What other scriptures warn about the effects of indulgence on spiritual discernment? A Lead-In from Hosea 4:11 “Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.” Indulgence Clouds Everyday Judgment: Wisdom from Proverbs • Proverbs 20:1 — “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” • Proverbs 23:29-33 paints the picture of red eyes, confusion, and snake-bite consequences when drink rules the heart. • Proverbs 31:4-5 reminds leaders that alcohol blurs justice: “lest they drink and forget what is decreed.” Takeaway: What fogs clear thinking will eventually fog spiritual perception. Isaiah’s “Woe” to a Pleasure-Driven People • Isaiah 5:11-12 — early morning drinkers “do not regard the deeds of the LORD.” • Isaiah 5:22 — “heroes in drinking wine” end up champions of compromise. When appetite dominates, God’s works fade from view. Jesus Warns About a Weighed-Down Heart • Luke 21:34 — “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of life.” Indulgence dulls readiness for His return; vigilance requires sobriety. Paul: Fleshly Fog vs. Spirit-Filled Clarity • Ephesians 5:18 — “Do not get drunk on wine… Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” • Galatians 5:19-21 lists “drunkenness, orgies” with other flesh works that bar the kingdom. • Romans 13:13-14 pairs carousing with jealousy and urges us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” When the Spirit fills, indulgence loses its grip and discernment sharpens. Peter: Sobriety as Spiritual Armor • 1 Peter 4:3-5 — believers leave “drunkenness, orgies, carousing,” baffling the world but pleasing the Judge. • 1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 echoes the call: daytime living demands wide-awake eyes of faith. The enemy hunts the drowsy; self-control keeps the watchtower manned. Appetite as a False god • Philippians 3:18-19 — “their god is their belly… their minds are set on earthly things.” Indulgence isn’t just bad habit; it can become idolatry that hijacks focus from Christ. Narrative Snapshots that Drive It Home • Esau traded a birthright for stew (Genesis 25:29-34) — hunger blinded long-range vision. • Samson’s lust dulled discernment, leading to captivity (Judges 16:19-21). • Solomon’s many wives “turned his heart” (1 Kings 11:1-4) — indulgence in relationships warped devotion. Real people, real losses—because cravings outran conviction. Putting It All Together – Indulgence (food, drink, sex, luxury) acts like a spiritual anesthetic. – Scripture consistently links it to dull thinking, compromised justice, and inattentiveness to God. – Sobriety—of body and mind—keeps the channel clear for the Spirit’s guidance, empowers prayer, and guards against deception. Choosing restraint isn’t rule-keeping for its own sake; it’s protecting the spiritual senses that let us recognize truth, resist evil, and respond quickly when the Lord speaks. |
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