My Drunken Past, My Drunken Spirit...

  It's cold and refreshing. It's soothes the back of your throat. It gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling over the course of 5 or 6 of them.

 What is it you ask? Simple...

 "BEER!"

 Many of days and nights I spent drinking my life through-out my military career and and long after that. I would hang out in the bars or a friends and drink an ice cold Corona until the lights in my eyes would fade and the sunset was about to come. I would end up either butt-naked or worse. I admit there were some really good times when I was drunk, but I can also admit that there were some really bad times. Some that were so bad, that even writting this gets me a little emotional. Most of us have been there though. One night-stands, talking to the Porcelain King and late night fights. I remember my first drunk was at my sister's 16th birthday and my mother had gotten her a keg of Coors Light for her present. Mom was not your typical mother!(Love you mom). We played quarters until I puked all over the place. I ended up walking around the house in my underwear. That was the very first time that I got drunk. I also remember the last time that I got drunk as well. August 21st, 2007 was the night that I proceeded to drink Corona, Bud Ice and Hot Damn!!! Needless to say, I puked my brains until there was none left and the hangover that I had was by far the worst I have ever had.

 But when I woke up the next day, I knew that in my Spirit, I was done drinking. I was tired of the hangovers, trying to get people saved off the "drunken witnessing"(and yes, I did witness to people while I was drunk), puking to no end, tearing up people's house and being butt-naked when I woke up each morning. I even remember attending church drunk at one point and time. It was time for all of this to come to an end...

 The day that I woke up, my friends were already drinking and I didn't even want to think about having another beer. I was so sick, that I wanted to throw up just looking at them. But I also knew that I was done drinking. I just knew it and felt it in my Spirit. My Pastor for years had always talked about getting drunk and it how "strong brew was a brawler." A friend of mine Brandy reminded me of that not to long ago. Drinking and partying was about to be over with me in the blink of an eye. When I was sitting on the porch that day, I just kept thinking to myself, "I am so tired of this." Waking up and feeling like crap almost every weekend. And in that moment, I made the decision,

 "I quit!"

 I can honestly say that my road to stop drinking has been a really easy road. I just so tired of it, my flesh and Spirit said "no problem."  Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

 Now for the longest time I really never argued that issue, but then I came across another verse that just blew my mind. In Acts 2, it talks about the disciples being filled with a "new wine." They were seen as being drunk by other people. But they were actaully "drunk in the Spirit" or otherwise known as being "Baptised in the Holy Spirit." They were talking in "different tongues" and acting like crazy people. The last time I talked in different tongues, it was Heineken's fault. Now being "drunk in the Spirit" is so much better than being "drunk in the world."  Now most of society thinks that being "drunk in the Spirit" is barking like dogs, running around the room screaming or a weird laugh. But here is the truth...

 

 Being drunk in the Spirit is like being on the ultimate drug. Bad term for such a good feeling. The first time I got drunk in the Spirit was in church during a mid-week service. God had been dealing me on some issues and when I felt His arms around me, I just went limp to the ground. I just layed there and thinking of only God. He was sitting there right beside me and just put His hand on my heart. I can't think of any other way to describe it. From that point on, I was able to experience more of God's Presence on my life. I was sitting at Mug's one day and me and a friend were watching a video that was making fun of people being "drunk in the Spirit." But when we watched it, we knew what it was and it started to get on us. I had boldness, got excited and couldn't stop thinking of God. Let me explain what I mean.

 Being "drunk in the Spirit" is being so immersed in the Presence of God, that you lose sight of time, surroundings, people and so much more. Everything that is happening in the world you are oblivious too. I feel a sense of warmth at times, but then there are times when I feel like laughing my head off. There are moments of great silence and some of great worship. Being drunk is a worldly term that can only describe odd behavior, but to me it's just like acting goofy. I can't really explain the feeling. The twelve disciples were made fun of by others because the appeared to be "drunk." The people who didn't know had a misconception because they saw things in the natural. That is the way people see and think about the "charismatic movement." We simply see this as being nothing but "so sensitive to the Holy Spirit" that we lose ourselves, our flesh. We become like God wants us to become.

 Now this is not to condemn people of drinking . I have slipped on many occassions and have had a couple of beers. Now, does God hate me because I fell off the wagon, absolutely not!!! I just know in my heart and Spirit that my drunk days are long over. Drinking is not the end of me, but could be the beginning of something that I have tried to stear away from. Each person has to come to this own revelation on their own. But this is going to sound bad. I don't believe in what Alcoholics Anonymous says. "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." I refuse to accept that.

 God says that I am a new creation, "behold all things have passed and I have become new creation." I will not let the world tell me who I am or who I used to be. I have overcome because Jesus overcame it first. Don't let the enemy also beat you up for it as well. He will use everything in his power to make you fall. Keep reminding yourself who you are. "In our weakness, He is strong." Our strength to overcome doesn't come from ourselves, but that we call and answer God's Promise on our lives. If you are having difficulty overcoming this and need help, first pray and seek God on all of this. Then go to someone that you can talk to and get help with. But talk to God, look at the Scriptures, start proclaiming that you are free of this stronghold.

 A glass of wine or a cold beer is not the end of the world, but over time it could be the end of you. Being filled or "drunk" with the Presence of God is the end of you as well. Choose which glass you want to drink from.....