Overcoming Drug Addiction

Are you enslaved or troubled by a habitual use of various narcotic, stimulant or mind-influencing drugs (including alcohol)? Do you have symptoms of physical, emotional or mental addiction? You may not have a sickness, but a sin problem which causes enslavement and sickness.

Jesus Christ has done something about your problem. He came to liberate you from such problems and enable you to gain self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23CloseGalatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

What Scripture Says

Everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me -- but I will not be mastered by anything" (I Corinthians 6:12).

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18CloseEphesians 5:18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out (Luke 4:18-36CloseLuke 4:18-36 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,  for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,  that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free,   and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.*" He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: `Physician, heal yourself'—meaning, `Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian." When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority. Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil* spirit—began shouting at Jesus, "Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus cut him short. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further. Amazed, the people exclaimed, "What authority and power this man's words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!" OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15CloseColossians 2:15 In this way, he disarmed* the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (I John 3:8).

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:1-13CloseGalatians 5:1-13 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Dear brothers and sisters,* if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.* For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

What Can You Do?

Take seriously the bondage in which you are involved. God cares about you and has a solution.

Your real problem is not an incurable illness, but sin. And Jesus came to deal with sin (I Corinthians 5:11). You need to be spiritually reborn and baptized with the Holy Spirit. You need to change your life patterns. You also may need help for deliverance from drugs and healing.

Be bold. Take a fearless inventory of your life. Ask for help from your family, Christian friends, a local pastor, The 700 Club (call 800-759-0700), or another Christian ministry that cares. Or call Teen Challenge or a local drug hotline.

It is said that it takes thirty-one days to break a habit. Drug addiction is a "life dominating" problem, so radical changes must be made regarding associates, social atmosphere, places frequented, etc. Replacement, not abstention, is the key. Find a Christian coffeehouse, Bible study and prayer group and a warm church fellowship. The 700 Club Center should have a list of especially helpful groups, One good and faithful Christian friend can help enormously.

You need to keep busy and occupy your mind with new things (Philippians 4:8-9ClosePhilippians 4:8-9 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Learn to yield yourself to Christ rather than to drugs, old friends, self-pity, guilt, fear, etc.

How To Be Spiritually Reborn

God has a plan for your salvation. Call on the Lord to save you mind, body and soul (I John 1:9). Receive Him as your Savior and Lord (John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Believe Him. He said He would not turn anyone away. He loves you and gave His life for you (John 3:16-17CloseJohn 3:16-17 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Pray this prayer right now:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

How you can know you are forgiven:

The Bible, God's Word says:

You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better that we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and you have done nothing on your own (Ephesians 2:8CloseEphesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

For those who put their faith in Jesus: He gave them the right to be the children of God... God Himself was the one who made them His children (John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) -13).

How To Receive The Baptism With The Holy Spirit

Once you become a Christian, you can have God's power available through the Holy Spirit. You will be able to live as God intended (Ezekiel 36:27CloseEzekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). The Holy Spirit empowers you to help others (Acts 1:8CloseActs 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), He aids and teaches you (John 14:26CloseJohn 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; I Corinthians 2:13), and guides you into truth (John 16:13CloseJohn 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) and in life (Acts 10:19CloseActs 10:19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; 13:2; 16:6).

You may want to ask someone already baptized with the Holy Spirit to pray with you. Just as you asked the Lord to forgive your sins, believing He would, ask Him now to baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13CloseLuke 11:13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). He promised to do so, so take Him at His Word that He does what you ask. Thank and praise Him for being a God who does as He promises.

Tell someone else what you've done. Other Christians and the church will rejoice with you and help you. The angels rejoice with you. God rejoices with you.

As You Pray

Thank God for His love, concern, and power to save and deliver. Renounce the drugs, old friends, and hangouts connected with your drug problem. Yield yourself to Jesus. Thank Him for coming into your heart and filling you with the Holy Spirit. Take Him at His word and thank Him for delivering you from drugs.

If you need to talk to someone about your struggle with drugs, please call our Prayer Center at (800) 759-0700. A caring friend is standing by, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.