Are you enslaved or troubled by a habitual use of
various narcotic, stimulant or mind-influencing drugs
(including alcohol)? Do you have symptoms of physical,
emotional or mental addition? You may not have a sickness,
but a sin problem which causes enslavement and sickness.
Jesus Christ has done something about your problem.
He came to liberate you from such problems and enable
you to gain self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 5:22,23).
What Scripture Says
"Everything is permissible for me -- but
not everything is beneficial."
"Everything is permissible for me -- but I will
not be mastered by anything" (I Corinthians 6:12).
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians
5:18).
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release
the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back
to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone
in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He
began by saying to them, 'Today this scripture
is fulfilled in your hearing'. All the people
were amazed and said to each other, 'What is this
teaching? With authority and power He gives orders
to evil spirits and they come out?'" (Luke 4:18-21,
36).
"And having disarmed the powers and authorities,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing
over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15).
"He who does what is sinful is of the devil,
because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy
the devil's work" (I John 3:8).
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be
burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers,
were called to be free. But do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one
another in love" (Galatians 5:1, 13).
What Can You Do?
Take seriously the bondage in which you are involved.
God cares about you and has a solution. Your real
problem is not an incurable illness, but sin. And
Jesus came to deal with sin (I Corinthians 5:11).
You need to be spiritually reborn and baptized with
the Holy Spirit. You need to change your life patterns.
You also may need help for deliverance from drugs
and healing. Be bold. Take a fearless inventory of
your life. Ask for help from your family, Christian
friends, a local pastor, The 700 Club or another Christian
ministry that cares. Or call Teen Challenge or a local
drug hotline.
It is said that it takes thirty-one days to break
a habit. Drug addiction is a "life dominating" problem,
so radical changes must be made regarding associates,
social atmosphere, places frequented, etc.
Replacement, not abstention, is the key. Find a Christian
coffeehouse, Bible study and prayer group and a warm
church fellowship. The 700 Club Center should have
a list of especially helpful groups, One good and
faithful Christian friend can help enormously. You
need to keep busy and occupy your mind with new things
(Philippians 4:8,9).Learn to yield yourself to Christ
rather than to drugs, old friends, self-pity, guilt,
fear, etc.
How To Be Spiritually Reborn
God has a plan for your salvation. Call on the Lord
to save you mind, body and soul (I John 1:9). Receive
Him as your Savior and Lord (John 1:12). Believe Him.
He said He would not turn anyone away. He loves you
and gave His life for you (John 3:16,17).
How To Receive The Baptism With The Holy Spirit
Once you become a Christian, you can have God's power
available through the Holy Spirit. You will be able
to live as God intended (Ezekiel 36:27). The Holy
Spirit empowers you to help others (Acts 1:8), He
aids and teaches you (John 14:26; I Corinthians 2:13),
and guides you into truth (John 16:13) and in life
(Acts 10:19; 13:2; 16:6).
You may want to ask someone already baptized with
the Holy Spirit to pray with you. Just as you asked
the Lord to forgive your sins, believing He would,
ask Him now to baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Luke
11:13). He promised to do so, so take Him at His Word
that He does what you ask. Thank and praise Him for
being a God who does as He promises. Tell someone
else what you've done.
Other Christians and the church will rejoice with
you and help you. The angels rejoice with you. God
rejoices with you.
As You Pray
Thank God for His love, concern, and power to save
and deliver. Renounce the drugs, old friends, and
hangouts connected with your drug problem. Yield yourself
to Jesus. Thank Him for coming into your heart and
filling you with the Holy Spirit. Take Him at His
word and thank Him for delivering you from drugs.
References/Homework
Acts 2:3, 38; 8:17; 10:44; 19:6
The Holy Spirit first experienced Romans 11:2a God
does not reject His chosen ones Philippians 4:4-9
Growth in Christ
Begin healing broken relationships by forgiving,
and making restitution where necessary. Set up a plan
for Bible reading and quiet prayer time. Go to church.
Seek warm Christian fellowship and a group such as
Teen Challenge to talk and pray with. Read The
Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson,
and Run, Baby, Run by Nicky Cruz.
Scripture references are taken from the New International
Version translation of the Bible.
