UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

INTRODUCTION

People with addiction do not have control over what they are doing, taking or using which includes substance abuse as well as behavioral such as abuse of gambling. The pleasurable feelings they get from such act makes them to go back to engage in doing such again and again. There are great withdrawal symptoms when what one is addicted to is taken away improperly. Most of these addictions are demonically induced and so must be treated as a case of release from demonic encroachments or deliverance. Only the truth of the Word and the Son of God are empowered to set you free without a withdrawal syndrome!

Addiction tends to usurp our identity, possess power over our will, lie to us and promise us things it cannot deliver on, and wants to harm us and those we love. One could be addicted to food, sexual addictions [for example masturbation and nymphomaniac], drugs, alcohol, cigarette smoking [nicotine], spending, masturbation, porn, caffeine products like Coffee or Coca Cola soft drinks etc.

Addiction is a coping method that helps us avoid pain or anything that is too vulnerable, too shameful, too scary, or simply too much for us to handle.  Addiction offers a withdrawal, a distraction, a way to avoid hard issues.  It’s highly personal too, meaning your addiction is as unique as your pain.  The greater your pain, the greater your shame about yourself.  And the greater your shame, the greater your addiction.  As the addiction grows the more the feeling of powerlessness grows until a switch takes place and you feel as if you no longer have the addiction, but the addiction has you.  Even if you know it will do you great harm, and even if you know it will cause great harm to those you love, and even if you know it will destroy whatever is good in your life, you still choose it like being involved uncontrollably with multiple sexual partners called nymphomaniac.

An addiction is formed when we try to use something other than God, to meet our need to be loved. When our ability to receive God's love into our hearts is hindered, we will feel like something is missing, and seek to fill that void with something else. When that thing, whatever it might be, fills that void, we grow to love it because it's meeting a need. Over time, we establish a relationship with that thing, and when it comes time to depart, it's like breaking up a relationship. That's why addictions are so addicting; we've relied on that thing to meet a need and we've established a relationship with it. Now when it's time to break up the love, it isn't so easy to say goodbye.

Under this one may be infatuated with what is contrary to God’s ordination like one who has a beautiful wife but visits regularly an ugly or old woman sex mate outside his matrimonial jurisdiction. Some have nasty habits that are hygienically unclean like chewing tobacco. One could be drug dependence [including prescription drugs] and some do without taking controlled substances or narcotic drugs like Indian hemp, cocaine or as simple as cigarette nicotine dependence. Such may be obsessed, fixated or fanatical about what others enjoy at a moderate level like alcohol or wine. Craving have to do with illicit, wrong or lustful desires like ungodly sexual acts outside the God ordained marriage. Stolen waters may be sweet but the end thereof is that such will be ensnared, caged or handcuffed up by demonic agents that are assigned to such immorality.

REASONS FOR ADDICTION

Sin breaks the edge of protection and allow the strong man to be in charge. Sinners cooperates with the devil.

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” 2 Cor. 6:9-11

Unconfessed sin:  Any sin that we have not confessed to God and repented from could serve as a foothold for the enemy to continue to oppress us [1 John 1:9].  Some strategic footholds include occult sin, unforgiveness, pride, lust, idolatry, family sin, and murder. 

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” Romans 6:14

Oppression from evil spirits:  Sex sin, alcoholism and occultism are common doors evil spirits (demons) can use to gain influence over us.  Demons can block every step of our recovery efforts - even our confession and repentance from sin if we continue to fall away.   It is possible for people to exercise their authority in Christ and dispel the evil spirits that are troubling them, but it may require help from other believers who will pray deliverance and stand in faith with the person.  We know from the Bible and personal experience, however, that evil spirits resist being cast out.  Even the disciples had difficulty in casting some types of evil spirits out (Mark 9:18, 28-29).  

Failure to develop a relationship with God:  This is usually reflected in the lack of a daily meeting time with God.   The "quiet time" helps us to reload our mind with God's words from the Bible, to talk with God through prayer and to worship him.  As we walk out of addiction, we should shift our attention, resources and energies to pursuing God and doing his work.  If we don't do this, the vacuum left by our addiction will certainly refill with trivial pursuits or a worse addiction.  The typical excuse used is being too busy.  If we can't make time with God a priority, our efforts toward freedom will be powerless. When we submit to God and resist every strategy of Satan, he will flee from you [James 4:7]. Keeping company with bad eggs will ensnare you … “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” [1 Cor. 15:33]

Lack of faith:  Faith is a common ingredient in many of the healings that occurred in the scriptures.  If we don't believe that we can be a new person in Christ with God's help, we won't.   Unfortunately, some theologies can weaken our faith by suggesting that God doesn't heal and or that God wants to punish us by sending evil on us. 

