Living Righteously

 

    Some people question on if you can drink alcohol and live righteously.  That is something each person has to work out in their salvation and relationship with God.  Alcohol affects people differently.  One person can have a single glass of wine on special occasions and be perfectly fine.  While other people have one sip and they can't stop without intervention.  

    If alcohol does not control you, then the occasional drink is biblically okay.  It only becomes a sin when you over indulge, but that goes for any over indulgence.  Once alcohol replaces God as your number one priority, then it is a sin.  Alcohol also becomes a sin if you cause other people to stumble and sin too.  

    An example of how alcohol can cause people to stumble:  you are with people who are against alcohol and you choose to drink, then it is wrong. You are choosing to upset them, when there is no need.  You put yourself before other people.  Another issue is if you choose to drink in front of an addict.  God calls us to serve people, not to be selfish.

    Alcohol is not a sin if you limit yourself.  As long as you don't become intoxicated, then it can be used at celebrations.  It is a powerful drink, so you have to have self-control and limits when it comes to alcohol.  

    If you drink so much that you silence the Holy Spirit, then you have drunk too much.  You need to repent and be determined not to drink that much again.  The Holy Spirit can give you all that you need.  He can replace the short-term elation from alcohol with His presence.  He can make you feel better.  He can do all the things that alcohol does without any of the adverse side affects or consequences.

    Ask yourself some serious questions.  Can I drink responsibly?  Should I drink?  Why do I want to drink?  Take some time to mull over your questions and how you approach alcohol (good or bad).  Why do you view it the way you do?  When you answer, make sure it is for yourself.  If you choose to drink, then also ask yourself one more question:  How much will this cost me in life?  Can I live righteously and still drink?

Proverbs 23:29-35, Romans 10:1-4, Ephesians 5:6-14, James 5:16-17, & 1 Peter 2:21-25

Uncharacteristic

 

    When we allow things to become in between God and ourselves it is tragic.  Drugs, alcohol, and other additions cause you to behave uncharacteristically.  The addiction, whatever it is, turns the heart perverse.  Over time you stop seeing sin as sin or even bad.  You loose your self-control.  You may start to see things that are not there as you distort reality to fit into your narrative.  It will bring out the worst version of you.

    When alcohol and drugs become the focus on your life, they have control over your life.  They make you slaves to Satan.  You may had been kind, sweet, and good before, but now your character has changed.  The words that come out of your mouth, actions, thoughts, and even your feelings betray who you were created to be.  They will rip currants in your life causing harm to your relationships.  It may feel good to go numb, but sometimes you have to go through the pain to heal.

    We live in a culture that makes sin look fun, pretty, and attractive.  When you buy into the lie you destroy yourself and your relationships.  What use is it to have fun if you can't remember the good time.  It is a lie because it makes your brain think it is having fun when in reality it is drowning.  

    It may be medicine for some people, but all it does is prolong the real healing and add more issues that will need to be healed.  It is a poison, but it promises a good time as you destroy yourself.  All you have to do is believe the lie.  Once you do, then you can rationalize destroying your life.

    We need to remember that one day God will destroy all wickedness.  He will judge  according to how we live our lives.  He will show mercy to all who follow Jesus, but if we do not repent we will still have to answer for our behavior.

    Sib brings strife.  It destroys lives and livelihood.  It makes impure morality and sexuality seem normal.  There is inherited sin where a sin has a particular stronghold on the family.  You can break the cursed chain.  You can turn your back on it and follow God.  If you don't you can look down your family line and pretty much see what your consequences will be.

Leviticus 21:16-24, Proverbs 23:29-35, Matthew 17:20-21, & 2 Peter 2:4-10

Living Dangerously

 

    Living dangerously is to live a life of over indulgence.  That could be alcohol, food, sleep, or anything that you put as a priority over God.  It is living dangerously to live an unfaithful life.  It leads to sorrow, woeful behavior, psychological issues, and bad health.  Living life with out salvation and faith only ends one way and it is not worth it.

    When you give too much of your time toward alcohol you are thinking about it, planning around it, and losing your life to it.  The more intoxicated you become the more struggles you have.  If you don't have a handle on your alcohol consumption, then it will lead to premature death.

    It can be hard to not drink.  It is a very social activity and people think you are strange or boring if you do not join in.  Society can put a lot of pressure on people to drink.  They make it out to be fun, enamored, tasty, and leads to a smoother life.  Alcohol can be very appealing and perceived as harmless.

    When alcohol controls your life it is living dangerously because it will eventually lead to drastic consequences.  You are lucky if you only have a hangover.  Since it dulls your senses and makes normal activities more difficult, it can change your circumstances in an instant.

    Alcohol is a poison.  In time it will lead to organ failure, sickness, a dull mind.  It changes your mental chemistry where you become a slave to the drug.  When you are slave it will lead you to foolish behavior because it lets you believe that you are in control.  You are not.  It takes drying out over several weeks to see reality as it is.

Proverbs 19:15-17, 23:29-35, Matthew 25:14-30, & Romans 1:18-32

Alcohol

    In the United States a lot people drink alcohol.  When it comes to Christianity there are a lot of strong feelings and opinions.  However, before we judge anyone we need to know how God and Jesus views alcohol.  You need to make the decision for yourself and not anyone else.

    In the United states roughly 78.5% have 12 or more drinks in a year.  In 2023, 62.8% of Americans had a drink.  About 27% have five or more drinks in two hours.  That is just some statistics.  The reality is that around 180,000 people die every year to an alcohol related death.  

    Now to the unpopular statistic.  About 51% of the people that attend church drink alcohol.  Out that, about 15% get drunk.  Out of that about 87% believe that it is okay to get drunk.   That means that a good portion of those alcohol related deaths are people who attend church and are Christians.

