Our new life in Christ, is one, where we progressively subdue the desires of our sinful nature by yielding to the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit in us.
In our previous blogs, we have taken a look at some of the various expressions of our sinful nature that we need to overcome: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, and jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies and envy. The sins of drunkenness and revelries will be examined today. Let us once refer to the Scripture in Galatians where all these works of the flesh are outlined:
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 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. (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV Emphasis mine)
Drunkenness
Unlike some of the other sins stated in this text above, the sin of drunkenness is captured as drunkenness in almost all the Bible versions.
Drunkenness is the state of being under the influence of strong liquor. When a person is drunk, that person’s normal state of mind is affected and that person is unable to reason or behave as he or she would typically have, in his right mind. A person who is also slightly drunk (tipsy) is still disoriented. Whichever way, the Bible categorically states that drunkenness is a sin.
Indeed, even though the Bible does not state that taking any form of alcohol is in itself a sin, it admonishes us to stay away from alcohol because of its potential to make its victim act irrationally.
Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Prov 20:1 NKJV)
So in Proverbs chapter 23, the wisest man Solomon, outlines certain predicaments that the one who yields to the lure of alcohol finds himself in: woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints and wounds without cause. He ends that counsel by saying:
Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. (Proverbs 24:32 NKJV)
In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we read of a woman called Abigail, described as “beautiful and very intelligent”, who was married to Nabal also described as “uncouth, churlish, stubborn, and ill-mannered”. In this story, we learn that but for Abigail’s swift intervention, king David and his men would have killed Nabal’s household because of the latter’s act of foolishness. Towards the latter part of this same story, we get the sense that Nabal was probably drunk when he sent that provocative answer to king David.
So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. (1 Samuel 25:37-39 NKJV)
No wonder, Nabal was considered as a fool because he was often under the influence of alcohol and acted foolishly in various instances. A wise man, will desist from alcohol so as not to act irrationally.
There is also the example of Noah that we read in the Bible. Noah is described as a “just man, perfect in his generations” (Gen 6). We read however, that one day, Noah, being a farmer, got drunk with the wine of his own vineyard, and lay “uncovered in his tent”. His son Ham, saw the nakedness of his father and reported the same to his two brothers, who refused to look on their father’s nakedness but rather walked backwards into their father’s room with a garment to cover his nakedness.
This action of Ham, provoked Noah to curse him and his descendants after him; for in the ancient world, it was not merely an offence to see a father’s nakedness but actually a capital crime.
So by yielding to the lure of wine this one time, righteous Noah, indirectly brought a curse on his son Ham and his descendants after him. No wonder the counsel of king Lemuel’s mother is one worth paying attention to:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. (Prov 31:4-5 NKJV)
Instead of yielding to the lure of alcohol, being drunk by it, and acting under its influence, the Scriptures urge us to allow ourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit in all we do and say:
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:18-30 New Living Translation)
Just as alcohol influences a person to say and do things he or she would normally not have done in his right mind, so are we to allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lifestyles, actions and inactions. We should be addicted to praying in the Spirit, as a drunkard is to wine, by daily creating and positioning ourselves in an environment where Christ is glorified. So that now,
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20 ESV)
Revelries
While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as revelries, some other versions refer to it as orgies and others, wild parties. The original word in the Greek translation is komos, translated merry making, with wine and hosting unbridled sexual activity. So reveling has to do with participating in wild parties.
While Jesus was here on earth, he participated in dinners and other social gatherings. In fact, His first miracle was at a wedding feast. (John 2) He was hosted by Simon the Pharisee to a dinner in the latter’s house (Luke 7); and also dined with Zaccheaus(Luke 19).
This shows us that there is nothing wrong for the believer in Christ Jesus to attend dinners where there is good food, good music, various beverages and some moderate fun activities. A party is termed as Revelry, when it has to do with some aspect of sensuality, open display of sexual advances or profanity. This is what the believer in the Lord should desist from. Our guideline for participating in social activities should be the Scripture below:
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 11:1 NKJV)
So in participating in any social activity, the question we ought to ask ourselves, is “does our presence there give glory to God? What social atmosphere has been created there? Is the music being played there uplifting or one filled with profanity?
It is interesting to note that when Jesus attended any of the social gatherings earlier indicated, He demonstrated God’s love to the people in one way or the other: either through a miracle by turning water into wine, or by forgiving a sinner as in the case of the “unnamed woman” who was known by the community. (Luke 7)
Similarly, as a child of God, we ought to ask ourselves, whether we are demonstrating God’s love and are being an example to the people around whenever we find ourselves in a social gathering. Do people see you as different? Can they see the light of God in you?
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. ……. I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! (Matt 5:14-15a, The Message Bible)
Let us endeavor to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and seek to bring glory to God in whatever we do and wherever we find ourselves. For when we purpose in our hearts to do this, the Grace of God will abound to us in that venture (Titus 2:11) and we will progressively be able to subdue the sinful desires of our old nature and be transformed into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 3:18)
May the Lord help us all in this regard.
Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!
God bless you.
