Following was gleaned from: “FALSTAFF’S COMPLETE BEER BOOK”, “CROSSMAN’S GUIDE TO WINES, SPIRITS, AND BEERS”, “WINE, An introduction to Americans”, ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, and Most important, THE HOLY BIBLE, The Word of God.
Note: The first four books all refereed to the Holy Bible, and presented alcohol and drinking in a ‘glorious and fun’ way. The Holy Bible is not so generous.
This message will mainly address the topic of Wine, in particular, Did Jesus drink Wine? Many who drink today defend their drinking by saying Jesus drank! This message will NOT be addressing the following: a. Statistics of work, money time and lives wasted because of drinking. b. The destroyed homes, defiled innocence, misery and poverty brought about by those under the influence of too much drink. c. Also will not go into detail about the – -youth who shot his father after drinking 17-20 beers -father who knifed his wife and 3 year old son after a week of drinking -drunken husband who doused his sleeping wife with a beer glass full of gasoline and then lit her on fire -5 month old child who died of neglect and exposure and laid dead in his own crib for 5 days while his drunken parents argued who should call the doctor -all night teen drinking party that ended in a deadly game of Russian roulette -drunken father who killed his 3 week old baby with a red hot poker, by inserting it in all the natural body openings -or any of the other hundreds of gory stories that appear in our daily newspapers every year because of drinking d. NOR will it review any of the senseless deaths that occur on the highways (daily) because of the “I can drive better when I’m drunk” attitude. NO, what this will attempt to do is dispel (usually by Christians) the justification of drinking, BECAUSE Jesus drank wine.
WINE appears 37x in the New Testament, in 10 Books using 4 Greek Words
OINOS 27x in Gospels Matt, Mark, Luke, John 4x in Epistles Rom 14:21, 1Tim 3:8, 5:23 Titus 2:3 7x in Revelation 6:6,14:8,10,16:19,17:2,18:3,13 Translated WINE: implies fermented (intoxicationg) (Hebrew YAYIN same as Greek Word) OINOPHLUGIA 1x in 1 Peter 4:3 Translated EXCESS OF WINE PAROINOS 2x in 1 Tim 3:3, Titus 1:7 Translated NOT GIVEN TO WINE literally tarrying at wine (Par = abusive / brawler) GLEUKOS 1x in Acts 2:13 Translated NEW WINE implies fermented (intoxicating)
WINE in the Gospels: (OINOS) Matt 9:17 – 3x an illustration on why disciples did not fast (vs 14) Mark 2:22 – 4x (see Matt) 15:23 – 1x Jesus on cross offered WINE – He DID NOT drink Luke 1:15 – 1x John the Baptist WILL NOT drink Wine 5:37-39 4x A Parable (see Matt) 7:33 – 1x John the Baptist DID NOT drink Wine 10:34 – 1x Good Samaritan takes care of wounded man John 2:3-10 – 5x OINOS is preceded by greek word KALOS which is Translated GOOD which equals valuable/virtuous ??? Would this be intoxication Wine ???? 4:46 – 1x refers to the above miracle (Contrast this to Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. And Proverbs 23:31Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth Its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Is this the WINE Jesus made?)
WINE in the Epistles: Rom 14:21 NOT good to drink WINE (cause a brother to stumble) Eph 5:18 command) be not drunk with WINE 1 Tim 3:8 not given to much WINE 5:23 suggested for medicinal purpose “use a little Wine” Titus 2:3 POLUS (gk) much implication is to stay away from Wine Revelation 6:6, 14:8,10, 16:19, 17:2, 18:3,13 Speak symbolic of the wrath of God and wrath of the Woman 6:6, 18:13 refer to Wine as part of the worldly economy
What was Wine when the Bible was written? It was squeezed grape.
It was naturally fermented (with passing of time) and would never get higher than 11% alcohol content.
