Abstain From Alcohol, Defeat Satan's Advance

People drinking modern alcoholic drinks are affected from the first few drinks.  A Christian should never be intoxicated.  Peter spoke as an Apostle of Christ under divine inspiration when he warned that we must be sober at all times in order to resist the devil:  
 
  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world (1 Pet. 5:8-9). 
 
The word "sober" is used here as a metaphor for the state of the mind which is morally alert, but the word means literally "to be free from the influence of intoxicants," "to abstain from wine" (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words IV: 44 & 201).  The Christian's mind must not be impaired by intoxicants or by any other influence.  We must be morally alert at all times and under all circumstances because Satan can advance his agenda of temptation and sin when our minds are clouded, confused, and deluded. 
 
In order to defeat Satan's advance, it is important to know intoxication begins with the first drink of alcoholic beverages.  Driver education manuals and state driver's handbooks often contain such explanations.  Queensland is a state in Australia.  Here is a very direct and forceful statement from the Queensland Government Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing on their web site: 
 
 
“Intoxication 
"It is an offence to sell or supply liquor to someone who is unduly intoxicated or disorderly. 
 
“Licensees, permittees and managers face a maximum fine of $50,000. Staff, or any other person breaching these provisions are liable for a maximum fine of $8,000. 
 
“The Act defines undue intoxication as: 
"a state of being in which a person's mental and physical faculties are impaired because of consumption of liquor so as to diminish the person's ability to think and act in a way in which an ordinary prudent person in full possession of his or her faculties, and using reasonable care, would act in like circumstances." 
 
“How it happens 
“Intoxication occurs when the first drink of alcohol commences its passage through the body. Alcohol can affect a person's behaviour within minutes of that first drink. 
 
“When alcohol builds up in a person's bloodstream it affects behaviour. At some stage, the loss of control becomes so great that the person is considered to be "unduly intoxicated" (http://www.olgr.qld.gov.au/industry/liquorCompliance/intoxication/index.shtml accessed on March 17, 2009). 
 
 
The explanation added that the speed and progress of intoxication vary from person to person according to gender, size, fitness, health, state of mind, rate of drinking, food, and medication.  This information is provided by a government agency concerned with legal matters not moral standards.  The simple fact is that intoxication begins from the first drink. 
 
After the first drink, with each additional drink the state or degree of intoxication increases.  Ancient wines resulting from natural fermentation were generally diluted with varying mixtures of water such as two or three parts water to one part wine.  Drunk in moderate amounts, such wine had no intoxicating effect.  The bladder of the drinker was often affected before his mind.  
 
Modern wines are not diluted with water but rather are fortified beyond the state of natural fermentation to increase the alcohol content by adding brandy or other spirits.  When ancient wines were mixed with various herbs, minerals, and drugs to increase their potency, they were classed with strong drink, i.e., intoxicants.  God's people were warned away from such drinks:  "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Prov. 20:1). 
 
To protect our minds, defend our souls, and defeat Satan's advance, we should abstain from alcoholic beverages.

Ron Halbrook