Open Heaven 26 February 2021 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

TOPIC: Dangers Of Alcohol II

MEMORISE: Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. – Proverbs 31:6

READ: Proverbs 31:4-6 (KJV)

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 14-16

MESSAGE:
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1.

The Bible says it is only fools who take alcohol. Alcohol makes a fool of anyone who consumes it, so much that the drunkard standing on solid ground can begin to think he is sleeping in the middle of the sea. He would think he is lying on a bed. Imagine such mockery.

“Oh, I just want to take a little; I can’t get drunk: I know how to control myself.” No one starts drinking with the intention of misbehaving and acting foolish. It starts with looking at the drink and desiring it. The moment you start desiring it, you are already treading close to the trap of the devil and you will soon fall if you don’t take your eyes and mind off it. If you know that you struggle with taking alcohol, why would you go for a meeting in a bar? You are only tempting yourself. If you want to stop drinking, then you have to overcome the fear of losing the friends who drink with you.

When I met Christ and stopped drinking, I lost friends because whenever they visited me, I offered them soft drinks instead of the assorted alcoholic beverages we used to drink. I lost friends, but God replaced them with many brothers and sisters in Him.

Proverbs 31:4 says:
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: “

In other words, the one who drinks cannot make clear decisions. If a person cannot make good decisions, how then would such a person excel in life? How would he or she become great and fulfil destiny? If you want to achieve greatness in life and have all your dreams come true, you have to let go of alcohol.

How do you stop taking alcohol? Stop looking at it. Don’t look at the drink or it’s container at all. Don’t watch the adverts, don’t spend time around people who drink or talk about alcohol.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” – Proverbs 23:31-32

Abstain from alcohol, it ruins destinies.

KEY POINT: Alcohol has nothing else to offer the drinker but evil. Flee from it.

HYMN 22: Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus

  1. Stand up! stand up for Jesus,
    Ye soldiers of the Cross!
    Lift high His royal banner;
    It must not suffer loss.
    From vict’ry unto vict’ry
    His army shall He lead,
    Till every foe is vanquished,
    And Christ is Lord indeed.
  2. Stand up! stand up for Jesus,
    The trumpet call obey;
    Forth to the mighty conflict,
    In this His glorious day;
    Ye that are men now serve Him
    Against unnumbered foes;
    Let courage rise with danger,
    And strength to strength oppose.
  3. Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
    Stand in His strength alone;
    The arm of flesh will fail you,
    Ye dare not trust your own:
    Put on the gospel armour,
    And watching unto prayer;
    Where duty calls, or danger,
    Be never wanting there.
  4. Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
    The strife will not be long;
    This day the noise of battle,
    The next the victor’s song;
    To him that overcometh,
    A crown of life shall be;
    He with the King of glory
    Shall reign eternally