Break Every Chain
Shall we continue in sin (addiction), that grace may abound? God forbid.
The Chains of Addiction
Addiction is man’s false attempt to satisfy a void that only God can fill
Addiction manifests itself in many forms. Some manifestations are tangible and easy to spot, like substance abuse, overeating or gambling. Then, there are other manifestations that are subtle, deep-seated and hidden within in the walls of your soul, like fear, rejection, or even the need to be accepted by people. Nevertheless, addiction is man’s false attempt to satisfy a void that only God can fill. Christ wants to make you whole. He wants to make you complete. There are no substitutes.
Double-edged Sword
Addiction is a double-edged sword. On one side, there’s lust and on the other, rejection. Lust, the unending appetite for more, the overpowering craving for something that will never be quenched or satisfied. And on the other side, there’s rejection, which reveals itself through insecurities and pride. Pride attempts to mask the problem while insecurity feeds pride. A vicious cycle covering a more severe spiritual problem… Barrenness.
Masking the Problem
Addiction is a carnal attempt to mask a spiritual problem.
No matter how you attempt to dress up your problem with fig leaves, your underlying core condition remains the same, your soul has a void and is in need of a Savior. Addiction is a carnal attempt to mask a spiritual problem. Whatever the struggle, stronghold or addiction that has you bound and enslaved to its power, Christ wants to set you free; forever. He wants to become Lord over your entire heart. He wants to fill that void and barren place with His Love. Trust Him.His Love is stronger than your addiction.
How We Overcome Addiction
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)
The Word of God crushes every stronghold and defeats every enemy. When you are in Christ, addiction and its false masks of security, have no place or power in Him. Your body, soul, and spirit belong to God. No matter the addiction, that tries to warp its identity around your soul, God’s Word will sever its entanglement.
Declaration prayer 1: Father, I thank you for releasing me from the power and entanglement of addiction.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 KJV)
In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin.
Addiction is a yoke of bondage, an enslavement that holds you, hostage. It’s an entanglement that wraps itself around your very soul and hijacks your identity. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. Nor are you a servant to its power or chokehold. Your body belongs to Him. You are His treasure, He has paid for you with His Blood. He has set You free.
Declaration prayer 2: I am forgiven and free from every bondage, struggle, and stronghold. The Blood of Jesus washes me, covers me and cleanses me from all unrighteousness. Today I am made whole in God.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:27 KJV)
Jesus Christ is The Anointing
Those who are in Christ, have been given authority by God Himself to enforce His Word and power to command the enemy to flee. When you choose to accept Christ, every stronghold and struggle must loose its grip and it’s condemning power from off of your life. When you are in Christ, He has given you the power to resist the devil, and he will flee. It’s up to you to embrace His Word and trust His promises. The power of sin no longer has it’s death grip on you when you choose Christ and not to serve your flesh. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
Declaration prayer 3: Ask God, to remove your old appetite and taste, and create in you a clean heart, His Heart. Ask God, to allow you to feel how He feels about sin. Ask God, to give you an appetite to read His Word and to discover what He cares about. Draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you.
If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 KJV)
When you are in Christ, you are no longer identified by the stain of sin, you are identified by His Love and engrafted into His Heart. You are His child. Choose your identifier. Whether you choose to be identified with sin and serve the former master or live Freely in Christ with liberty and power to be called a son of God, it’s your choice. It’s truly your choice. Step into the new life and Trust Christ. Accept your freedom. Reject condemnation. Choose Christ. You have freedom in Him.
Declaration prayer 4: Father God, In The Name of Jesus, I thank you for your undying Love towards me. Lord, I know that I am new to You. Your Love has set me free. Your Blood washes me, cleanses me and makes me whole. I have no lack in You.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 KJV)
Take Caution
Surround yourself with Godly counsel. Find people who are spiritually stronger and more mature than you in your weak areas. Ask God to send people who are after His Heart to surround you in this critical season – Godly Covenant partners. Lay aside every weight or past temptation that will cause you to stumble. When you feel weak, reach out to God and ask Him for strength, guidance, and direction, He’s always there. “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (Psalms 91:15 KJV) Next, utilize your pastor and God given Covenant Accountability Partners. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”(Proverbs 11:14 KJV)
Finally, run your race with patience and diligence, continue to move toward God and away from your past, God is with you along the way. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 KJV)
Beware Double Mindedness
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8 KJV). Double minded behavior brings about instability, slows growth and disrupts your process. Deliberately choose not to pick the addiction back up. “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”(Proverbs 26:11 KJV) Release the struggle and let it go. Deliberately shift, repent and turn your sole focus towards God. Choose not to dwell upon your past addiction. He is greater than the addiction.
Truth to Hold on to
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalms 27:10 KJV)
When others give up, God will never abandon you. He never fails.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 KJV)
He will deliver you from every oppression, depression and every pressure of life.
Trust God. It’s super simple… Just trust God. He will deliver you from every oppression, depression and every pressure of life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)
Now unto Him, that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:24, 25 KJV)
Be Blessed. Be Set Free. Be Delivered. It’s time to be Whole!
This article was written by Vance Jackson who serves on the leadership team of Word of Life Christian Ministries in Detroit, MI. Vance is a successful businessman, speaker and writer and leads Bible studies on topics ranging from Marriage to Faith, Family, Business, Stewardship, Emotional Healing and Leadership.
