ASSIGNMENTS 1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the songs. 2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day. 3. Think of times in your life when you have seen the problems or consequences of alcohol use. 4. Write about a time you influenced someone to be or remain sober. 5. Plan to tell the class about a time you avoided alcohol or helped someone else avoid it, or a time when you learned the hard way about the effects of alcohol. a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS MONDAY - VERSES: Proverbs 23:29-35 PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, help me to recognize the dangers that alcohol represents. TUESDAY - VERSES: Isaiah 28:7; Ephesians 5:18 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to fill my life with and be guided by your Spirit and never let myself be controlled by chemicals. WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Isaiah 5:11,22; 1 Samuel 1:12-16 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master help me to strive for a reputation of sobriety and not admire those who are deceived by alcohol. THURSDAY - VERSES: Genesis 9:21-24; 19:32-33 PRAYER THOUGHT: Righteous One, help me to learn from the mistakes of others so that I will not make the same mistakes in my life. FRIDAY - VERSES: Amos 2:12; Habakkuk 2:15-16; Romans 14:21 PRAYER THOUGHT: Great Helper of Mankind, use me to help others avoid the destruction that alcohol brings into lives, and never cause others to stumble into drunkenness. SATURDAY - VERSES: Amos 6:1,6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 PRAYER THOUGHT: Righteous Judge of All, help me to remember that alcohol has eternal consequences as well as physical ones. a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l If there's an alcoholic parent in the family, there's a 50 percent chance one of the children will become an alcoholic. If there are two alcoholic parents, it's an 85 percent chance. - Signs of the Times, Dec., 1993, p. 6 a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l Canadian physician, Sir William Osler, was asked by a student during a lecture on alcohol if alcohol made people better able to do things. He replied, " No, it just makes them less ashamed of doing them badly." SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 78 ALCOHOL - 2-2-14 to 2-8-14 SCRIPTURE - Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. COMMENT - Two-thirds of Americans and about 90% of Europeans regularly use alcohol and think it is wonderful, but as Christians we are to be guided by the Bible and not society. We must avoid things that destroy the body and mind and corrupt the soul like alcohol does. SONGS - WHO WILL FOLLOW JESUS? 1. Who will follow Jesus, Standing for the right, Holding up His banner In the thickest fight? List'ning for His orders, Ready to obey, Who will follow Jesus, Serving Him today? 2. Who will follow Jesus In life's busy ways, Working for the Master, Giving Him the praise; Earnest in His vineyard, Honoring His laws, Faithful to His counsel, Watchful for His cause? 3. Who will follow Jesus; When the tempter, Fleeing, then for safety To the Savior's arms; Trusting in His mercy, Trusting in His pow'r, Seeking fresh renewals Of His grace each hour? 4. Who will follow Jesus In His work of love, Leading others to Him, Lifting prayers above? Courage, faithful servant! In His word we see, On our side forever Will this Savior be. CHORUS - Who will follow Jesus? Who will make reply, "I am on the Lord's side; Master, here am I"? Who will follow Jesus? Who will make reply, "I am on the Lord's side; Master, here am I"? THOUGHTS 12 REASONS (FROM PROVERBS 23) I DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. IT CAUSES . . . I. SCARCITY / SHORTAGE - V. 21 - For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, II. STUPOR - V. 21 - And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. III. SADNESS - V. 29 - Who has woe? IV. SORROW - V. 29 - Who has sorrow? V. STRIFE - V. 29 - Who has contentions? VI. SQUAWKING - V. 29 - Who has complaints? VII. SORENESS - V. 29 - Who has wounds without cause? VIII. SCARLET - V. 29 - Who has redness of eyes? ANSWER - V. 30-31 - Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. {31} Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; IX. SICKNESS - V. 32 - At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. X. STRANGE SIGHTS & THOUGHTS - V. 33 - Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. XI. STUPIDITY - V. 34-35 - Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: {35} "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. XII. SLAVERY - V. 35 - When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?" a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l 1 out of every 10 people who drink, become alcoholics. If you knew that one out of every ten of you who rode in a car today would die, would you walk home or ride home? The only way you can be sure you will not become an alcoholic is to never take the first drink! a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l ALCOHOL IS INVOLVED IN . . . 1. 36% (5.3 million) of prisoners' conviction offenses. 2. The majority of criminal offences - US DOJ estimates 3. 40% of murder convictions. 4. 40% (about 3 million) of all violent crimes each year 5. 37% of rapes and sexual assaults 6. 15% of robberies 7. 27% of aggravated assaults, and 8. 25% of simple assaults 9. Two-thirds of domestic violence cases. http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-crime 10. 