Can I turn this question back to you? What do you tell him?So, an Christian who as become addicted to painkillers comes to you desperate for an answer that will deliver him from his bondage to sin. What do you tell Him?
Gids
Much love!
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Can I turn this question back to you? What do you tell him?So, an Christian who as become addicted to painkillers comes to you desperate for an answer that will deliver him from his bondage to sin. What do you tell Him?
Gids
Of course you may!Can I turn this question back to you? What do you tell him?
Much love!
And when he prays, and seeks, and still craves his drug . . . what do you then tell him?If they were not saved, I would lead them to the Lord. If they already knew the Lord and have been saved, I then share with them that they are new creatures and are no longer in the flesh, and owe the old man NOTHING. I would tell them that they can walk free of their addiction by reckoning their old nature died when Jesus died. It is this reckoning of faith that breaks the yoke of bondage. Nothing else.
These are the questions which would need to be honestly answered. So here is what one would say to this person:So, an Christian who as become addicted to painkillers comes to you desperate for an answer that will deliver him from his bondage to sin. What do you tell Him?
Is this meant to describe yourself? Me?despite our stiff-necked resistance and contentment without godliness,
Why would that be??5. Do you know that repentance from addiction to painkillers means quitting cold turkey*?
Stand fast, firm in the faith. Resist satan, and he will flee from you.And when he prays, and seeks, and still craves his drug . . . what do you then tell him?
Much love!
It describes most all of us, and I was at the head of the line for 38 years.Is this meant to describe yourself? Me?
?
Much love!
Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.Why would that be??
These are the questions which would need to be honestly answered. So here is what one would say to this person:
1. Do you wish to be totally honest?
2. Do you know that you've been born again?
3. Do you know that you have the Holy Spirit within?
4. Do you know that because of that, addictions shall not have dominion over you? Sin shall not have dominion over you?
5. Do you know that repentance from addiction to painkillers means quitting cold turkey*?
6. Are you willing to do that, or do you love your addiction more than God and Christ?
For those who may not be familiar with the term *cold turkey*, it means "abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug".
It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God. Can there be a delay between laying hold of the promises and seeing them work? Indeed there can.Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.
I'd sooner say it was a broad brush generalization. And overstepping one's boundries when assuming such of others. But that's just me.It describes most all of us, and I was at the head of the line for 38 years.
blessings,
Gids
You may be surprised to find how much I agree with you about. But there are some things that concern me, such as this above.If we do not somehow get rid of the traitor within us.... our old nature... we will find it impossible to climb out of the boat and walk on the water to our Master.
Given that "cold turkey" has also proven to be fatal, does that change your POV? Are you thinking that God's way in sanctifying this person is His way with every person?Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.
Well said!It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God. Can there be a delay between laying hold of the promises and seeing them work? Indeed there can.
So if a brother tries to stand and fails, do we tell him his case is hopeless? No! We reassure him of God's love and rhe fact our God CANNOT lie and that if we continue in the faith, holding onto His promises as rock hard truth, no matter what we see or feel as to the results, God WILL not fail him, nor any who come to Him, refusing to turn away back to doubt and unbelief.
blessings,
Gids
I would like to add that it is also sometimes God's pleasure to simply give freedom at times of His choosing, without some special move of faith on our part, even when we are not even thinking we will be delivered.It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God.
Paul told those who wanted to say "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos" they they were yet carnal. We now have 500+ denominations, each thinking they are following the truth, and ready to bicker to death about correct doctrine. All the while, lack of love is evident, hypocrisy is rampant, worldliness is everywhere, willful sin is defended, and yet, (here comes the broad brush) most think "we have need of nothing".I'd sooner say it was a broad brush generalization. And overstepping one's boundries when assuming such of others. But that's just me.
We should avoid projection, that is, to think that my faults are your faults, and to think that God's ways with me are His ways with you.
Much love!
It encourages me to hear that, dear brother. God plants our feet on the highway of holiness and tells us to stand there, as victors. We are to reckon that the old us is truly dead and to yield ourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead.You may be surprised to find how much I agree with you about. But there are some things that concern me, such as this above.
But perhaps I'm not understanding correctly. What do you mean when you say "get rid of . . . our old nature"?
Do you not find in Scripture that we will remain in conflict with the old man until we are transformed incorruptible?
Much love!
exactly my dear sister . NOW THROW THOSE HANDS UP and LET THE LORD BE PRAISED .Luke 12:11-12
Do not worry about . . . . . what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’
It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God.
Jesus tells us to make our tree good, to not be double minded. So, we stand as new creatures, white dogs, holding up our shields of faith against the accusations of the enemy.