Wisdom Avoids Ungodly Lifestyles
Proverbs 18-23
Who are the godly?
Those that obey God!
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Who are the ungodly?
Those who do not obey the Word of God!
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, "what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God"?
The wisdom that comes from a reverent fear of the Lord, will teach us to avoid an ungodly lifestyle!
*****Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
We should not ever forget that words have the power of life and death; they can either kill or they can nourish life and the Word of God is life!
It is impossible to overestimate the power of the Word of God!
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
It is also just as true that all those who talk with other than God's Words will eat the fruit of their own words!
If the words of each Christian do not expose a godly character then we are not who we say we are!
*****Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
It is true that we all do foolish things from time to time.
It is the foolish things we do that damage our health.
It is the foolish things that are done that can jeopardize a good marriage.
It is foolish things we do that jeopardize our employment.
In fact foolishness will most always affect every aspect of our lives!
Today in our world we see a people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
We may notice it more in our politicians but it has also spread throughout our youth!
We have a world, "do to a lack of wisdom", that blame God for most all their troubles and then in their foolish minds think they have the ability to solve the worlds problems without God.
It is our own sin nature that causes us to blame our own mistakes or sins on someone else, rather than our selves.
The proof of that can be seen in Adam:
Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
It may be true that Eve picked the forbidden fruit and and gave it to Adam, but it was Adam who chose to defy the Word of God and eat of the fruit.
This same characteristic exist in all mankind!
Foolish behavior always carries a price and most of the time a heavy price!
*****Pro 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Self love is righteous and healthy, when it does not come from sinful selfishness!
Life's purpose, life's success, and life's eternal destiny will motivate most people to seek the wisdom to allow these things and that wisdom can come only from a reverent fear of the Lord!
Pro 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
*****Pro 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
What is the biggest problem with our youth of today? The parents have been brainwashed about true discipline!
Parents are commanded to discipline children in order to keep them from the deadly practice of foolishness!
This does not mean to abuse any child but note, this is a command just as much as any of the commands of God!
God says it is urgent that our children be shown the right way by using the verbal and the physical discipline that is required.
This discipline is to begin while our children are young because "that is when there is hope", since there is little or no hope after they are grown!
Parents who neglect the discipline of their children will bear some responsibility for their foolish behavior!
In fact discipline while children are young is the best weapon to use to keep our children from harming themselves and others.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
To not chasten your children is to not love them as you should!
Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
The lifestyle of us all had it's beginning while we were still babes!
*****Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
A godly lifestyle begins with proper advice and proper instructions!
God is saying to "pay attention to what I am telling you"!
To prepare ourselves for the future we must begin in the present and the younger we begin the better!
We will never understand the value of God's instructions until we are living a godly life!
*****Pro 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
What is the truth of a reverent fear of the Lord and a godly lifestyle?
1) There is the gift of life.
To be a Christian is to be immortal.
As the Lord Jesus has an endless life, so do those that trust Him!
Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, "but after the power of an endless life".
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2) There is contentment.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
3) There is security.
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The Christian life is a life of true freedom!
As we submit to the Lord we can walk in the knowledge that we are saved!
Eternal life is not just a life that has no end but also a life that is lived in perfection.
Eternal life is a life in full communion with our Father in Heaven.
*****Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Foolish choices will most always bring with them pain!
When we do not learn from the wisdom of these proverbs we will inflict pain upon ourselves!
We must avoid foolish conduct!
We must not be misled by alcohol.
Alcohol leads to reckless behavior!
Wine is made from fermented grapes.
Strong drink refers to alcohol that is made from fermented grains.
A mocker scoffs at what is is good in society and wine will make you a mocker.
Raging is as a brawler who causes commotion and turmoil.
Strong drink will make you a brawler.
In other words those under the influence of alcohol are often unrecognizable from their normal self!
Those that do not become mockers and brawlers still do and say foolish things and most will behave immorally.
Those who are wise will abstain from all alcoholic beverages!
Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
We must connect with the wisdom of God so we can see properly and not stumble in our ways!
*****Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
The word hear or listen means to obey!
