It looks terrible when you drink alcohol in front of people. You are damaging your body. You are weakening those who watch you. And, it is a wicked thing to do in front of a former drinker who is struggling to stay sober. It is equally bad to do it in front of those who have never indulged, because they might start drinking when they see you doing it.
None of the old excuses work anymore, and God help you if you defend even moderate drinking as some sort of display of God’s goodness, your claim to personal liberty, or as a crusade against a ‘religious spirit’. That is total bunk.
Here are new and compelling reasons you need to stop now. And yes, I have upgraded my position on this. Before, I said that the Bible condemned drunkenness, but not drinking in moderation. But I said the Holy Spirit was leading certain individuals into an alcohol-free life for a deeper anointing. Now I am saying that every Christian needs to lose the booze.
Here are the new reasons:
-There is no safe dosage of alcohol. A few years ago we were told that a little red wine was good for your heart. We now know that is false. We now know there is no safe level of drinking. Kate Lelland in an article from Reuters entitled “Major study debunks myth that moderate drinking can be healthy”, reports: “Blood pressure and stroke risk rise steadily the more alcohol people drink, and previous claims that one or two drinks a day might protect against stroke are not true, according to the results of a major genetic study.”
The research, which used data from a group of 160,000 Chinese adults, many of whom are unable to metabolize alcohol due to genetic intolerance, found that those who drink moderately, consuming amounts even as small as 10 to 20 grams (that’s 1/3 to 2/3 of an oz.) of alcohol a day, raise their risk of stroke by 10 to 15 percent. Do the math, for drinking larger amounts…
For heavy drinkers, those who consume four or more drinks a day, blood pressure rises significantly and the risk of stroke increases by around 35 percent, the study found.
“The key message here is that, at least for stroke, there is no protective effect of moderate drinking,” said Zhengming Chen, a professor at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Population Health who co-led the research. “The genetic evidence shows the protective effect is not real.”
They went on to say, “It’s not a good idea to start drinking alcohol to protect yourself against heart disease. Simply put, it’s just not worth it. With alcohol and the heart, it’s a benefit and risk trade off. So, for example, while alcohol’s anti-clotting ability might protect against heart attack to a limited extent, it may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (i.e.: when a blood vessel bursts causing bleeding inside the brain). Alcohol’s potential small benefits for the heart are outweighed by its increased risks of developing other very serious illnesses, such as liver disease or cancer.” And speaking of cancer…
-Alcohol causes cancer. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta said, “Drinking alcohol raises your risk of getting six kinds of cancer—mouth and throat cancer; voice box (laryngeal) cancer; esophageal cancer; colorectal cancer; liver cancer; breast cancer.” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/alcohol/index.htm
-Alcohol and brain damage: SAM BLANCHARD HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE wrote: Disturbing scans reveal how brain damage caused by alcohol continues on for up to SIX WEEKS after you stop drinking. Experts in Germany and Spain scanned the brains of alcoholics and non-drinkers, and they found there was less activity in the brains of those who drink−even weeks later.
(http://healthmedicinet.com/i/disturbing-scans-reveal-how-brain-damage-caused-by-alcohol-carries-on-for-up-to-six-weeks/)
Areas of the brain controlling emotions, behavior and memory were affected.
Although drinking can make people feel happier and more sociable, overuse can cause damage to those parts of the brain that control thoughts and movement.
Scans showed there is significantly less electrical activity in the brains of drinkers than of teetotallers– even after two weeks of sobriety. The changes were still present in the brain after six weeks of no alcohol, according to the research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry.
The researchers said their findings go against the conventional idea that damage from alcohol ends when the drinking ends.
Dr. Santiago Canals, one of the authors of the study, said: “Until now, nobody could believe that in the absence of alcohol the damage in the brain would progress.”
The scans showed that the two areas that were affected the worst, were the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.
Memories, emotions, decision-making, and behavior are controlled by these parts of the brain, suggesting these characteristics could be particularly altered.
“We found that at two and six weeks of abstinence, the micro-structural changes progressed,” the scientists wrote in their report.
AND FINALLY:
-It is an empty defense to say that Jesus drank wine. No one really knows what He drank, and we do not know what the level of alcohol was, if any, in the wine at Cana. We do know that He didn’t drink anything close to modern alcoholic drinks. The best estimate is that today’s wine contains 300% more alcohol than most wines in the first century. Distilling was not invented until centuries later. We know that Jesus gave up all wine after the Last Supper to prepare for His crucifixion (Luke 22:18). He even refused it at the cross.
