This is a message I never enjoy giving because I know so many "good" people who enjoy a glass of wine here, a beer here or a beer there. Hear me out. For the last month I have felt a nudge to write this message. I have been witnessing the effects in the lives of many from alcohol. Have a college guy I was working with who was kicked out of college for alcohol. Another guy I am working with had his father pass away due to alcohol. The stories could go on and on. The destruction that comes upon families and people on account of alcohol saddens me. It saddens me when I see men and women stuck in the cycle of never ending social functions with the main central focus of gathering is drinking and drunkenness. I heard a pastor who has counseled many couples for years say this…I have never heard a couple come into my office and say hey when we started drinking everything changed for the better, our marriage really started getting good! Most of the time they say we were drinking, and then……..You fill in the blank. Alcohol lowers inhabitation and effects the decision’s you make when you start drinking. People make dumb decisions when they drink! I was one of them. I grew up in a home where we never had an alcohol issue. I had a father who had a beer with his pizza after the ball games and occasionally a beer at other times with his buddies. No harm right? Opinions vary. I had a mentor make a statement one time., here is what he said. “A glass of wine here and a glass of wine there. A beer here and a beer there, no big deal, but your kids are watching and they will justify a case here and a keg there and will be led right into the cycle of addiction. What you do in moderation your kids will do in excess. I never want my kids to say well my dad drank. Not on my watch and not in my home. I occasionally drank in high school.. shh don't tell. Then after high school and into college my drinking increased. By the time I hit 21 there was not a weekend that went by where I was not drinking. By the time I was 25 there was not a night on a weekend I didn't drink and do much more than that. At that time it also went into my weeks. By the time I was 26 I had no clue what to do on a weekend without alcohol and a party. I had walked into and created a culture where that is what we did and those were the friends I had. By the time I was 26 my life began crumbling. Relationship were falling apart, had a struggling business and was distant from my parents and siblings. At that time I had a sister who loved me to death and led me to Jesus. I can remember that day in August of 2006, everything changed. I looked up and surrendered my life to Jesus. My sins were washed away, my life cleaned up and my desires began to change. Over the next year I can remember going out and had some drinks and it led me right back to that dark place I never want to go again. Since giving up alcohol over 10 years ago I can honestly say it was one of the greatest decisions of my life. The gift of God’s presence and the journey walking with him far surpasses any thrill or night drugs or alcohol could ever give a person. I have found purpose in this life and I love getting out of bed every morning, plus, never a hangover. Best of all I have a family, children and many others watching and witnessing my decisions every day. Trust me, I have plenty of other things to work on, I just knew alcohol was an easy problem to eliminate. The word says: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" Ephesians 5:18. Could it be God's people have sacrificed the “fullness” of His Spirit for a drink? Could it be that on the front of that store that says "wine & spirits" that maybe there actually is another spirit attached to alcohol and its assignment on your life is destruction. That is what I have witnessed in my life and the life of many others as I watch. Am I saying your going to hell if you have a drink? No, not necessarily. But the bible does clearly say in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God. But my question is what would people, families and our nation look like if we spent the time we spend gathering to drink and traded it to pray, worship and look to the king of kings Jesus Christ. I know what happened in my life…I experienced awakening and Revival! If this message convicts you great, I hope it causes you to lay down the drink and press into the spirit in 2019!

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11