DDWA 001 – TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LIFE OF THE ADDICT

We come to the second of what we call the very difficult cases in the deliverance ministry.  I want my student to understand that I am not treating this subject in the sense a psychiatrist or psychologist would but as a deliverance minister. Even though the reader will discover some similarities in my approach, I insist that a lasting solution to the problem of addiction is near impossible without the demonstration of the naked power of the Holy Spirit in casting out of demons through prayers and counselling.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LIFE OF THE ADDICT

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control Prov 25:28 NIV

An addict is like a city without walls; anything or anybody have free access. I have seen homes or school compounds that have no fence. The tendency of people trespassing at will is there. In some cases, the occupant will have running quarrels with trespassers every now and then. More often than not, the occupants will get fed up and allow the people do as they please.

Walls serve three purposes;

1. Defense or protection. It protects from intruders because anyone attempting to trespass has the walls to contend with
2. It separates what belongs and what does not belong.
3. Defines what belongs against what does not belong

The above scripture says that there are no walls to carry out such functions in the soul of a man who has lost his self-control. It is a pitiable condition to find oneself as Apostle Paul describes here

• We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Rom 7:14-24NIV

It is a horrible picture we paint here but that is the true state of an addict. He is confused about himself and his condition. Whether he accepts it or not, the life of addiction is directionless.

Who is an addict? An addict is someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance or art, abrupt withdrawal of the substance may cause a withdrawal syndrome. We will explain later what a withdrawal syndrome is. To cause oneself to be dependent on a thing in the sense that one loses peace and comfort in the absence of same. We say that someone is addicted to a thing when he or she can no longer do without it, or in bible parlance he/she cannot control him/herself in relation to that thing.

Addiction is one of the major and complicated cases in the deliverance ministry. Addiction results when there is a total breakdown of self-control. Even before we get born again, we are guided by instinct and conscience; these two tell us when we are overdoing anything, and by our natural human will we are able to withdraw from what we are doing. When this will be broken down, the victim can no longer respond to instinct and conscience. This does not mean that conscience or instinct is dead but that the victim does not have sufficient will power to obey that which he/she knows to be the right thing. This will power is what is called self-control. That one now surrenders him/herself to that substance or situation; he/she is now said to be addicted to that thing. Let’s sum it this way-

1. Instinct-creates alert to warn of danger.
2. Conscience-defines what is happening in the light of what should be the case; right or wrong.
3. Will – takes decision to act on the information instinct has given.
4. Self-control – the will power to continue or discontinue. In the case of an addict all three above may be active but absence of self-control will not permit the sufferer to make the positive change; because he cannot control himself. This is what causes emotional trauma and depression in addicts and can also force them to resort to suicide.

Just like STDs (Sexually Transmitted Demons) we see a physical manifestation which has a more powerful hidden cause.

1. Self-control is gone- in spite of desire to respond to advices, cannot act.
2. Self-condemnation as a result of many failed efforts to turn from the act.
3. Demons take advantage of the situation and enter that life- while you are telling your client to quit the substance, there is a demon controlling his life.
4. Surrender of self to the negative circumstance and withdrawal from those that try to help. He sees himself as different from others who live better lives.
5. Preaching deliverance to such person may be tasking as he even blames God for not doing enough to help him. He may begin to make a mockery of the gospel message. This may lead to blasphemy.

TYPES OF ADDICTION

Addiction may be categorized into three main groups.

1. Substance – this is addiction to drugs, alcohol, food and any other thing in this category.
2. Habits – this includes things like sex, movie, pornography, religion.
3. Demonic bondage – this is as a result of a demon that sponsors a particular negative trait possessing the client.