BREAKING ADDICTIONS

Breaking Addictions

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 05 January 2010 12:18

Addictions to the flesh are rather common today, even among believers. Over the years, I've been asked by people if I knew anything about breaking them. Some of these folks were addicted to cigarettes, others to illegal drugs, others to pornography, and still others to unhealthy eating patterns (e.g., uncontrollable "binge" eating). I firmly believe what Paul said in Romans 6. Jesus Christ broke the power of the flesh in order that "sin shall not have dominion" over the believer. Salvation in itself is not a cure all. But it provides you with the graces of Jesus Christ to break any and all fleshly addictions. Regarding addictions, a believer can position themselves to receive the power of the cross and the resurrection life of Christ in breaking the back of a particular addiction. My hope is that the following exercise will spread to any and every Christian who is struggling under the power of an addiction. And I trust that the Lord will use it in their lives to "purge themselves" from a stronghold. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore PURGE HIMSELF FROM THESE, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and fit for the master's use, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21) The following exercise will not work if the addicted person still wants to keep their addiction. They have to be ready and willing to give it up and see the Lord break its power forever. Each step is important. So if you go through with this exercise, you won't want to miss any step. 1. You will go on a 3-day only-water fast. 2. Make a "resolute decision" to fast for the entire 3 days. You will probably break the fast prematurely unless you make a resolute decision. A resolute decision is a decision that under no circumstances will be broken. Once made, you will utter your decision out-loud so you can hear yourself speak it. "With God as my Help, I will not allow food to cross my lips until 6am Monday morning," for instance. 3. Drink only distilled water. Distilled water is much better on the stomach and on the hunger pains during your fast. When I go on a fast, I buy 3 gallons of distilled water before I start. (Health Note: If you have hypoglycemia or something similar, you may need to drink orange juice from time to time when your blood sugar gets low AND you should stay in bed most of the time on the fast. If you run around doing errands, etc. you could endanger your health. This can be very serious.) 4. A fast done the proper way has the power to break addictions and besetting sins if it's coupled with pursuing the Lord. The reason -- the flesh gets weak and the spirit strengthens. 5. Each time your hunger pains get severe on the fast, turn to the Lord. And take Him as your food. Also, drink lots of water, but no more than a gallon a day. Note: the first day is the hardest. The second day is a bit easier. The third day is easier still. 6. You will fast 3 full consecutive days. Example: all day Friday, all day Saturday, all day Sunday. Break the fast Monday morning. 7. During the fast, read these Scriptures that pertain to Christ's victory over breaking the power of sin: Rom. 6 Rom. 8 Rom. 12:1-2, 9 Rom. 13:14 1 Cor. 6:19 1 Cor. 11:31 2 Cor. 6:14 - 7:1 Heb 8:10-12 Phil. 3:13 2 Cor. 5:14-17 Heb. 10:16-17 1 Jn. 1:7-9 1 Jn. 2:1-2 Ps. 103:1-12 Gal. 1:4 2 Tim. 2:19-22 Fellowship with the Lord over these texts. Declare and confess them out-loud during the 3 days. 8. On Sunday night (or the evening of the 3rd day), write down the besetting sin or sins on a sheet of paper. Then, go get baptized by someone or baptize yourself WITH the paper in hand. Full immersion. So the paper gets dunked with you. For the baptism, you may use a pool or even a bathtub if need be. Go fully under the water. In baptism, you are making a full break and separation from the flesh, the world, and the devil. It’s an incredibly powerful testimony. Even if you have been baptized in the past, you will still want to be re-baptized at this point to break the addition. (Jesus said to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2 to repent and do again “the first works.” Baptism falls under “the first works.”) 9. Finally, when you break the fast on Monday morning, take a piece of unleavened bread (a Matzo loaf or cracker will do - Publix has Matzo crackers without leaven) and a cup of grape juice or red wine. Important: Put a symbol representing the sin in front of the cup and the bread. For instance: Let's say you're addicted to cigarettes. Put the cup and the bread on a table in front of you. In front of the cup and the bread, put a picture of a cigarette or a cigarette box. Put your hands on the cigarette photo and say, "I have no need of you anymore in my life." And surrender it to Jesus Christ. Then push the photo away and take the bread and the cup. Give thanks and praise to the Lord. Now eat a light breakfast. The fast has ended (don't eat much on the day after the fast). Rest in the Lord the remainder of the day as you go about your business. The power of your flesh has been broken. It will no longer have control over you. While you still may be tempted, you now have the power to say “no” to the temptation. In my experience, if someone really wants to purge something out of their life, and they are willing to get rid of it once and for all and call it in its face for what it is, this will help them lay hold of the Lord's power to conquer it.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 January 2010 19:00 )