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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

I want you to listen to my whole sermon this morning before you make judgment. I usually don’t warn people ahead of time or put disclaimers on my messages, but kind of hard to know how to get started today because I had already told you what I was going to speak on today. Anybody remember? Two of you, thank you. I told you that I was going to speak on a subject about this alcohol business and drinking and stuff. I remember reading one time that Billy Sunday says, says, if I was president of the United States, I’d make this country so dry you’d have to prime a man before he could spit.

I thought that was pretty good. But I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Matthew in chapter 12. I got a lot of things to say, so we’re going to have to move on. Here in Matthew chapter 12, if you think or believe that it’s okay for a social drink, you know, just a little social. You don’t get too social. I will always tell if you don’t hit the fifth on the fourth, you’ll be able to go fourth on the fifth.

But you may believe that it’s okay for a little alcohol. I’m glad that your eternal destiny does not depend on whether or not you drink or you don’t drink. No more than it does if you smoke or don’t smoke. I’d rather you smoke here than later. You know, that just warms my soul to know that you’re paying attention and got that. But look it down in verse 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shall be justified and by thy words thou shall be condemned. That’s a pretty strong statement coming from the Son of God. Now I’m not going to get into the ramifications of all of that. I’m just going to tell you if that was true and he said it, whatever it means, don’t you think you ought to be very careful of what you say? Good, better, and differently. You have to be careful of what you say.

Not only that, I wouldn’t want to do anything that will dull my mind so that I couldn’t think clearly. If we do believe we have to give an account for what we say and do, we ought be careful of anything that would control our mind so we could not be sharp and think clearly. Just something to think about. Now I want you to take your Bible and turn very quickly to the book of Galatians in chapter 5, Galatians and chapter 5.

I just want you to see where this word is found so that you’ll know what God thinks of it. Let’s just take the word drunkenness, drunkard. Today we call it he’s an alcoholic and we know that today it’s a disease. It’s a disease you can get out of a bottle and if you didn’t drink it you wouldn’t get this disease. Isn’t that amazing? The only disease you can get by drinking. Well anyway you’ll notice there in verse 19. Now the works of the flesh manifest, which are these adultery, fornication, uncleanness, less seriousness, idolater, witchcraft, hatred, variance, immemulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, reveling, such like drunkenness.

You mean right along with all those other things? Those bad things? Well, it’s right there. It’s one of those murder, drunkenness, adultery. And if you think it’s okay to be a drunk, you got a spiritual problem. I just want you to see that God puts that in the category of the flesh. It’s not in the, if you go down there to verse 22 and 23, you don’t find it in the category of the spirit, so that you know where it’s coming from, so that you just understand that and believe it.

Now, turn in your Bible to 1 Corinthians in chapter 6. Turn, 1 Corinthians chapter 8. This is why it’s so important. Have a Bible. If you don’t have one with you this morning, there’s one right there in the pew in front of you. Follow along. See what the Bible said. Listen, if you want to do something, you can justify it. But be careful when you say God said, when God didn’t say that. Well, don’t you know, Yankee? I mean, you ought to know this.

Jesus made wine. I mean, everybody knows that. Jesus turned the water into wine. Right? Yes, He did. So this morning, what’s in those little cups? Great juice. It could be wine, it’s great juice. But anyway, I’ll get to that in just a minute. First Corinthians chapter 6, look what he says here in verse 10, North thieves, North covetous, North drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. Now in the verse right before that, even if you are the bad things.

So this is of the flesh, this is not good, it doesn’t come with God’s highest recommendations. So are there a lot of people you think in America that get drunk? What about people who drink but they can really hold it? They can hold their own. You know it doesn’t bother them. And more sociable they get because the word drinks they have. And after all, it’s just like Paul told Timothy a little wine for the tummy sake. And of course, your name is Timothy and you have tummy problems.

Now, do I believe that it’s okay to drink strong drink? No, so we don’t get mixed up somewhere along the line. I wonder if he’s for it or against it. I want you to be definitely clear. Now you say, you just don’t understand. Oh, don’t I. My father was a bootlegger. Now for you that don’t know what that means. It means he made, well he’s so corn, in jugs. They call it white lightning and rotgut. Yes, I have been, my dad’s name was called shine.

