"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;"
ADULTERY (voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse),
FORNICATION (sexual intercourse between people not married to each other),
UNCLEANNESS (morally impure thoughts),
LASCIVIOUSNESS (driven by thoughts of sex, lust),
IDOLATRY (an exceedingly strong passion/desire of something or someone other than God),
WITCHCRAFT (sorcery, magic, the black arts, witchcraft, wizardry, the occult, occultism, enchantment, spell, incantation, necromancy, divination)
HATRED (intense dislike or ill will),
VARIANCE (the fact or quality of being different, divergent, or inconsistent, disagreeing or quarreling)
EMULATIONS (ambition or endeavor to equal or excel others (as in achievement),
WRATH (extreme anger, rage, fury, outrage),
STRIFE (conflict, friction, discord, disagreement, dissension, quarreling)
SEDITIONS (conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against authority),
HERESIES (any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with the Bible),
ENVYINGS (covetousness with regard to another's advantages, possessions, or attainments),
MURDERS (is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse),
DRUNKENNESS (all drinking of alcohol is drunkenness),
REVELLINGS (letting loose or going wild, noisy partying or carousing),
AND SUCH: 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
All drinking of alcohol is drunkenness (mind-altering), and needs to be exposed for what it is (sin)!
Who determines drunkenness and drunkards, man or God? God does!
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them"
Ephesians 5:11 (KJV) Matthew Henry Commentary
"Rather than have fellowship with them (sinners), we must reprove (rebuke, correct, reprimand, expose), them,
implying that if we do not reprove the sins of others we have fellowship with them.
We must prudently and in our places witness against the sins of others,
and endeavour to convince them of their sinfulness" - (Matthew Henry, Minister, Author, 1662-1714)
“I tell you that the curse of God Almighty is on the saloon”
ALCOHOL USE:
INTOXICATE: (Definition)
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to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, especially to excite or stupefy with liquor.
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(of alcoholic drink or a drug) cause (someone) to lose control of their faculties or behavior.
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mentally or emotionally exhilarated.
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to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.
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to excite or stupefy with liquor
STUPEFY: (Definition)
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to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor.
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make (someone) unable to think or feel properly.
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synonyms: benumb, daze, deaden, dull, numb
MIND ALTERING: (Definition)
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causing marked changes in patterns of mood and behavior.
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A mind-altering substance is one that produces mood changes.
DRUNKARD: (Definition)
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a person who is habitually or frequently drunk.
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one given to ebriety or an excessive used of strong liquor; a person who habitually or frequently is drunk.
"A drunkard and a glutton shall come to poverty". Proverbs 23.
DRUNKENNESS: (Definition)
1. Intoxication; inebriation; a state in which a person is overwhelmed or overpowered with spirituous liquors, so that his reason is disordered, and he reels or staggers in walking. Drunkenness renders some persons stupid, others gay, others sullen, others furious.
Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness.
2. Habitually ebriety or intoxication.
3. Disorder of the faculties resembling intoxication by liquors; inflammation; frenzy; rage.
Its Symptoms and Effects:
These are most vividly portrayed: (1) some of its physical symptoms (Job 12:25; Ps 107:27; Pr 23:29; Isa 19:14; 28:8; 29:9; Jer 25:16); (2) its mental effects: exhilaration (Ge 43:34), jollity and mirth (1 Esdras 3:20), forgetfulness (1 Esdras 3:20), loss of understanding and balance of judgment (Isa 28:7; Ho 4:11); (3) its effects on man's happiness and prosperity: its immediate effect is to make one oblivious of his misery; but ultimately it "biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder," and leads to woe and sorrow (Pr 23:29-32) and to poverty (Pr 23:21; compare Pr 21:17; Ecclesiasticus 19:1); hence, wine is called a "mocker" deceiving the unwise (Pr 20:1); (4) its moral and spiritual effects: it leads to a maladministration of justice (Pr 31:5; Isa 5:23), provokes anger and a contentious, brawling spirit (Pr 20:1; 23:29; 1 Esdras 3:22; Ecclesiasticus 31:26,29 f), and conduces to a profligate life (Eph 5:18; "riot," literally, profligacy). It is allied with gambling and licentiousness (Joe 3:3), and indecency (Ge 9:21 f). Above all, it deadens the spiritual sensibilities, produces a callous indifference to religious influences and destroys all serious thought (Isa 5:12).
THE FOLLOWING SLIDE SHOW CONTAINS EXPLICIT IMAGES
THAT MAYBE DISTURBING AND OFFENSIVE TO SOME VIEWERS!
