“Addicts Victorious in Christ”
The first
and often-times the most important fact for victory over addictions is the
attitude of the addict concerning their addiction. Unless a Biblical
understanding of their addiction is acknowledged there can be no real victory
over an addiction for the Bible clearly states: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: But every man is tempted
when he is drawn away of his own lust
and enticed. Then when lust has conceived it brings forth sin, and sin when it
is finished, brings forth death.”(James 1:13-15)
The
present-day thinking among many who deal with addicts creates a victim
mentality, telling the addict that he had no choice in the matter because his
environment, his childhood, or his inability to have access to adequate medical
or psychological help is the root cause of his problem. In addition, the
so-called victim is also told that his addiction is in reality a disease and
they had no actual choice in the matter, therefore, it must be treated as any
other disease such as cancer, diabetes etc.
If the addict adopts this modern-day mentality there can be no real
success in applying God’s power!
However,
if they take responsibility for their condition by recognizing the
obvious principles found in God’s Holy Word and apply God’s cure
found in Christ, the calamity of any addiction can
be eliminated and the addict can be victorious through the power of God in
Christ. Although the passage above (James 1:13-15) is normally applied to
born-again Christians, the truths/principles can be applied to an addict
whether they are in Christ or in Adam:
1.
The first step is the temptation occurs: “When they are drawn away of their own lust and enticed”
2.
Then: “When lust has conceived it
brings forth sin”
3.
Then: “Sin when it is finished
brings forth death [spiritual]”
The
starting point is the person’s desire/lust to commit the single sinful act
whether it be to drink, smoke, gamble, abuse drugs, pornography, etc. all of
which occur through the lust of the flesh. Then by allowing lust to continue
through repeatedly entertaining the enticement they commit that first sinful
act and this first act of sin eventually turns into a habit.
Then the habit turns into an addiction controlling the addict’s life
which is aptly described as “Sin when it
is finished brings forth death” for the death spoken of here is spiritual.
The addict’s life is no longer controlled
by the Holy Spirit [believer] neither is it controlled by their own will
[believer/unbeliever] but instead they are now controlled by another spirit that is in charge of the mind,
will and emotions of the addict.
Every
addiction must be viewed though the filter of the spiritual realm [not the
physical] as described in the Bible in order to have complete victory in
Christ. Therefore, the real enemy that is being fought must be recognized as
the devil and his demonic powers for: “We
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places, Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be
able to stand [against the wiles of the devil] in the evil day and having done
all to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12, 13)
And, in
the case of the one who is still in Adam, it must be acknowledged that they are
without Christ and are“Children of the
wicked one” (Matthew 13:38) who
can only be cured by: “Being born again,
not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which lives
and abides forever.” (I Peter 1:23) “Ye
must be born again…that which
is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
(John 3:3, 6)
The
second step for complete victory over an addiction is the application of the
Word of God in the life of the addict for as one preacher has rightly said: “The
Word of God does the Work of God!” for the Word of God is in fact the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself! Yes, “In the
beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
(John 1:1). No amount of physical
effort, or self help programs, nor psychology/psychiatry etc. can bring
complete victory to those who are struggling with an addiction, for the efforts
of man will only bring fruitless frustration. But, the simple application of
God’s Word can and will bring complete and lasting victory every single time it
is applied in faithful obedience
for we have God’s promise:“Therefore, if
any man be in Christ [born-again],
he is a new creature: old
things [Satanic controlled addictions] are passed away; behold, all things
[Christ-like addictions] are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
1.
Being born again places the addict “in
Christ”
2. Being born again causes the
addict “in Christ” to become a new
creature/creation
3. Being born again causes old
things [Satanic addictions] to pass away
4. Being born again causes all
things [Christ-like addictions] to become new
The old,
dark, ugly controlling and self-centered addictions must immediately be
replaced by “New Addictions” of Christ-likeness which are focused upon ministry
to others as described in this Scripture:“I
beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and that they HAVE
ADDICTED themselves to the ministry of
the saints,) That ye submit
yourselves unto such, and to every one that helps with us, and labors.”
