By Staff
Pray alcohol sales don't pass
Editor,
A couple of years ago when the lottery was defeated, I remember my father saying that the hand of God had stopped it. As I thought about that, I remember my prayers and the prayers of others asking God to intervene in the matter.
Now, as an important vote faces the people of Hartselle concerning alcohol sales, I am again asking God to help us. And, I am asking my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray.
We need to ask God to give us discernment and wisdom.
We see the destructiveness of alcohol on people's lives. Probably all of us can tell countless stories about how alcohol abuse has wrecked marriages, cut careers short, caused child abuse, and prematurely taken people's lives by disease, murder, suicide and car crashes.
Christians understand that Satan's purpose is to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10, NIV). His bullets are everywhere. Pray that Christian's eyes will be opened to see that one of Satan's bullets is alcohol. Why should we vote for alcohol sales and load Satan's gun for him?
We need to ask God to strengthen Christians so they will not give into greed.
It has been stated that $400,000 will be added to the city's bank account each year if Hartselle sells alcohol. I am sure many of us are "licking our chops" to get that money, but scripture says "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (Timothy 6:10, NIV).
What is the money worth to us? Is it worth the evil that will be propagated? Is worth even one life that will be destroyed by the use of alcohol?
We Christians need to ask God to give us compassion for those who are hurting because of alcohol abuse. Christ came "to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10, NIV). The Lord is the one "who redeems your life from the pit" (Psalm 103:4, NIV).
Christians need to give a hand or get a ladder for those in the pit of alcohol abuse, whether they dug the pit or not. Please join me, brothers and sisters in Christ, in fasting and praying for righteousness in our city and that the Lord will hold his hand against alcohol sales in Hartselle.
Harry Vice
Hartselle
Bible warns against drink
Deut. 29: 6, Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye might know that I am the Lord your God.
1 Corinthians 1:25, Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, And the weakness of God is stronger than man.
Proverbs 3: 1-7, My son for got not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments. For length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:11-12, My son despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Hos. 7:14, And they have not cried unto me from their hear, they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
Joel 3:3, And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
Lev. 10:9, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die. It shall be a statue forever throughout your generations.
Luke 1:15, For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
Romans 14:21, It is good neither to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth or is made weak.
Ephesians 5:18, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit.
1 Timothy 2:4, God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Corinthians 1:25, Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Leroy Simmons Nativity &Passion Play Association, Inc.
Falkville