When to Say No

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” —Proverbs 20:1

“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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkard...shall inherit the kingdom of God.” —1 Corinthians 6:9, 10

“Which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels.” —Isaiah 65:4

“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” —Proverbs 23:21

“Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.” —Deuteronomy 32:33

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” —Isaiah 5:11

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry 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 colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” —Proverbs 23:29-32

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” —Romans 6:16 (See also verse 13)

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” —Ephesians 5:18

“Do not drink wine nor strong drink...that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” —Leviticus 10:9, 10

“Drink the pure blood of the grape.” —Deuteronomy 32:14

“The new wine is found in the cluster,...Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it.” —Isaiah 65:8

“Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” —Isaiah 52:11

“Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” —1 Peter 2:11

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” —2 Timothy 2:21

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” —2 Corinthians 6:17

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” —Hebrews 12:16

Notice:  Man’s first sin in the garden of Eden was related to appetite. Jesus’ first temptation in the wilderness was also related to appetite. Christ conquered where Adam failed, thereby making it possible for you and I to gain the same victory.