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| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ( A ) ERRONEOUS UNDERSTANDING Drunk in the Spirit is an unscriptural and thus, deceitful experience, and has been for some years within the Christian church. The scriptural incident which is erroneously used to give the experience validity is found in the book of Acts. Yet it is because of spiritual blindness and faulty understanding of the scriptures that many people have discerned and judged erroneously concerning the drunk in the Spirit issue. Let us review the Acts experience; [6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? [9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, [10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. [12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? [13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. [14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: [15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. - Acts 2:6-15 Acts 2:13 writes of people who were mocking a work of the Holy Spirit, the diverse kinds of tongues. But Peter corrects and rebukes the mockers in stating that what they were witnessing were not people who were drunk. Acts 2 is often cited and referred to as a valid scriptural prooftext for the present day drunk in the Spirit experience. It is believed that these early Christians were drunk by staggering around, unable to keep their composure by physically acting like a drunkard. Yet, nothing in the above scriptural account writes of this kind of physical activity in regard to the Spirit-filled Galilean Christians. In addition it is believed that these early Christians were babbling with their speech and talking jibberishly and incoherently with their mouths as would an intoxicated person drunk from wine or some other alcoholic drink. Yet there is no descriptive evidence in the above scriptural situation of Acts 2, that those Galilean Christians spoke with a incoherent babbling of the speech. Those early Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in other languages and various tongues. But they spoke clearly and were easily comprehended by the various people who heard them plainly speak of the wonderful works of God; [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? - Acts 2:8 [11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. - Acts 2:11 Those first Spirit-filled Christian believers were mocked because they were speaking in other languages. The mockery written of in Acts 2:13 had nothing to do with any outward physical manifestation of a staggering of the body like a drunkard. Those Christians were people of Galilee and yet they spoke in the diverse and varying tongues of other peoples. It was the work of the Holy Spirit via the speech of the Galilean Christians of which the people in verse 13 could not comprehend nor understand. Therefore, because the people of verse 13 could not understand what was occuring it resulted in their mockery of the work of the Holy Spirit. The misunderstanding had to do with the speaking of the Galilean Christians and nothing to do with a physical staggering and stumbling around of their bodies. Thus, the blatant and foolish error of many in the church today are because they do not understand the mockery committed in verse 13. The scripture writes that the persons of verse 13 were mocking. They were not giving a truthful account of what they had heard and witnessed of the Spirit filled Christians; [13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. - Acts 2:13 Today, there are Christians in the church who continue the mockery of the persons of verse 13 when they believe and teach a � drunk in the Spirit � experience. Those Spirit-filled Galilean Christians of Acts 2 were not expressing a � drunk in the Spirit � experience. Those first believers were coherent in their speech and physically stable in their bodies. In no manner does the scripture give any direct statement nor hint of those persons staggering around physically and babbling incoherently as a drunk person would. The drunk in the Spirit experience has no scriptural foundation. It is a mockery of the work of the Holy Spirit. Any professing Christian who believes and gives themselves to the so called drunk in the Spirit experience, ( with its� incoherent babbling, mumblings and a jibbering of the speech and with stumbling around physically like a drunkard would. ), are Christians who have given themselves over to and continue in the mockery of those foolish and wicked mockers of verse Acts 2:13. In truth, such Christians are making a mockery of the work of the Holy Spirit in this present day and time in the same manner of the mockery as demonstrated in Acts 2:13. Let us read what the scriptures write concerning mocking God; [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. - Gal. 6:7-8 Paul writes that a person who mocks God is deceived because in truth no person can mock God without suffering the consequences of death and corruption. A person who mocks God is sowing to the flesh. Thus resulting in corruption and not life everlasting. The drunk in the Spirit experience as many in the church call it and practice it are making a mockery of the work of the Holy Spirit of God as demonstrated by the mockers in Acts 2:13. Let us not be of those who mock God and the work of the Holy Spirit but rather let us be as the scriptures clearly and plainly write, awake, sober and alert. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ( B ) BE NOT DRUNK, BE SOBER God requires a wholeness, a sobriety and a completeness of His children which involves all aspects of our being; 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thess. 5:22-23 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment. - Matt. 22:36-38 28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. - Mark 12:28-30 The verses below write in regard to drunkenness and the drunkard as well as sobriety. Christians often comment that such verses are only issues of physical drunkenness and intoxication. True, some of the scriptures referenced below speak in regard to physical drunkenness but there are also scriptures which relate to drunkenness of the heart and mind. The bottom line is as the above scriptures reveal, God requires a wholeness and a completeness, a sobriety, of His children which involves all aspects of our being. A prayer of Paul was a wholeness of spirit, soul and body. Without blame. What God requires in one part of mankind He also requires of the other parts. God will not forbid drunkenness in one part of our being and yet allow it in any other part of our being. God will not prohibit drunkenness in the physical part of man and then give permission for it in the soul and spirit of man. God will not permit blame, i.e. drunkenness, in our physical being and then in a contradictory turn permit that characteristic blame in our soul and spirit being. In the following scriptures, God instructs His children to be sober, watchful and of good behaviour. Conduct that is fitting for the child of God, spirit, soul and body. To be certain, this instruction speaks to our physical person. However, this instruction is also necessary for our soul and spirit. Thus, in the following referenced scriptures with regard to drunkenness and sobriety they involve the matters of the soul and spirit as well as the physical body; [11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. - Romans 13:11-14 [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; - 1 Peter 1:13 [7] But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. - 1 Peter 4:7 [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: - 1 Peter 5:8 [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. - 1 Thess. 5:5-10 [41] Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? [42] And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? [43] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [44] Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. [45] But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; [46] The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. [47] And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. - Luke 12:41-47 [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) - 1 Tim. 3:2-5 [6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; - Titus 1:6-8 1. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. - Titus 2:1-6 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. - Titus 2:11-14 [34] And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. [35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. - Luke 21:34-36 [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? [13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. - 1 Cor. 5:9-13 [9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. - 1 Cor. 6:9-10 [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. - Gal. 5:19-25 [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; - Eph. 5:18 [1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. - Rev. 17:1-2 [5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. - Rev. 17:5-6 The scriptures are clear. The matter of drunkenness and sobriety involve all parts of mankind. That is to say, don�t be drunk in your spirit, soul and body. Rather, be sober in your spirit, soul and body. Drunkenness is not permitted in any part of the Christians' life and relationship to God. Therefore, so called Christians who support and participate in a so called activity called " drunk in the spirit " are involved in an activity which scripture does not support. Such activity is deceitful, it is sin. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Questions or comments - Roger [email protected] |