Strong Drink

Strong Drinks (Alcohol)

Most times this has been a bone of contention among Christians, and the question; whether it is right to drink alcoholic beverages is not uncommon.

Well this publication will be of great benefits to the reader and that, I am very sure.

Alcoholic drinks which include wine, beer, liquor, rum, gin and other drinks that contain some certain amount of the chemical which is an organic compound with an identity group –OH.

It is certain that we are not new to the terms non-alcoholic wine and alcoholic wine. However “wine” in it meaning is alcoholic beverage and therefore there can never be a non alcoholic wine. One can only have fruit juice that is not alcoholic but when such has been fermented it becomes wine and alcoholic.

Wikipedia defines wine as an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, water, or other nutrients. Yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes and converts them into alcohol. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different types of wine. The well known variation results from the very complex interactsions between the biochemical development of the fruit, reactions involved in fermentation, and human intervention in the overall process. The final product may contain tens of thousands of chemical compound in amount varying from a few percent to a few parts per billion.

Wines made from fruits besides grapes are usually named after the fruit from which they are produced (for example Pomegranate wine, apple wine and elderberry wine) and are generically called fruit wine. The term “wine” can also refer to starch fermented or fortified beverages having higher alcohol content, such as barley wine or sake (i.e beer).

Is it an evil?

No, it is not an evil at all. Rather it is a blessing because it is God who has been giving it to us.

Deutronomy 11: 14

That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the later rain, that mayest gather in they corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Even in the old testaments offerings and tithes of wine was offered.

Numbers 28:7

And the drink offering thereof shall be the forth part of an hinn for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

Deuteronomy 14:23

And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

Even our Lord Jesus Christ converted water to wine, and this has been a favourite scriptures for alcoholics.

John 2:3

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine.

Verse 7

Jesus saith unto them, fill the waterpots with water: And they filled them up to the brim.

Verse 9

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,….

Some people even prove that Jesus drank wine while he was on earth as he was seen by the Pharisees with tax collectors and prostitutes eating and drinking together.

Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:35

So should we go on drinking?

I have always known that when God want to commit a great work into a mans hand and want to bring him to lime light he will always give a strict instruction that both the carrier of the baby i.e the mother and the child when delivered should seriously avoid wine or any other strong drink. Even when God wants the priest to come to Him in the tabernacle in the old testament He had given them instruction not to drink wine.

O.k. I think at this point let us take a toll from the scriptures;

Judges 13:2-5

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.

For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Isreal out of the hand of the Philistines.

Friends did you just see that? When a child/a person is to be consecrated to God in total devotion, one of those things he has to avoid is drinking alcoholic drinks. I think we just saw that now. And I am very sure the bible still have more in stock for us. Let us continue.

Luke 1:11-15

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto Him, Fear not, Zachariah: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And thou shal have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mothers womb.

Wow! It is like there is this opposite thing about wine and the Holy Ghost, if you must find wine or strong drink then Holy Ghost must be absolutely absent and if the Holy Ghost must remain alcohol must be absolutely totally absent too, according to the last verse above.

Jesus that some alcoholics claim that he drank, yes they were right. Jesus my Lord the wisdom personified the one who the world cannot understand, the one who they saw wisdom in and exclaimed “what wisdom is this?”. May be we should see the scripture together for better and vivid understanding.

Matt. 11:19

The son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.

Note the last statement “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds”, if you can crack it you will understand that Jesus never did anything without a purpose and the question you will ask your self is did he really drink? If you will drink because Jesus drank or turn water to wine then why not offer yourself to be crucified because he did so. Oh I think I can guess what is running through your mind now that you need not do that because Christ has done that for you, then definitely you need not drink because Christ has drank even against his wish but in order to get harden tax collectors and prostitutes which we are, so he did so. If he could humble himself to take on flesh being God himself but came to become mere men like us just to pay the price for our freedom from sin, is it to take up a cup of wine that he will not do just to ensure that we are redeemed? If He could stoop so low to become a man so he can save us, will he not stoop lower and accept to drink so as to get the drunkards and prostitutes? Did he succeed? Yes he did.

Luke 7:34-39

However, when he had reached them all and it was time to pay the ultimate price, knowing how important it is said in Mark 14:25:

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.

If you must consecrate yourself for Gods use then touch not, taste not and handle not alcoholic drinks it has a way of pulling down spirituality.

Leviticus 10:19

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die

And you know what that was during when we use to have veil in the temple but this veil was torn from the middle from the up downwards when Jesus paid the ultimate price of death on the cross.

Luke 23:45

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Ps. 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

How long will you dwell in His presence? Forever then that is much long you must avoid alcoholic drinks. Did I just here you say the instruction is for the priest and his sons? Wow why did you think the veil was torn, he gave us all access into the inner temple making us automatic and instant priest has soon as we accept him as our lord and savior. O.k. check this out:

1 Peter 2:9-10

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

So you see, in case you want to say it is only for some chosen few to abstain from alcoholic drinks you just saw in that verse that “ye are a chosen generation” so you have been chosen like Samson, John the baptize and others. Or you want to say that the instruction is for the priest and their sons. The same verse included that “ye are a royal priesthood” so what excuse do you have again.

Furthermore, Ephesian 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Did you notice what I just noticed. “Praying always…..in the Spirit”. Number we are to pray always and how? In the spirit and you remember that if you must do spirit things and always you must strictly avoid alcohol always.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debunchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

So you want to walk in the Spirit always, then walk out of alcoholic drinks forever and you are sure that you have met one compulsory criteria for carrying His presence.

Let us explore more of the scriptures as we draw conclusion on this matter.

Numbers 6:1-3

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Isreal, and say unto them, when either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

Brethren, at this end I will like to implore you to make that vow, take that oath and make drinking alcohol a by gone and then the Holy Ghost can have His convenient place in your life and you can then live your life more fulfilled as the Holy Ghost takes charge and lead you by the way. Remember “…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Congratulations as you decide to make drinking alcoholic drinks a by gone. As you do that ask God to engrace you and help you and ask the Holy Spirit to take a total charge now and forever. Congratulations once again and Shalom.