31% OF ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES in 2011 - 9,878 down from 17,732 in 1995 when it was over 40% - www- nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/ a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l A juggler, driving to his next performance, is stopped by the police. "What are those machetes doing in your car?" asks the cop. "I juggle them in my act." "Oh, yeah?" says the doubtful cop. "Let's see you do it." The juggler gets out and starts tossing and catching the knives. Another man driving by slows down to watch. "Wow," says the passer-by. "I'm glad I quit drinking. Look at the test they're giving now!" - Contributed by Natalie Kaplowitz, Reader's Digest, May, 1994, p. 67 a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l Admiral Heihachio Togo, whose brilliant tactics had destroyed the Russian fleet at the battle of the Sea of Japan in 1905, visited the United States shortly after the Russo-Japanese War. At a state dinner in Admiral Togo's honor, William Jennings Bryan was asked to propose a toast. Because Bryan was well known as a strict teetotaler, it was feared that an embarrassing breakdown of protocol was about to occur. But as Bryan stood to propose his toast, he held up his glass and said, "Admiral Togo has won a great victory on water, and I will therefore toast him in water. When Admiral Togo wins a victory on champagne I will toast him in champagne." - Today in the Word, September 17, 1992 a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l / a l c o h o l ALCOHOL INTRODUCTION - WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT ALCOHOL I. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ALCOHOL A. ABSTINENCE - LEVITICUS 10:8-10; 1 PETER 2:9-10; NUMBERS 6:2-4; JUDGES 13:2-5; PROVERBS 31:4-7; LUKE 1:15-16; MATTHEW 11:11; DANIEL 1:8 B. HABITUAL DRINKING - PROVERBS 23:19-21; ISAIAH 5:11, 22; 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-3; 1 PETER 5:8 C. PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL USE - PROVERBS 23:29-35; GALATIANS 5:22-23; PROVERBS 21:17; 23:21; 20:1; HOSEA 4:11; JOEL 3:3; ROMANS 13:12-14; 14:21; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11; GALATIANS 5:19-21; EPHESIANS 5:18; DEUTERONOMY 21:18-21; MATTHEW 24:48-51; LUKE 12:45-46; 21:33-36; HABAKKUK 2:15-16 II. BIBLE EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL - GENESIS 9:20-25; 19:30-38; 2 SAMUEL 13:28-29; 1 KINGS 16:8-10; ESTHER 1:10-12; ISAIAH 28:1-7; AMOS 4:1-2 CONCLUSION - EPHESIANS 5:18; 2 CORIN. 5:14-15; JAMES 4:4 ALCOHOL INTRODUCTION A. Ever known someone bitten by a snake? How about a snake that was dead? http://www.weather.com/video/man-bitten-by-snake-after-he-killed-it-4 3541 B. A politician was asked what he thought about liquor. His response in typical politician double-speak was, "If you mean that demon that destroys relationships and bankrupts families, the monster that kills thousands on our nations highways and drives people to fight, steal, kill, and rape; then I am completely opposed to it. However, if you are speaking of that holiday cheer that brings people together socially and relaxes after a long tense day, that business that employs thousands and keeps local and state governments running with its taxed revenue; then I support it whole-heartedly. C. WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT ALCOHOL 1. Beverage alcohol is an intoxicating, hypnotic analgesic, an anesthetic narcotic, poisonous and potentially habit forming, crave producing or addictive-producing drug or chemical. Dr. Andrew C. Ivy - head of clinical science, dept. Of university of Illinois 2. Loss of control over the use of alcohol, change in tolerance, a withdrawal syndrome and the relinquishing of all other interests in favor of a preoccupation with the use of alcohol are all criteria of an addiction. Pfeiffer 3. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant just as barbiturates are. 4. Alcohol is a chemical, a drug which gives a high, alters your mind, causes wavy vision, memory blackouts, a rush of emotion, a personality change, it often leads to dependence and mental and physical illness. Blue cross association hospital service program D. ALCOHOL IS INVOLVED IN . . . 1. 36% (5.3 million) of prisoners' conviction offenses. 2. The majority of criminal offences - US DOJ estimates 3. 40% of murder convictions. 4. 40% (about 3 million) of all violent crimes each year 5. 37% of rapes and sexual assaults 6. 15% of robberies 7. 27% of aggravated assaults, and 8. 25% of simple assaults 9. Two-thirds of domestic violence cases. http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-crime 10. 31% OF ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES in 2011 - 9,878 down from 17,732 in 1995 when it was over 40% - www- nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/ A total of 7,459 unintentional injury deaths, 28,696 homicide cases, and 19,347 suicide cases were aggregated. The aggregate percentage tested for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was highest among homicide cases (88.2%), followed by unintentional injury deaths (84.0%) and suicide cases (81.7%). The aggregate percentage determined to be intoxicated (BAC, >/=100 mg/dL) was highest among homicide cases (31.5%), followed by unintentional injury deaths (31.0%) and suicide cases (22.7%). - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10339681 E. STAGES AND ATTITUDES IN ALCOHOLISM 1. Denial - rationalizing, blaming, justification, defensiveness, alibis, minimizing, comparing (nobody gets well here). Denial has a healthy component. If they didn't deny and drink anyway they would be worse off. 2. Admission - considering the fact- maybe I am, maybe I'm not (mental game), grudging recognition, minimizes seriousness, presence in treatment suggest admission - staying suggest recognition - may show defiant/hostile attitude - tends to direct own treatment - operates on a head level (lack of change in attitude results in return to use) 3. Compliance - thinking, feeling good, physically better, doubt to half-hearted descriptions: I want this, but...; I'll do anything within reason...; I'll follow the rules but....; Defiance hidden by smiles, depression, passive-aggressive behavior I'm an alcoholic/ addict, damn it; I want to be straight; I have to go syndrome; dependence and/or dependence on counselor; can lead to real learning experience but also blocks acceptance and comprehension. 