-It is inaccurate to say that Paul recommended alcohol to Timothy. Drinkaware, a secular website devoted to drinking says this: “Put simply, alcohol irritates your digestive system. Drinking–even a little–makes your stomach produce more acid than usual, which can in turn cause gastritis (the inflammation of the stomach lining). This triggers stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and, in heavy drinkers, even bleeding.” Okay. Do you think Paul would recommend alcohol as a cure for Timothy’s stomach?
It wasn’t because the wine contained alcohol that Paul recommended that Timothy “no longer drink water.” Many Bible scholars believe that Paul was telling Timothy that his stomach problems were being caused by the water where he was located. Paul added, “but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and those frequent infirmities of yours” (I Tim. 5:23). Paul was recommending that Timothy forgo drinking the local water, perhaps because of the many types of water pollution common in those times, such as dysentery, Guardia, lead poisoning, pollution, etc.
Of course, there are many other issues we need to cover, including nutrition, wholesome conversation, bad company, financial integrity, and sexual purity. But right now, the enemy is capitalizing on the subtly of alcohol to cause many vessels of God to plateau and cease growing in holiness, and even to destroy their anointing, their power, and their walk with the Holy Spirit.
We are about to lose our country. Do you want to be remembered as one who championed the cause of social drinking? You know you want power. You know you yearn for a greater presence of God on your life. Don’t let a crude habit sabotage your destiny.
Remember, a real disciple gives up what they want now, for what they want most.
THANK YOU Brother Murillo for speaking out on this very needful topic!
Paul warned that we should not do anything that would cause a brother or sister to stumble. There is no way a person can buy alcohol without being seen: whether at the wine & spirits shop or the supermarket or wherever.
What if some weak or new Christian sees you walking in or out of the liquor store with a bottle under your arm?
Or what if they are someone you meet one day and share the Gospel with?
In both cases they may think it is ok to drink alcohol because brother or sister so and so does. Then they get into the habit and before long, become addicted and lose interest in Christ. Their blood could well be on your hands.
The truth is those who drink alcohol even a glass or two of red in the evening to “unwind” are falling into a trap!
There are Bible verses warning us not to drink alcohol. I think of one, where Solomons mother addresses her son: “It is not for you, O king, it is not fitting for kings to drink wine.” We are kings and priests unto God.
It is not fitting for us to drink alcohol.
We need to be sober and vigilant for our enemy goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
The word alcohol comes from the Arabic: al-khul, meaning: “body eating spirit.”
“All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.” We need to shed everything that is a hindrance, or even threatens to be.
May the Lord give us all wisdom to walk circumspectly in these last days.
My former boss one day said that from a very stressful event that happened had to drink a few glasses of wine to calm down. Red flag! What if something very serious happened in their life? Would they turn to drink?
EXACTLY Mario!!…and EXCELENT.
A very dear and loved one in my family just had a blood clot to the brain STROKE he’d been drinking excessively just prior to it. This cerebral event has totally altered his life and now he is handicapped at a fairly young age. The Doctors revealed that 1st and foremost the substance abuse was a catalyst to his brain & blood’s response. He now lives on blood thinners and those cause hemorrhaging at the drop of a hat.
We and he fought for his life for 2 months now, struggles beyond compare! BOOZE is satan’s elixir ANYONE who cannot comprehend that is sure to be lost in the devils schemes for their life’s failure. And ANYONE who does not know the correct science available now that clearly exposes the way that alcohol KILLS brain cells that can never be regenerated, is just plain ignorant to the facts.
I promise you it is not fun nor easy to watch the aftermath of brain damage, and for “what”?… a blubbering temporary high that ends with much more than a headache!?Sad.
The argument is Jesus’ first miracle? Why did He say, “fill with pots with Water?” It was Sea salt water based and not alcohol. Big difference! Our body-60%, brain and heart-73%, lungs-83%, skin-64%, muscles and kidneys-79% and bones are 31% water! Alcohol and water do not mix! Alcohol will not destroy your brain cells but they will damage them to this effect: your cognitive learning ability is damaged, and there is a direct link between mental illness and psychosis with just the consumption of alcohol. Why do you think they call most hard liquor, “SPIRITS?” Let that sink in! Here’s the bottom line: our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat it as such by putting things into our body that are good for it! Plain and simple! From correct, organic food, , lots of water, good nutrition, working out, etc. The Spiritual side is if you want to be anointed for your call “be sober ‘minded’ and vigilant” in all we do because “the enemy walks around seeking who he may devour.”
I’ve been saying that for many years my brother. And totally bear witness. But sadly this issue is far more accepted in the higher rank and file of Church leadership than most people recognize. I’ve personally witnessed it. Thank you Mario for being candid with your brothers and sisters.