Jesus put it quite clearly, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" Mark 9:24 NKJV

Failure to die to sin and or crucify the flesh:  These must be done daily in our walk with God and typically involve exercising control over our eyes and thoughts.  Unfortunately, many people never learn how to practice and develop these skills, which are essential for survival in our pornographic culture.  If we have been freed, yet fall back into our old habits, our condition will be worse than if we'd never been free [2 Peter 2:20-22]. Flee away from every appearance and enticement to do evil.

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11

Emotional and spiritual wounds from past abuse or trauma:  The devil hates people regardless of age, but he especially loves to prey on children because the early years are strategic times for emotional and spiritual development.  Sex abuse, physical abuse, divorce, accidents and traumatic entertainment (bad movies) can all be sources of wounds that we need healing from.  If these wounds have never been dealt with in prayer, they are potentially serving as footholds for demonic oppression like sex addiction or alcohol abuse.   When we invite God to cleanse and heal those past wounds, the footholds for oppression are removed.   Healing prayer and Christian counseling are effective ways to work through these wounds

Curses: Curses can act like demonic oppression in that they can block our healing and development of a relationship with God.  All curses can be broken in the name of Jesus Christ, but often they must be identified by name and specifically broken by the blood of Christ [Galatians 3:10-14].  Family sin is a common source of curses, but there are many additional possible sources, including:

Possession of occult objects and books

Participation in non-Christian religious ceremonies, rituals or celebrations

Visitation of pagan shrines, witch doctors, temples and altars

Involvement in witchcraft, sorcery, divination and other occult activities

People sending curses intending to harm or control (e.g. Voodoo, witchcraft)

Words spoken over us (example:  a father says "you will never amount to any good" to his child)

Sin:  Certain sins mentioned in the Bible are linked to curses: occult, sexual immorality, family disobedience, church disobedience, giving (lack of) and others.

Failure to fight the battle with spiritual weapons:  The process of dismantling sexual and other addiction strongholds [2 Cor. 10:3-5] is nothing short of spiritual warfare.  People who rely on the Lord for the strength, authority and discernment to fight the battles will be successful.  People who try to fight in their own strength and rely solely on help aids like accountability groups and counselling will probably not succeed.  Self-denial and help aids are good, but they are not to be our power source for freedom but the Spirit of God. 

Failure to internalize God's word: I believe this may be the biggest reason people fail to get free.   In the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15), Jesus explained the importance of properly hearing and applying God's word.  He identified three ways the word can be hindered from taking root in our hearts:

The devil takes away the word from the heart, so that the person will not believe

The person lacks "firm roots" - initially they hear and receive the word with joy, but fall away in times of temptation

The person goes their way after hearing the word and it is choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures.  As a result, the word bears no fruit to maturity in them.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING

Our culture treats addiction like a medical problem, like a disease for example the Alcoholic Anonymous Group.  Certainly there are chemical and biological issues at play, but emotional and spiritual healing cannot take place simply through “will power”.  It must be addressed in relationship because under every addiction there is a yearning for relationship and when the trauma of a broken or abusive relationship leaves you fragmented, the craving for and repulsion for relationship is intensified and that’s where the addiction grows. For example a man that is jilted by fiancée goes into alcohol drinking orgy that cannot mend his broken heart.

The problem that is see with such group is that they do not take time to fill the void in the person so delivered from addiction with the WORD and the SPIRIT of God so it is easy for that demon and a host of others to come back in.

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant” Job 14:7-9 

Such groups operate like cutting off the branches of a tree but leaving the stump and the root intact; soon the plant will bud again when mineral salts and water is absorbed through the roots [lusts and evil desires] and leaves will begin to grow again. What we need to do is to completely cut off the root as we initiate salvation and deliverance in that person.

