Alcohol and the Scripture: ASOTIA

Eph. 5:18-19 - "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"

Quote from John MacArthur concerning alcohol and the verse in Ephesians:

The Roman name for Dionysus is Bacchus. He is frequently pictured with nymphs and satyrs. The famous bacchanalian feasts were nothing more than drunken orgies. Among the massive ruins of the ancient Near Eastern city of Baalbek is a temple to Bacchus, the god of wine. It is covered with grapes and vines because that was the thrust of their worship.

Paul was saying to the Ephesian church, "Your background was communing with the gods in a state of drunkenness, but if you want to communicate with the true God, you need to be filled with His Spirit. If you want to be raised to the highest level of consciousness, simply enter the presence of God through the filling of the Holy Spirit."

I believe Paul is dealing with drunkenness as a religious issue because of the context of Ephesians 5:18-21. He contrasts the pagan liturgy of singing, dancing, and wild parties with true Christian liturgy, which involves speaking with "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God" (vv. 19-21).

When Paul said, "Be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit," he was making a simple contrast. The Greek word for "excess" is asotia, which refers to uncontrolled dissipation or debauchery. Being controlled by alcohol is opposite to being controlled by the Spirit of God.

Backbone

I see that America has neither a dearth of riches nor of resources. I see this country greatly lacking in true character. Children need parents with character. Students need teachers with character. Congregations look to pastors for good examples. Readers want authors and columnists with a solid reputation. Non-Christians are looking to Believers for good, solid character.

"Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested." - Oswald Chambers

"A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself." - AW Tozer

"Oh, young man, character is worth more than money, character is worth more than anything else in this wide world." - DL Moody

Crown of thorns

On the head of Jesus they placed a crown of thorns

The word for thorns is

akantha {ak'-an-thah} (Here, in the context, it's akanthone)

Dr. Barbet write in his book, A Doctor at Calvary, a description of the crowning:
"St. Vincent of Lerins (Sermo in Parasceve) was to write at a later date ... "They placed in His head a crown of thorns; it was, in fact, in the shape of a pileus, so that it touched and covered His head in every part..." . The pileus, among the Romans, was a sort of semi-oval head-dress made of felt, which enveloped the head and was specially worn during work ... ." (Barbet, pg. 85)

Unlike the paintings of the windig of thorns, this "corwn would have been a sort of thorny helmet which would have covered the entire scalp and brow.

He goes on to say: "It is generally admitted that they [the thorns] belong to a thorn-bearing tree which is common in Judea, the Zizyphus spina Christi, a kind of lote-tree. It is probable that there was a heap of its branches in the praetorium, used for firing by the Roman cohort. Its thorns are very long and sharp."

I have seen the thorns of the lote tree, which are at least three quarters of an inch long.

Part of the love shown to us is displayed through akantha.

Crown of thorns

On the head of Jesus they placed a crown of thorns

The word for thorns is

akantha {ak'-an-thah} (Here, in the context, it's akanthone)

Dr. Barbet write in his book, A Doctor at Calvary, a description of the crowning:
"St. Vincent of Lerins (Sermo in Parasceve) was to write at a later date ... "They placed in His head a crown of thorns; it was, in fact, in the shape of a pileus, so that it touched and covered His head in every part..." . The pileus, among the Romans, was a sort of semi-oval head-dress made of felt, which enveloped the head and was specially worn during work ... ." (Barbet, pg. 85)

Unlike the paintings of the windig of thorns, this "corwn would have been a sort of thorny helmet which would have covered the entire scalp and brow.

He goes on to say: "It is generally admitted that they [the thorns] belong to a thorn-bearing tree which is common in Judea, the Zizyphus spina Christi, a kind of lote-tree. It is probable that there was a heap of its branches in the praetorium, used for firing by the Roman cohort. Its thorns are very long and sharp."

I have seen the thorns of the lote tree, which are at least three quarters of an inch long.

Part of the love shown to us is displayed through akantha.

1 Corinthians 4

I've been doing a litle study on 1 Corhinthians 4, and I've found a powerful word for us to review.

The time of the writing was when Paul was dealing with a pride issue with the Christians in Corinth. He reminds them that Christianity is not a fashion but a relationship with Jesus and a ministry! He brings the point home in the middle of a strongly worded passage:

"For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake..."

The word spectacle is theatron, from which we get our word “theater.” When Paul says we have been made a spectacle to the world, he is not complimenting us, nor is he making this an exciting pride-filled prospect. He refers to the way the apostles have been publicly humiliated. This kind of humiliation was a slam to the pride of the Corinthian Christians, but a cold shower to wake them up to the reality of service here on Earth. We are willing to face shame so that others may see Christ. We're willing to step out and show Jesus, no matter if it means alienation or scorn.

May I ask you - are you a spectacle for Christ?