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!"
Habakkuk 2:15 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
WOE: (Definition)
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grief, anguish, affliction
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grievous distress, affliction, or trouble
Synonyms: suffering, adversity, anguish, burden, calamity, catastrophe, disaster, gloom, hardship, misery, misfortune, pain, tragedy,
trouble, affliction
WOE UNTO HIM - Habakkuk 2:15
The promoters of drunkenness stand here impeached and condemned.
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1. Who the sinner is that is here articled against; it is he that makes his neighbour drunk, v. 15. To give a neighbour drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, though it be but a cup of cold water to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, to give drink to weary traveller, nay, and to give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are heavy of heart, is a piece of charity which is required of us, and shall be recompensed to us. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. But to give a neighbour drink who has enough already, and more than enough, with design to intoxicate him, that he may expose himself, may talk foolishly, and make himself ridiculous, may disclose his own secret concerns, or be drawn in to agree to a bad bargain for himself-this is abominable wickedness; and those who are guilty of it, who make a practice of it, and take a pride and pleasure in it, are rebels against God in heaven, and his sacred laws, factors for the devil in hell, and his cursed interests, and enemies to men on earth, and their honour and welfare; they are like the son of Nebat, who sinned and made Israel to sin. To entice others to drunkenness, to put the bottle to them, that they may be allured to it by its charms, by looking on the wine when it is red and gives its colour in the cup,or to force them to it, obliging them by the rules of the club (and club-laws indeed they are) to drink so many glasses, and so filled, is to do what we can, and perhaps more than we know of, towards the murder both of soul and body; and those that do so have a great deal to answer for.
"Abstain from all appearance of evil"
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
ALCOHOL IS A MIND ALTERING-DRUG - David J. Stewart (Jesus-is-Saviour)
There is absolutely NO way for a believer to justify drinking alcoholic beverages. The Scriptures found in Proverbs 23:29-35 clearly warn everyone (Christian or non-Christian) to abstain from the DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE OF ALCOHOL. "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Did you read that?...LOOK NOT! God is telling us NOT to drink intoxicating wine, not even to "look" at it (i.e., consider drinking it)! For the wise Christian, drinking alcohol is NOT even an option.
The Bible is such a practical book. I recently ran across an atheist's website. The man tried to discredit God and the Bible by pointing out all the ugly portions of the Bible. But the real world is ugly and God is very honest with us in the Bible. It doesn't surprise me that spoiled rotten Americans would have a problem with the Bible. The Bible puts the cookies on the bottom shelf...the truth is there if you want it. Most people don't want to hear the truth (but ironically say they do).
If you'll take another look at the above passage of Scriptures, you'll find the truth about alcohol...it "biteth like a serpent" and "stingeth like an adder." "Strange women" is simply a reference to women who are not his wife. It's just a fact, alcohol and immorality go together! The reference to a man lying down in the "midst of the sea" is simply his hallucinations from the effects of the alcohol. Likewise, the hallucination of lying down at the top of the ship's mast. Alcohol is a DRUG! This is a well-established FACT. As such, alcohol should be treated as a drug but is not.
Alcohol abuse has killed millions, whereas Marijuana has not. So why is alcohol legal when Marijuana is not? Multitudes of people have spent years in prison for smoking and/or selling Marijuana. Unbelievably, there are people who have been sentenced to life in prison for mere drug possession, while drunk drivers who committed murder walked away Scot-free. Alcohol is far more dangerous and intoxicating than Marijuana. This is a great HYPOCRISY in America. The Bible clearly teaches that the effects of alcohol have sinful tendencies.
DID JESUS TURN WATER INTO "ALCOHOLIC" WINE AT A PARTY?
NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! NEVER!
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived:
neither fornicators (an unmarried person who engages in sexual intercourse),
nor idolaters, (a worshipper of idols, a person that admires intensely and often blindly one that is not usually a subject of worship),
nor adulterers (voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse),
nor effeminate (of a man having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly),
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (self-harm and/or someone who treats another person in a cruel, violent, harmful or unfair way),
Nor thieves, (a person who steals another person's possessions or property),
nor covetous (marked by exceeding desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions),
nor drunkards, (all drinking of alcohol is drunkenness),
nor revilers (criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner),
nor extortioners (the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats),
shall inherit the kingdom of God"
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
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He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially.
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When he will make them to issue well. He will make a way to escape,either the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. There is no valley so dark but he can find a way through it, no affliction so grievous but he can prevent, or remove, or enable us to support it, and in the end overrule it to our advantage.