Because I’m moonshine. So yes, I know a lot about it. I’ve watched I’ve seen the results of it I’ve not been raised and seen around my mother was a bartender for most of her life That’s the job shit she was a bartender She served the alcohol the drinks and on occasion would haveGoal Knit. I have two sisters that were drunkards You should y’all say it as they had alcohol they were drunkards That’s the term the Bible uses and I don’t quite wash anything If that’s what God says, that’s what God says.

But anyway, is it right or is it wrong? Understand the consequences and why God says what He does. Remember, anytime God says, don’t do something because He doesn’t want you to hurt yourself. Because things hurt us, but we don’t know it until it’s too late. And I want you to just to know that. Now, I’m not getting into what these verses are all saying right now, But just to let you know, when you trust Christ as your Savior, regardless of what you have done, all sin has all been paid.

Every sin Christ died and paid for those sins. So that a drunkard, an adulterer, a murderer, you name it, can still go to heaven when they die. Some people don’t believe that. But I believe it because it’s in the Bible. Christ died for all the world. But his description is talking about the things that people do in the world. And I want you to know how bad things are so you know how gracious God is, that God can save anyone.

Now God can’t save a good man. There aren’t any. He can only save sinners. You qualify. So do I. So we’re all qualifying in this great scheme of things about how we can have eternal life as a free gift. Now, I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Leviticus. Look first of all in the book of Numbers. You’re right there, so look in the book of Numbers.

It’s an excellent, Leviticus numbers, numbers chapter four. And just to show you real quick, Aaron, the tribal leader of the priesthood, there’s certain things that God told them that you need to be aware of. So look there in chapter four, look in verse three. Verse three says, from 30 years old and upward, even until 50 years, all that entrance to the church. all that entrance to the host to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, blah, blah, blah.

It goes on down here and says, this is about how old they were. And it’s important to remember that because Jesus Christ was about 30 years of age in the book of Luke in chapter 3 verse 23 when it says, Jesus been as well support about 30 years of age. He went and began his ministry. And he was also a prophet, priest and king. So there was things that the priest could not do. And it also mentioned it back here in the book of Numbers.

So now look there in the book of Leviticus. The book of Leviticus. Leviticus in chapter 10, chapter 10, and notice there in verse 3. when he’s talking to the priest and what they were allowed to do and not allowed to do. God would separate that which is clean from unclean, holy and unholy. But he makes a statement in verse 3, then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified and Aaron held his peace.

This is what they were supposed to do. Now notice what he says in verse 9. Verse 9, do not drink wine nor strong drink. Thou nor thy sons with thee when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation lest ye die. looking verse 10 and that you may put difference between holy and unholy between unclean and clean. So God makes a difference. Strong drink and wine when it move it into cup, God says is unclean. People can do whatever they want and they will.

You hear about college kids going on a binge, just drink until they pass out. And there’s no consequence. Why do you think if you’ll keep it in mind? Men always want to take a girl out to a bar and the first thing we want to do is you get them a drink get them a drink Why why they call alcohol causes you to lose your resistance You’ll you’ll be easily led and talked into doing things you wouldn’t do if you was in a clear mind So you understand that’s not a wise thing to do Best don’t go to the bar I don’t go to bars.

Only time I went to bars was up in Raymond, Minnesota, and that was to put up my poster that I had a meeting going on. Son of a bootlegger, and I told him what I was speaking of. And a lot of the people from the beer joint, they came to the meeting. A lot of them touched the Christ of Savior. Somebody in the preacher that was with me, he said, you’re going in there? I said, yes I am. No.

Did I go in there to get a drink? No. Did I go in there and fella said with the boy? No. I went in there and let him know, Hey, I’m a preacher and I’m going to be preaching. Some of them came out just to hear the son of a moonshiner. Anyway, but notice that verse 10 that you may put a difference. Then he says in verse 11, and that you may teach the children of Israel. So you’re not only to do it, you’re not to do it yourself.

You’re to teach the children. So when you want to try to make the Bible say something that doesn’t say, now listen, there are some things and words that talks about wine and talks about the wine press and about intoxicating wine. And then the wine is just grape juice. All those things are found clearly in the Word of God. I know that. Now, turning your Bible to the book of Judges 13, the book of Judges in chapter 13. And notice now we know there’s a story about a guy named Samson.