What did Jesus Drink? Matt 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:19
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 23:31Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth Its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Abstinence is Biblical Titus 2:3 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good tidings”. The phrase, “not given to much wine” has opened the door for many people to wonder the impact of the passage. “The union of the two negatives suggest the close connection between a loose tongue and intoxicating drink.” TITUS by D. Edmund Hiebert. “Both were real possibilities for women whose families were grown and who may have had too much idle time on their hands {cf 1 John 5:13-14}.” TITUS by A. Duane Litfin. It’s well documented that the custom of the day allowed people to mix water with wine to purify the poor water. Never does the Holy Word of God promote drinking intoxication wine or drink or for Christians to get drunk. There is a debate over using wine as a prescription for medical problems as a remedy only. The Scripture suggest Paul directed such for Timothy. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible notes point out several versus that direct abstinence {see number 3568 under Temperance.} Wine and strong were never used by the Lord Jesus Christ. Always new wine {diluted grape juice} was used by Christian Churches since founded by Jesus Christ. The use of wine or alcohol is not recommended for cooking. With the flesh so powerful a person could loose their testimony.* Suggest not drinking any intoxicating drink as the Bible doesn’t promote it. There are ten times more verses that warn against drinking than do allow it for the aged. The first reference to alcohol – Noah getting drunk paint the ruins of strong drink. (The above from Pastor Tim Jackson, Community Baptist Church, Lansing, Michigan. 1999) Further study of drinking in the Bible always shows that SIN follows the drinking and drunkenness. *Many Catholic Priests have become alcoholics by drinking the wine taken during the Communion. Total Abstinence was/is recommended for: Priests Lev 10:9 Nazarites Num 6:3 Wise men Prov 23:31 Kings Prov 31:4 Rechabites Jer 35:6 Daniel Dan 1:8 John the Baptist Luk 1:15 Christians Rom 14:21
Our Nation, in fact the whole world, is falling apart… Spiritually … Morally … Socially … Politically … WHY???? One good answer is WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE 10 COMANDMENTS!!! These are not specific, detailed laws BUT principles …. Designed by God! EXODUS 20:1And God spoke all these words: Given by God for the purpose of Life, Liberty and Happiness. The first 4 give us the way to establish a relationship with the One True God. The last 6 give us the way to establish a relationship with each other. The first 4 — spiritual principles. The last 6 — moral principles. They cannot, will no save anyone BUT adherence to them will give peace in this life. Look at them: 1) One God 2) No Idols 3) Bad language 4) Sabbath 5) Honor parents 6) Do Not Kill 7) Do Not Commit Adultery 8) Do Not Steal 9) Do Not Lie (false witness) 10) Do Not Covet
As we as Believers ignore them … Our Nation falls apart … and the world also ignores them … The World falls apart … Man’s Laws can be changed (and possibly should be)
OTHER OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO SALT: 2 Kings 2:20-21And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. Ezra 6:9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: Ezra 7:22Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Job 6:6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? Jeremiah 17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Ezekiel 16:4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. Ezekiel 43:24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. Zephaniah 2:9Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. The Lord Jesus taught: Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Mark 9:49-50For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Luke 14:34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? From the Apostle Paul: Colossians 4:6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. From James: James 3:12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Just who or what is Mother Nature? Why do we keep crediting or blaming Mother Nature? Mother Nature is defined as:a personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it, in the form of the mother. This replaces God! God is in total control of ALL that happens here on earth. He created it all. Genesis 1-3. Who caused the flood of Noah? Genesis 6:7 Who sent plagues upon Pharaoh during Abram’s time? Genesis 12:17 Who sent the plagues upon Egypt to free Israel? Exodus 9:14 Who parted the Red Sea? Exodus 14:21-22 Who Plagued Israel when they made the golden calf? Exodus 32:35 Who protected and provided for Israel during the 40 years on their way to the Promise land? Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. The Lord God used plagues upon Israel to remind them of who He is and His punishment and protection when they disobey. Deuteronomy 28:59. Who sent a great fish to swallow a disobedient Jonah? Jonah 1:17 Who sent the strong wind, earthquake, and fire in Elijah’s time? 1 Kings 19:11-12 And again, in Isaiah 29:6, Amos 1:1 Who freed Peter from Jail? Acts 12:11 There are many, many more examples of God intervening with man. And yet even Believes want to credit “Mother Nature”. Nay, God is in control of everything in Heaven and Earth. Psalm 115:15, 121:2, 124:8, 134:3, 146:6, Matthew 11:25, Revelation 14:7
