Go Ahead, Convince Me! Why You Should Choose Not to Drink Alcohol

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler ; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. KJV: …whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Wine will mock you, make a fool of you. Beer leads to brawls, fights, arguments. Alcohol will deceive you. If you’re saying, “It won’t”, then you’re probably already deceived.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler ; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

KJV: …whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Wine will mock you, make a fool of you.

Beer leads to brawls, fights, arguments.

Alcohol will deceive you. If you’re saying, “It won’t”, then you’re probably already deceived.

Proverbs 31:4-5, KJV It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine , nor for princes strong drink , lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Alcohol can cause you to lose sight of God’s word, to “forget the law” . Alcohol can impair your good judgment.

Proverbs 31:4-5, KJV It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine , nor for princes strong drink , lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Alcohol can cause you to lose sight of God’s word, to “forget the law” .

Alcohol can impair your good judgment.

Leviticus 10:9 You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die.... You must distinguish between the holy and the common , between the unclean and the clean . Alcohol will impair your ability to “distinguish … between the unclean and the clean.” Alcohol will rob you of a clear head.

Leviticus 10:9 You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die.... You must distinguish between the holy and the common , between the unclean and the clean .

Alcohol will impair your ability to “distinguish … between the unclean and the clean.”

Alcohol will rob you of a clear head.

Isaiah 28:7, KJV 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 . You’ll err in vision, stumble in judgment. You can be “swallowed up” by alcohol. Alcohol can lead you “out of the way”.

Isaiah 28:7, KJV 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 .

You’ll err in vision, stumble in judgment.

You can be “swallowed up” by alcohol.

Alcohol can lead you “out of the way”.

Micah 2:11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer ,' he would be just the prophet for this people! The “Christian liberty” message! “ Plenty of beer” – Just the right “prophetic” message for many Christians today! Sadly, many believers have bought into this “liberty” message.

Micah 2:11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer ,' he would be just the prophet for this people!

The “Christian liberty” message!

“ Plenty of beer” – Just the right “prophetic” message for many Christians today!

Sadly, many believers have bought into this “liberty” message.

2 Samuel 13:28-29 Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him …." So Absalom's men did … what Absolom had ordered. Getting “high” can render you vulnerable to violence, even death. For example: Drunk driving fatalities Muggings of alcohol-impaired people

2 Samuel 13:28-29 Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him …." So Absalom's men did … what Absolom had ordered.

Getting “high” can render you vulnerable to violence, even death. For example:

Drunk driving fatalities

Muggings of alcohol-impaired people

Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks , who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine . A classic description of the addictive nature of alcohol Start drinking in the morning Still drinking late at night “ Inflamed” with wine

Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks , who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine .

A classic description of the addictive nature of alcohol

Start drinking in the morning

Still drinking late at night

“ Inflamed” with wine

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. John the Baptist was instructed to be a lifelong teetotaler. That was associated with his being… “ great in the sight of the Lord” “ filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth” He is a great example for us.

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

John the Baptist was instructed to be a lifelong teetotaler. That was associated with his being…

“ great in the sight of the Lord”

“ filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth”

He is a great example for us.

Genesis 19:32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father. Alcohol often opens the door to sexual immorality and even perversion (here, incest).

Genesis 19:32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.

Alcohol often opens the door to sexual immorality and even perversion (here, incest).

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery . Instead , be filled with the Spirit . Again, sexual immorality ( “debauchery” ) is a common result of drinking alcohol. The antidote ( “instead” ) is to be “filled with the Spirit ” and to walk accordingly.

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery . Instead , be filled with the Spirit .

Again, sexual immorality ( “debauchery” ) is a common result of drinking alcohol.

The antidote ( “instead” ) is to be “filled with the Spirit ” and to walk accordingly.

1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water , and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses . Many believers use this verse to justify their drinking alcohol, but they ignore the context . “… because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses ” – wine was being used medicinally. So “stop drinking only water , and use a little wine…” Timothy was a teetotaler ( “only water” ) – good! Water in many parts of the ancient world was contaminated . Paul said a “ little wine” would help his stomach problems.

1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water , and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses .

Many believers use this verse to justify their drinking alcohol, but they ignore the context .

“… because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses ” – wine was being used medicinally.

So “stop drinking only water , and use a little wine…”

Timothy was a teetotaler ( “only water” ) – good!

Water in many parts of the ancient world was contaminated .

Paul said a “ little wine” would help his stomach problems.

Romans 14:21, KJV It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine , nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth , or is offended , or is made weak . Compelling reasons not to drink alcohol: Not to cause your brother to stumble Not to offend your brother Not to weaken your brother

Romans 14:21, KJV It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine , nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth , or is offended , or is made weak .

Compelling reasons not to drink alcohol:

Not to cause your brother to stumble

Not to offend your brother

Not to weaken your brother

I’ll close with the verses that led me to go “on the wagon” in 1971. These verses overcame all my arguments justifying my drinking. Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine , who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper . 33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things . 34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging . 35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me , but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

I’ll close with the verses that led me to go “on the wagon” in 1971. These verses overcame all my arguments justifying my drinking.

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine , who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper . 33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things . 34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging . 35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me , but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

“ Go Ahead, Convince Me!” “ Why You Should Choose Not to Drink Alcohol” I hope that these Scriptures have succeeded today in convincing you.

“ Why You Should Choose

Not to Drink Alcohol”

I hope that these Scriptures have succeeded today in convincing you.