To be wise is to be guided by wisdom and wisdom comes from a reverent fear of the Lord!
We must not allow our hearts to be our guide as the world says because the heart is wicked above all things.
We must not allow our desires to lead us away from the path of righteousness!
*****Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
We must not associate with people who will influence us to follow after the lust of the flesh.
What are our greatest temptations?
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We are commanded to avoid the company of drunkards and gluttons!
Why?
Because they have lost control of themselves!
They are ruled by the desires to their flesh!
They cannot control the activities of their flesh!
They allow their own passions to rule their lives!
What is their end, less they repent?
*****Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
These two things can ruin the lives of all those who become addicted to these things!
The righteous life is a "step by step", "day by day" walk with the Lord!
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The cross is an instrument of death!
We must put our own will, our own desires, our own wants, our own ambitions to death and then follow Jesus!
Wisdom can only be seen through the life and the person of Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As long as we are alive on this earth we will never be able to become the complete master of our flesh!
We must face the fact that we are capable of backsliding at any moment.
If we think we have reached such a plateau in our lives, then that is when we are at our weakest moment!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Our churches are full of carnal, undisciplined Christians and even they can tempt us to stray from the path of righteousness as we try to help make them more mature.
There are also those who abuse Christian liberty and they are just as dangerous an influence as those who are lost.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Anytime we give in to our flesh and stray from God's pathway, we have strayed from the wisdom of God!
The Lord Jesus teaches us to be very careful to avoid all these things.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
*****Pro 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
We already know the God is love and it is love that makes this request of each of us!
We can see that God actually begs and pleads with us to listen to what He says!
God has absolutely nothing to gain in this request!
God is already to great for any of us to make Him greater!
God is already to rich for any of us to make Him richer!
The wisest thing we could ever do is to take our hearts and give them to the Lord!
It is our eyes that get us in the most trouble so God says keep your eyes on the ways of the Lord.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
*****Pro 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Pro 23:28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
This whore represents immorality and everyone knows if you fall into a deep ditch it's just very hard to get out.
Immorality is like a trap that will hold you captive and many never escape the clutches of immorality!
An immoral woman will use all her weapons to steal everything you have!
She will steal your family, your home, your career and your money.
She will take away your dignity and your honor, your health and even your life.
Those that fall into the traps of immorality can lose everything that has any real meaning in this life!
We live in a world of extreme immorality today!
We live in a world where the first thing provided to the teenager is birth control.
All manner of sexual sin runs rampant in our own nation!
A wedding ring, the circle of commitment, means nothing.
Modesty is a word that no longer exists!
The only way to avoid these traps is to wear the armor of God and prayer!
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And we must remember that we are the "Body Of Christ" and we are never to take the "members" of Christ and join them to a harlot!
Immorality can only lead to sorrow and woe!
*****Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
There should be no doubt that the Word of God forbids the use of alcohol for consumption. God warns us over and over again against drunkenness.
God then ask for us to answer the question of, who has all these problems in their life?
"Woe" is crying out in despair and grief.
"Sorrow" is crying because of a want or a need, sorrow is pain of the mind.
"Contentions" or strife is brawling and fighting, quarreling and disputing.
"Babblings" or complaints is speech that is vain and meaningless.
"Unnecessary wounds and bruises" and the diseases of addiction.
"Red or bloodshot eyes"
Who then is God speaking of?
*****Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Most would say that these verse speak to the alcoholic and that is true.
But in actuality these Scriptures speak to all who partake of alcohol and any other thing that is mind altering such as drugs.
Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
These Scriptures speak of anyone who takes a drink of alcohol and then tarries for another.
These Scriptures speak of anyone who is craving and seeking these things which speaks of addiction.
There is only one remedy for these things!
To abstain!
*****Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
There is only one answer given to us by the Lord.
Do Not Even Look At It!
If we are not to look at it then we certainly are not to drink of it.
Many will say that the Bible speaks of moderation in the drinking of alcohol but that cannot be true because in the context of this passage it is a father speaking to his son and not some one speaking to a group.
He does not say "drink not too much", he says "do not even look at it"!
