuade you one way or the other concerning this topic but to give you what the bible says about it and the Holy Spirit to convict you.

If you are in the room this morning and drink, my question to you is why? What purpose does alcohol have in your life? What is your relationship with Alcohol? Is alcohol your master? Do you drink to escape or numb yourself? When something tough happens is it the thing you run to?

Let’s take a look at some scripture concerning drinking and the things that come with it.

In 1 Tim 3:3 and 3:8 the bible tells us that overseers and deacons must be sober minded, self controlled, not a drunkard or given to much wine.

When you drink are you self controlled and sober minded? Tell the story of when I was in Mexico.

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

Reading commentaries on this passage because it confused me. I guess I associated being pure with not drinking wine. So when the bible said to keep yourself pure and then Paul instructs Timothy to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach it confused me.

Most commentaries agree that when it says a little wine that it was wine mixed with water

Timothy was a devout christian. Most likely I was like Timothy when I came out of discipleship school. And Paul is saying to Timothy, it’s ok, if your stomach is hurting mix some wine with water and take it if your stomach hurts.

Let’s look at a passage is Isaiah about getting drunk.

Isaiah 5:11–13 (ESV)

11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning,

that they may run after strong drink,

who tarry late into the evening

as wine inflames them! (As they get drunk)

12 They have lyre and harp,

tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,

but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord,

or see the work of his hands.

13 Therefore my people go into exile

for lack of knowledge;

their honored men go hungry,

and their multitude is parched with thirst. (Although they drink they are still thirsty)

This is the problem with alcohol. Is that it feeds the flesh. If you don’t have self control, don’t crack this door.

Have the worship team come up

It’s not just about you

Turn to 1 Cor 8. Paul is talking about food offered to idols and

1 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–8 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.