‘Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake (cockatrice); it stings like a viper.
You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.
And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.
I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.
When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” (PV 23:29-35)
This is a sad picture of man addicted to drugs or alcohol. This addiction is described as a snake bite (the same word ‘cockatrice’ again). The drunkard sees strange sights that intimidate and confuse him. His imagination is unsanctified. His conscience troubles him but he is too weak to answer it. He has false hopes of success and false confidence of a better life. In the same time he is not in touch with the reality that he is sinking down to hell. He resists the truth so he cannot change. He has lost all feelings, he is hard hearted he is not sensitive to any other person’s pain. This is the picture of the tragedy of a life lead by pleasure and be entertainment. The flesh is in control, the very thing that destroys a man. Time goes on, he gets older but there is no wisdom available. Bitterness has filled his heart, unnecessary sorrow and regrets plague him.
Maybe you read these words and you congratulate yourself that you are not a drunkard or a drug addict. Thank God for you! But these words also describe the effect of spiritual addictions, all things that excite the flesh and quench the spirit.

FINALLY
We are living in the last days. The devil is real and warfare is real. One reason why Eve was deceived long ago was because she was unprepared to resist him. We should never under estimate the devil’s experience, craftiness and power in dealing with sinners. We cannot resist him in our own strength. It is only the genuine child of God, filled with the Holy Spirit who can win the victory and set other captives free. Gambling, the occult, drugs, alcohol, pornography and all addictions are just names that have to bow at the name of Jesus! There is hope for deliverance and freedom. Confess and expose your sins to God and to your pastor! Repent of them! Turn from them! Forsake the devil! Betray the devil! Come to the Cross, there is healing and salvation and victory and deliverance! I am a witness that Jesus is able and willing to make you free! You have only one life here in earth, why waste it? You can give it to Jesus who will gather the broken pieces and make something wonderful from your failures and pains! Come Home, you sinner, Come Home!!!!!
There is power in the name of Jesus!
There is power in the Blood of Jesus!
Be free, in Jesus name! Amen!