Gospel and Spiritual Growth Series by Pastor David K. Spurbeck, Sr.

 

Message #38 – 1-13-2002 – Synopsis and Outline

 

SOCIAL WORKS AND LUSTS FROM THE FLESH -- VIII & IX

 

The last two works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 are drunkenness and revellings.  Both involve results of intoxication so they fit together in a message.  Most often the New Testament addresses drunkenness from the consumption of wine.  All wine in the New Testament is alcoholic.  We use the description of the effects of alcohol with the phrase "under the influence."  This indicates that the mental faculties of a person are being chemically influenced by ethyl alcohol.  This is a chemical result.  As a result of the chemical action of the alcohol on a person's cells, drunkenness can easily lead to drunken parties where one is uninhibited and thinks he or she is without personal responsibility.  Drunkenness is a work of the flesh.  A person is solely responsibility for drunkenness.  It is not a disease or a genetic predisposition.  It is an appetite from a sin nature received from fathers but not a genetic aberration.  One is to blame for his or her own drunkenness or alcoholism.  It may become a passion that can alter one's own genetic makeup but rarely.  Most Christians easily understand what drunkenness is.

 

A question that I asked late in the message involved the matter of total abstinence from alcohol.  Is there any teaching in grace revelation that might indicate that total abstinence is what God expects of the Christian?  We are all reminded that Timothy was encouraged by Paul to take a little wine for his stomach's sake -- a medicinal purpose.  Other passages relate wine to drunkenness which is a result of drinking to the point that the alcohol affects one's mental and emotional faculties.  There is no prohibition of drinking alcohol given to the Christian.  Historically Christendom had a Sunday each quarter designated temperance Sunday where total abstinence was encouraged (for the wrong reasons).  Carrie Nation helped found the Women's Christian Temperance Union which fought alcohol to the extent that it was prohibited from consumption by constitutional amendment.  Prohibition proved to be a disaster as morality was regulated by government and the sin nature went crazy.  In our country (USA) there is only one concept that can apply to the grace believer concerning alcohol consumption.  A stronger believer is not to cause a weaker believer to stumble by what he does.  As an example and an encouragement to the weaker brother or sister it is advisable for the saint to abstain totally to preserve a weaker saint.  Romans 14:1 and 15:1 clearly indicate that one who is weaker is the one who is stumbled.  Romans 14 addresses several issues that can cause stumbling as does 1 Cor. 8:7-10 and 9:22.

 

Drunkenness is mentioned by four Greek terms some 16 times.  Eight of these are in grace revelation while 11 are in the Gospels.  The Old Testament has far more words for drunkenness and alcoholic beverages than does the New Testament.  Note that the Septuagint places where this Greek word is used.  There are many more that are translated by other words in the LXX.  Classical Greek as well as N. T. Koine Greek uses the word to describe someone under the influence.  In some contexts it is clear that it can be used to describe several of the degrees of influence (noted in D. 2.).  My definition and its details need no explanation beyond the outline.  Drunkenness is a work of the flesh.  Satan doesn't want anything to do with a drunk because the drunk makes him look bad.  Drunkenness affects the person's heart (rationale, emotions and will) (Lu. 21:34.  It makes one irresponsible in the way he behaves acting as though he or she is not responsible for his or her actions (Matt. 24:49).  After inebriation one loses the ability to determine the quality of wine (Jn. 2:10).  Even in the N.T. era it was not normal for a person to be drunk in the morning (cf. Acts 2:15).  The carnal Corinthian church had those who gathered for the agape feast who brought enough wine to make them drunk (1 Cor. 11:21).  A believer who is drunk is incapable of manifesting the life of God and is functioning in the realm of spiritual darkness (1 Th. 5:7).  Ephesians 5:18 tells Christians that drunkenness prevents one from living in present tense salvation. "Stop being drunk with wine wherein is unsavingness. . ."  Some are confused concerning the filling of the Holy Spirit in this verse because they make filling involve control as alcohol controls one who is drunk.  "Fill" doesn't have that concept.  It literally means to make up a deficiency or make up a difference.  Spirit filling is not Spirit control in spite of popular misconceptions.  A Spirit filled believer is not a robot!  Drunkenness can lead to one's being separated from other Christians (1 Cor. 5:11) as a matter of church discipline.  Romans 13:13 puts the cap on drunkenness.  A Christian is to be walking with a good external appearance showing a manifestation of eternal life (the life that is God the Son) and not to be walking (ordering the details of one's life) in reveling and in drunkenness.  Reveling is the next work of the flesh.