HOW CAN I OVERCOME TEMPTATION?
The Scriptures tell us that we all face temptations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” Perhaps this provides a little encouragement as we often feel that the world is bearing in on us alone, and that others are immune to temptations. We are told that Christ was also tempted: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
Where, then, do these temptations come from? First of all, they do not come from God, although He does allow them. James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” In the first chapter of Job, we see that God allowed Satan to tempt Job, but with restrictions. Satan is roaming on the earth like a lion, seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Verse 9 tells us to resist him, knowing that other Christians are also experiencing his attacks. By these passages we can know that temptations come from Satan. We see in James 1:14 that temptation originates in us as well. We are tempted when we are “drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (verse 14). We allow ourselves to think certain thoughts, allow ourselves to go places we should not go, and make decisions based on our lusts that lead us into the temptation.
How then do we resist the temptations? First of all, we must return to the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. Each of Satan’s temptations was met with the same answer: “It is written,” followed by Scripture. If the Son of God used the Word of God to effectively end the temptations—which we know works because after three failed efforts, “the Devil left him” (v. 11)—how much more do we need to use it to resist our own temptations? All our efforts to resist will be weak and ineffective unless they are powered by the Holy Spirit through the constant reading, studying, and meditating on the Word. In this way, we will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). There is no other weapon against temptation except the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” If our minds are filled with the latest TV shows, music, and all the rest the culture has to offer, we will be bombarded with messages and images that inevitably lead to sinful lusts. But if our minds are filled with the majesty and holiness of God, the love and compassion of Christ, and the brilliance of both reflected in His perfect Word, we will find that our interest in the lusts of the world diminish and disappear. But without the Word’s influence on our minds, we are open to anything Satan wants to throw at us.
Here, then, is the only means to guard our hearts and minds in order to keep the sources of temptation away from us. Remember the words of Christ to His disciples in the garden on the night of His betrayal: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41). Most Christians would not openly want to jump into sin, yet we cannot resist falling into it because our flesh is not strong enough to resist. We place ourselves in situations or fill our minds with lustful passions, and that leads us into sin.
We need to renew our thinking as we are told in Romans 12:1-2. We must no longer think as the world thinks or walk in the same way that the world walks. Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” We need to avoid the path of the world that leads us into temptation because our flesh is weak. We are easily carried away by our own lusts.
Matthew 5:29 has some excellent advice. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” That sounds severe! Sin is severe! Jesus is not saying that we literally need to remove body parts. Cutting out the eye is a drastic measure, and Jesus is teaching us that if necessary, a drastic measure should be taken to avoid sin.
TEMPTATION
Temptation is that which moves us to sin. God cannot be tempted (James 1:13). But we can be tempted by our lusts (James 1:13-15), money (1 Tim. 6:9), lack of self-examination (Gal. 6:1), and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16), to name a few. We are commanded to pray to be delivered from temptation (Matt. 6:13), for the Lord is capable of delivering us from it (2 Pet. 2:9).
TEMPTA'TION - (KJV Dictionary Definition)
The act of tempting; enticement to evil by arguments, by flattery, or by the offer of some real or apparent good.
When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4.
1. Solicitation of the passions; enticements to evil proceeding from the prospect of pleasure or advantage.
2. The state of being tempted or enticed to evil. When by human weakness you are led into temptation, resort to prayer for relief.
3. Trial.
Lead us not into temptation.
4. That which is presented to the mind as an inducement to evil.
Dare to be great without a guilty crown,
View it, and lay the bright temptation down.
5. In colloquial language, an allurement to any thing indifferent, or even good.
TEMPT; TEMPTATION-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online
temt, tem-ta'-shun (nacah, "to prove" "try," "tempt" maccah, "a trial," "temptation"; peirazo, "to try" "prove" peirasmos "a trial," "proof"): The words have a sinister connotation in present-day usage which has not always attached to them. Originally the words were of neutral content, with the sense of "putting to the proof," the testing of character or quality. Thus, God is "tempted" by Israel's distrust of Him, as if the people were actually challenging Him to show His perfections (Ex 17:2; Ps 78:18; Ac 15:10; Heb 3:9, and often); Abraham is "tempted," being called upon to offer up Isaac (Ge 22:1); and Jesus is "tempted" to a spectacular Messiahship (Mt 4:1-25 and parallel passages (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST)). No evil is implied in the subject of these temptations. Temptation therefore in the Scripture sense has possibilities of holiness as well as of sin. For as all experience witnesses, it is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. To be tempted--one may rejoice in that (Jas 1:2), since in temptation, by conquering it, one may achieve a higher and nobler manhood.