The Bible does not speak of moderation when referring to alcoholic beverages.
God says NO!
And our God never changes!
We are not to be tempted by it because the danger to become addicted is just to great!
Alcohol is like that enticing harlot that we are also to avoid!
God says to flee all temptation!
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
All those that have the wisdom of God, who are the wise, will not even consider drinking anything that contains alcohol!
What are the consequences?
*****Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Alcoholic drinks are deadly!
A drink of any kind may quench the thirst and may even be pleasurable for a moment but in the end it can and will bring destruction.
It strikes with the fury of the serpent which can wound or even kill.
Alcohol is poison!
We know the serpent as the agent of temptation, which if followed will bring death.
We know the adder as a serpent that lies in wait to destroy!
Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
Alcohol also alters the way the mind works!
*****Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
People under the influence of alcohol will hallucinate and say all kinds of crazy things.
They will stagger and stumble about like they were on a ship in the midst of the raging ocean.
Most all will get dizzy.
*****Pro 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Many of them will spend most of their night like they are on the mast of a ship where the tossing of the ship is much worse.
Many of them will become sick at their stomachs.
*****Pro 23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Many of them will not even remember what they have done.
They will have little or no pain!
During that hangover they will say, this will never happen again.
But even while they are recovering, they are already thinking about that next drink!
They have become slaves to their sin, because this is what sin does!
The truth is there is nothing more responsible for destroyed lives than alcohol and drugs.
Those who are wise will not partake of these things!
Every alcoholic began with a first drink!
Every drug addiction began with that first time!
All those that teach moderation must deal honestly with the Word of God.
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Many will say that total abstinence is not insisted on in the New Testament.
But God says that abstinence is the goal for the Christian because the sinner should be under our supreme care!
The truth is that we are our brothers keeper!
Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves!
If the Lord Jesus could come to this earth and give His life for every individual who has ever lived, surely if we are to follow in His footsteps we can sacrifice our own opinions and our own taste for the sake of not only our brothers and sisters in Christ but also for those who are lost and without Christ just as He did!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Proverbs 18-23
Who are the godly?
Those that obey God!
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Who are the ungodly?
Those who do not obey the Word of God!
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, "what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God"?
The wisdom that comes from a reverent fear of the Lord, will teach us to avoid an ungodly lifestyle!
*****Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
We should not ever forget that words have the power of life and death; they can either kill or they can nourish life and the Word of God is life!
It is impossible to overestimate the power of the Word of God!
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
It is also just as true that all those who talk with other than God's Words will eat the fruit of their own words!
If the words of each Christian do not expose a godly character then we are not who we say we are!
*****Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
It is true that we all do foolish things from time to time.
It is the foolish things we do that damage our health.
It is the foolish things that are done that can jeopardize a good marriage.
It is foolish things we do that jeopardize our employment.
In fact foolishness will most always affect every aspect of our lives!
Today in our world we see a people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
We may notice it more in our politicians but it has also spread throughout our youth!
We have a world, "do to a lack of wisdom", that blame God for most all their troubles and then in their foolish minds think they have the ability to solve the worlds problems without God.
It is our own sin nature that causes us to blame our own mistakes or sins on someone else, rather than our selves.
The proof of that can be seen in Adam:
Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
It may be true that Eve picked the forbidden fruit and and gave it to Adam, but it was Adam who chose to defy the Word of God and eat of the fruit.
This same characteristic exist in all mankind!
Foolish behavior always carries a price and most of the time a heavy price!
*****Pro 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Self love is righteous and healthy, when it does not come from sinful selfishness!
Life's purpose, life's success, and life's eternal destiny will motivate most people to seek the wisdom to allow these things and that wisdom can come only from a reverent fear of the Lord!
Pro 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
*****Pro 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
What is the biggest problem with our youth of today? The parents have been brainwashed about true discipline!
Parents are commanded to discipline children in order to keep them from the deadly practice of foolishness!
This does not mean to abuse any child but note, this is a command just as much as any of the commands of God!
God says it is urgent that our children be shown the right way by using the verbal and the physical discipline that is required.
