<–back to Flesh v/s Spirit Main
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: 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.
Drunkenness – methe (meth’-ay): an intoxicant, intoxication, drunkenness
Christians should not be getting drunk and they should not be using drugs. Drinking to get drunk is not only sinful but it is a poor example for Christ. Drinking to drown pain is dangerous and can lead to a serious addiction. It is very easy to get carried away.
I’ll share a bit of my story with you….
I grew up with an alcoholic father. I have many bad memories of him drunk. It was not a very good atmosphere to grow up in. When I hit my teen years and basically lived on my own I drank quite a bit. I would drink so much that I would have black outs. As I got a bit older I put drinking aside and started doing drugs. My favorite was marijuana. Boy did I love to get high. My boyfriend (now my husband) was just as addicted. We struggled together. I don’t recommend it. LOL. It took many years for us to overcome that addiction and today we are totally and completely free and clean.
About two years after I got free of drugs I was involved in ministry at my church and had what looked like a great life and marriage on the outside. We are good with putting on those church faces aren’t we?
Anyway, things were not great. I had never dealt with my past. I had some serious issues. My marriage was not going that great and so I began to have an “occasional” glass of wine. Maybe once or twice a week. Then I started having one three or four times a week. It finally got to the point where I was drinking two to three glasses almost every night. It was a very gradual process….
I am very thankful to have a close walk with the Lord and He showed me very clearly what was happening. I was leaning on a substance instead of Him. Instead of facing my issues I was running from them and trying to drown them. Well, of course I laid it down and will never allow myself to go there again.
Here is the point
I think that it is OK for a Christian to have an occasional glass of wine with dinner…not a bottle. I think that it’s OK for a Christian man to occasionally come home from work and have a beer or two…not a six pack.
I do not think it’s OK if it occurs on a daily basis or is needed to “wind down.” I do not think it’s OK if it is something we have or had a problem with in the past. When we begin to need things and/or substances to calm us, help us, or make us feel better that is when we are heading in the wrong direction and need to bring it before the Lord before it becomes a stronghold in our lives.
The problems begin when we use things to replace what God wants to fill for us. It could be drugs, alcohol, food, shopping, smoking, sex, whatever. It doesn’t matter the vice the answer is Jesus and the Word. You will never escape your problems without God. You can try but you WILL fail. I promise.
God wants you to turn to Him and give Him all of your hurts, addictions, problems, and leave them with Him. He wants to comfort you and love you. He can’t unless you let Him. And the only way You can let Him is to give them to Him and get the Word in you. The Word has the answer to every problem.
The more of it that we get into our spirits the more God minded we become and the old painful layers of our flesh begin to peel away bit by bit. It may seem that it gets worse before it gets better and that is a sure sign that your heading in the right direction. That is when the enemy presses you to give up. That is when you are closest to your victory. So, DON’T GIVE UP!
Let’s Pray,
Daddy God, thank You that You are all I ever need to be happy. Thank You that You fill the voids in my life. Thank You for sending me Your Holy Spirit to comfort me. Lord, please help me to overcome (fill in your vice). I lay it down at your feet. Help me to clearly see the root of this problem. Show me in Your Word how to defeat this. I bind this problem in my life and cast it far away and I loose healing and restoration. I believe that You are all I need and that You will help me in every way. Your Word says that if I diligently seek You that You will give me the desires of my heart. Well, Lord, I am going to start seeking You daily right now. I will trust Your Word and believe what it says. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
If you need Moms of Faith to stand in prayer with you, we would be happy to….When a prayer request is filled out I take it very seriously and pray with others on your behalf. The Word says in James 5:16 – the earnest heartfelt prayers of a righteous man makes tremendous power available. We are made righteous through the Blood of Jesus. So, your prayers and mine are packed with power! We must pray pray pray and never stop.
In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
Leave a Reply