Deliverance from addictions – 2 ways, man’s way and God’s way
Webster’s definition of addiction – To devote or surrender oneself to something (or
someone) habitually or obsessively.
What are some of the more common addictions? Admiration (by others), Alcohol, Anger, Cigarettes, Coffee (and caffeine), Danger, Drugs (illegal and prescription), Envy, Evil, Exercise, Fantasies (sex or romantic or heroic), Food, Glue, Gossip (discrediting others to make me feel better about myself), Hobbies, Internet, Jealousy, Lying, Masturbation, Pornography, Power, Self-pity, Sex, Sleep, Sleeping pills, Sports, Status, Someone wrong for me, Stealing, Swearing, Television, Violence and Work.
We all are or have been addicted, and most of us with many of them. None of us therefore can be aloof, judgmental and without compassion for those plagued by the more obvious addictions just because ours happen to be of the more secret kind.
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…
In addiction, our flesh strongly desires something (or someone). Our will is taken captive by our flesh and is unable to say no to its insistence that we give in to what it wants.
1 Pe 2:11 Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against (and seek to conquer) the Soul (the will) – (But the addicted can’t say no). TEV
Addictions often come in groups – for example, alcohol, smoking and sex; envy, lying and gossip – why is that? It’s because the flesh has an insatiable desire for pleasure and to have its longings gratified. When I keep conceding to the flesh in one area the flesh simply gets bolder and more controlling over my will to give in to it in other areas.
Our heavenly Father’s heart concerning addictions– He longs to deliver us from them, not just because they may be harmful to us, and others, they often are. But because we go first to our addiction for relief in tough times and reward ourselves first with our addiction in good times, instead of going first, in love and dependency, to Him. This saddens Him.
Addictions are idols by another name: Since I value or love my addiction more than I love God – because I go to it so often in preference to Him – addictions meet the basic definition of an idol, which is something or someone valued or loved more than God. Every time I indulge my addiction I’m in effect worshipping my idol.
The Bible speaks everywhere about addictions – it calls them the lusts of the flesh – something or someone my fallen human nature strongly wants and wants now. The Bible makes it clear that our basic human nature is unchangeably prone to addictions. But the Bible also provides the most sure way, in Christ, to overcome these lusts, which have the potential to ruin us while we’re on earth and the potential of depriving us of Heaven.
Sobriety or relief comes when the addicted person’s will is empowered to say no to the lusts of the flesh. For the strongly addicted this can be brought about in one of two ways:
1 A more human solution – long term participation in an AA type of sobriety program:
Man’s approach to strengthen the will to say no to the flesh’s craving for what it wants, is by attending AA types of meetings on a near daily basis, daily contact with a sponsor and sincere participation in a 12 step type of program. This daily association with others who battle similar desires but whose words testify to the horrors of addiction and the delights of sobriety, greatly strengthen and encourage the will. In this supportive, non-condemning but not-enabling environment (what every Church should be), such words constantly feed the thought life and this empowers the will to over-rule the urge thoughts of the flesh. But often the will and the flesh remain in constant tension. Also as many discover, if this strict daily regimen is not actively maintained the will loses its power and becomes at risk of caving in to the ever present desires of the body. The Bible describes this predicament:
Rom 7:20-8:2 Now if I am doing what I don’t want to, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp…Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord…For the power of the life-giving Spirit – and this power is mine through Christ Jesus – has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. TLB – Isa 10:27 The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing KJV
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Note: Please share this testimony of His goodness with anyone you know who is struggling with any form of addiction. There is deliverance in this post that will set the captives free in the name of Jesus Christ.
A silent battle wages in the lives of many believers. As it escalates the tempest within begins to rear its head and cannot be kept hidden any longer. This battle is with the lusts of the carnal man who is at enmity with the Spirit.
I was in three rehabilitation programs for substance abuse and none of them helped to set me free from the claws of addiction.
In two of these programs I was told that addiction is a disease like any other which needs to be managed throughout my life. I was told I had to carry this label of addict and alcoholic throughout my life and attend support programs to help me abstain from substances.
I was in my early twenties at the time and I WAS SAVED. I was filled with the Spirit of God and believed in the name that was above all names – Jesus Christ, but I still had this weakness in my flesh that overpowered me.
