"DIVINE INFLUENCE"

With so much emphasis in our world on alcohol and partying, I thought I would put this devotional together for the benefit and encouragement of many today who may struggle with this issue or any addiction for that matter. As a child of God I find it important that we live by The Word of God as closely as possible and not see how distant we can remove ourselves from His Word and still be 'saved'. I want to share some thoughts from Ephesians 5 and verse 18 which reads, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" (KJV) Paul, by way of God's Holy Spirit, associates the appetite for alcoholic beverages with the control of The Holy Spirit in the Christian's life. As alcohol affects the drinker, so the Holy Spirit, given at our new birth, should affect us. At least seven areas of similarity can be seen. First; No one is born a drunkard. Somewhere in life he or she is introduced to it and develops a taste or desire for it. No one, as well, is born with a desire for God's Holy Spirit. It too must be something to which they are introduced and then truly develop a desire and longing for it. Second; Unless a person is introduced to alcohol, develops that taste and becomes addicted, he will never become a 'wino'. The same is true of the one desiring to be Godly. Until and unless we become so desirous for God and His Spirit's influence in our lives, we will never be under His control as we should. Third; Alcohol is also used to escape many and varied situations in life. As we see in our society so often, alcohol does not solve problems or even remove them, but rather temporarily allows the one under its control to escape from life. The one under the control of alcohol admits that there is 'another world' to which they can escape reality. For God's people, there is an even greater world to which we can escape; His kingdom, The Church, as we "Forsake not the assembly of the Saints." (Heb. 10) Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." For the Christian under The Spirit's control, there is peace and real joy unspeakable and full of glory. Fourth; Alcohol, drunkenness, affects many areas of the one who drinks. His wife, children, work, schooling; all these and others soon feel the effects of his ungodly habit. In the same way, when we develop a true taste and desire for God's Spirit more and more in our lives daily and cannot get enough. What an effect HE will have on our wife, children, job, and social aspects completely. Fifth; Often times we hear of those who 'drink regularly' as telling stories, opening up in unusual honesty and even in their gathering with others of similar persuasion there will be singing and laughter involved; a certain comradery. The Apostle Paul recommends highly the sharing of Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, as well, as a response of our joy of being filled with The Spirit. These times of sharing are so much sweeter when shared with those of 'like-precious-faith' found in Christ. Sixth; The first effect of alcohol is always the same; how it is an influence on the brain when it comes to judgment and how a person relates to the world around them. Distance, movement and vision are no longer clear and sharp or to be trusted. The same is true with God's Spirit in our lives. The brain is the first thing effected. We have a fresh new look at the world around us. We see people and events, not through our own eyes, but through the eyes of God's Spirit and His Word as we crave and desire it more each day. We see this new world from God's perspective, eternal and not temporarily for what we might gain. Our vision and judgment, as well, are altered. Seventh; Last of all, this alcohol addicted person will do most anything to get his hands on what it is that holds him so tightly. He will lie, hide it from those closest to him, cheat, deceive and even steal to get hold of it. He must have it at all costs. So it is, or should be, for the one addicted to Christ and His Holy Word. He must have it! For this addict there is no greater place to go than God's Holy Book, the Bible itself. He wants it, desires it, craves it and cannot get enough of it and to be filled. His desire is not to hide it but to share it with others. Drinking alcohol often leads to a destructive life, or at least a life not so dedicated to God. But a life addicted to God and His Word always leads to joy, peace and ultimately heaven itself no matter the circumstances life brings. I also notice in the language of the Bible that a person is not to even be influenced by the wine Paul speaks of, however, when speaking of God's Holy Spirit we are to attempt to be filled... God bless until our next time...