Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - #
341
Michael’s book is
available through:
ABIDING LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859 www.abidinglife.com
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This day’s writing enters a realm where few even
tread. And the pros and cons are as numerous as the shells on any seashore. I
will let you read and decide whether you change your position on “alcohol and
the Christian,” one way or the other…
DAY 357
Why
Did God Create Alcohol?
Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine.
--Genesis 27:28
Solomon, with all his wisdom, took a long hard
look at the topic of alcohol and experimented with its use. Ecclesiastes 2:3, “I explored with my mind
how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how
to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men
to do under heaven the few years of their lives.” He drank wine in an attempt
to discover its benefits. As the topic of alcohol is examined, the first thing
to establish is the fact that God did create it. Often the argument is made
that fallen man, attempting to feed the flesh, created alcohol, and indeed,
there is specific testimony throughout the Bible as to the misuse of wine. Proverbs
23:20 sums it up, “Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine.” Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong
drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” The New
Testament gives injunctions concerning those that are addicted to wine. Within
the context of this argument against God’s involvement in the creation of
alcohol, the point is made that God created grape juice, or new wine, but never
created alcohol. However, Scriptures do not support such a distinction. Judges
9:13, “But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God
and men, and go to wave over the trees?’” I cannot see how grape juice cheers
the heart. Also, Isaiah 25:6, “The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet
for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with
marrow.” The Lord is preparing a feast that includes aged wine! Then in Acts
2:13, “But others were mocking and saying, ‘They are full of sweet wine.’”
Sweet wine, new wine, aged wine; all wine contains some alcoholic content. The
fact that something is misused does not discount either its Creator or its
original purpose. If this were true, what could be said of the sex drive,
medications, and computers? God has created wine. In fact, God required the
sacrifice of wine, a libation, along with the other things that He created.
Exodus 29:40, “and there shall be
one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten
oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb.” There
are other interesting or perplexing passages. Remember, Scripture must be used
to interpret and limit the meaning of other Scriptures, so a validation of wine
is not an endorsement of drunkenness any more than the rightful institution of
sex in marriage is an endorsement of wanton promiscuity.
Psalm
104:15, “And wine which makes man’s heart glad, so that he may make his face
glisten with oil, and food which sustains man’s heart.”
Proverbs 31:6, 7,
“Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is
bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his trouble no
more.”
Ecclesiastes
9:7, “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful
heart, for God has already approved your works!”
Finally,
we have Jesus turning water into wine. John 2:7, 8, “Jesus said to them, ‘Fill
the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said*
to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to
him.”
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Well, what do you think?
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital
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NOTICE: another blog on
Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. You can access by logging onto
www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(email) leemccm@gmail.com
P.O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches,
TX 75963 936-559-5696
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