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"Stronghold of Lies"
*Truth: You made the choice.2. The Bible doesn't say that the addiction is wrong."For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways" (Job 34:11)."But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge" (Jeremiah 31:30).
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).
*Truth: The Bible addresses most of the addictions in one way or another.3. Everyone has some addiction."He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich" (Proverbs 21:17)."Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me" (Philippians 2:30). (Addiction to ministry).
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
*Truth: Yes, many people have some addiction, but this is no reason to keep yours.4. I just do it with my friends."So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33)."Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (I Corinthians 6:9-12).
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:16).
*Truth: Bad friends influence one to make wrong actions.5. I am not hurting anyone else."Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties" (Psalms 141:4)."My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Proverbs 1:10).
"My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path" (Proverbs 1:15).
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14).
*Truth: Some addictions result in physical harm of others (such as car wrecks caused by drunkenness), while others give a bad witness causing others to fall.6. I can stop any time I choose to stop."Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" (Romans 14:13)."But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" (I Corinthians 8:9).
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" (Habakkuk 2:15).
*Truth: We are not made to live by our own "will power" and therefore are not able to stop.7. I only keep the stuff around in case I need it."They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again" (Proverbs 23:35)."As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly" (Proverbs 26:11).
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
*Truth: The scripture says that we are not to make provision for the flesh. The flesh is where most addictions reside.8. I will stop after I get through this problem."But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14)."Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (I Peter 2:11).
*Truth: This is a decision of procrastination. It also says that one is depending upon the addiction rather than upon God.9. I am just human and can't help it."For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5)."So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8).
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5:17).
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
*Truth: If one is a believer, he is a new creation and has God's divine nature dwelling in him with the GRACE to stop.10. It really makes me feel good."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17)."Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (II Peter 1:4).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).
*Truth: Indeed, sin is a pleasure for a season, but the end is death.11. It is not like I am committing murder."There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12)."Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:32).
"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25).
*Truth: Sin is sin, no matter how small we may consider it.12. I can do what I want to do with my body (or life)."Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes" (Song of Solomon 2:15)."For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
*Truth: If one is a Believer, his body is not his own, but bought with the blood of Jesus. His life is not his own.13. I know when I have had too much."What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:19)"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
*Truth: The fact that it is an addiction says that one is deceived. The more that one indulges himself, the less aware that he has had too much.14. It make me function better."The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19)."Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast" (Proverbs 23:34).
*Truth: It is only a deception of functioning better.15. It won't keep me from going to Heaven."Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1)."It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted" (Proverbs 31:4-5).
*Truth: It may keep one from going to Heaven if it is standing in the way of a faith commitment to Jesus as Lord. (Romans 10:9-10). For the Believer, an addiction is a poor witness which may keep someone else from making a decision for Christ. (Luke 6:39).16. I only do it when I really need to."That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10)."And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Luke 6:39).
*Truth: God is to be our provider, not the addiction.17. God gave it to me to be used (food, sex, marijuana, etc.)."Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3)."But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
*Truth: God also gives various poisons which we are to avoid.18. I don't use a much as some others do."Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright" (Proverbs 23:31)."It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink" (Proverbs 31:4). Believers are priests and kings unto the Lord (Revelation 5:10).
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
*Truth: Comparisons are a defense mechanism to avoid facing the truth, that sin is sin."The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:11-14).