4. Acceptance - beginning step 1, starting real progress, defiant dependence to whole-hearted acceptance, taking personal responsibility for change, gut level insight into fatalness/severity, getting hope, breakdown of learned helplessness, repair of damaged self esteem, emotional alienation to beginning of intimacy of interpersonal relations, new openness in emotional communications, self awareness and acceptance, attitude changes, congruence, genuineness, believability 5. Surrender - all signs of acceptance and progress are present, personality drawn together with appropriate caution displayed, realistic about problems involved in living drug-free life, attitude is thoughtfully cautious (healthy amount of fear), easing of rigidity, willingness to go to any lengths, realizes self-change most appropriate sense of values and gratitude. 6. Signs of surrender: no longer defensive, stops justifying lives in the "now", willing to follow advice, stops blaming self & others, stops taking self too seriously, able to laugh at self, work on own inventory, happy about knowing self, stops asking "why", shows gratitude for recovery (get to vs have to), hopefulness up, self-pity down, positive attitude about recovery, willing to forgive, jealousy, resentment, intolerance, fear, dishonesty and criticism down, anger control up, operation on faith, stops trying to change world, open to self-change, willingness to replace drug of choice with people. I. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ALCOHOL A. ABSTINENCE 1. PRIESTS WERE NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOL a. (Lev 10:8-10) Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: {9} "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, {10} "that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, b. CHRISTIANS ARE PRIESTS TODAY - (1 Pet 2:9-10) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; {10} who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 2. NAZARITE VOW a. (Num 6:2-4) "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazarite, to separate himself to the LORD, {3} 'he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. {4} 'All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. b. (Judg 13:2-5) Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. {3} And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. {4} "Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. {5} "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." c. THOSE WHO TRULY WANT TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO GOD WILL NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. 3. LEADERS SHOULD NOT DRINK - (Prov 31:4-7) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; {5} Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. {6} Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. {7} Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 4. JOHN THE BAPTIST NOT TO DRINK AT ALL a. (Luke 1:15-16) "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. {16} "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. b. JOHN THE GREATEST MAN WHO HAD LIVED TO THAT TIME (Mat 11:11) "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 5. DANIEL FELT WINE WOULD DEFILE HIM - (Dan 1:8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. B. HABITUAL DRINKING 1. DON'T ASSOCIATE WITH WINEBIBBERS (HABITUAL DRINKERS) - (Prov 23:19-21) Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. {20} Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; {21} For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. 2. WOE TO THOSE WHO ARE DRAWN TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - (Isa 5:11) Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! 3. WOE TO THOSE KNOWN FOR THEIR DRINKING - (Isa 5:22) Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, 4. ELDERS NOT GIVEN TO WINE - (1 Tim 3:1-3) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. {2} A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; {3} not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 5. WE ARE TO BE SOBER - (1 Pet 5:8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. C. PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL USE 1. LOSS OF CONTROL OF SELF a. (Prov 23:29-35) Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? {30} Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. {31} Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; {32} At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. {33} Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. {34} Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: {35} "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?" b. SELF CONTROL IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 2. LOVE OF WINE KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING RICH a. (Prov 21:17) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. b. (Prov 23:21) For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. 3. NOT WISE TO BE CONTROLLED BY WINE & STRONG DRINK - (Prov 20:1) Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 4. WINE ENSLAVES THE HEART - (Hosea 4:11) "Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. 