Fighting Addictions with the Power of God: Part 1

I have been thinking a lot lately about addictions that we face in this life.  I am thankful that through the power of God, and a desire that has been placed in me by the conviction of the Hole Spirit I have recently begun to kick and fight off an addiction that I have been dealing with for the last 4-5 years. I speak, of course to myself mainly, to myself, and then to those who know me of my addiction to World of Warcraft. This game started out harmlessly enough, but I quickly noticed that it was becoming something that I would turn to instead of my God, instead of my family, instead of my friends and loved ones. I put this game above all else in my life, even my own health. 

I know that as humans we all have things that we struggle with, things that if we are not careful, can become addictions, and then idols. As followers of Christ we must guard ourselves against these things as Satan uses them to exploit us, and make us less effective in our relationships with God and each other. The scriptures warn us in the book of James of how to deal with these temptations.

James 4:7 (KJV)

• Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  
  

As followers of Christ, we will be tempted in these areas of weakness, whether they be sex, alcohol, drugs, business, money, etc. Whatever thing that Satan knows you are struggling with. Jesus was tempted just after his Baptism, before he began his earthly ministry. We should also expect to be tested. Jesus was lead into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Who led Jesus into the wilderness? it was God. 

In Matthew 3 :16 after Jesus was baptized and a dove fell on him. God said this is my son in who I am very well pleased. 

Then in chapter 4 , Jesus is being tempted by the devil. 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Why the temptation? you must know without a shadow of a doubt that God is pleased with you. You must know that you have been chosen. You must know that you are a royal priesthood a holy nation. You must know that you are the light that shines in darkness. 

Why the assurance? the Lord will send you places. You will be lied on. You will be rejected. you will be talked about. In some of these places you will past and you will fail the test. God does not want you to give up in the tempting period. He want you to know that you belong to him.

• 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  
  
  We must confess our sins to Him, not so that He knows about them, He knows, but more as a matter of where our heart is. 
  
  
  I felt called recently to study this topic as the result of an acquaintance  reaching out to me with some issues that he has been struggling with. As is often the case with addictions, he goes through a period where he does well, and then he begins to stumble. He then comes and talks to me, and we have some really good discussions. I tell him about Celebrate Recovery groups, and he says that he would like to go, and then when I follow up with him, I don't hear back from him until the next time. I mention this, because he has expressed the desire to do the right thing, repeatedly, and he has said that what he needs is for someone to hold him accountable. Until recently,  have not been in a position to hold him accountable. But recently, by facing my own addiction, and asking a brother that I respect greatly to hold me accountable, I am in a better position to be an accountability partner for this acquantance. Please lift me up in Prayers, as well as this brother, that I would be a faithful accountability partner to him, and that he would continue to be responsive to the urgings of the Holy Spirit to get his life right first with God, then himself and those who he loves.
  
  
  Grace, Peace and Blessings,
  
  
  Michael