Tobacco and Intoxicants

1. Tobacco and Intoxicants ILLC 8th Grade Sunday School

2. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Main points • Living faith leads to the righteousness of life • The Bible exhorts us to sobriety • The law forbids the use of tobacco by minors • Christian freedom also means responsibility for behavior • The use of tobacco and intoxicants is a temptation • In order to become free of sin involving the use of tobacco and intoxicants one must put those sins away through confession and the preaching of the gospel

3. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Vocabulary • Intoxicants – drugs including alcohol with cause the loss of control over mental or physical powers including self-control and reason. • Righteousness of life – A manner of life which demonstrates values and behaviors based on the word of God • Sobriety – not intoxicated or drunk • Spiritual – Being serious about matters of faith. Believing that there is only flock of true believers here on earth • As a way of life – Freedom from the influence of drugs, alcohol

4. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Key verse: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1Peter 5:8

5. Tobacco and Intoxicants • List the detrimental effects of; • Alcohol • Drugs • Tobacco

6. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Alcohol • It’s effect = drunkenness • Is a work of the flesh – Gal. 5:19-21 • Is not fitting for one walking in the light • Romans 13:13,14 • 1 Peter 4:3 • Ephesians 5:18 • 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

7. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Unconditional sobriety is a matter of conscience to the Christian • A Christian avoids such company and such occasions where alcohol is used. • If a Christian must be present at such an occasion where it is served, the child of God freely and directly refuses to partake. • A child of God will not even raise a glass of juice or an empty glass Daniel 1:8 - 16 • “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” Ephesians 5:11

8. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Alcoholism • In our time it is understood as a illness or disease although it is clear to the Christians that one of the deepest reasons that lead to its use is sin which brings with it distress, fear and other difficulties which one attempts to relieve by using alcohol or drugs.

9. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Drugs • Their main effect is on the mind • They are comparable to alcohol, but they are worse because they quickly develop a dependency which can lead eventually to complete moral decay.

10. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Tobacco • In Christianity, smoking as such is not considered sin, but to many young girls and boys, smoking has become a sin of falsehood and disobedience to parents • 1 Samuel 15:22, 23 • It is a bad habit which we should fight against • It can lead to serious illness • “Evil communications corrupt good manners 1 Corinthians 15:33

11. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Summary: • That we would not be an offense • “That ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” Phil. 1:10 • Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,.. honest, ..just, ..pure, ..lovely, ..of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things Phil. 4:8

12. Tobacco and Intoxicants • In the light of this lesson we see that soberness is a matter of conscience. • Whether we are at home, away in another congregation, at school…… anywhere we endeavor that we would please the Lord Jesus. • “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent , we may be accepted of him” 2 Corinthians 5:9

13. Tobacco and Intoxicants • Application to our lives • By faith God is our power and helper in our battle against temptations. Therefore believe all sins and temptations forgiven in Jesus name and blood. • If you carry the burden of name sin on your conscience in the matter of tobacco or intoxicants or any sin remember that you can go to your mother or father or other brothers and sisters in faith to be freed of that burden through the preaching of the gospel and the confession of sin.