"Why comes temptation but for man to meet
And master and make crouch beneath his foot,
And so be pedestaled in triumph?"
Holiness in its best estate is possible only under conditions which make it necessary to meet, resist and triumph over temptation. Thus, Jesus Himself became our Great High Priest in that, being tempted in all points like as we are, He never once yielded, but fought and triumphed (Heb 4:15).
One must not deceive one's self, however, in thinking that, because by the grace of God one may have profit of virtue through temptation as an instrument, all temptation is equally innocent and virtuous. It is noticeable in the case of Jesus that His temptation was under the direction of the Spirit (Mr 1:12); He Himself did not seek it, nor did He fear it. Temptations encountered in this way, the way of duty, the way of the Spirit, alone constitute the true challenge of saintship (Jas 1:12); but it is the mark of an ignoble nature to be perpetually the center of vicious fancies and tempers which are not of God but of the devil (Jas 1:13-15). One may not escape entirely such buffetings of faith, but by any sound nature they are easily disposed of. Not so easily disposed of are the trials (temptations) to faith through adversity, affliction, trouble (Lu 22:28; Ac 20:19; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 1:6); and yet there is no lack of evidence to the consoling fact that God does not suffer His own to be tempted above what they are able to bear (1Co 10:13) and that for every crisis His grace will be sufficient (2Co 12:8-9).
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:
the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”
Jesus Christ, Matthew 26:41 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Do not err, my beloved brethren"
James 1:12-16 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
“Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
James 4:7 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak”
Jesus Christ, Mark 14:38 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
Victory Over Sin
The Bible teaches that with temptation, God always makes a way of escape... “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). No one has an excuse to sin. We all experience the same types of temptations throughout life. The Bible teaches that we always have a choice, to do right or wrong.
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine,
and men of strength to mingle strong drink"
Isaiah 5:22 (KJV)- Matthew Henry Commentary
WOE UNTO THEM - Isaiah 5:22
Who glory in it as a great accomplishment that they are able to bear a great deal of strong liquor without being overcome by it (v. 22), who are mighty to drink wine, and use their strength and vigour, not in the service of their country, but in the service of their lusts. Let drunkards know from this scripture that,
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(1.) They ungratefully abuse their bodily strength, which God has given them for good purposes, and by degrees cannot but weaken it.
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(2.) It will not excuse them from the guilt of drunkenness that they can drink hard and yet keep their feet.
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(3.) Those who boast of their drinking down others glory in their shame.
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(4.) How light soever men make of their drunkenness, it is a sin which will certainly lay them open to the wrath and curse of God.
“Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) - Matthew Henry Commentary
BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT - 1 Peter 5:8
Here the apostle does three things:-
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I. He shows them their danger from an enemy more cruel and restless than even the worst of men, whom he describes,
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1. By his characters and names.
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(1.) He is an adversary: "That adversary of yours; not a common adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls.'
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(2.) The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren; this title is derived from a word which signifies to strike through, or to stab. He would strike malignity into our natures and poison into our souls. If he could have struck these people with passion and murmuring in their sufferings, perhaps he might have drawn them to apostasy and ruin.
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(3.) He is a roaring lion, hungry, fierce, strong, and cruel, the fierce and greedy pursuer of souls.
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2. By his business: He walks about, seeking whom he may devour; his whole design is to devour and destroy souls. To this end he is unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavours; for he always, night and day, goes about studying and contriving whom he may ensnare to their eternal ruin.
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II. Hence he infers that it is their duty,
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1. To be sober, and to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance, modesty, and mortification.
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2. To be vigilant; not secure or careless, but rather suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, and, under that apprehension, to be watchful and diligent to prevent his designs and save our souls.
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3. To resist him stedfast in the faith. It was the faith of these people that Satan aimed at; if he could overturn their faith, and draw them into apostasy, then he knew he should gain his point, and ruin their souls; therefore, to destroy their faith, he raises bitter persecutions, and sets the grand potentates of the world against them. This strong trial and temptation they must resist, by being well-grounded, resolute, and stedfast in the faith: to encourage them to this,
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III. He tells them that their care was not singular, for they knew that the like afflictions befel their brethren in all parts of the world, and that all the people of God were their fellow-soldiers in this warfare. Learn,
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1. All the great persecutions that ever were in the world were raised, spirited up, and conducted, by the devil; he is the grand persecutor, as well as the deceiver and accuser, of the brethren; men are his willing spiteful instruments, but he is the chief adversary that wars against Christ and his people, Gen. 3:15; Rev. 12:12.
