by Pastor Michael D. O'Neal,

Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, GA

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Scripture Reading: Prov. 23:17-35

Text: Prov. 23:31,32

Introduction:

I am fully aware that many people in this town earn their living directly or indirectly from the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages. We have in the "Good Life City" Miller's Brewery. Before Miller's Brewery ever arrived, we had Viking Distillery, which is, I think Georgia's first legalized distillery. There is Albany Beverage Company, along with many others, who produce and sell alcohol.

Although I think most people assume that we people at Gospel Light Baptist Church are against alcohol, I want to remind us all of how DEVILISH the Devil's Brew really IS. I am afraid that we are in danger of getting used to the presence of liquor in our town so that we don't cry against it as a sin anymore.

I call it the devil's brew because it is like a SERPENT, and it gives HIS color (the reference was to the red color of wine, and the devil's color as a serpent is red) in the cup.

I. THE DEVIL'S BREW DERIDES (Makes a Fool Out of You)

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

A. It makes you talk foolishly

B. It makes you think foolishly

C. It makes you toil foolishly - living for the next drink, the next paycheck to spend at the bar

II. THE DEVIL'S BREW DELUDES

Isaiah 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

(This is talking about PREACHERS. I remember embarrassing a Methodist preacher one time many years ago by catching him at a grocery store cashier line with a six-pack of beer in front of him. One of the problems with today's society with regard to booze and other social evils is that there are just too many compromising, politicking, pussy-footing, ear-scratching, man- pleasing, lily-livered, beauty parlor SPEAKERS, and not enough devil-hating, sin-killing, leather-lunged, hellfire, unmoveable, Christ-exalting, GOD-fearing, fundamental, Bible-believing Baptist PREACHERS who will cry against sin!!!)

A. It deceives preachers - they won't preach against it

B. It deceives politicians - they are bought by it

C. It deceives peoples - they think it is necessary (deception about the Prohibition era)

III. THE DEVIL'S BREW DEFILES

Proverbs 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

A. It defiles your mind

B. It defiles your mouth

C. It defiles your morals

IV. THE DEVIL'S BREW DESTROYS

Proverbs 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

A. It destroys one's home

B. It destroys one's health

C. It destroys one's hope

V. THE DEVIL'S BREW DRAINS

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

A. Your checking account

B. Your children

C. Your character

VI. THE DEVIL'S BREW DEADENS

Proverbs 23:35A They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not...

A. Your conscience

B. Your concern

C. Your consciousness

VII. THE DEVIL'S BREW DOMINATES

Proverbs 23:35B ... when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

A. It dominates the fool who takes it

B. It dominates the family affected by it

C. It dominates the future of those hooked on it

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