Come Get A Six-Pack Series

Background to passage: Continuing in Ephesians. Explain why I preach through books. Paul is being practical related to our lives as a whole, walking in wisdom for a purpose. This is a principle that applies to many issues of choice in our lives, especially as it relates to cultural issues that we are not given clear black and white answers from the scripture. Now, we arrive at this text admonished to understand what the will of the Lord is, understand the times, and be good stewards of our lives living wisely and not foolishly. I realize that the verses following these verses point to the fact that Paul is about to make another point of practical living based on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. He does begin by speaking about the controlling power of alcohol, and I think that in our contemporary American culture, we should consider this topically.

Ephesians 5:15–18 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Opening illustration: Christians seeking to think faithfully, which is to say, seeking to think Christianly, trying to operate out of the basis of a consistent biblical and Christian worldview, sometimes we come to an understanding that on issue A, there is a right or wrong answer, and we can get to that pretty quickly. On issue B takes us a little more time to get to where we understand what's right and what's wrong, what's true and what's false. On some issues, Christians have to acknowledge there can be genuine disagreement and sometimes we reach an issue that is just extremely vexing. Even a moral issue can operate this way, but still, there has to be a decision made one way or the other. There has to be some policy determined one way or the other, and that's going to come with moral consequences one way or the other. - Al Mohler

Main thought: Let’s discuss the decision that our world puts in front of us, and that all of us over 21, as well as those of you who will be turning 21 must face. We must walk wisely, the days are evil, and time is short.

1) Scripture does not forbid alcohol

Explanation: It gives several affirmations of the use of it properly. However, scripture is replete with warnings regarding, misuse, abuse, and drunkeness. It gives examples of the results of drunkeness, accounts of the devastation of drunkeness, and clear instructions about avoidance of drunkeness.

Argumentation: Noah, Lot, Amnon, Asa, Solomon, servants thinking the master is delayed, 1 Pet 4, Gal 5, 1 Cor 5-6, John the Baptist,

Illustration: Just a cursory search of scripture the other day, out of 102 bible verses/passages, I would estimate that over 90% deal with warnings and associations of drunkeness with other sins of unbelievers and a pagan culture. The lion’s share of biblical references are to use extreme caution because of the potential danger.

Psalm 104:14–15 ESV

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth

15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Proverbs 20:1 ESV

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29–35 ESV

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.

31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.

34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.

35 “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”

Isaiah 5:11 ESV

11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Romans 13:13 ESV

13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.