Daily Bread

Luke 11:3 - "Give us day by day our daily bread."

epiousios {ep-ee-oo'-see-os}

found in the phrase "daily bread" has two meanings:

a) the bread of our necessity
b) the bread that suffices for each day

Nothing highly otherworldly about this - God will supply our physical needs. We can ask for the literal food we need each day. In other words, we can ask for the little things. Nothing is too small for the Lord!

Bible Scholar David Guzik says:

"God also wants us to pray for our daily, practical needs - like our daily bread. When Jesus says bread, He means real bread, as in the sense of daily provisions. Early theologians allegorized this; they couldn’t imagine a mundane thing like bread in such a majestic prayer like this.
Calvin rightly said of interpretations that fail to see God’s interest in the mundane: "This is exceedingly absurd." God does care about everyday things.

Don't be afraid to ask God for the little things you need. He'll hear you.

Heart - kardia

Romans 5:5 - " and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Kardia ("heart") is used 158 times in the NASB. It means more than an organ. It was considered the receptacle not only of food but of intellect, emotion, and physical strength. When it is used int eh Scripture, it has a full, rich meaning.

"In most modern cultures, the heart is thought of as the seat of emotions and feelings. But most ancients—Hebrews, Greeks, and many others—considered the heart to be the center of knowledge, understanding, thinking, and wisdom. The New Testament also uses it in that way. The heart was considered to be the seat of the mind and will, and it could be taught what the brain could never know. Emotions and feelings were associated with the intestines, or bowels." (MacArthur, J: Ephesians. 1986. Chicago: Moody Press)

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. - John 12:21

The word for "see" is powerful! The word is EIDO and carries and deep meaning:

Not only to a) to perceive with the eyes but also
b) to perceive by any of the senses (getting to know Jesus in a way that goes beyond mere passing curiosity! Experiencing Him in one's heart.)
c) to discover ( find a new direction in life through this unveiling?)

Not only does EIDO mean to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to the subject, but also to pay attention, observe and to ascertain what must be done about it!
The people coming to Phillip wanted more than a cursory glance at Jesus. They wanted an experience they would never forget. That's what I want, too.


Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'eido (Strong's 1492)' " . Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2002.
14 Feb 2007.

Fear

Jesus approaches the disciples by walking across the water to them. They are terrified. he responds by saying "It is I. Don't be afraid."

The word for FEAR is

phobeo {fob-eh'-o}

It is the word we use in the English for phobia. One definition of phobeo is "terror which seizes one when danger appears." It is a shaking, quaking reaction. It is one that renders you unable to do anything but run away.

Yet Jesus' presence took care of the fear. He did it then, and He can do it now. I like the story that I read of a church's sign in WWII in London as nighttime bombings shook the city:
"If your knees knock, kneel on them."

SELF CONTROL

Galatians 5:22, 23 -"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. "

(self-control is the Greek word enkrates from en = in + krátos = power is literally one having power to "hold oneself in" or to "master self". Enkrates means the ability to have dominion over self. The individual exercising enkrates is displaying restraint over his own emotions and appetites. He is able to control his impulses and desires.

This is difficult if we attemtpt this on our own, but God's power through the Holy Spirit makes it possible. It, indeed, is a fruit of the Spirit.

ekplesso...SHOCKED!!!

Shocked! Amazed! Filled with wonder!

The teachings and miracles that Jesus performed caused a powerful reaction from the people who witnessed His life: they were astounded. The word is ekplesso ... from ek = out and plesso = strike). It means that they were smacked right out of their mind with what they saw...they were struck with astonishment...almost as if someone whacked their normal state of thinking right out of their skull.

And coming to His home town He began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they became astonished (ekplesso) and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these miraculous powers? ( Matthew 13:54 )

Ekplesso is used 13 times in the NT.

agape - a committed love

1 Corinthians 13;4 clearly states that the best kind of love, agape love, which is a determined, serious love – is a kind love. It’s a kindness that is interested in the good of others and is eager to make itself helpful or available for serving others.

The Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti was leading his bobsled team in the Innsbuck Olympics in 1964 to a first place finish after his final run. Only one racing team remained, led by Britiash athlete Tony Nash. As Nash and his team got ready to run, Nash noticed a critical bolt on his sled had snapped off at the last moment. Word of this disaster got to Monti and the Italian bobsledder removed the corresponding bolt from his own sled and sent it over to Nash. Nash fixed his sled and raced, setting a course record and winning the gold medal. Did Monti forfeit his win? Not really, because he became famous for his sportsmanship and kindness. Wouldn’t it be great that if we were to become famous at all, we would be known for our Christian kindness?

The Greek battles continue!

CONGRATULATIONS TO PHI BETA! Last week the green team took first place, earning them a bye on last week's test. This week, however, Zeta Chi seems to be sneaking up ont hem. In fact, all four teams appear to be in a very close race. Remember - the final points are added up at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, so that's the last time to turn in your points. Also remember - you get 50 points per student in your class if you bring in a snack for the UT students Wednesday Bible study.

--------------------