THE ANSWER

Since addiction relates to how we respond to God and His Word and will for our lives, addiction is, at its core, a spiritual condition that cannot be cured by an external source, i.e. medicine, counseling, etc. The root of addiction is sin; therefore, getting into a right relationship with God is the first step of cure for addiction!

The answer is not rehabilitation, reformation, nor education; but regeneration through faith in Jesus Christ. There must be transformation by the renewal of our minds and our body must be laid on the altar as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable in God’s sight after our spirit has been reborn [Romans 12:1-2].

Just having a sin forgiven and the bondage of that sin broken does not mean that the collateral damage that has occurred as a result of that sin has all been erased.

Medical attention is often required for the body when the addiction involves ingesting addictive substances. Though the medicine is not the cure, it is often required to aid the body in coming off the substances being abused, and in recovering from the abuses of those substances.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me” Acts 26:18

It is evident from these Scriptures that there are more demons than victims, for the Bible says this demon had a difficult time finding a body to possess. Thus, we see the vulnerability of those who open themselves up to demonic possession or oppression.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walk through dry places, seeking rest, and find none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he find it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goes he, and take with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Matt. 12:43-45

There are demons waiting in line to move into the body of those who are unsaved and vulnerable even if they have been delivered before now. In fact, the Old Testament Hebrew word for “sorcerer” is the same root word from which we get the modern term “pharmacy.” Demons, drugs and alcohol are synonymous.

First, an unsaved person who is ignorant of the Scriptures and worldly is vulnerable to Satan. Second, the demon brings additional spirits with him that are wicked more than himself if the person has not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact it is quite easy for these demons to get back into former ensnared person if they are spiritually empty and not born again.

DEMONS ARE EVIL SPIRITS

Demons look for human weakness and vulnerability. Alcohol, illicit sexual acts and drugs are popular mediums through which demons (evil spirits) are able to infiltrate a person's soul and corrupt their behavior. Some of the most atrocious crimes ever committed were done by drunkards including rape and robbery.

Although a born-again Christian cannot be demon-possessed so-to-speak, they can be demon influenced. A demon cannot reside in the temple of the Holy Spirit (which is the body of the believer 1 Cor. 3:17). However, Christians who dabble in occultism or sin uncontrollable; fornication, pornography and alcoholic beverages are opening themselves up to demonic influences and often they become harassed, oppressed, repressed, depressed and impressed.

Demons are under orders from the Prince of the Power of the Air (Satan).

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” Ephesians 2:2

The children of disobedience are all Christ-rejecters—those people who have not obeyed the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ [2 Thess. 1:8-9]. Few people understand that the human spirit is highly vulnerable to spiritual influences both good and bad through movies, music, books, magazines, doctrines, et cetera that is everything detected through the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, feel and smell) are harmful to our spiritual wellbeing.

YOU MUST CHANGE FROM BEING A NATURAL MAN

“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1st Timothy 4:1

Demons SEDUCE people through false teachings and the love of things of this world which is instrumental to being captivated by these evil spirits.

Man is created in God's image. Just as the Godhead is triune in nature, so also is mankind that is he is a spirit, lives in a body [the tabernacle of the soul and spirit - 2nd Corinthians 5:1], and possesses a soul [will, intellect and emotions. He has a heart to feel; a mind to think; a will to decide]. We must do away with all superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word that is able to save our soul.

Our spirit is who we really are inside. An unsaved person is spiritually dead by birth. Every human being is born spiritually dead with an inherited sin nature from Adam (Romans 5:12).

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Corinthians 2:14

The unsaved people or natural man cannot understand the Bible. If you study the Bible without the presence of the Author (God), you are guaranteed to misinterpret the Scriptures and teach or believe heresy. Everyone needs to get saved so you'll understand the Word of God.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” Romans 8:9

Every Christian believer has the Holy Spirit living (indwelling) within their body. If you do not have God's Spirit in you, then you are not saved (Heb. 12:6-8).

Once you believe the Gospel and receive Christ's death, burial and resurrection as payment for YOUR sins, you are eternally saved and you are now the child of God and He is your Father. Everyone is either a child of God or a child of the Devil. You may be the most moral, honest and kind person in your town, but you are still a child of the Devil if you have never been born-again by the Spirit of God by faith in Christ Jesus. And you may be cranky, have a short-tempter and be impatient, but you are still a child of God if you have believed the Gospel.