I knew the one who formed me could change me and I was not willing to carry this label throughout my life. If God made me, then He will deliver me, if He cannot do that then He is not God and this belief of mine is a fallacy.
These were my thoughts on the matter and as such I was not going to align myself with what they were telling me in these rehab programs.
Don’t get me wrong, these programs have helped many manage their addictions and what they teach, does help but as a child of God – I knew He was greater than any man-made solution.
The seed of faith in God’s power to deliver me was planted and lodged deep in my heart and nothing was going to steal that seed.
Many years passed, many prayers prayed, endless strife and a great deal of loss was suffered through my twenties, but I still held onto the seed of faith in my heart.
Curiously, throughout these years I was growing spiritually and succeeding in many areas as well. There were terrible things reaped from my constant sowing into the carnal man, which brought much shame and guilt, but the LORD was always faithful to wash away the filth of my sinfulness.
I found another strange thing occurring, where I will meet other backslidden Christians in the world and we will talk about the LORD. In the most intoxicated state, I found myself fellowshipping.
We were definitely high and lifted up with the wrong spirits but even in the dregs of this world the Spirit of God was moving.
I detested this weakness in my life and hated the sin. I didn’t want to be controlled by this weakness, but this is the nature of addiction – it rules over you.
You become a slave to the appetites of addiction and like a puppet you are stringed along by the cravings of this vile thing called addiction.
I really did not want it in my life. It was like a cloud of darkness that hovered over me and limited my progression and ability to live a life of fullness in Christ.
In December of 2013, now in my early thirties, I was lying in bed asking the LORD about the coming year and what He had planned. He told me that 2014 will be my year of deliverance from addiction and He even impressed the month of May in my spirit. I believed Him and was overjoyed.
2014 rolled around and I was back in the cycles of addiction. Things were spiraling out of control and the enemy was luring me into some dark places where evil was like a thick smog and the stench of death was all around.
I knew in my spirit there was a war been waged for my life, but God held me close and the prayers of loved ones ensured I was always hedged in by His protective hand.
I am thankful to my Mum who never stopped interceding for me; when I left home she would be on her knees in deep intercession for me.
I encountered many situations which could have resulted in the end of my life, but through her prayers and the prayers of many other loved ones my life was spared. The LORD Jesus has been faithful to me even when I was not – His word is truth!
April 30th came along and I found myself with a bunch of people I didn’t know. I was on a binge that day and had met these guys at a crack house. We were all high and intoxicated which brought common ground and I had cash on me, so these guys were more than happy with my company.
We were outside some guy’s house in a dodgy area of town, in a road I had never been before. It so happened there was a Church gathering in a house on this road. The house itself was revamped into a little place of fellowship.
I could hear the saints singing and it was beautiful. In this highly intoxicated state that I was in, Holy Spirit was tugging at my heart strings to go this gathering. I was in a terrible condition and was fighting this tug within.
I was actually telling these guys, I need to go to that Church. I was saying it over and over again, because I knew I just had to be at that place. I was saying it so many times that one guy – an unbeliever — said he will come with me.
So off we went. It was easier for me to go with someone else and that was without a doubt God’s doing. We went into the Church, a small gathering of no less than 20 people.
They were in worship at the time and there was a strong presence of God in that gathering. We took our places and joined in with worship. Communion was taken during worship and I felt I needed to take communion, which I did.
The guy who was with me (I don’t even know his name) also decided to take communion. I was not in the right frame of mind to tell him he shouldn’t be taking this. The guy had volunteered to come with me, after all, and I was probably not in the best place to do it myself, but I knew I had too.
Amazingly when this guy was about to drink the wine (which was grape juice) the little shot glass slipped out of his hand and fell to the ground. It felt like everything went silent at that moment, as everyone’s attention was drawn to the “blood on the floor”.
The worshipper standing in the front was extremely sensitive to the Spirit of God and she suddenly went into deep worship crying out for grace… the LORD was moving as everyone joined in worship.
I ended up sharing half the wine in my cup with the guy who was with me, as I felt there was grace for him and I do believe he will be saved.
As I am writing this the LORD says he IS saved… Amen and all Glory to God.
