The Sunday Conversation | with Pastor Luke Okoro | 06. 02. 2022
Matthew 16:26-28. 1 Corinthians 10:1-9.
Proverbs 23:26-35; 31:1-9.
Distraction (continued).
1. Moreover, brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers , were under the cloud , and all passed through the sea;
2. “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.;
3. “And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ.
5. “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6. “Now, these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
1 Corinthians 10:1-6.
The second element of distraction for the Christian Journey maker is Alcohol and all kinds of intoxicants. We note that many people argue to justify their use of alcohol and its related substances. They reason that Jesus turned water in wine as recorded in John 2. They further argue that these substances are products of the herbs/ trees which the Bible says are for the healing of the nations and our bodies. Besides, they insist that there’s no Bible injunction that outrightly condemns the use of alcohol, as it did in matters like divorce, adultery and fornication among others. They agree that anything used in excess, even common foods , is bad. To them, these substances should be used in moderation, to maintain balance. This conversation is not to argue in favor or against the use of these substances. We are only saying that they could hamper, hinder or clubber the progress of the believer in a journey. And whereas the Bible appears not to have placed an injunction against the believer’s consumption of alcohol. and other intoxicants, it nonetheless gives us the dangerous impact of alcohol; who should take it and who shouldn’t. Solomon who enjoyed life to the fullest stands a better chance to provide us an insight to this distraction. Hear him:
26. “My son , give me thine heart , and let thine eyes observe my ways.27,” For a whore is a deep ditch ; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28. “She also lieth iin wait as for a prey; and increaseth the transgression among men..
29. “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow ? who hath contention,? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes”
30. “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
3. “Look not thou upon wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup , when it moveth itself aright.
32. “At the last, it bitteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.
33. “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34. “Yea thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea , or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35. “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick, they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again”. Proverbs 23: 26-35.
I have taken liberty to quote this long passage because the first part also addressed an earlier distraction– the strange woman, the whore, before delving into the element of alcohol, the intoxicant.
King Solomon understands that the two distractions go together, hand- in – hand. Yes, very often, it is difficult to see one who engages in one without the other element. This is why the Christian on the journey must be very wary not to be deceived. Any believer making an argument in favor of alcohol consumption and other associated substances or intoxicants, may as well re examine the direction of his or her journey. This is especially so given the elevated position and privilege God has bestowed upon the believer. Take a spiritual look and discern who the believer is from this passage:
” But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a perculiar people; that ye should show forth the oraises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God : which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Now, if God had so placed us in this high pedestal: position of honor, power and privilege, what other HIGH is one looking for?
The greatest privilege any human being can receive is that of Sonship of God. And if the believer is accorded this privilege, what does it matter to let go alcohol to serve your Father , and be loyal to Him without distraction and inglorious vanity.
Perhaps it is important to stress the point that the Christian man or woman in question here is expected to represent himself or herself before God, stand in the gap between God and man, win souls, nurture souls , establish souls and intentionally point them towards eternal purpose and mandate,; and possibly present them before the Master for a ‘ WELL DONE handshake.. It is hard to fathom out the possibility of a bottle lover to do this divine assignment. No wonder Solomon again adds:
2. “What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vow?.
3. “Give not thy strength unto women , nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
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 judgement of any of the afflicted. ..
6. “Give strong drink unto him who is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy heart. 7,” Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” Proverbs 31:2-7.
When believers give themselves to alcohol, they had chosen to devalue themselves, reduce their availability before God and their usage in His hand. God demands to use a man or woman whose mind is clear and stable, whose focus is straight and whose purpose is certain and unchangeable. This is why it is forbidden even in the professional circles for Pilots, Judges and VIP drivers from taking alcohol or intoxicants. Yet, a priest of God requires more sobriety than all three to constantly burn the incense in the temple of God, for Him to show His people mercy. You can do without alcohol and all intoxicants. Samson , John the Baptist and Jesus our role mode, l operated without alcohol. We are His offspring and so, cannot do less.
The third distraction is Mammonism. Mammon is excessive love for material things, love of things ethereal. bad desire to have money, make wealth in sorely hateful manner. Why this qualifies as a distraction is because too much wealth has a way of blinding people’s eyes from righteousness and Godliness.
In fact Jesus asks: what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. It is apparent that many people who think they are journeying to Canaanland, the new Jerusalem have been distracted by their desire to make wealth. Such people bend all rules , compromise all integrity and go into all relationships to get more revenue for themselves. You cannot subject the faith to this kind of base instincts and ridicule and expect heaven to stretch out its hand to salvage you when the reckoning comes. Hebrews 9:27.
If you pursue income the same way the unbelievers do, it’s only reasonable to conclude that you will end where the unbelievers will end, — except if we don’t believe in the law of sowing and reaping. But the Bible is so clear in Galatians 6:7, that God cannot be mocked, hence whatsoever a man sows ,the same shall he also reap.
Mammonism deals with vain desire to pursue a lifestyle of possession, power and privilege. And when one is involved in this entanglement, as soldiers that we are, it is difficult to please your commanding officer, as Paul told Timothy. No wonder Paul remarked that Demas had foresaken the faith , having loved the world. Mammonism is a deep lust for the world, Those who merge it or integrate it with PROSPERITY miss the point because it’s God who gives us POWER to make wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18. 1Timothy 6:6-7.
The prosperity of the righteousness brings peace and contentment. And no sorrow is added to it. Jesus urges the believer on the journey to : Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
This is the guide, the objective principle and supreme counsel of a man on the Journey.
God bless. Happy Sunday.
(…to be continued).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pastor Okoro, a revivalist and marriage counselor, can be reached on:
08051000462.
February 6.