 

Reveling is only found in the Greek New Testament three times one of which is Romans 13:13.  It is only found in grace revelation (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3).  It is not found in the LXX for the Hebrew O.T. but twice in Apocryphal books.  In classical Greek, it was used to generally describe a party or celebration.  Any party becomes boisterous when mixed with alcohol and drugs.  As a result there are drunken songs sung and other acts of the flesh manifested.  It is the last of the works of the flesh listed by name (Gal. 5:21).  1 Peter 4:3  says "For the time in a state of passing away is sufficient to work out the determinative will of the nations, when we progressed on for ourselves in lasciviousness, lusts, bubbling over of wine, revellings, drinking bouts and criminal idolatries."  Notice that revellings is surrounded by two other terms that involve to alcohol related activities.  All three of these involve drunkenness.  Peter reminds us that when we live as Christians and do not participate in these activities the old friends who do this will speak evil of the saint (vs. 4).  This is not a behavior that emanates the life of Christ.  A drunk Christian is a carnal Christian.  A drunk Christian cannot be a spiritual Christian.  He is emanating things induced by alcohol and not by the Spirit of God.  Some believers will take the risk and find that drunkenness becomes a passion and will ruin their testimony and their spiritual lives.  Stop being drunk with wine wherein is unsavingness, but be filled by the Spirit."

 

We are all rejoicing in so great salvation!

 

In Him resurrected and enjoying resurrection life,

DKS

#38 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – January 13, 2001 p.m.

 

SOCIAL WORKS AND LUSTS FROM THE FLESH -- VIII & IX

Galatians 5:21 -- Drunkenness and Revellings -- me.qai, kw/moi

 

Proposition:   To present the concepts involved in the words "drunkenness and revellings" that are related to one another.  These words involve intoxication and its results.  These are the sixteenth and seventeenth works of the flesh listed in Galatians five.  Inebriation and resulting partying that can lead to drunken brawls are the focus of these words.

 

        Introduction

              A.  The Listing of Drunkenness and Revellings as Works of the Flesh

                    1.  The Identification of These Two Nouns

                    2.  The Intoxication That Is Common in the Two Works of the Flesh

                    3.  The Involvement of Other Forms of Intoxication Possible

                    4.  The Inclusion of the Words in the Text

              B.   The Limitation of Mental Faculties as a Result

              C.  The License to Have Untoward Behavior "without Personal Responsibility"

                    1.  As a Motivation for a Drunken Party

                    2.  As a Mechanism to Bring a Release of Inhibitions

              D.  The Liability of a Person for These Two Works of the Flesh

                    1.  Drunkenness Is Not a Disease

                    2.  Drunkenness and Reveling Are Only Genetic in That They Are Transmitted

                         as Appetites of the Sin Nature

 

TRANS:   The sixteenth work of the flesh is drunkenness.  This involves a chemically induced intoxication that limits a person's ability to function with all of is or her faculties.

 

VIII.  DRUNKENNESS:  INEBRIATION THAT REMOVES SOME PERSONAL INHIBITIONS AND OVERCOMES SOME PERSONAL SENSIBILITES -- PERSONAL INTOXICATION BY A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THAT AFFECTS ONE'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION TO ANY DEGREE -- AN OPEN RELISHING OF ALCOHOL AND ITS AFFECTS ON ONE'S MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL FACULTIES -- Galatians 5:21

        A.  The Extent of the Revelation in the New Testament

              1.  me,qh (methe) -- feminine noun -- three times trans. "drunkenness"

              2.  mequ,w (methuo) -- verb -- seven times  trans. "be drunken" (5x); "have well drunk" (1x); "be made drunk" (1x)

              3.  mequ,skw (methusko) -- verb -- three times  trans. "be drunken" (2x) and "be drunk" (1x)

              4.  me,qusoj (methusos) -- masculine noun -- two times  trans. "drunkard"

              5.  Total New Testament Occurrences of All Forms and Derivatives -- 15x

        B.   The Evidence in its Distribution in the New Testament

              1.  In the Gospels -- 11 times

                  a.  As the Noun me,qh (methe) -- one time (Lu. 21:34)

                  b.  As the Verb mequ,w (methuo) -- two times (Matt. 24:49; Jn. 2:10)

                  c.  As the Verb mequ,skw (methusko) -- one time (Lu. 12:45)