When one hears of Eden, it brings to mind the place where Adam and Eve were created. However, they were created in the GARDEN of Eden, a place in the far east side of the land of Eden. The land in which God planted a garden, where upon his creation he put the man whom he had formed. One can read of this in Genesis 2. This land of Eden will later be given by God to Abram and his seed. Genesis 12-14 (the Abrahamic covenant). The Israelites have yet to possess all of it. A garden eastward in Eden: Genesis 2:8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 2:10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. Genesis 2:15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Adam’s punishment after he had sinned: Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Cain’s punishment: Genesis 4:16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. In the future, the Lord will make the land of Israel like Eden: Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Lucifer, Satan had been in Eden: Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. More about Lucifer: Ezekiel 31:9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. Ezekiel 31:16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. Ezekiel 31:18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD. Joel tells of the last days: Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. It appears that Eden was also a man: 2 Kings 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? 2 Chronicles 29:12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: 2 Chronicles 31:15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: Isaiah 37:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? Ezekiel 27:23Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants. Amos 1:5I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
Volcano is not in the Scripture BUT, consider these verses:
Genesis 19:24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; Deuteronomy 29:23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: Job 18:15It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. Psalm 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. Isaiah 34:9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. Ezekiel 38:22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. During the last 3 ½ years of Tribulation, there will be mass destruction: (Daniel 9:26-27) (Jacob’s trouble Jeremiah 30:7) Revelation 9:17-18 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: Describing the Lake Of Fire: Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Volcanos are not always accompanied by bad weather, but they do appear to be judgements of God.
Occurs 16 times in Scripture, 5 in OT and 11 in NT
The first Mention of earthquake in Scripture is when the Lord is dealing with Elijah: 1 Kings 19:11-12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. Isaiah warns Israel what will happen because of their sin: Isaiah 29:6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. King Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 52 years in Judah from approximately 790 to 739 BC. This earthquake damage dates to around 760 b.c. Amos 1:1The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Zechariah 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. The Lord Jesus told of what would happen before He returns: Matthew 24:7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11 God used an earthquake to show that Jesus was His Son: Matthew 27:54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. God used an earthquake to announce the resurrection: Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Paul and Silas freed from the Jail: Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. During the last 3 ½ years of Tribulation, there will be mass destruction: (Daniel 9:26-27) (Jacob’s trouble Jeremiah 30:7) Revelation 6:12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Revelation 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. Earthquakes are not always accompanied by bad weather, but they do appear to be judgements of God.
Everybody talks about it but there’s nothing we can do about it. It affects everyone, causing many changes in our plans. Job 37:22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: … Proverbs 25:20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, … And the lord Jesus uses it to teach: Matthew 16:2-3He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Today we say “Red in the morning is a warning, Red at night is a delight”.
Weather involves Seasons, Winter, Summer, Wind, Storm, Rain, Flood, Snow, Hail, Drought, Clouds and all of these appear in the Scripture, where we can learn spiritual lessons. From Adam until Noah there was NO RAIN … Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. There was WEATHER! There was Day and Night. Perhaps there would have been wind (to help scatter the seed of the plants). There were Seasons, as plants grow, produce fruit and seed to continue the cycle. But NO Rain, Snow, Hail, Clouds. The Earth was protected by a water canapé. Genesis 1:6-10