I then felt it was time to leave after what felt like a very long time… We were only there for less than 15 minutes. Before leaving, I had some strange spiritual contact with the worshipper in the front. We nodded to each other as if to say thank You and then my newfound brother and I left.
I was sober by the end of that experience, but nothing had changed in terms of my desire to go on partying all night. We continued with the binge until lunch time on May 1st.
I got home and slept. When I awoke, something felt different within me. I knew I was delivered, but honestly was not sure if this was indeed the case.
A week went by and no cravings. Another week, and still no cravings. By the end of the second week I knew that God had delivered me.
He set free and I was completely in awe of Him. All that time ,waiting for the moment when His power destroys the weakness that plagued me for most of my life. It was liberating and intoxicating in itself.
When I tell people about His work in me, I liken it to a switched that was flipped within.
One day the addiction was there and then the switch was flipped and BAM… addiction gone. All glory to God.
That was the appointed time for my deliverance, my Kairos moment.
There is an appointed time for You too who are believing God to set You free from whatever weakness is plaguing Your life. The one who has called You is faithful and He will do it.
Holy Spirit Led Prayer
Father, today I thank You for Your unfailing love that never disappoints; and for Your faithfulness to deliver us from all our troubles.
I thank You LORD, for in You we are made righteous and justified by faith through Your finished work on the cross.
I thank You that even when we do not understand, You are working on our behalf. Your grace is sufficient for us, and today I ask for this testimony of Your goodness to me to be a seed of faith that is planted in the hearts of those who need You to deliver them from addictions and any other weaknesses that are causing turmoil and strife in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Holy Spirit, take the words of my testimony and lodge it within the heart of Your child right now, and let this word ignite a new flame of trust in Your faithfulness to deliver.
Let Your child look at my experience and have the boldness to say, “If You can do it for him, then I believe You will do it for me.”
LORD, I ask that You begin to heal the deep wounds in the souls of Your children and take Your children through deliverance, in Your gentleness and love.
I ask that the Spirit of Might come forth in Your children to step into the deep recesses of their broken souls and take out all the hurtful things and hand them to You Jehovah – Rapha – the God who heals.
I ask for You to give them courage to forgive the people whom the enemy used to afflict, abuse and torment them.
May they see Your grace for them in this place of weakness and be empowered by Your love that forgives them of their sins, so that they can forgive those who have sinned against them.
My LORD, I ask that You lead Your children to a place where they can fellowship with true believers, who will carry their burdens and stand in the gap for them in intercession.
I ask that You take them on a journey of knowing You and Your perfect love.
I destroy every stronghold over their minds that has portrayed You, my God, in the wrong way — in Jesus Christ’s Name, and I ask that You show them who You truly are, as the lover of their souls.
Thank You for binding up Your child’s brokenness and making Your child altogether lovely, just as You are.
I bind every spirit of lust and perversion that has fed on the flesh of Your child and I cast it out of their lives in Jesus Christ’s Name.
I ask that You, my God, build a hedge around each child as You did for Job, so that the enemy cannot take anymore ground in their lives.
May the fruit of self-control, begin to birth forth in them by Your Spirit and may all the fruits of Your Spirit begin to blossom in their lives so that they too will share Your goodness with the world.
Father, I ask that Your angels who do Your bidding, go forth now to burn bridges with every association in their life that has given the enemy a foothold and allowed temptation to come into their lives.
I give Your holy angels charge over Your children to minster in weakness and to empower with strength to overcome every snare the enemy places on their path.
LORD Jesus, You are the source of ALL faith and I rest completely in You now and in You I declare that every child of Yours who comes into agreement with this word today will be completely liberated and set free from the stronghold of addiction in their life.
I declare that all that was lost in the areas of time, finances, relationships, gifting and every other place the enemy has stolen be repaid seven-fold.
I ask for You to begin to show these little ones the things they once enjoyed that You gave to them. Things of purity, gifts and skills, hobbies, sports, creative talents and whatever You have given them for pure enjoyment in life to be resurrected so that that can find joy again in their daily living without carrying burdens of guilt and shame.
LORD Jesus, You have told me that not a single word spoken in Spirit will fall to the ground and today I know You are praying and declaring these words through me over Your children and I know that You will watch over these words to perform it in fullness.