Everybody heard of Samson? You know the strong guy? You know, kind of like I am. I heard of him. In Judges in chapter 13, look what he says now. He’s telling the parents that this is what this boy is going to be like. This is what I want you to do. In verse 7, but he said unto me, Behold thou shalt conceive and bear a son, and now drink no wine nor strong drink. either eat any unclean thing. So the strong stuff is also considered unclean because we read that back here in the Vatican, so I’m.

For a child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. And the Bible says Jesus was called a Nazarene. He also had a vow. I don’t believe Jesus drink strong and toxicating wine or liquors of any kind. Just don’t believe it. And somebody said, what are they? Just show the verse, just chapter and verse that they won’t be able to find that. Now look in the book of Luke chapter 1, the Gospel of Luke chapter 1.

Luke chapter 1, John, we’re talking about John the Baptist going to be born. And it says here in verse 15, verse 15, he says, for he talking about John the Baptist, shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall be a drunkard. No, I didn’t say that. And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. And God’s going to use him to turn a lot of people’s hearts to the Lord.

Jesus says there’s not a man born of woman greater than John the Baptist, and John the Baptist never touched the stuff. He never touched the stuff. The Word of God tells us that. So people who want to do something can justify anything you want to do. If you want to have sex outside of marriage, you’ll find a good reason to do it. Well, we love each other. Find that in the Bible. Well, because you love each other, it’s okay.

You know it’s not. You go by what the book says. Now, I’m so glad that, regardless of whether people do or don’t, it doesn’t affect salvation. It doesn’t mean I can’t get to go to heaven. Christ died on the cross to pay for the sins of people. And everybody is a sinner. Everybody’s done things wrong. But when Christ died, He paid for all of it. Now, once you trust Christ to save Him, your God’s job, now God tells us in His word how to live.

So there’s things that God doesn’t want us to do because it’s not good for us. It’s not good for the children to learn. I’ve never wanted my children to learn some of the things of the world. Now, if they learn it, they didn’t learn it from me. But I’ve never touched a drop in my life. Strongest thing I’ve ever had was formerly 44 cough syrup. And one swig of that deer like the do me in. And when I find out that’s alcohol, I won’t touch it anymore.

That’s the strongest thing I’ve ever had in my life. Besides strong coffee, I love coffee now. But the word of God gives us an idea what we’re supposed to believe. Now, turning your Bible to the book of Ephesians chapter five, the book of Ephesians chapter five. A lot of people love this verse because it says in verse 18, be not drunk with wine, where in the next is, it’s okay to drink a little wine, just don’t drink too much.

Okay. You can take that, you want to, but it means you don’t drink it if it gives an influence, but cause the rest of the verse, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be controlled the Holy Spirit, influenced by the Holy Spirit, but you don’t drink strong drink that you might be influenced by it. It doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t bother me.

And it does bother them. It’s just that they don’t know how much. Well listen, if getting drunk is so bad, why run the risk? Why see how close you can come to the edge of the cliff? I would rather want to stay as far away from the edge as I possibly could, not to see how close I can get while that going over. I believe that you’ll be wiser if you do what God says doom. But you’ll notice that the Bible does talk about do not drink strong drink.

Find the verse that says God commanded us to drink strong drink. It’s not there, but it is a prohibition against it, but never for it. Now, a verse that I wanted to show you also found here in the book of Proverbs in chapter three. Just go to there right quick and look at this. There’s a couple of verses that I want you to see there in the book of Proverbs chapter three. And look in verse nine.

Remember, the priest of Aaron, they eat and drink what the people brought to be sacrificed or given. They lived off of the other 11 tribes, the tribal Levi. So they would bring things and they would offer it. And so they got to eat some of the sacrifice and some of the things to drink. But the priests could not drink strong drink. That was not permitted. So if they could not, then I don’t believe the people would be bringing that.

But notice what he says here in verse nine. Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. This is what the first fruits is what they also brought to the temple. And they could not have been fermented drink. It had been new wine, fresh. Now there’s different words that are used and I have it down here and I got it all in my notes.

I’ve got two different Hebrew words, one Greek word and how many times are used in the Old Testament and when they’re used, meaning a fermented drink and when it’s not a firm minute drink and the word oynos, which is Greek 28 times in the New Testament and how all those things were used, I’ve spent some time studying the Bible because I know that I’m going to have to give account to God’s whatever I teach. And so I know that I have to try to be as accurate as I possibly can.