              2.  In Acts -- one time (Acts 2:15)

              3.  In Grace Revelation -- 8 times

                  a.  The Noun me,qh (methe) -- two times (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21)

                  b.  The Verb mequ,w (methuo) -- two times (1 Cor. 11:21; 1 Thess. 5:7)

                  c.  The Verb mequ,skw (methusko)  -- two times (Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:7)

                  d.  The Noun me,qusoj (methusos) -- two times (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10)

              3.  In the Book of Revelation  -- the Verb mequ,w (methuo) -- two times (Rev. 17:2, 6)

        C.  The Examination of the Uses in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) 

              1.  Hebrew Words Translated by the Noun me,qh 

          a.  For sys;[' (ahsays) -- one time (Joel 1:5)

                    b.  For forms of  rkv (shacr) -- seven times (Prov. 20:1; 31:6; Isa. 28:7; Jer. 28:57;

                         Ezek. 23:33; 39:19; Hag. 1:6)

              2.  Hebrew Words Translated by the Verb mequ,w

                    a.  For ~l;h' (hahlam) -- one time (Isa. 28:1)

                    b.  For hw"r' (rahwah) -- nine times (Psa. 23:5; Isa. 34:5, 7; 55:10; 58:11; Jer. 31:14,

                         25; 46:10; Lam. 3:15)

                    c.  For qWv (shooq) -- one time (Psa. 65:9)

                    d.  For Forms of rkv (shacar) -- 25 times (ex. Gen. 9:21; Deut. 32:42; 1 Sam. 1:13,

                          14; 2 Sam. 11:13; Job 12:25; Psa. 107:27; Joel 1:5; Isa. 19:14; 24:20; Jer. 48:26)

                    e.  For ht'v' (shahthah) -- one time (Prov. 4:17)

              3.  Hebrew Words Translated by the Noun me,qusoj

                    a.  For ab's' (sahvah) -- one time (Prov. 23:21)

                    b.  For rwOKvi (shicor) -- one times (Prov. 26:9)

        D.  The Emphasis of Usage in Classical and Koine Greek 

        1.  The Condition of One Under the Influence of Alcohol

            a.  Some Form of Wine in the New Testament

             b.  Other Alcoholic Beverages

        2.  The Consequences of Various Degrees of Influence

            a.  Give to Drink Alcohol

            b.  Under Influence -- Begins to Take Over Rationale and Emotions

            c.  Intoxicated -- Affects Rationale and Emotions Limiting Inhibitions

             d.  Stupefied -- Nearly Passed Out

            e.  Under the Table -- Passed Out Drunk

        E.   The Emphasis of the Definition of Drunkenness

              1.  My Definition:  Intoxication in which alcohol and possibly other intoxicants influences the human senses limiting their abilities to function.  This can lead to addiction that is the insatiability and passion of the appetites of the sin nature.

              2.  The Details from the Definition

                   a.  Involves naturally produced ethyl alcohol by fermentation in the New Testament

                  b.  Involves the chemical reaction of alcohol with human cells

                  c.  Involves a direct influence on a person's ability to think and feel

                  d.  It may involve other intoxicants

                  e.  It can become a passion for the drug and its effects

        F.   The Examination of Biblical Revelation for Understanding Drunkenness

              1.  The Collection as One of the Works of the Flesh -- Galatians 5:21

              2.  The Concentration on Drunkenness as a Burden on the Heart -- Luke 21:34

                  a.  The Pressure on the Heart

                  b.  The Presence from Giddiness from Drink and Anxieties of Biological Life

                  c.  The Problem of a Distraction from Important Things

              3.  The Connection of Drunkenness with Irresponsibility -- Matthew 24:49 (48-51)

              4.  The Character of the Wine Is Not Discernable After Inebriation -- John 2:10

              5.  The Culture That Wouldn't Drink to the Drunkenness in the Morning -- Acts 2:15

              6.  The Confusion at the Agape Feast with Some Believers Being Drunk -- 1 Corinthians

                  11:21

              7.  The Spiritual Condition of One Who Is Drunk -- 1 Thessalonians 5:7

                  a.  Avoiding the Manifestation of the Life of God

                  b.  Acting as Drunks in the Dark

              8.  The Contempt for Present Tense Salvation by Drunkenness -- Ephesians 5:18

                  a.  A Prohibition Concerning Drunkenness

                  b.  A Problem with Present Tense Salvation "Unsavingness"