(I Corinthians
16:15, 16)
That means: Get busy meeting the needs of others and “Cast your cares upon
the Lord”.
This one
single passage contains the underlying truth for complete victory over
addictions: Replace the self-centered
addictions immediately with saint-centered
addictions that begin with the simple, but most important act of
ministering to others through “prayer and
to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:4)! The key to ministry success is
found in the two words “in Christ”
which occurs by first of all being born again which supplies the believing
addict “With all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ”
(Ephesians 1:3) This phrase “in Christ” is found (35) times in Ephesians
which is rightly described as: “The Book for the Battle.” This most
essential book for the saint is divided into three sections:
I. The Believers Wealth (Ephesians 1-3) Key word: Faith: Gives victory
over the World-Know your Position
II. The Believers Walk (Ephesians 4:1-6:9) Key word: Follow/Flee:Gives
victory over the Flesh-Know your Power
III. The Believers Warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18) Key word: Fight: Gives
victory over the Devil-Know your Plan
The (24) “Spiritual blessings” or The Believer’s
Wealth is described in Ephesians 1-3 which must be digested and understood in
order to build a secure foundation for the believer to perform their ministry
to the saints. Then the saint is prepared to Walk “in the Spirit” performing their ministry to the saints “in love”
[(5) times in Chapter 4:1-6:9] through participating in the ongoing Holy
Spirit-led Warfare (6:10-18) which takes place in heaven. The ministry of
prayer and the Word in the life of the addict/believer is accomplished by the
following faith-building disciplines:
1. Daily Disciplined Reading
(See “Bible Reading Schedule”)
2. Memory of Key Verses (See “Scripture
Memory Partner Plan”)
3. Prayer(Plan:“ThePracticingPriestuntoGod” booklet) All three are available at
www.btmi.org/discipleship.html
These
ongoing activities are vital for the addict/believer to continue abiding “In Christ” (John 15:1-16) maintaining
fellowship with Him as He “The Captain of
our salvation” (Hebrews 2:10) becomes the addict’s/believer’s:
1. Life (Colossians 3:1)
2. Leader (Psalm 32:8)
3. Lord (I Timothy 6:14)
**The information written above is not merely a
theory or an idea because these Bible truths have been tried and tested for the
writer of this message is a former 15-year drug-abuser/alcoholic/addict/two
pack a day smoker who has been ‘clean’ for over thirty years...since the day
that God delivered me: ‘From the power of
darkness[Control by the devil] and translated me into the kingdom of His dear
Son!’ (Colossians 1:13) making me a new creation in Christ by His Holy
Spirit Who gave me His new birth which supplied me with a supernatural hunger
for His Word and fellowship with His people!
This transforming power from God is what every addict needs in order to give
them new life in Christ!! And, although this might seem complicated to some,
all it took was me recognizing my sins and turning from them unto Jesus, He did
the rest, and He will do the same for you if you turn from your sin and your
own efforts and put your trust in Jesus!
The world’s medical expert’s attempts to cure my
addictions had no real lasting results. Counseling with a psychiatrist, his
drug therapy, eventually being admitted to a ‘mental institution’ where
different forms of therapy were given to me, and eventually I received
electro-shock therapy in attempts to cure my ‘mental problems’ which in fact
were sin-caused spiritual problems, but all of these attempts by man could not
cure my sin-sick soul. Only Jesus has the real cure for man’s ills, and rightly
so, for He created us and who better than the Creator to bring rest to His
child: “Come unto me all ye that labor
and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, take My yoke upon you and learn
of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your
souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30) My
addictions were replaced by digesting the Word
of God and ministering to others through prayer addicting myself to the
Lord’s Word and His work were the keys to the sustained healing of my soul. I
allowed the Creator to minister to my spiritual needs through His supernatural
Word.
By:
Chaplain/Evangelist L.E. Wolfe www.btmi.org [Read and see my testimony pics at our
website]
No comments:
Post a Comment