Word on the Web/29 September

[ladylovesJesus]

29 September 2007

Ephesians 5 v 18-20

Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit. Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How much should a Christian drink? In fact, should a Christian be drinking alcohol at all? It's a question that has caused a lot of arguments over the years. It's not surprising, though, when figures show that about half of all violent crime is alcohol related and our TV screens are full of images of today's 'binge drinking booze culture'.

But there is a world of difference between drinking and being drunk. Taking this passage to mean we shouldn't drink alcohol at all misses the point - after all, Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding party in Canaan! (see John's Gospel chapter 2 verses 1-11).

All through the letter to Ephesians, we're warned against taking anything to excess - whether that's greed, lust, drunkenness. When you take these things to excess they can "ruin you" - become addictions that fill up your life and squeeze God out, and it's this we should avoid: giving our lives over to something other than God. This passage gives us something much better to fill our lives up with - loose yourself in prayer and praise to God instead of loosing control to wine! It's so much better for you!

Take time to read through some newspapers this week, or to watch the news on TV. What other kind of cultural issues, like drinking, do you think could affect you as a Christian? How should Christians respond to these issues? Pray your conclusions over with God - even if you end up saying "I don't know how I should deal with this, please help me." Think about asking another Christian or church leader their opinion.

Written by David Redfield

 

[spirit1st]

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.

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The LORD wants us to keep our sound minds and to do Nothing that keeps us from thinking clearly.

This is not only about drinking or drugs , but also what we fill our minds with? Could be evil movies or pictures or shows or people around us to talk evil.

Our minds are not so good at rejecting evil things? So we must protect our minds and not allow evil to enter in . Our minds are kind of like computers? They take in every thing we allow and can be over loaded with junk???

Protect your mind and body the best you can?
Bless you in the name of JESUS CHRIST if you are willing for our LORDS sake to live this way!