We see that Believers should remain sober because of the times that we live in. Instead of drinking we should be watching and praying. So many verses point out that the Church is to remain sober. 1Thessalonians 5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Peter 1:13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Showing us that drunkenness can result in, being devoured by the devil. The same afflictions are overcome by your brethren that are in the world. Showing us that others have had, and overcome this affliction. So it can be done!
The results of disobeying this direct order is tragic! Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, 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. Alcohol abusers are in the same category as witches and murders! And worst of all, "shall not enter the kingdom of God." Alcohol is not worth being left behind is it? Is alcohol worth more than your very soul?
God has even laid out abstinence guide lines for positions within the churches.
To the bishops,1Timothy 3:1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
To the deacons,1Timothy 3:8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, (Excess drinking was a problem then as it continues to be today.) not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
God directly mentions some age groups that are to remain sober, see if you fall into one of these groups. Titus 2:1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Was anyone left out? We see aged men and women, and young men and women alike are to be sober. The older are to teach the younger. Is this the problem today, that the aged haven't taught the young to avoid strong drink? If the aged are using strong drink, then what good is it to teach the younger not too?
You can certainly see the importance of this study.
Today you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't at least tried alcohol once. (Blessed are the few!). These days the whole idea of drinking has passed down to the younger folks. More and more teens are experiencing the effects of alcohol, which in some cases, can be fatal. In others it's the beginning of ruin. The Bible shows us that intoxicating wine is a mocker, it impoverishes, it affects health, it injures its users, and contributes to immorality and dishonesty. It warps character, encouraging selfishness and greed. It is seen as a symbol of God's wrath and judgment in many verses. So many lives have been ruined due to alcohol abuse. (The Bible gives many examples). Alcohol is the most widely abused drug in the world today. One thing that really got me during this study was finding out that Muslims completely avoid alcohol all together as they honor and serve their god.
As surprising at it may be, many Believers are divided on the whole question of drinking. Some believe the use of, the lighter two, beer and wine is ok if used in moderation and hard liquor, they may avoid all together. Some churches today use fermented wine during their Communion/Lords Supper services. In the Bible alcohol is always a source of misery. The first miserable encounter with alcohol in the Bible is good ol' Noah. A "preacher of righteousness" 2Peter 2:5
We find in Genesis 19:20 Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. 24And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Noah awakened in a fowl mood cursing his son. A very common occurrence amongst drinkers even today...
Commenting on Noah's drunkenness, F. B. Meyer has written:
"Noah's sin reminds us how weak are the best of men; liable to fall, even after the most marvelous deliverance's. The love of drink will drag a preacher of righteousness into the dust. Let us see to it that we fall not into this temptation ourselves; and that we tempt not others."
Wine in the Old Testament is mentioned more than 200 times. But not meaning the same thing every time. The word "wine" is used to describe both fermented and unfermented juice. Because it comes from the same vine. The same wine that comes newly pressed from the grape is also the same wine that becomes intoxicating if left setting. So therefore, is just called wine. Even grape jelly falls into the category of wine products. (In ancient times, wine was even boiled or filtered to prevent fermentation. These were often considered the best wines).
In this study we'll look at two words most often used in the Old Testament that translate to "wine". The most used of the two is the word "yayin", which means either type of wine, fermented or unfermented. The specific sense which we must assign to this word arises not from the word itself, but rather from the connection in which it stands. The other word is "tirosh". Which means "squeezed grape juice, or new wine". Sometimes this word even refers to the juice in the grapes while still on the vine. This word was used (40) times in the Old Testament. Here's some examples ...
Genesis 27:28Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine (tirosh):
Note the association of corn and wine at harvest time.
Numbers 18:12All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine (tirosh), and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
Deuteronomy 7:13And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine (tirosh), and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deuteronomy 11:14That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine (tirosh), and thine oil.
Jeremiah 40:10As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine (tirosh), and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
Judges 9:12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine (tirosh), which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? This verse is referring to the wine still on the vine. We see that unfermented wine cheers God and man. Showing us that in unfermented form, it holds a blessing.
Nehemiah 10:37And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine (tirosh) and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; We see that "tirosh" is always associated with unfermented wine. At the time of the offering of firstfruits the wine was new, it could in no way, be fermented wine without setting for a time. If by this point in the study, you haven't concluded that there are two, extremely, different types of wines in the Bible maybe this verse will settle it.
Nehemiah 10:39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine (yayin), and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Psalms 104:14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15And wine (tirosh) that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
Isaiah 65:8Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine (yayin) is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: And even during the time of reign of our Lord Jesus.
Joel 3:18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. New wine is always associated with good, or blessings. Bad wine is always associated with, or leads to, some sort of misery or curse.
