DCLM Higher Everyday 5 May 2023 — The Menace Of Substance Abuse
DCLM Higher Everyday 5 May 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Menace Of Substance Abuse
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Topic: The Menace Of Substance Abuse.
Text — Genesis 9:20-27
20And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
24And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Key Verse: “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent” (Genesis 9:21).
Message
It was John Michael ‘Ozzy’ Osborne, an English singer who said, “I am a raging alcoholic and a raging addict and I didn’t want to see my kids do the same thing.” Ms. Susanna Mushatt Jones was reported as the oldest living person, being 117 years. In 2016, she claimed her long life was due to ‘no smoking’ principle from childhood. John Osborne showed regrets for substance misuse but Jones, blessings of abstinence.
All things created by God are good if used rightly but when misused, they cause harm. In our Bible text, Noah, the holy head of eight survivors of God’s flood of judgment, became drunk and naked. In the rage of discovering the mockery of one of his sons, he placed a curse on him. The influence of drugs, alcohol, and smoking leads to lots of vices such as armed robbery, rape and murder. All God-fearing youths are warned to desist from substance abuse. Say “NO” to drunkenness, hard drugs and smoking. Godly youths are also expected to preach to their friends who are drug addicts so they can embrace Christ.
Quote: Desist from substance abuse
Challenge: Abstain from any risky habit – substance abuse is.
Prayer for today: O God, help me to avoid anything harmful, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
