The idol of Addiction

A person who is in bondage is tied up, they are not free. They cant make their own choices, or even do what they want to do. They are slaves and servants to whatever it is that has tied them up.

John 8:34 KJV 1900

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone willingly bec ome a slave?

Because the devil is no fool.

2 Corinthians 11:13–14 KJV 1900

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Bacsue the evil does not look evil. Because the slave master promises freedom not slavery.

2 Peter 2:19 KJV 1900

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Bondage is something we all know about because we were all in bondage to sin, un till Jesus Christ came and set us free.

2 Timothy 2:26 KJV 1900

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Now having been made free by the blood of Jesus Christ we are to remain free.

The Master of your Life

1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV 1900

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Expedient - required/have to/necessary.

“I will not be brought under the power of any” - Authority, dominion, made a slave.

Addiction is when you need to do something that is not expedient.

You need to do something that you actually donmt need to do. Thats how you know you are addicted. It not about regularity, its about the need to do something that in reality you dont need to do.

Confusiong?

Alchohol - you human being need to drink alchohol? No. can they? Yes. But they dont need to. but they can.

So are you addicted to alchohol? Well if you go out and have braai’s and dinner ect - Do you “NEED” to drink? Now on a actualy level no one needs to drink, but do you feel that alchocol is required by you in that situation? No? Prove it - Go out and for 1 month, do not have a drop of alchohol. You dont need to - but if you are addicted you will feel like you need and will make excuses to get it.

Lets look at Smoking, tabaco, weed - take you pick. Do you need to smake? No, But do YOU need to smoke? Can you prove it? can you go 2 months without a single puff? if you cant then you NEED it, even though no one actually needs it and you are addicted.

Social Media - does anyone need social media/ facebook, whatsapp? No - 20 yeats ago these thiongs never existed and we were all fine - better actually. But please delete all your apps for 3 months? You dont need them.

So addiction is not about needing something everyday, its about needing something that you dont need.

And it that were noit enough, many of these things are terribly dangerous.

Stats Sheet.

No matter what the addiction - porn, smoking, drugs, alchohol - You have been enslaved to that and Jesus Christ wants to set you free.

Freedom in Christ

Luke 4:18 KJV 1900

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Jesus Christ has the power and authorty to totally deliver you from chain that has shackled you life, your mind and heart.

From His throne flows grace, mercy and strength for each day. Deliverance from addiction is NOT a metter of will power! Its a metter of trust.

Romans 7:19 KJV 1900

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Its not by will power, my power or your power, its by God’s Power that we are freed.

but that power requires a decision. And its not a decision to get better, its not a decision to be free - its a more basic decision.

If you are addicted then you currently serve one master, to be free you must change your service to another master (the loving Lord ) but you can only serve one master. And the decision over who you serve is based on one simple thing:

Matthew 6:24 KJV 1900

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Love vs hate.

The question that every addict must ask is this: Do you love your habit more than God?

And if you habit hurts or harms or even has to potential to harm those you love - then do you love your habit more than them?

I have had addcits storm out og my office when confronted with this reality. Addicts usally see themelves as victims, but in reality the people they hurt are the real victims.

So, does or can you smoking harm you are or children? Then quite its easy - its easy if you love your children more than you love to smoke.

Does or can your drinking harm you or your family or your reputation? then quit - its easy - its easy if you love your family and God more than you love to drink.

What are harder drugs like meth and cocane - there is no doubt that these substances cause great harm - you do love you children or your wife more than you ,ove the fix? If you do then you should have quit alrwady.

An addict simply shows where is actual love really lies.

YTou must make a decision who yoju chose to love.

Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

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