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2. The design of Satan in raising persecutions against the faithful servants of God is to bring them to apostasy, by reason of their sufferings, and so to destroy their souls.
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3. Sobriety and watchfulness are necessary virtues at all times, but especially in times of suffering and persecution. "You must moderate your affection to worldly things, or else Satan will soon overcome you.'
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4. "If you would overcome Satan, as a tempter, an accuser, or a persecutor, you must resist him stedfast in the faith; if your faith give way, you are gone; therefore, above all, take the shield of faith,' Eph. 6:16.
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5. The consideration of what others suffer is proper to encourage us to bear our own share in any affliction: The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren.
ALL DRINKING IS DRUNKENNESS!
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God”
1 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV) - Matthew Henry Commentary
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling?
who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup,
when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
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.
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 23:29-35 (KJV) - Matthew Henry Commentary
Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder - By Johnna Medina, Ph.D.
The newest revision of the diagnostic manual for mental disorders (the DSM-5) has updated the criteria commonly used to diagnose either an alcohol disorder (commonly referred to as alcoholism) or a substance use disorder.
According to the DSM-5, a “substance use disorder describes a problematic pattern of using alcohol or another substance that results in impairment in daily life or noticeable distress.” As with most addiction problems, despite any consequences a person who has a problem with either alcoholism or drugs suffers, they will generally continue to use their drug of choice. They may make half-hearted attempts to stop or cut back their use, usually to no avail.
The DSM-5 states that in order for a person to be diagnosed with a disorder due to a substance, they must display 2 of the following 11 symptoms within 12-months:
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Consuming more alcohol or other substance than originally planned
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Worrying about stopping or consistently failed efforts to control one’s use
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Spending a large amount of time using drugs/alcohol, or doing whatever is needed to obtain them
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Use of the substance results in failure to “fulfill major role obligations” such as at home, work, or school.
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“Craving” the substance (alcohol or drug)
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Continuing the use of a substance despite health problems caused or worsened by it. This can be in the domain of mental health (psychological problems may include depressed mood, sleepdisturbance, anxiety, or “blackouts”) or physical health.
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Continuing the use of a substance despite its having negative effects on relationships with others (for example, using even though it leads to fights or despite people’s objecting to it).
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Repeated use of the substance in a dangerous situation (for example, when having to operate heavy machinery or when driving a car)
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Giving up or reducing activities in a person’s life because of the drug/alcohol use
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Building up a tolerance to the alcohol or drug. Tolerance is defined by the DSM-5 as “either needing to use noticeably larger amounts over time to get the desired effect or noticing less of an effect over time after repeated use of the same amount.”
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Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping use. Withdrawal symptoms typically include, according to the DSM-5: “anxiety, irritability, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, hand tremor or seizure in the case of alcohol.”
Treatments for Substance Use Disorder
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Medical treatments for alcohol and for other substances
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Psychosocial treatments for alcohol and for other substances
Severity and Specifiers for Substance Use Disorder
Disorders involving use and abuse of alcohol and drugs range in severity, and so a person can be diagnosed with a “mild” form of one of these concerns, “moderate” or “severe.” Mild alcohol/drug use is characterized by a person meeting 2-3 or the previous symptoms; moderate use is meeting 4-5 symptoms, and severe use is by 6 symptoms or more.
Severity can change across time with the person either reducing or increasing the symptoms for which they meet. In the case that an individual no longer meets for a substance use disorder (e.g., if a person had a past substance use disorder but became “clean & sober”), “in early remission,” “in sustained remission,” “on maintenance therapy,” or “in a controlled environment” may be added to the diagnosis (e.g., Alcohol use disorder in sustained remission).
Substances for which a person can establish a substance use disorder:
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Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic
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Stimulant: Specify amphetamine or cocaine
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Other (Unknown)
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,
that they may follow strong drink;
that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”
Isaiah 5:11 (KJV) - Matthew Henry Commentary
WOE UNTO THEM - Isaiah 5:11
Here is a woe to those that dote upon the pleasures and delights of sense, v. 11, 12. Sensuality ruins men as certainly as worldliness and oppression. As Christ pronounces a woe against those that are rich, so also against those that laugh now and are full (Lu. 6:24, 25), and fare sumptuously, Lu. 16:19. Observe,
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1. Who the sinners are against whom this woe is denounced.
