DO NOT GET DRUNK ON WINE, WHICH LEADS TO DEBAUCHERY...

DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE 
TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, 
WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND YOU ARE
NOT YOUR OWN?  FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT AT 
A PRICE; THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR 
BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.
( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 *NKJV )

Dear Brethren,
  We are to stay away from those things which defile our
body and lead to unrighteousness. Things like additions to
drug's and alcohol, sex, or gambling, etc.

  Now for example, while the Bible does not teach total
abstinence from alcohol, it does speak against drunkenness.
For it is written; HEAR, MY SON, AND BE WISE; AND
GUIDE YOUR HEART IN THE WAY. DO NOT MIX WITH 
WINEBIBBERS, OR WITH GLUTTONOUS EATERS OF MEAT;
FOR THE DRUNKARD AND THE GLUTTON WILL COME TO
POVERTY, AND DROWSINESS WILL CLOTHE A MAN WITH 
RAGS. ( Proverbs 23:19-21 )  For; WINE IS A MOCKER,
STRONG DRINK IS RAGING: AND WHOSOEVER IS
DECEIVED THEREBY IS NOT WISE. ( Proverbs 20:1 )

  After all;  WHO HAS WOE? WHO HAS SORROW? WHO 
HAS CONTENTIONS? WHO HAS COMPLAINTS? WHO HAS 
WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE? WHO HAS REDNESS OF EYES?
THOSE WHO LINGER LONG AT THE WINE, THOSE WHO GO
IN SEARCH OF MIXED WINE. DO NOT LOOK ON THE WINE
WHEN IT IS RED, WHEN IT SPARKLES IN THE CUP, WHEN
IT SWIRLS AROUND SMOOTHLY; AT THE LAST IT BITES LIKE 
A SERPENT, AND STINGS LIKE A VIPER.  
( Proverbs 23:29-32 )

  So;  BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE - NOT
AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY
OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL. THEREFORE
DO NOT BE FOOLISH, BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD'S
WILL IS. DO NOT GET DRUNK ON WINE, WHICH LEADS TO
DEBAUCHERY. INSTEAD, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
( Ephesians 5:15-18 )

    For; HE WHO LOVES PLEASURE WILL BE A POOR MAN;
HE WHO LOVES WINE AND OIL WILL NOT BE RICH. Amen.
( Proverbs 21:17 )

NOTE: If you, or anyone you know need help with an
addiction, there are free programs available to help in
your area!  Consult your local phone book to reach
any of these various programs!  If one is suffering from
an addition the real shame is in not seeking help for it,
for a much better life awaits!  Amen!

All My Love & Prayers,
  Pastor Allen

Slavery Versus Freedom

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:20-23

Slavery is the exact opposite to freedom. In America, where freedom is such a high ideal, slavery is always bad; freedom is always good. There’s no doubt that the most horrific war in the history of the United States was fought between the states as our southern forefathers seeking to defend the institution of slavery were succeeding from the Union. President Lincoln felt at all costs that the Union should be preserved and saved, and he was right, although hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in that conflict. 

But it is also interesting to note that there are more slaves in the world today than in the history of man. How can that be? Well, in Christianity Today, an article entitled “Free at Last” quotes: “Experts estimate there are 27 million slaves worldwide today.” 17,500 slaves are trafficked annually into the United States, and about 300,000 children are believed to be currently at risk from sexual exploitation. We all know it is no longer legal to have slaves in America, but my home town, Atlanta, Is one of the major headquarters in the United States for trafficking and human bondage. It is truly hard to imagine.

But what the Word of God tells us is there are two types of slavery. There is bad slavery and, believe it or not, there is good slavery. “You’re kidding, right? Is that even possible?” Even in our own lives, there is one major type of slavery that is bad: it is sin – that is seen in many forms.

But wait, the Bible speaks of a slavery that is good. It is slavery to God, exemplified in submitting to obey God’s will versus our own. Here’s the irony: those of us in Christ have been set free from a bondage to sin and then we voluntarily, out of gratitude for what God has done, want to be His slaves in doing the right thing that is pleasing to God. That’s the kind of slave I want to be. How about you? We can only do this through Christ...About Right From The Heart