This discipline is to begin while our children are young because "that is when there is hope", since there is little or no hope after they are grown!
Parents who neglect the discipline of their children will bear some responsibility for their foolish behavior!
In fact discipline while children are young is the best weapon to use to keep our children from harming themselves and others.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
To not chasten your children is to not love them as you should!
Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
The lifestyle of us all had it's beginning while we were still babes!
*****Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
A godly lifestyle begins with proper advice and proper instructions!
God is saying to "pay attention to what I am telling you"!
To prepare ourselves for the future we must begin in the present and the younger we begin the better!
We will never understand the value of God's instructions until we are living a godly life!
*****Pro 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
What is the truth of a reverent fear of the Lord and a godly lifestyle?
1) There is the gift of life.
To be a Christian is to be immortal.
As the Lord Jesus has an endless life, so do those that trust Him!
Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, "but after the power of an endless life".
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2) There is contentment.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
3) There is security.
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The Christian life is a life of true freedom!
As we submit to the Lord we can walk in the knowledge that we are saved!
Eternal life is not just a life that has no end but also a life that is lived in perfection.
Eternal life is a life in full communion with our Father in Heaven.
*****Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Foolish choices will most always bring with them pain!
When we do not learn from the wisdom of these proverbs we will inflict pain upon ourselves!
We must avoid foolish conduct!
We must not be misled by alcohol.
Alcohol leads to reckless behavior!
Wine is made from fermented grapes.
Strong drink refers to alcohol that is made from fermented grains.
A mocker scoffs at what is is good in society and wine will make you a mocker.
Raging is as a brawler who causes commotion and turmoil.
Strong drink will make you a brawler.
In other words those under the influence of alcohol are often unrecognizable from their normal self!
Those that do not become mockers and brawlers still do and say foolish things and most will behave immorally.
Those who are wise will abstain from all alcoholic beverages!
Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
We must connect with the wisdom of God so we can see properly and not stumble in our ways!
*****Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
The word hear or listen means to obey!
To be wise is to be guided by wisdom and wisdom comes from a reverent fear of the Lord!
We must not allow our hearts to be our guide as the world says because the heart is wicked above all things.
We must not allow our desires to lead us away from the path of righteousness!
*****Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
We must not associate with people who will influence us to follow after the lust of the flesh.
What are our greatest temptations?
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We are commanded to avoid the company of drunkards and gluttons!
Why?
Because they have lost control of themselves!
They are ruled by the desires to their flesh!
They cannot control the activities of their flesh!
They allow their own passions to rule their lives!
What is their end, less they repent?
*****Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
These two things can ruin the lives of all those who become addicted to these things!
The righteous life is a "step by step", "day by day" walk with the Lord!
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The cross is an instrument of death!
We must put our own will, our own desires, our own wants, our own ambitions to death and then follow Jesus!
Wisdom can only be seen through the life and the person of Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As long as we are alive on this earth we will never be able to become the complete master of our flesh!
We must face the fact that we are capable of backsliding at any moment.
If we think we have reached such a plateau in our lives, then that is when we are at our weakest moment!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Our churches are full of carnal, undisciplined Christians and even they can tempt us to stray from the path of righteousness as we try to help make them more mature.
There are also those who abuse Christian liberty and they are just as dangerous an influence as those who are lost.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Anytime we give in to our flesh and stray from God's pathway, we have strayed from the wisdom of God!
The Lord Jesus teaches us to be very careful to avoid all these things.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
*****Pro 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
We already know the God is love and it is love that makes this request of each of us!
We can see that God actually begs and pleads with us to listen to what He says!
God has absolutely nothing to gain in this request!
God is already to great for any of us to make Him greater!
God is already to rich for any of us to make Him richer!
The wisest thing we could ever do is to take our hearts and give them to the Lord!
It is our eyes that get us in the most trouble so God says keep your eyes on the ways of the Lord.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
*****Pro 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Pro 23:28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
This whore represents immorality and everyone knows if you fall into a deep ditch it's just very hard to get out.