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(1.) They are such as are given to drink; they make their drinking their business, have their hearts upon it, and overcharge themselves with it. They rise early to follow strong drink, as husbandmen and tradesmen do to follow their employments; as if they were afraid of losing time from that which is the greatest misspending of time. Whereas commonly those that are drunken are drunken in the night, when they have despatched the business of the day, these neglect business, abandon it, and give up themselves to the service of the flesh; for they sit at their cups all day, and continue till night, till wine inflame them-inflame their lusts (chambering and wantonness follow upon rioting and drunkenness)-inflame their passions; for who but such have contentions and wounds without cause? Prov. 23:29-35. They make a perfect trade of drinking; nor do they seek the shelter of the night for this work of darkness, as men ashamed of it, but count it a pleasure to riot in the day-time. See 2 Pt. 2:13.
ALL DRINKING IS DRUNKENNESS!
"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,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God"
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV) - Matthew Henry Commentary
BE NOT DECEIVED - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Here he takes occasion to warn them against many heinous evils, to which they had been formerly addicted.
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I. He puts it to them as a plain truth, of which they could not be ignorant, that such sinners should not inherit the kingdom of God. The meanest among them must know thus much, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God(v. 9), shall not be owned as true members of his church on earth, nor admitted as glorious members of the church in heaven. All unrighteousness is sin; and all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin committed deliberately, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven. He specifies several sorts of sins: against the first and second commandments, as idolaters; against the seventh, as adulterers, fornicators, effeminate, and Sodomites; against the eighth, as thievesand extortioners, that by force or fraud wrong their neighbours; against the ninth, as revilers; and against the tenth, as covetous and drunkards, as those who are in a fair way to break all the rest. Those who knew any thing of religion must know that heaven could never be intended for these. The scum of the earth are no ways fit to fill the heavenly mansions. Those who do the devil's work can never receive God's wages, at least no other than death, the just wages of sin,Rom. 6:23.
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II. Yet he warns them against deceiving themselves: Be not deceived. Those who cannot but know the fore-mentioned truth are but too apt not to attend to it. Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that God is such a one as themselves, and that they may live in sin and yet die in Christ, may lead the life of the devil's children and yet go to heaven with the children of God. But this is all a gross cheat. Note, It is very much the concern of mankind that they do not cheat themselves in the matters of their souls. We cannot hope to sow to the flesh and yet reap everlasting life.
DENIAL:
When it helps, when it hurts
Celeste Yvonne - The Ultimate Mom Challenge
I went to a play date the other day at someone's house. Almost the moment I stepped through the front door, the mom giggled "Mimosa time!" and my body froze up.
I wasn't prepared for this.
Most times, when I'm heading to a social gathering, I have time to prepare. I mentally prepare, I physically prepare (I always bring a kombucha with me), I emotionally prepare.
I think about what I will say when someone asks why I'm not drinking. I think about how deep I want to get in the conversation -- because some days I'm ready to go there, and other days I want to talk about anything BUT that.
Today, because I was so caught off guard, I probably looked like a deer in headlights. I almost said "Yes" and thought about just pretending to sip it. But I said "Not right now, I'm good thank you" and the conversation veered to something else.
But it came up again about 15 minutes later. And again another 15 minutes later. And I was practically banging my head against the wall mentally thinking "why don't I just tell her I don't drink?"
But I didn't. I was afraid she would think I wasn't fun. I was afraid she wouldn't want to have more play dates with me.
I read a meme yesterday that said "I determine my kids play dates by which mom I want to drink wine with".
Being alcohol free can truly feel ostracizing. And it's strange to think that alcohol is the only drug that we have to explain NOT using.
Time to change the narrative. Alcohol free is a choice that should not require an explanation, embarrassment or fear of condemnation. #changethenarrative
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Follow Celeste on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/andwhatamom
Robert Manning, Ph.D. - Discovery Solutions International
Most drinkers I've met over the years, infer they don't have a problem. I disagree. Any mind-altering substance over time will alter one's personality. Back in the late 80's, I did a one year counselling practicum in Oakalla prison (former) with inmates who were sentenced in regards to alcohol related crimes. Interestingly, the majority of the group didn't recognize alcohol as being a personal problem, despite being reminded as to why they were doing jail time. Sadly to say, most of them continued in their denial, their deception. Deny it all you want, but the fact is drinking destroys good people, families, and interpersonal relationships and God hates it. In fact, God says drunkards will never see Heaven, they will perish if they do not repent and seek God's righteousness.
"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,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV)