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| BLESSING IN THE CLUSTER |
Blessing in the Cluster
>Curious Questioner> Well, anyway, Paul says, "It is good neither to eat flesh nor drink wine, nor any other thing, whereby thy brother stumbleth or is offended or is made weak." This is a big reason not to drink. It's why I don't. Also, they didn't have refrigerators to keep the Welch's in.Dear Friend, You're right about what Paul said. Concerning GRAPE JUICE, surely you realize that in the store it is NOT refrigerated on the shelf in sealed bottles. As long as -AIR- is excluded, it can be KEPT "new" for a long time.
"Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all." (Isa.65:8)
As long as the "skin" of the grape is not broken, there is no way that it can become alcoholic.
Four things necessary for fermentation to take place are:
1. The presence of sugar(glucose) and [yeast].
2. Temperature between 50 and 75 degrees farenheit.
3. The juice must be of natural consistency and proportion. (Thick syrup will not undergo fermentation due to excess sugar, and likewise too little sugar or too much water will hinder fermentation. You can end up with a sour or acetous product, but little or no alcohol.)
4. Exposure to the air, before it can ferment.
"Grape-juice does not ferment in the grape itself. This is owing not (solely) as Fabroni supposed, to the gluten being contained in distinct cells to those in which the saccharine juice is lodged, but to the exclusion of atmospheric oxygen, the contact of which, Gay Lussac has shown, is (first) necessary to effect some change in the gluten, whereby it is enabled to set up the process of fermentation." (--Dr.Pereira, Elements of Materia Media, p.1221)
Elimination of the [yeast] by filtration, or by neutralizing it by other method such as introduction of sulphur-containing oils such as oil of mustard; will also hinder or prevent fermentation. Since alcohol evaporates at 170 deg.F, bringing partially fermented wine to the boiling point of water(212F), will purge the alcohol.
At MASADA in Palestine, there was a stock of food laid up against a seige, including wine, oil, pulse, dates, etc., and Josephus says: "These fruits were also fresh and full ripe, and no way inferior to such fruits newly laid in, although they were little short of a hundred years from the laying in of these provisions." That fact is confirmed by Pliny and other historians.
"HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa.55:1)
Remember that Jesus is the Lord and the blessed true vine most pure. Be thou as new wine in the -cluster- SEALED unto the day of redemption. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy..."
>Curious Questioner> Why did God specifically say that Nazarites couldn't drink strong drink if no one at that time did?Who told you that "no one at that time did?" The vow of a Nazarite was something very special between him and the Lord.
>CQ> Did Old Testament people drink strong drink?Many people since the time of Noah have given themselves over to spirits of alcohol. Christians are supposed to "be sober."
>CQ> To tell you the truth, I have a greater problem in not judging those that drink than I do with any temptation to drink.Some things ought to be judged (1Cor.6:2-5; 6:9-12), and if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Nevertheless, we shall all APPEAR before the Lord in judgment, and knowing the terror of the Lord, let us be fully persuaded in both warning ourselves and others.
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." (1Cor.9:24,25)
Surely Jesus is the Lord and what a great blessing for a faithful believer to be honoured with him before the whole creation!
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God! Amen and amen.
>Curious Questioner> I have no doubt that Paul the apostle at sometime drank fermented wine.The Bible gives no indication of any such thing. Be sober!
>CQ> Would Paul refuse food given to him by a Gentile? I think not.If one soul present with a weak conscience would be grieved, Paul would most certainly have refused for his sake; As it is written:
"But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." (Rom.14:15)
"But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (1Cor.8:12,13)
>CQ> In I Corinthians, Paul said that when the Corinthians came together to eat "one was hungry and another was DRUNKEN.""Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." (10:7)
>CQ> Well, Paul certainly does not condone getting drunk. But this verse does show that the Corinthians did use real wine.There were many heresies among those of Corinth. And they were rebuked for things far worse than being drunken. (see 1Cor.5:1-5)
>CQ> But, if Paul was given wine at a feast and noone said anything to him about it, like "this has been offered to idols" he would probably drink it.Probably not. His many clear statements to "be sober", "not given to wine", "not given to much wine", "lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil", etc.; obviously indicate his attitude about getting drunk or drinking alcoholic wine. (New wine is NOT alcoholic, but even then, moderation of use ought to be followed.)
"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit... Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Remember that Jesus is the Lord and be wise to hearken unto him.
Let your heart be filled with grace for Jesus' sake. Amen. --Richard
(-9 Please see Drink, Drank, Drunk, Drunken next. Thanks. :)
This Page = 9 Blessing in the Cluster
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