Immorality is like a trap that will hold you captive and many never escape the clutches of immorality!
An immoral woman will use all her weapons to steal everything you have!
She will steal your family, your home, your career and your money.
She will take away your dignity and your honor, your health and even your life.
Those that fall into the traps of immorality can lose everything that has any real meaning in this life!
We live in a world of extreme immorality today!
We live in a world where the first thing provided to the teenager is birth control.
All manner of sexual sin runs rampant in our own nation!
A wedding ring, the circle of commitment, means nothing.
Modesty is a word that no longer exists!
The only way to avoid these traps is to wear the armor of God and prayer!
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And we must remember that we are the "Body Of Christ" and we are never to take the "members" of Christ and join them to a harlot!
Immorality can only lead to sorrow and woe!
*****Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
There should be no doubt that the Word of God forbids the use of alcohol for consumption. God warns us over and over again against drunkenness.
God then ask for us to answer the question of, who has all these problems in their life?
"Woe" is crying out in despair and grief.
"Sorrow" is crying because of a want or a need, sorrow is pain of the mind.
"Contentions" or strife is brawling and fighting, quarreling and disputing.
"Babblings" or complaints is speech that is vain and meaningless.
"Unnecessary wounds and bruises" and the diseases of addiction.
"Red or bloodshot eyes"
Who then is God speaking of?
*****Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Most would say that these verse speak to the alcoholic and that is true.
But in actuality these Scriptures speak to all who partake of alcohol and any other thing that is mind altering such as drugs.
Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
These Scriptures speak of anyone who takes a drink of alcohol and then tarries for another.
These Scriptures speak of anyone who is craving and seeking these things which speaks of addiction.
There is only one remedy for these things!
To abstain!
*****Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
There is only one answer given to us by the Lord.
Do Not Even Look At It!
If we are not to look at it then we certainly are not to drink of it.
Many will say that the Bible speaks of moderation in the drinking of alcohol but that cannot be true because in the context of this passage it is a father speaking to his son and not some one speaking to a group.
He does not say "drink not too much", he says "do not even look at it"!
The Bible does not speak of moderation when referring to alcoholic beverages.
God says NO!
And our God never changes!
We are not to be tempted by it because the danger to become addicted is just to great!
Alcohol is like that enticing harlot that we are also to avoid!
God says to flee all temptation!
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
All those that have the wisdom of God, who are the wise, will not even consider drinking anything that contains alcohol!
What are the consequences?
*****Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Alcoholic drinks are deadly!
A drink of any kind may quench the thirst and may even be pleasurable for a moment but in the end it can and will bring destruction.
It strikes with the fury of the serpent which can wound or even kill.
Alcohol is poison!
We know the serpent as the agent of temptation, which if followed will bring death.
We know the adder as a serpent that lies in wait to destroy!
Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
Alcohol also alters the way the mind works!
*****Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
People under the influence of alcohol will hallucinate and say all kinds of crazy things.
They will stagger and stumble about like they were on a ship in the midst of the raging ocean.
Most all will get dizzy.
*****Pro 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Many of them will spend most of their night like they are on the mast of a ship where the tossing of the ship is much worse.
Many of them will become sick at their stomachs.
*****Pro 23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Many of them will not even remember what they have done.
They will have little or no pain!
During that hangover they will say, this will never happen again.
But even while they are recovering, they are already thinking about that next drink!
They have become slaves to their sin, because this is what sin does!
The truth is there is nothing more responsible for destroyed lives than alcohol and drugs.
Those who are wise will not partake of these things!
Every alcoholic began with a first drink!
Every drug addiction began with that first time!
All those that teach moderation must deal honestly with the Word of God.
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Many will say that total abstinence is not insisted on in the New Testament.
But God says that abstinence is the goal for the Christian because the sinner should be under our supreme care!
The truth is that we are our brothers keeper!
Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves!
If the Lord Jesus could come to this earth and give His life for every individual who has ever lived, surely if we are to follow in His footsteps we can sacrifice our own opinions and our own taste for the sake of not only our brothers and sisters in Christ but also for those who are lost and without Christ just as He did!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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