5. ALCOHOL CAN BECOME SO IMPORTANT A PERSON WILL SELL THEIR CHILD TO GET IT - (Joel 3:3) They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 6. DRUNKENNESS IS NOT WALKING PROPERLY - (Rom 13:12-14) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. {13} Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. {14} But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. 7. SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCOHOL IF A DANGER OF CAUSING OTHERS TO STUMBLE - (Rom 14:21) It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 8. DRUNKARDS WILL NOT BE IN HEAVEN a. (1 Cor 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. {11} And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. b. Gal 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, {20} idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, {21} envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 9. DRUNKENNESS IS DISSIPATION - (Eph 5:18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 10. ALCOHOL ASSOCIATED WITH REBELLION - (Deu 21:18-21) "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, {19} "then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. {20} "And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' {21} "Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. 11. CONDEMNED IF EATING AND DRINKING WITH DRUNKARDS AT SECOND COMING a. (Mat 24:48-51) "But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,' {49} "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, {50} "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, {51} "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. b. (Luke 12:45-46) "But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, {46} "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. c. (Luke 21:33-36) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. {34} "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 12. ALCOHOL USED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS - (Hab 2:15-16) "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness! {16} You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also; drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord's right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory. II. BIBLE EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL A. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SEE THE PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL IS TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF ALCOHOL USE ON OTHERS. B. MOST HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF OTHERS USING ALCOHOL. C. NOAH'S DRUNKENNESS - (Gen 9:20-25) And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. {21} Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. {22} And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. {23} But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. {24} So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. {25} Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren." D. LOT & HIS DAUGHTERS - (Gen 19:30-38) Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. {31} Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. {32} "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father." {33} So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. {34} It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father." {35} Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. {36} Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. {37} The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. {38} And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day. E. AMNON KILLED WHILE TOO DRUNK TO DEFEND HIMSELF - (2 Sam 13:28-29) Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant." {29} So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled. F. ELAH KILLED WHILE DRUNK - (1 Ki 16:8-10) In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Tirzah. {9} Now his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. {10} And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. G. KING AHASUERUS WHILE DRUNK WANTED TO SHOW OFF HIS WIFE'S BEAUTY TO ALL THE MEN - (Est 1:10-12) On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, {11} to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. {12} But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him. H. DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM - (Isa 28:1-7) Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valleys, To those who are overcome with wine! {2} Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand. {3} The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot; {4} And the glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valley, Like the first fruit before the summer, Which an observer sees; He eats it up while it is still in his hand. {5} In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people, {6} For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. {7} But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. I. COWS OF BASHAN - (Amos 4:1-2) Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, "Bring wine, let us drink!" {2} The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: "Behold, the days shall come upon you When He will take you away with fishhooks, And your posterity with fishhooks. CONCLUSION A. HOW DEVOTED TO GOD DO YOU WANT TO BE? B. ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP ANYTHING THAT KEEPS YOU DISTANT FROM GOD? C. HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS? D. WHAT CONTROLS YOUR LIFE - (Eph 5:18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, E. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-15) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; {15} and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. F. JAMES 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.