I thank You LORD, for whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.
I declare freedom from all bondages upon each child of Yours today in Your precious name, my LORD Jesus Christ. It is done. Amen
“Again, truly I tell you, that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven,” Matthew 18:19 (NIV)
~ Ashley Hutheram
Ashley Hutheram – a son of God in Christ Jesus.
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by April (Macon Ga USA)
Dear God Please hellp me and my family overcome drugs. You know how long I have struggled with this and you lnow my heart Lord. In the name of Jesus bind any dope spirit around me, around my family, away from my mind. Keep my thoughts on You today Lord. Please give me the victory again God so that I may have hope again. Build my faith again Lord. Save my Daddy from the grips of the evil one. Thankyou for loving me Lord. Thankyou for being faithful when I am not. Thank you for your grace and mercy that I will never deserve. Protect me Lord. Draw me nearer to you. Keep my eyes from wandering keep my feet from falling Lord. Give me victory over this evil that is ruining my health my family and my life. Give me the victory so that you will be praised and acknowledged. Be my everything again. Repair my broken and empty soul. Repair the destruction that has taken over my life and home. Send me people to encourage me. Protect me from the ones who will harm me. I pray a hedge of protection around my house and my family. Show yourself mighty and able to the unbelievers in this house Show them who you are so they will never be the same. All for your glory God. I was created to love you, to serve you, to serve others. Fulfill your plans for me Lord. We need this miracle in Jesus’ name. Amen
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I grew up in a church that was more concerned with legalism than with having a personal relationship with the Lord. I was more scared of him than anything, afraid that one sin would equal hell. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. So I more or less learned the basics, and filled the pew for 20 years, more content with daydreaming than anything else. Being scared ends up in resentment. So I never really cared about the Lord, and lived by the mantra of ‘I’m a good person, so I’ll do whatever I want.’ To me, the Lord was more of a fairy tale, because I couldn’t see his goodnes much in the church around me.
My mother was very strict and didn’t give me any freedom. She treated me like a small child into my late teens and I couldn’t wait to break free. so at 20 I moved away and tested my newfound freedom in any way. Sex, drinking, drugs. I was living carefree. I ended up having an abortion, and later convinced myself God hated me.
Fast forward ten years and I was addicted to amphetamines and pain pills. I was having delusions of leaving my husband for someone I thought I had a psychic connection with. The particular guy didn’t know. I just knew in my heart we were meant to be together. I had convinced myself we had known in a previous life. (He was an old high school friend that I didn’t even have contact with.) I was also constantly fighting with multiple voices in my head. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish who the real me was.
I would have moments of lucidity, but I had way more delusional moments. In a lucid moment I evaluated my life. I had two children and a husband who loved me dearly. And I was living the lonely secret life of a functioning addict. I tried on my own to quit a hundred times. It never lasted over a day at a time, and every time I took a pill I would think,
‘I hate myself.’
Living a secret life is so incredibly lonely. You’re one person on the outside, but inside there is a non-stop struggle.
I don’t even remember how I got to the point where I realized I couldn’t do it alone. I felt so lost and so broken. I had wasted so much of my children’s lives so far, and I couldn’t remember any of it. So I prayed and repented, and told the Lord to please take over my life. I didn’t want to be in control anymore. And he did! Praise him! And he has even let me forgive myself of my past! (The drugs had always made me keep my past in the forefront of my mind, tormenting me daily).
I still have temptations from time to time, and I’m learning just how sneaky the devil can be. But I have been lifted from my delusions and addictions. In his mercy he has transformed me into a new creature. I am filled with this peace and love that i never even knew was possible! I never was aware that we could actually have a real relationship with our Father. I had no idea that I had been so spiritually oppressed.
Our Father is so, so good. I never understood the term ‘born again’ until I experienced it myself. The old me died, and I have become what he intended me to be all along. I see him in everything. I hunger to read more of the Word every single day. And now I want to spend the rest of my time on earth helping others in similar situations. Friend, if he can forgive me, he can (and wants) to forgive you too! Just admit to him that you don’t want to be in control anymore. He will guide, guard, and protect you. He’s waiting. Let him in. What better guidance can we receive than from He who is perfect?
I hope to meet you in heaven!
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