                  c.  A Potential for the Filling of the Spirit

              9.  The Command for Christians to Avoid Christians Who Are Drunks -- 1 Corinthians

                  5:11

            10.  The Characterization of One as a Drunk Affects Inheriting the Kingdom of God -- 1 Corinthians 6:10

            11.  The Contrasts Between Ways to Order One's Life -- Romans 13:13

                  a.  Walking with Good Appearance

                  b.  Walking in the Manifestation of the Life of God

                  c.  Not Walking

                       (1)  In Reveling                          (5)  In Strife

                       (2)  In Drunkenness                    (6)  In Envying

                       (3)  In Chambering

                       (4)  In Wantonness

 

TRANS:   Drunkenness is a common work of the flesh. Intemperance often is the root of many of the problems that occur in the believer's life.  It is clearly a work of the flesh and the parties that accompany it as well which are described in the next work of the flesh.  The next work of the flesh is revellings which is the last and 17th in the AV list.

 

IX.  REVELLING:  DRUNKEN CAROUSINGS THAT ARE UNINHIBITED AND THAT MAY LEAD TO RIOTING -- PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH WANTON CONDUCT THAT RESULTS FROM DRUNKENENESS -- AN OPEN REVLLING FROM INDULGENCE IN ALCOHOL IN A DRUNKEN PARTY -- Galatians 5:21

        A.  The Extent of the Revelation in the New Testament -- kw/moj (komos) -- masculine noun -- three times trans. "revellings" and "rioting"

        B.   The Evidence in its Distribution in the New Testament -- This Word Is Only Found in

              Grace Revelation -- three times (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3)

        C.  The Examination of the Uses in the Greek Old Testament (LXX)  -- This Word is Not found in the canonical books of the Old Testament.  It does occur twice in the Greek of the Apocryphal books (Wisdom 14:23; 2 Maccabees 6:4)

        D.  The Emphasis of Usage in Classical and Koine Greek 

        1.  With Both Good and Evil Connotations in Classical Greek

            a.  An Assembly for Entertainment

            b.  A Gathering to Celebrate a Festival

            c.  A Festival with Music, Dancing and Singing

            d.  Going Through the Streets with Boisterous Merriment

            e.  Wanton Conduct by Persons Elated by Wine

        2.  The Consequences in Describing Events and Their Results

            a.  A Band of Revelers

                 (1)  A Procession That Celebrated a Victor in Games

                 (2) A Procession of an Army

                 (3)  A Band of Hunters

                 (4)  A Band of Maidens

                 (5)  A Band of Doves

            b.  An Ode or Hymn Sung at One of These Processions

        3.  The Concept of General Merrymaking With or Without the Influence of Wine

        E.   The Emphasis of the Definition of Revelling

              1.  My Definition:  Excessive carousing and partying primarily involving the use of alcohol in which many of the other works of the flesh can be satisfied and that might lead to rioting.

              2.  The Details from the Definition

                   a.  Involves a happy, festive party often enhanced with the consumption of alcoholic beverages

                  b.  Involves a looseness of morals resulting from the consumption of alcohol

                  c.  Incorporates other works of the flesh in the partying including fornication, lasciviousness, drunkenness and such.

        F.   The Examination of Biblical Revelation for Understanding Drunkenness

              1.  The Inclusion as #17 of the Works of the Flesh -- Galatians 5:21

              2.  The Involvement in Those Who Walk in the Night -- Romans 13:13

                  a.  Note It Is Listed in a Pair with Drunkenness

                  b.  The Next Pair of Works Are Sexual in Nature:  Coitus and Lasciviousness

                  c.  The Last Pair in the Verse Are the Works of the Flesh Strife and Zeal

              3.  The Involvement of Believers in the Desirous Will of the Gentiles -- 1 Peter 4:3

                  a.  Note:  It is in the middle of three terms that involve the use of alcohol

                  b.  It is in a context with sexual works of the flesh (lasciviousness) and with religious

                       works of the flesh (idolatry)

     

TRANS:   This concludes the specific list of the words for the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:20, 21.  The only addition in the text is describes as "such like."  These become very evident in the clusters in which the works of the flesh have been found as we have journeyed through them.  Our next message will involve the clusters and the words found in them.

 

      Conclusion

              A.

              B.

              C.

              D.

 

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119