So I don’t have an ulterior motive. I’m not going to drink so that I’ve got to find some verses to justify it. I just take the Bible and studying. So what does God’s word have to say about the subject? And I simply want to pass that on because I believe that it is so important. First, pressed grape juice. The only thing is they didn’t have the refrigeration like we have today. If you had grape juice today, if you just let it sit long enough, you’ll have intoxicating wine on down the road.

So the word wine can be used for fresh, grapefruit and can be used for the other because it’s the same stuff. It’s just that one move it in the cup. So you wonder, well, what does that mean? So take your Bible while you’re right here in Proverbs and look in chapter 20 of the book of Proverbs. Proverbs chapter 20 And notice what he says in verse 1. Wine is a marker. Strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is what?

I don’t believe that it’s the best for God’s children to set an example. You just as long as you don’t drink too much. And how pray till do you determine how much is too much? whenever your children watch what parents do, do they cut it off at the same point? How much would it take? At what time do you, when you say, well it doesn’t bother me, didn’t that verse just say, deceived themselves? Did you say the word deceived there?

Is deceived? Whosoever deceived, not wise. But of course, you You know, when you want to do what you want to do, it’s going to be done. Look in chapter 23 of the book of Proverbs. Chapter 23, looking verse 21. Verse 21, well just look at verse 20, it’s right there also. It says, be not among wine bebbers, among riotous inters of flesh, for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

You don’t hear a lot of good things about this. You say, well, how do you know when it’s really fermented? Well, the Bible even kind of gives you a clue at that too. Look on down there in verse 29. Look at verse 29, where it says, who hath woe, who hath sorrow, who hath contentions, who hath babbles? You’ve ever seen a drunk battle, who hath wounds without cause, who hath redness of eyes. Sometimes I do because I don’t get enough sleep, but I mean, that’s not the same thing.

Verse 30, they that carry long at the wine, they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it move itself a right, means it’s fermented, means it’s strong, intoxicating. Means you drink some of it, you can get drunk. God says, don’t look at it when it’s firm-minute. Well, if you don’t look at it, you probably wouldn’t drink it. I believe the Scriptures are pretty clear.

And then notice what he says here in verse 32. At the last it bided like a serpent and stingeth like an adder, like a rattlesnake that’s got poison in its veins. It’s going to get you. I have a lot of people that I’ve dealt with over the years because being a preacher you deal with people who have all kinds of addiction problems. And one of the biggest and the worst that there can possibly be is alcohol. I’ve watched so many homes ruin because of a dad who become a drunk or even a wife that becomes a drunk.

I’ve had to deal with that. Some of this I’ve dealt with since I have been here and that’s not a lie. And the impact that it makes upon the children, how it divides the home, it ruins their whole life savings and what they go through and they can’t hold a job, all kinds of things that happen. And some people are gambling. They’re just rolling the dice.

Russian rule it, it won’t get me. You heard about the mosquito flying around the flames of the fire? You know, me, it won’t get me, it won’t get me, it won’t get me, it won’t get me. You got him. And that’s the way it is with some people. These verses are clear, but take your Bible, Luke, over there in the book of Habakkah, the book of Habakkah. In the book of Habakkah, there’s several scriptures that kind of gives you the idea that it’s maybe not the best thing to do.

Look what he says in Habakkah chapter 2, this is on page 957, and look at it in verse 14, a positive and then a negative. Positive for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seed. Verse 15, woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink and puteth thy bottle to him and makeeth him drunken also that thou mayest look on their nakedness. This is why there’s so much trouble that goes on and a lot of problem because of the breakup of the home and And some man taking his wife to some bar, and they get to drinking, and then a woman dancing with some other man, and some man dancing with some other woman’s not his wife.

Listen, that’s trouble, trouble, trouble. I don’t want another man putting his hands on my wife. And last thing I need to do is put my arms around some other woman and dancing with some music. Now listen, if you don’t like what I’m saying, you be thankful for what I hold back. But that’s foolishness that lays to trouble. So you don’t do that. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr.

Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones. book The Gospel Driven Man covers all those topics and we want all new listeners of Bible line to receive a free copy. There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771 or write to us and request your free copy of The Gospel Driven Man.

The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound and we will be changed.

caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.