ADDICTIONS

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking

The person enslaved to substance abuse usually is a person with many inner conflicts who uses alcohol, drugs or even smoking to relieve or escape from their pain.  

This person needs to:

  • Admit their need for God’s help

  • Turn their life over to God 

  • Receive forgiveness for the effects of their addiction

  • Receive healing for their body

  • Renew their mind each day through the Word and prayer 

  • Forgive those who have hurt them

  • Live in relationship with other believers (accountability)

  • Cut themselves off from ungodly influences

1 Corinthians 6:19-20“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” 

Proverbs 20:1“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” 

Isaiah 5:11“Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them!” 

Ephesians 5:18“Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit…”

Galatians 5:22-24“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 

Philippians 3:13-15 “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

Psalm 102:17“He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.” 

PRAYER OBJECTIVES:

  • Repent and rededicate themselves to God.

  • Deal with any unforgiveness in their hearts.

  • Bind evil desires and addictions. 

  • Loose deliverance and self-control.

 STEPS TO FREEDOM:

“...for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” 2 Corinthians3:17.

I John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Confession is not just saying “I’m sorry”; it’s also saying, “I did it.”  While confessing on their own is sufficient, it is wise to make themselves accountable to another person. 

James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” 

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have told us in Your Word that we are to “make no provision for the flesh,” (Romans 13:14). I acknowledge that I have given in to _______ for the purpose of pleasure and to cope with difficult situations—leading to abuse of my body through a harmful pattern of behavior and addiction.  I ask your forgiveness.  I commit myself to no longer yield to __________ but only to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit.           In Jesus name.  Amen

*After praying, encourage the individual to talk with someone who will hold them accountable for the decision they just made. Encourage them to renew their mind by daily filling themselves with the Word.