Weapon One: The Cross
There is no victory over addiction without Christ and his work on the cross. Anyone who has put their faith in Christ can have victory – which means if you want victory, start by trusting Jesus.
Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Weapon Two: The Spirit
The Bible says that at the moment you believe in Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) – God himself living in you. The Spirit is your power source, helping you to live to honor God.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees….
Weapon Three: The Bible
Addicts are being fed lies over and over from friends, movies, music, etc. There is no victory over addiction without the truth. God’s Word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Weapon Four: Other Believers
It’s easy to wander as an addict. Other believers can hold us accountable to God’s Word and help us stay on the right track.
Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Weapon Five: Clarity
If you want victory over addiction, you have to take it out of the shadows and stop being secretive. Sustained recovery only happens when you are willing to admit when you are struggling so you can live in the light. Be clear about it with God and others. Be clear about your action steps moving forward.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What have you tried to do in the past to break your addiction? Why did it fail?
- Talk about what Jesus did for us on the cross. If this is new to you, consider taking Foundations Lesson 1.
- Describe how the Spirit leads us. How is this different from overcoming an addiction by sheer will power?
- On a scale of 1-10, how well do you know the Bible? How do you think this affects your struggle with addiction? What will you do about it?
- Make a list of some other believers who can help you stay on the right track. Are you receptive to their advice? Why or why not?
- “Addiction is all about darkness.” Do you agree with this? How will clarity make an impact on your addiction?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
