Holy Spirit’s Power Overcomes Addiction
In my last post, “Is Addiction a Disease?” we looked at several common problems that get people stuck. The first reason people get stuck in a life-style of addiction is that instead of calling it what it is, sin, they call it a disease and therefore do not deal with the root of the problem and try to treat addiction as you would a disease in the natural. But the root problem is not a physical problem it is a spiritual one. And needs to be addressed accordingly.
Another reason people get stuck is that they refuse to accept the responsibilities for their own bad decisions and look for others to place the blame on like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden when they ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam first blamed Eve, but ultimately blamed God for giving her to him. And when Eve was asked why she ate of the forbidden fruit she blamed the devil. And you know what? God’s people still blame one another, God and the devil today.
In addition to blaming others, people blame circumstances, like their past. Why is this equally wrong? No matter how difficult your situations may be God has given you the ability to overcome. Not in your own strength, but with His strength. Zechariah 4:6 says, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” God does not expect you to overcome this addiction in your own strength.
God expects you to admit that you have a problem with an addiction. James 5:16 tells us to, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Not only are you to confess this sin of addiction to another, you are to pray with effectual power with others and alone. There are different ways to pray but here are 2 that will help you.
- The Prayer of Faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” When you pray to God, trust Him and in His faithfulness, believe He has your best interest in mind, and that He wills and is able to help you overcome all addiction. Remember you are to rely upon His strength, and not your own.
- Pray in the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have fallen from God’s grace and into sinful and addictive behavior because they no longer pray in the Spirit. They have forgotten the power of praying in tongues, and many never did as God’s Word instructs us to begin with, “Receive the Holy Spirit, Jn. 20:22. The Bible is clear when it says in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” Again, this is not human power, but supernatural power from God.
Along with praying in faith and in your supernatural language, tongues, there are initial steps to take to overcome this slavery to addiction. Here are beginning steps that must be taken.
- Be truthful, admit that you are struggling with an addiction.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root issue for this addictive and sinful behavior in your life.
- Ask God to forgive you for this sin of addiction.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance in which plan of action you should take. Be specific, for example ask Him which program will work for you. And do what He says—be faithful and consistent and you will see results.
- Confess your sin of addiction to another Christian that has proven themselves to be mature in the faith, and responsible to handle life situations according to the Word of God. And set up a strict plan of accountability, whether it be a professional program, or accountability with a trusted person or a group.
And personally, I would never align myself with people that do not believe and practice the power of the Holy Spirit. If they do not actively live out this supernatural power then they are weak in the faith and dependent upon their own strength. And you have already seen in your own life how weak your own strength can be. You need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome this addiction in your life.
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© 2018 Author Becky Dvorak–Healing and Miracles International, All rights reserved.
I hear many stories about speaking in tongue‘s, so if we are gifted in tongues then we speak it but then I heard if we speak in tongues it’s a sin because there’s no one there to interpret it so then I just shut down and don’t bother anymore. I really hate it when people give out false information and then I’m told it is not wrong to speak in tongues, I wish people would make up their bloody mind because that makes me think that I shouldn’t even utter a word, so what’s the truth here?!
Wendy, I can understand your frustration in all of this. Believe what the Bible says and don’t listen to people that will try to talk you out of believing and praying in tongues. If you have my first book, DARE to Believe then read chapter 7, Power From on High. I teach you what the Bible says with the Scriptures and pray for you for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues.
And we should all note there is a difference between praying in tongues in private and speaking in tongues in public. The latter needs to be interpreted, the other does not.
Blessings,
Becky