“Addicts Victorious in Christ”
The first and possibly the most important fact is the attitude of the addict concerning their addiction. Unless a Biblical understanding of their addiction is acknowledged there will 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, his inability to have access to adequate medical/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 Bible 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 principles can be applied to an addict whether they are in Christ or in Adam:
1. The first step is the temptation occurs “when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed”
2. Then “when lust has conceived it brings forth sin”
3. Then “sin when it is finished it brings forth death”
The starting point is the person’s desire 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 addicts life which is aptly described as “sin when it is finished brings forth death” for the death spoken of here can be both physical and spiritual. The addicts 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.
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/demons 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!”
No amount of physical effort, or self help programs, or 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, he is a new creature: old things [Satanic addictions] are passed away; behold, all things [Christ-like addictions] are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
(Mark 5:1-15) Testimony: Illustration of New Creature Message
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 the new addictions of Christ-likeness which are focused upon ministry to others as described in these verses:
“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)
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 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
II. The Believers Walk (Ephesians 4,5) Key word: Follow/Flee: Gives victory over the Flesh
III. The Believers Warfare (Ephesians 6) Key word: Fight: Gives victory over the Devil
The (24) “spiritual blessings” or Wealth of the Believer 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, 5] through participating in the ongoing Holy Spirit-led Warfare which takes place in heaven.
The ministry of prayer and the Word in the life of the addict/believer is accomplished by:
1. Daily Disciplined Reading (See Bible Reading Schedule)
2. Memory of Key Verses (See Bible Memory Plan)
3. Meditation in the Word (See Meditation Plan)
4. Prayer (See “The Practicing Priest unto God” booklet)
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 addicts/believers:
1. Life (Colossians 3:1)
2. Leader (Psalm 32:8)
3. Lord (I Timothy 6:14)
Reaching the Lost Addict in Your Community
Systematic door to door visiting in the immediate area of the church is the best place to reach those without Christ. Not only does this make common sense, but it reflects the Biblical example given by the Lord Jesus Christ when He sent His disciples. (Message: “Specific Principles of Preparation for the Soul-Winner” (Matthew 10:1-42)
The information written above is not merely a theory for the author is a former addict who has been ‘clean’ for almost thirty years...since the day that that God delivered me ‘from the power of darkness and translated me into the kingdom of His dear Son!’ (Colossians 1:13)