Thank you so much Mario for speaking truth that the people of God need to hear. The last church that we attended had me appalled at the friends that we knew who drank alcohol – usually wine and they thought that they were free to be able to do so and we were religious for not doing so. Not the case. My husband was delivered from alcohol abuse so we were not going back to the pit. Needless to say, we are no longer in that church as there were many red flags. I have found that once you go against the flow, you end up pretty much by yourself. I am more interested in pleasing God than a bunch of deceived people!
I know of a couple who drank wine. Their daughter grew up seeing that, and she got an alcohol problem in college and God convicted her parents about drinking wine and it was of that that their daughter had the problem, so they quit.
The daughter is now a born-again Christian.
Mark 2:22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”[ here refering to the Holy Spirit, you don’t fill the old man with the Holy Spirit but the new creation in him, he talks about putting new patches on old garment’s, it dosen’t work, but read above, when ask why his disciples didn’t fast, because he is with them, but theres coming a day when he will be gone, and then you fast and you be sober and watch for your masters return, Mark 2:19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. ][ then we receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit, hey he can make you drunk in the Spirit, you feel so out of this world wonderful, he calms your nerves, stomach, lays you plum out on the floor or bed, why would you want something out of a bottle, when God gives the real thing, the devil didn’t invent getting under the influence, our God did, its called his PRESENCE, by raising our hands and praising and worshipping him he will come down and intoxicate you, WITH IS OVERWHELMING PRESENCE, IF YOU NEED TO LAUGH TO GET YOUR JOY BACK HE WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, WHAT EVER YOU NEED HE HAS IT, IN HIS PRESENCE,, AND YOU DON’T HAVE A HANGOVER, YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE WEAK, but thats all, the devil can only imitate it, with a bottle, or powder, or shoot up, BUT WHAT gOD GIVES WILL MAKE YOU STRONG AND CUT SOME THINGS OUT OF YOU, Mark 2:20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Mar 2:21
¶
“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. { that new wine is the best wine ever, and you don’t have a hangover, just a wonderful time in his wonderful presence, where he works on your insides, his operating table so to speak, he cuts out stuff we don’t even know is there, you see to many drink from the wrong cup Acts 2:15 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
Peter Preaches to the Crowd
Act 2:14
¶
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
Act 2:15
These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
Act 2:16
No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: [ why did they think they were drunk because they were, but not on old wine, they were under the influence of the Holy Spirit, which means they swayed like they were drunk, they wobbled a little, they acted drunk, BUT IT WAS THE NEW WINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and you can’t put new wine in old skins, an old shin can’t handle the Holy Spirit, but so many have not experenced this new wine, because they will not forsake the old wine and old way’s, they will not go in deep enough, folks if it wasn’t for the new wine of the Holy Spirit I would have never made it this far, he is so wonderful, if we don’t try and limit him, we cut out the best parts God has for us by saying God won’t do that or thats not real, how about just saying Lord I want it all, all you have for me and I take of the limits, you can do as you please with me, and let him give you a taste of that new wine, you will go back for more, he said taste and see the Lord is GOOD, Psalm 34:8, nothing like the Lords table] Be Blessed
I think Proverbs 31:6-7 seals the argument pretty well:
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
The redeemed of the Lord are neither perishing nor of bitter life.
Great article! If people are drinking wine because Jesus did, then they should be raising the dead because Jesus raised the dead!
It’s an excuse for the flesh!
Sent from my iPad
I like what u said. “We are ready to loose our country “. Leaders cannot be even a little drinking when we have so much to loose. Need to be fully awake and on our toes
Thank you, thank you.
I have a family member (by marriage) that is a Christian, but a backsliding one.
His family moved to a very liberal place, for him to get his master degree.
He started drinking wine every so often, then that turned into drinking a beer once a day with dinner, then that turned into Bourbon or whiskey before bed.
Suffice to say, when you give the devil an inch, he blows on in with his minions and luggage.
What is moderation anyway? It isn’t a set rule, because someone can drink six drinks and be fine, and someone can drink three and be bad off.
Alcohol only brings bad to society and people’s lives. It hurts families and others and hurts your bank accounts.
I don’t understand why people (Christians, mostly) have a desire to drink anyway? It’s an acquired taste, and I assume (I’ve never drank), you don’t naturally like it, so you make yourself drink it? To fit in? To be like the world?
I have no good opinions of sipping Saints. It makes me wonder how close their walk with God/Jesus is.
And if people want the benefit of the grape for the heart, drink Welch’s grape juice. It taste a lot better and it’s cheaper.
Yes, exactly. And that’s the ‘wine’ that’s good for the stomach, ladies and gentlemen.