    I am not here to tell you to drink or not to drink.  I want to open your eyes to the practical aspect of alcohol in your relationship with God.  I ask that you ask yourself questions to decide on what you believe and why you stand for what you stand for.

    It is practical advice to recommend not getting drunk.  Being drunk leads to stupid and sometimes harmful decisions.  When you choose to get drunk, you choose to give up any control you have over your mind, body, and actions.  It is irresponsible.  It makes a fool out of everyone.

    Drinking a glass of wine at a celebration, blessing, or in wealthy may not harm anything.  We have the right to celebrate and have a glad heart as long as it does not cause harm to yourself or another person.  Jesus' first public miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding.  He made it the best wine of the entire event.  If you choose to drink remember it has a place and time and it is dangerous if not done responsibly.    

Psalm 104:10-18, Proverbs 23:29-35, Isaiah 53:4-6, & John 2:1-12

Redemption Part 2

 

        Redemptions is about Jesus.  He won the ultimate victory over death on the cross.  He offered himself as a sacrifice to provide a way for everyone to have a relationship with God.  If you go through Jesus' blood into the light of eternal life, then you can approach God at any time.  Death will never be able to stop you.

    Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension destroyed sins control over the people who walk in faith.  If you accept that truth and proclaim it in faith to the world, then God forgives you of every sin you committed as if it never happened.  He forgot about it, so you can forget and move on.  You no longer have to live like you are chained to the sins of this world.

    Everyone born is chained to sin.  They have no hope in not sinning anymore without Jesus.  The innocent are not held to the same standards as the person who understands.  At the same time, no one has the excuse in claiming ignorance.  Jesus is the only way we can defeat our sinful nature and live truly free.

    Jesus became the last sacrifice to cancel our dept and give us redemption.  All you have to do is accept the truth.  Faith is glorious.  It overcomes things that logically can't be overcome.  It is a gift that leads to victory.  You just need to be mindful of what real victory is: God defeating evil and eternal peace.  There is a war with battles for your soul.  The only way you will be victorious is if you live in faith.  Anything else is to remain cursed.

Proverbs 21:30-31, Galatians 3:13-14, Ephesians 3:12-13, & Colossians 2:13-15

Redemptive Victory

 

    Redemptive Victory is deliverance from evil, suffering, or sin.  It is the ultimate triumph over sin and death.  Jesus paid the price, but we have to work hard in life to live it out.  Many Christians continue living like they are slaves to the world and their sins.  They do not live victoriously.

    Redemptive victory is supernatural and physical.  You have to work with God to live it out.  He is your leader and partner.  If you treat him like the enemy you will not be victorious.  You have to trust Him and push all fear aside.  

    It can take some time to see the truth.  It is wise to ask God to open your eyes to it.  Ask Him to show you the unseen world at the right time.  He answers prayers, so when you pray do it with intention.  You have to believe that He will answer your prayer or you may miss it when He does.  Prayers are miraculous in revealing God's victory over evil and death.

    You can embrace redemptive victory because God is with you everywhere you go.  He is always with you.  He is ready for you to work out your salvation with Him.  He meets you where you are at and helps you grow.  He works within you as you choose to be obedient.  The more you let Him in, the more you are changed into someone new and better.

    Prayer is the most powerful tool for the heart.  It leads to understanding, strength, wisdom, and seeing the world in the same manner that God does.  As you align your heart to Jesus' heart, you find peace and love that is transforming.  It all starts with wholesome fear of God to motivate you into obedience.  Once you start following Him, you are already changing.

Exodus 17:8-16, 2 Kings 6:16-17, Proverbs 21:30-31, & John 5:1-5, 16:31-33

Transformation

 

    God created you for a purpose.  That purpose is not to waste your life, but live it fully with Him.  Every single aspect of your life has reason and purpose.  More importantly, God is with you in every aspect of your life.  That means that every experience, even the bad ones, have value.  God is transforming you every day as you invest into your relationship with Him.

    You were created to reflect God on earth.  He is all that is good about you.  He has enabled you to have joy in every experience.  When things get hard, celebrate because God is with you and hopefully showing through you.  The only true satisfaction you will have in your life is in Him.  When life hurts and is too much, turn to Him.  He will change your attitude, circumstance, or perspective to make things better.

    Trust in God's victory in your life.  Be aware of your circumstances and events happening in the world, but do not be consumed by them.  God is working in it.  He is doing more than you will ever be able to recognize or see.  He is preparing you for what life throws at you, so when you struggle allow God to work to make it good.  No matter how bad the event may be, God will use it for good.  Just wait, trust, and witness.

    Restoration is not an escape.  Restoration is healing.  It is allowing God to make you whole when the world tries to tear you apart.  Trust in God's plan that He wants good things for you.  If you reject Him, then you will not experience the blessings of faithfulness.  You will never experience the peace of Him taking care of you.

    Wrestle through your inner battles, but allow God to reveal Himself.  He will reveal the truth if you are willing to see it.  If not, then sit in your mess and stop blaming other people or Him for it.  If you do not understand, then it is because you choose not to.  You will never experience His transformation if you are too busy pushing Him out of your life.

    Rejecting God only leads to heart ache.  God is the masterpiece. He could force you to do anything, but He allows your transformation to be your choice.  One day you will bow, but hopefully it will not be too late.  Disobedience is sin.  It is never okay.  It will hinder your transformation, but God can always use it too.  The only way you really win is life is to allow God to transform you through faith.

Proverbs 21:30-31, Jeremiah 29:10-14, Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:5-11, & Titus 3:3-7