Drinking Part 3 - When Drinking Becomes Drunking

501 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 11:13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. Let's talk about drinking. But before we begin I want to speak to those who are recovering alcoholics. May God bless your sobriety, may He continue to give you the strength to say no to even one drink, because you know that in your situation, one drink is too many. The Bible does not forbid drinking but more important for the alcoholic....it doesn't command drinking either. You'll do just fine if you never put a drink to your lips. Drinking is not forbidden in the Bible, but excessive drinking, (to the point of drunkenness is) But when does drinking become drunking? First of all, understand this, the wine of the Bible is a lot different than the wine we drink today. It was typically mixed with three parts water. This watering down of the wine meant that your bladder would give out before alcohol would have it's forbidden effect of inebriation. Anything that was stronger than a three to one ratio was considered strong drink, and the Bible warns us about the effects of excessive strong drink. Pr 23:29 Who has woe? (Trouble) Who has sorrow? (Regrets) Who has contentions? (Fights) Who has complaints? (Babblings) Who has wounds without cause? (Injuries) Who has redness of eyes? (Hangovers) 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, (undiluted) When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?" These various effects occur when drinking becomes drunking. Having once been in the camp of the drunkard, I can tell you that all these things are true and more. Perhaps the saddest thing about drunkenness is the effect that it has on all the innocent people in your life. I thank God every day that through faith in Jesus Christ He delivered me from the sin of drunkenness and all it's effects. Come to Jesus today it is His desire to (set the prisoner free) deliver you as well!