I recently had a conversation with a colleague about how alcohol effects us. The interaction had taken place at an office party in a crowed bar.
He had asked me why I did not drink. Was it because I was a Christian? I affirmed that this was the case. He responded by telling by me he had tried to give up drinking many times without success. His most staunch attempts to give up always seemed to give way to moments of weakness.
When this happened, his indulgences invariably ended in serious hangovers and feelings of illness.
He continued to describe in regretful tones, his inability to stop drinking. I could completely empathise with him. I know what it feels like to want something that reduces stress and brings a sense of relaxation and enjoyment.
As he spoke, I was reminded of the passage in Isaiah.
What does the Bible say About how Alcohol Affects Us?
What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties – lyre and harp, tambourine and flute – but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing. Isaiah 5:11&12
I wanted to tell him of another way to restore his sense of wellbeing and happiness. Isaiah speaks of a type of “refreshing” that brings rest to the emotionally weary.
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:11&12
My colleague had spoken about his affinity for alcohol, but I believe Isaiah was alluding to another type if spirit. This is the Holy Spirit that Jesus mentioned at the feast in Jerusalem.
Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37~39
Water to quench our thirst on a daily basis is essential for our most basic survival. Jesus speaks of quenching our “thirst” in the context of spiritual and emotional needs that can only be satisfied by the Holy Spirit Whom he compares to living water.
I have seen various mentions of Dry January as a way to compensate for the excesses of the festive season. A month without alcohol is widely promoted. However, nothing else is recommend to alleviate the discomfort of emotional and spiritual dryness.
What are the dangers of being in a dry place?
Jesus actually mentions the perilous dangers associated with being in a dry place.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Luke 11:24~26
We need the living water of the Holy Spirit to alleviate dryness which can be viewed as a state of emotional and spiritual deprivation. Being in an emotionally and spiritually dry place can leave us vulnerable of feeling stressed, depleted, and anxious. We need something that restores a sense of relief and wellbeing.
What does Science say About how AlcoholAffects Us?
The University of Oxford published research in 2017 which found that the moderate consumption of alcohol may be connected with improved wellbeing from the increased social interaction associated with having a drink with friends.
However, these findings are now considered to be misleading and outdated. Stanford University reported on studies carried out in 2024 which suggest that even moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased death rates.
Consuming alcoholic spirit as a substitute for the living water the Holy Spirit to alleviate our emotional dryness will predictably lead to harmful outcomes.
Evil or unclean spirits prey upon vulnerable targets that are easy to assail. Many of us have felt anxiety consuming us while our minds are bombarded with negative thoughts and accusations. From the words of Jesus, we learn that these spirits seek their victims in “dry places”.
Speaking further about the Holy Spirit, Jesus encourages us to ask for Him.
If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11~13
The Lord is assures us that He will give us the Holy Spirit when we ask Him in the Name of Jesus. We do not need to be concerned about exposure to unclean spirits as long as we ask in the Name of Jesus.
The Lord strongly encourages us to ask for this gift of living water to protect us from being in dry places that leave us vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.
What happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
He compares the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues to a river of living water flowing out of us continually.
“we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Acts 2:11&12
Onlookers commented that the filling of the Holy Spirit appeared to bring joy to those who received it in a way similar to the enjoyment brought by alcoholic spirit.
Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh . . . on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Acts 2:13~18
The living water of the Holy Spirit satisfies our own thirst, fills us with overflowing joy and flows out of our lives to refresh those around us.
