Profanity. Profanity is very common in our day. The Puritan and other Christian influences have in time past prevented widespread use of profanity and obscenities in the newspapers and in television programming. There is now a rapidly increasing appearance of filthy language—especially in the Hollywood presentations.

A Christian would never employ profanity or obscene language if he could see the demon that was in his mouth. The demon world speaks constantly in profanities, obscenities—every unclean form of speech available. And in every language!

When people are filled with rage or fear they often take the Lord's name in vain or spew out obscenities. The demons find gratification in such behavior for it is they themselves, dwelling in the mouth and controlling it, who are speaking.

No Christian ever at any time is to speak profanely or in an obscene manner. To do so is to eat at the table of demons.

Alcohol, drugs, tobacco. The world is a place of pain and dread. God has given to us His Holy Spirit to encourage and strengthen us so we can make our way through the world without succumbing to worry or discouragement.

People drink alcohol in order to escape momentarily from the pain and dread of life—and no doubt for other reasons. The Christian believer should never drink alcohol because it conflicts with the ministries, gifts, and movements of the Holy Spirit. We have been in a home group meeting where people had partaken of a little wine with their meal. The interference with the Holy Spirit was obvious.

We are aware that in many countries the use of wine and beer does not have the same stigma among Christians as is true of the United States.

The Nazirite vow, such as that resting on Samson (Judges 13:5), suggests that separation to God includes abstinence from alcohol. The Israelites could enjoy all the fruit of the vine, but not the Nazarite. He was separated to God for God's special purposes.

Every Christian who desires to live the victorious life should regard himself or herself as a "Nazirite." The conquering Christian does not look for fleshly activities he can practice and yet remain a Christian. Rather, he is continually seeking to discover what he can do to improve his relationship to the Lord.

The Christian is a soldier, a spiritual warrior. His adversary the devil never rests. The Christian must keep all of his faculties finely honed, perpetually ready to counter the devices of Satan. The conquering Christian does not consider what other believers may do but is intent on serving the Lord to the utmost of his ability.

It is claimed that alcohol destroys brain cells. The Christian never, never does anything that would defile his or her body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Drunkenness, the impairment of the faculties through the use of alcohol, is one of the most common manifestations of demonic gratification in the world of today. It is food offered to idols.

Drugs also are food offered to idols. Like alcohol, people use drugs to gain some relief from the pain and dread of life on the earth. Drugs have been used historically in many—perhaps all—countries. The use of drugs is a major social concern of our day.

To be continued.