BREAKING ADDICTIONS

Many times there is a root that needs to be pulled up, alongside casting out any 

residing spirits that are holding the person in bondage to the addiction. Getting to the root of the addiction is the key to bringing a person lasting genuine freedom. I am going to address the most common roots to addictions, and hopefully give you an idea of how this particular type of bondage works so that you can minister lasting freedom to those caught up in this type of bondage. The prison warder must be released of his job. The anointing of the Holy Spirit has been released such that the prison doors holding the people of God bound can be opened [Isaiah 60:1-3].

The root of most addictive behaviors is a lack of love being received by that person. Many of us have been damaged emotionally by rejection, abandonment, abuse, etc., and thereby our capacity to receive love has been reduced. Only an emotionally healthy person is capable of both giving and receiving love as God intended.

If we want to be in faith, we need to BELIEVE what Jesus did for us, and part of that believing is seeing ourselves as forgiven and clothed with the righteousness of God [2 Cor. 5:21], which is upon all who believe in the finished work of Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please God [Hebrews 11:6], so if you want to please God, start taking the finished work of the cross seriously, and begin to see yourself as forgiven, washed clean, and clothed in the righteousness of God. For the righteousness (right standing with God) is upon all who believe.

Learning to see yourself as God sees you, and forgive yourself because you want to please God and be in faith and be thankful for what Jesus did for you, this is the biggest step in overcoming negative self-worth issues.  

Can two be together except they be agreed? Amos 3:3

A person must be in sync with a demon agent in order to cement a bondage or affliction, and appoint time and place, when and where they shall set out, what road they will take, and whither they will go; without such consultation and agreement, it cannot be thought they should walk together; and not amicably, unless united in friendship, and are of the same affection to each other, and of the same sentiments one with another; or it is much if they do not fall out by the way. The design of these words is to show, that without friendship there is no fellowship, and without concord no communion. Any time that you get tired of this lopsided relationship, you can give Satan and his cohost a letter of divorcement and quit.

CASTING OUT DEMONS

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 KJV

There are spirits that may need to be driven out as well, such as spirit of pornography, self-hate, guilt, condemnation, suicide, alcohol addiction etc. Many of such came to ensnare the saints of God and they do not leave peaceably until forcefully ejected through deliverance. Believers have been empowered to bind demonic entities on earth that has been cast out of the third heavens

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils …” Mark 16:17 [also Matt. 4:24]

Jesus cast out demons even from those who were possessed by demonic agents using His word to cast out them out.

"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Matthew 8:16-17

The Savior, by his death, wrested the dominion from them, and seized upon what they had captured as a conqueror seizes upon his prey. Satan and his legions had invaded the earth and drawn its inhabitants into captivity, and subjected them to their evil reign. Christ, by his death subdues the invaders and recaptures those whom they had subdued. We must operate from this vantage point that Satan has been defeated when conducting deliverance for the addicted

“[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]” Col. 2:15

The Christian is a freeman. His great Captain has subdued all his enemies, and we should not allow demonic poweres again to set up their dark empire over our souls.

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23

Jesus is talking about moving mountains in this passage of Scripture.  The mountain of which He is speaking symbolizes human problems.  Sometimes problems in our lives appear to be gigantic mountains that could never be removed.  However, Jesus said in the Bible that all things are possible with God. (Luke 1:37)  No matter what you may be addicted to today, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, pornography, immorality or any type of compulsive human behavior, disorder or demonic behavior, you can and will be free, if only you believe. If the Son set you free, you shall be free indeed.

My deliverance from nicotine came as a result of releasing faith through the words of my mouth.  My spirit man, the real me, was not addicted to nicotine.  My body was addicted to nicotine. I had to deny self, carry my cross and follow Christ.

 As I continued to speak the Word of Faith out of my spirit, it was just a matter of some months until my addicted body finally caught up with my free spirit and the supernatural occurred that is the Son of God set me free!  The Laws of Nature were overridden as I continued to hammer away at them with the Unfailing Law of Personal Faith and I went free, supernaturally.

 You can do this.  It does not matter what you’re addicted to.  Just simply tell the devil, “Release me, in Jesus’ Name.  I’ll serve you no more.  Jesus, You are my choice.”  Then begin to say, as I said, “Father, I thank You that I am no longer addicted to [addiction] in Jesus’ strong Name.” [John 14:13-14]