How refreshing to hear this admonition about alcohol. I’m dismayed at Christians who think it’s ok…..I have a friend who is a missionary and gets very defensive about her wine saying “Jesus drank wine .. and lots of it!” (Chapter and verse please!) People who drink alcohol are uncomfortable around those of us who don’t and try to push it on us. Alcohol has caused a lot of tragedy in my family……..abusive alcoholic father who later committed suicide……broken marriage and family due to alcohol…..brother killed by drunk driver. It’s rare, if ever, to hear a message like yours from the pulpit! Keep putting truth out there, Mario!
Thank you for “speaking up” about the damage alcoholic beverages can do. Christians who drink need to be more concerned about the negative influence they are having on those who are trying to break free of alcohol. “Sipping Saints” are actually being very selfish!
Uh.. I just wondered who all are we making the comments to? To one another?
If so, not in any of the posts I’ve read here (or elsewhere) does anyone ever answer another person.
Is it to the Christians who need these comments on this topic (and others Mario has written)? If so, I’ve never seen anyone ever reply to any of them, not even to argue. Hopefully some read them though.
Or are they all directed toward brother Murillo? If so, I am pretty sure that he already has his mind made up that alcohol is a hindrance and damaging.
Just asking.
Anyone out there any thoughts on this??
Oh, that’s right. We don’t reply to one another.
It’s a pity as there are sometimes some very good posts.
I have replied in the past to some to encourage the person, but I don’t now as I feel like it is unwelcome.
However, I believe it is good to simply thank brother Murillo and offer words of encouragement, as I see in one or two here. God bless you (us) all.
I wanted to delete this comment, but there is nothing I can do to delete it. So unless anyone has any answers, just ignore it. Thank You.
> WordPress.com
Great article Brother. Will pass it along. Keep up the good work!
You got saved 44 years ago? Me too, in January 26, 1976.
God bless you sister.
Drinking was the first thing in my life the Lord told me that had to be forsaken when I became twice-born 44 years ago. Hallelujah Brother for preaching the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Thank you. I am in total agreement. God deliver us from drinking and to call ourselves Christians is beyond comprehension if we drink. Betty Arthurs
On Tue, May 21, 2019, 8:48 PM Mario Murillo Ministries wrote:
> mariomurilloministries posted: “It looks terrible when you drink alcohol > in front of people. You are damaging your body. You are weakening those who > watch you. And, it is a wicked thing to do in front of a former drinker > who is struggling to stay sober. It is equally bad to do it in fr” >
Hallelujah Amen! Preach the truth always!
Sent from my iPhone
>
How many just want to thank Jesus for your salvation and deliverance from a lifestyle of Sin?
Glory to God!!!!!?
1995 saved reunited with my wife and kids delivered from drugs and alcohol!
Then 4 months later cigerettes!
I remember setting an alarm to 1:00 am so I could watch Armed and Dangerous on my little black and white Tv.
That’s great! He delivered you from more than that brother: but from your whole corrupt nature the Bible says. Though we are transformed “from glory to glory.” When we were in the world and lost in our sins we were transformed from shame to shame. Thank God He reaches down and saves us from the lowest pits! I got hooked on alcohol for a season after using it to withdraw from a sleeping pill addiction I had unwittingly fallen into. I was told I needed to be in hospital and given a substitute drug to get off the pills (I’d started them when doing a shift job,) I hated hospitals so I prescribed my own drug – alcohol. Well, it helped me get off the pills ok, but then I was hooked on alcohol!!
I am so thankful to the Lord for all He has done in my life too brother.
I am so thankful! I was the worse sinner – that’s not “being humble” either, it is the truth.
?
I have a friend who asked a local winery just what is new wine……Its very interesting.
It is not fermented….will not get you drunk……so many people want to step over it…..so they can drink….I do not believe a christian is supposed to drink…period…..
I was just about to say Thanks for that sister, but then I remembered in Acts 2:13-15 the disciples (newly filled with the Holy Ghost) were accused of being drunk with new wine. Peter replied and said, “These men are not drunk as you suppose..” So..
I would enocurage all Christians to stay away altogether from alcohol too.
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient.”
Interestingly, it is the Old Testament that offers the clearest advice against alcohol.
“Look not on the cup when it is red, when it moves itself aright..”Proverbs.
“It is not for you O king to drink strong drink..” Solomons mother advised Solomon. We are “kings and priests unto God,” therefore it is even more essential for us to abstain from all strong drink.
“Be not drunk with wine in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit!” (Ephesians) God is saying you can get as “drunk” as you like on Me; certainly the disciples in Acts 2 all speaking in tongues must have appeared drunk!
Reblogged this on Covenant Chronicles with Chris Lovett.