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Strong Tower Radio

Vicki Griffin

Ron Kelly

Alcohol: Why Not? Part 2

This is what the scripture says, as the new wine is found in the cluster, do not destroy it for a blessing's in it.

Well, Vicki, there must be something about this that's really wonderful, and of course the devil wouldn't want to leave that alone.

Oh, you are so right, and such beautiful succulent beverages were highly prized among the ancients, and they had the blessing of God.

They spared no effort to keep the juice of the harvest from fermenting, including reducing the juice to a thick jelly-like substance that could travel long distance and be reconstituted with water.

So it's very interesting that polyphenols and other compounds in grapes improve blood vessel and heart health.

So often we hear in connection with drinking wine, we hear the term resveratrol, which is a polyphenol.

The interesting thing about resveratrol is that alcohol in the beverage actually slows the action of the resveratrol.

So grapes are high in fiber, they help control weight, they reduce the risk of heart disease, improve eye health, And guess what?

In fact, there's a study that was published in a heart vessel journal, and it says this, dark grape juice was much more effective than alcohol-containing wine in its ability to inhibit plaque, improve lipids, and raise antioxidant levels.

So the power is in the grapes to lower heart disease risk.

There's nothing magic in making the grapes into wine.

These powerful antioxidants are known as polyphenols, and they slow or prevent many types of cancer, including esophageal, lung, mouth, pharynx, endometrial, pancreatic, and prostate and colon.

When we hear those studies about how wonderful wine is for us, we're just really getting part of the truth and it's not the full truth.

Kimberli Cook Well, that's exactly right.

Fresh grapes and pure grape juice as God made them.

That's the way he has chosen for us to enjoy their benefits.

So the life-giving healing compounds found in grapes repair cellular damage and add years of quality life without the risk of brain and organ damage, cancer, impairment, accidents, and addiction that are linked to alcohol.

So these amazing and diverse compounds, they're found in thousands of varieties of plant foods, not just grapes.

So the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber components and other plant elements work together to provide rich flavor, color, and texture that we really link to lower disease risk, better digestive health, improved mental function and mood, and more energy.

So we can have protection without problems.

A diet rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber from fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds actually are going to provide benefit without the risk and improve mood, memory, learning, and behavior.

And aren't those the weapons we need to fight stress?

Yeah, not only stress, But they're also powerful to the Christian life as you want full capacity to discern how the devil might be coming at you at this age.

The Adventist Health Study has shown that a diet rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber from these compounds and beans plus regular exercise not only improves physical health and lower stress, but improve mental function, cognition, problem solving, and lower blood levels of stress hormones.

And you know, I think about the way God packaged it, the way he provided it, of these you may freely eat.

It's wonderful to know that the beauty of what's in those things is for us to enjoy without any negative side effects.

You know, Pastor Ron, millions of people don't drink and life without alcohol is a great life.

Yeah, and I want to say a hearty amen to that.

You may have heard things in this presentation that are new to you.

You may be thinking about the health consequences linked to using alcoholic beverages.

You may be learning for the first time that God's Word does not sanction social drinking of alcohol, and in fact, forbids it.

So whatever your considerations are as you're thinking about this subject, 1 thing is sure, it's not necessary for a healthy, happy, or fulfilled life or a great social event.

What if this has really gotten a hold of you in a way you never intended?

Well, I think in the few moments that we have left, let's look at a four-step plan just for beginning in this journey.

So addiction has hijacked the brain of many people and changed it in many ways.

It's going to take time, prayer, and perseverance to get back what sin has broken and taken away.

He has tools, technologies, and therapies that can set you free that include lifestyle, social support, good clinical help, and the power of God.

But a fixed and negative attitude says, my problems are someone else's fault and due to bad circumstances.

If anyone and anything were different, I wouldn't have a problem.

If I admit failure, it would be too devastating.

But a learner attitude says, hey, I've had some tough experiences in life.

I won't dwell on the faults of others or my own failures.

What I've found in dealing with people is that the devil's really good at blinding us to our problems.

And so that unwillingness to see that this isn't good for me, or that I'm deeper into it than I ever imagined.

Getting past that first step might be the biggest challenge in a journey to freedom.

Well, and believing that there's hope, believing that there's forgiveness.

If you are within the hearing of this message and you're under conviction, that means there's hope.

Beating addictions requires every tool in the box.

Often other conditions are present that need to be addressed.

So getting that counseling, going to that pastor, getting with your physician and health care providers.

Work closely with this team and get into some support.

This is going to include the people that live with you and your social network so they're not inadvertently dragging you back where you want to get away from.

That's a very, very important point that not only are there good treatment centers, counseling, lifestyle change, but you got to get in with a new crowd.

You need God, you need his people, you need a new way of looking at life and a new lifestyle, a lifestyle without drugs and alcohol.

So that becomes so urgent to interact with those who have found freedom.

Yeah, and because they can encourage you when you're fighting the battle of trending back to where you're trying to get away from.

Some people will be jealous of your journey moving forward and you cannot afford to be pulled back into that life.

The addicted brain is fighting so hard, but we need to learn to fight smart.

And you know, Pastor Ron, You know this as well as I do, that life is not a playground, it's a battleground, and we have to fight smart.

Number 1, your environment, that's what surrounds you.

Number 2, your culture, that's what pressures you.

Number 3, your body, that's what changes you, your biology.

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Alcohol: Why Not? Part 2

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