By Michael Adekoya – “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18).
Dear Reader, people are saying, “What are we going to do about unrest in the Middle East? What are we going to do about cancer?” My friend, I want to ask you, “What are we going to do about those people who are dying everyday as a result of alcohol or people who bring shame and disgrace to themselves and their family?”
If we realize that alcohol was like any other plague bringing death and destruction to peoples’ lives, everyone in the liquor and entertainment industry would be doing telethons or camp meetings to raise support, sending out informational literature to build awareness, and doing everything they could to stop it! I venture to say that there would be rewards offered if people could find a cure.
How can people be so drunk and misbehaving on the street so early in the morning on Sunday to the extent of bearing on their bodies so many wounds full of fresh bloods? This was the question that came to my mind yesterday morning, on my way to the church, when I saw a group of men and women in this situation. Of course, I stopped to render help but it is a malady that needs divine intervention and national human responsibility.
In this day and age; more than 300 persons die every week in alcohol-related car crashes. Each week, you saw this on the news and read it in the newspapers! My friend, what if a plane went down each week killing all 300 people on board? Do you think there would be a Parliamentarian, Congressional or Senatorial investigation? Do you think that the Department of Transportation of your nation would launch an all-out investigation? Of course they would! Do you think the church would do something about it? Instead, the liquor industry and its lobbyists have done a good job of concealing the destructive secret of alcohol.
The Bible says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Pro. 20:1) I wish the people who have turned to alcoholic or people who drink alcohol to relieve themselves from pressure, stress or any form of trouble, read this verse again. My friend, I want to tell you that it is King Alcohol that is making our roads and highways slaughter pens and ruining domestic tranquility in some homes. And sadly, the church is silent about it knowing well that the church is an extension of our homes. People start out drinking for happiness, and then it only makes them unhappy.
Drinking produces one contradiction after another. There are people who drink for friendship and make an enemy. They drink for social and in most cases loose out gallantly. Today, people drink for sleep and awaken without rest. They drink for strength and feel weak. They drink medicinally and acquire health problems. They drink for relaxation and get the shakes. They drink for bravery and become afraid. They drink for confidence and become doubtful. They drink to converse easier and get slurred speech. They drink to feel “heavenly” and end up feeling “hellish.” They drink to forget and are forever haunted. They drink for freedom and become slaves. They drink to erase problems and see them multiply. They drink to cope with life and invite death.
What a mockery alcohol makes of our society! Pro. 23:29-35 warns, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. “They struck me, but I did not become ill; they beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”
My friend, are you a drunkard or an alcoholic? Or do you know someone in your family, church, work-place, school, community, neighbourhood or street who is one? Do you seek relief or comfort in alcohol? Are you growing up in a home with alcoholism? You’ll agree with me that when drunkards are full, they act differently. The Bible says, “…Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18) Do not be drunk with pride, prejudice, power, position or possession. Don’t be drunk with body, beauty or books. Be filled with Holy Spirit!
Billy Graham tells of a Pastor who got drunk and the church board of elders asked him to resign. He said he would if they would resign also. When they asked him why they should resign, he said, “Because I failed the first part of the Scripture verse in Eph. 5:18… “Do not be drunk with wine,” but you failed the second part, “be filled with the Spirit.” My friend, I wonder how many people in the Body of Christ could pass such a test today. I wonder how many choir members; how many ‘meeters and greeters’ in your church would still be singing in the choir next Sunday or how many deacons and elders would still be serving on the board or how many members failed the test.
Paul says, “if the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in you, He shall quicken your mortal body.” (Rom 8:17) My friend, there are two words you need to look at here. First, “if”. A lot of people who are saved are not necessarily “filled” with the Holy Spirit. No wonder we have weak services, weak worship, prayer and evangelism lifestyles. The second word is “dwell”. Maybe you were once filled but other things have entered your life and the oil has run low, run dry or run out. Here is the Good News! All you have to do is go to God today, not tomorrow, and ask Him to fill you again. He’ll do it! I know Him! He will. Don’t live another day without Him.
My friend, ministry (your service to God and people)”is not by your might, nor by your own power but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech 4:6). Do not be drunk with position, don’t be drunk with pride, don’t be drunk with possessions, with other power, with arrogance, with selfishness, with sins, with lies, with worldly things, with non-challant attitudes or with wine, but “be filled with the Spirit of God.” And when you are filled, you will act differently.
In Shiloh, when Hannah, filled with the Spirit of God, poured out her heart to God in prayer, Eli who was her Pastor thought she was drunk but the result was that Samuel was born. On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, on-lookers thought they were drunk. But what happened next? One Holy Spirit energized sermon from Brother Peter brought 3000 souls to Christ and in another service 5000 people gave their lives to Jesus…no gimmicks, no advertisement. It was all orchestrated by God. This is my heart desire and passion as we have now entered in the “All Things Are Possible” seasons – the last chapter of the Church history. My friend, Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Remain blessed!
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
