Daily Devotional, Year 2 – May 4 (Strong Delusion in Scripture, Part 2, Continued: Drinking Wine)

By admin On March 17th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – May 4

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Strong Delusion in Scripture,

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Part 2, Continued:

“Drinking Wine”

To read the beginning of this topic of drinking, click here… “May 3 (Strong Delusion in Scripture, Part 2: Drinking Wine)”

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“…because they received not the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12

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JESUS, NAZARITE, PRIEST, AND KING

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Among the many offices which Jesus held, three major offices were as Nazarite, Priest, and King. And as such, all three offices were each forbidden to touch alcohol. So, while Jesus no doubt drank new wine (unfermented), He was strictly forbidden from drinking fermented wine.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tissot_The_Two_Priests_Are_Destroyed.jpg

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And the Bible says concerning  Believers… “But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIEST HOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people;” 1st Peter 2:9

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So, as 24/7/365 royal priests of God, church-goers too should really consider why they are drinking alcoholic beverages. No, God may not execute them, as He did these two drunken priests in this picture. But they may find that they are terminated from being priests for God! 

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Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom. 

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NOT FOR KINGS TO DRINK

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“It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” Proverbs 31:4-7

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This above passage warns kings against alcohol consumption. But rather it says to give wine to those who are ready to perish; to those who be of a heavy heart.

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But the Bible reveals that Believers are kings… “Unto Him (Jesus) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6

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And so, as kings we are not to drink, lest we should pervert good judgment.

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Drunk Drinkers – Jacob Jordaens – The Feast of the Bean King – Google Art Project – US Public Domain.

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ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL…BUT…

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“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1st Corinthians 6:12

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Yes, as this above verse reveals, all things are lawful for the Christian, but not all things are wise to engage in.

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For instance, those who engage in drinking are taking a chance on becoming a prisoner of alcohol.

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And if the reader has ever been a prisoner to some addiction, then he or she well knows how miserable and destructive such a life of bondage can be! And there are few addictions as powerful as alcohol drinking. It sneaks up ever-so imperceptibly and gently slips its shackles upon that person, before they’re even aware, and casts them into an invisible prison, from which they may never escape!

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MANY TESTS IN THE BIBLE

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There’s an old saying which goes, “Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself!” Well, in a very real sense, God gives a Christian enough rope in the Bible, to hang himself, so to speak. Those Christians who are still worldly-minded will fall into the various pitfalls which are often found in Scripture.

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And truth-be-told, the Bible is a supernatural book. It must be interpreted by the Holy Spirit, to find truth. But Satan will come as an “angel of light”, to attempt to deceive the mind of the naive Bible student.

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And 2nd Corinthians 11 also reveals that Satan has his own counterfeit “ministers of righteousness”, who are in many pulpits, speaking perhaps 90% truth, and 10% “damnable heresies”.

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So the Christian must be watchful and vigilant… “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1st Peter 5:8

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LIVING IN A CORNUCOPIAN SUPER-SOCIETY

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The way things are today, are vastly different than the way things were back then! Alcohol is instantly available in today’s world, where in times past, it was much more difficult to find!

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Quite often, it was more difficult to even obtain grapes, and the waiting time for fermentation took weeks.

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Today, just go into any store, and pay a few dollars, and you’ll be drunk in 30 minutes or less!

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And so, the possibility of becoming a drunkard is far greater today, than it was back in the early days of the Church.

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Time – New York City Night-lights – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 Generic License

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SHOW ME…AND I’LL SHOW YOU…

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“Show me a Christian who has decided to drink, and I’ll show you a Christian who…

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“…who probably is somewhat discouraged with the Christian life.

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“…who probably is not watchful and vigilant. 

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“…who probably has lost his or her great love of Bible study and hourly contemplation of its words.

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“…who probably has one foot in Christianity, and the other foot in the world.

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“…who is possibly contemplating adding further worldly pleasures back into the daily life.

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“…Who is probably losing the battle of ‘overcoming the flesh’. 

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“…who is possibly considering leaving Christianity, for the most part, and at best will just attend church each week as a nominal Christian.”

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CRUCIFY THE FLESH

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“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering anhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christianandapollyon.jpgd wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:13, 14

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The greatest battle that the Christian will ever fight, is the battle against the flesh. This above passage exhorts us to holy living. This is not optional. This is a requirement!

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Listen… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

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So where does alcohol drinking fit into this above verse? Simple! It doesn’t!

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Christian and Apollyon – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“THE HOUR IS HASTENING ON!”

lyrics from the song, “Be Still My Soul”

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“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. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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

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Here above God Jesus is warning us to not allow the pleasures and pursuits of life to cause us to get drowsy and unwatchful!

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But as we all know, it is so easy to fall into a narcotic-like state of mind! As Bunyan wrote, “We are on enchanted ground!” The Christian is to be sober and vigilant at all times. And the truth is, those Christians who partake of wine, are most likely not being “sober and vigilant.”

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And chances are, they have forgotten that we are being judged at every moment… “What is man…that Thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” Job 7:17, 18 

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God’s Spirit is literally everywhere! He is right here with both you and myself! He knows exactly what is going on in the hearts and lives of each and every person. 

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

June 1 (Strong Delusion in Scripture, Part 3: “Deceiving Even The Elect!”)

Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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http://christianimagesource.com/prophet_jeremiah_g341-prophet_jeremiah__image_2_p2281.htmlTHE READER IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 25 MINUTE STUDY FROM JEREMIAH CONCERNING WINE, PRESENTED BY HAROLD CAMPING…

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ABOVE PAINTING: The Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marines_at_Prayer_by_Alex_Raymond.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me of Thy Holy Spirit, as I give Thee my entire life! Let me not be deceived by a false spirit. But bring me up the narrow pathway of truth…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…July 24 (Wine Is A Mocker: “How To Get Off Alcohol, Etc…”) or you can also read… January 18th (Jeremiah & the Smooth Prophets)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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REVELATION 12 WOMAN & NARROW GATE STARS

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Winter Constellations in West

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation  is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

Revelation 12 Woman & Orion's Gate & Wide Gate.

This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch to right).

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Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Worker_ant_carrying_leaf.jpg

TOMORROW…

“May 5 (Ants: Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing!)”

Worker ant carrying leaf – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #490 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO… 

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.

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