Addictions

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #119b Written 07MAR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Addictions

by dave c

Judges 6:1 Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. 2 The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them. 4 So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. 6 So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD. 7 Now it came about when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD on account of Midian, 8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery. 9 'I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, 10 and I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me"' " (NASV).

Recently our Senior Pastor concluded a midweek Bible Study on the book of Judges. While the accounts of Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson (as well as others) are all incredible, I was particularly struck by three themes that are repeated throughout each of the stories: 1. “In those days there was no king in Israel.” 2. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” 3. “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Inevitably, as the Israelites individually, and as a society, failed to recognize a singular, external authority in and over their lives; and as each person determined for himself what he was going to say, think, and do—the nation of God’s people fell (more like, ran and jumped) into worshipping idols and false gods. Time after time as the Hebrews engaged in apostasy, Jehovah would turn them over to their sins and dissipation, and Israel would pass into subjugation by a foreign country. As their lives became increasingly unbearable, the Jews would return to the One True God for forgiveness and deliverance. Faithfully, God rescued them, restored them, and there was peace. Until the next time.

While reading the first 10 verses of Judges, Chapter Six, I was struck by how personally I can take this message. By grace of God, I have never been addicted to anything deemed illegal, but I spent 25 years chain-smoking (where the term “chain” is well put). I spent almost as much time feeling socially compelled to drink. And I can’t begin to describe in polite company the years of pursuits born of lust, pride, and arrogance. “But that was before you were saved”, you say. Yes, but I also lived that life during a long period of backsliding after I had asked Jesus to come into my life. Like ancient Israel, God claimed me as His own, cleaned me up, and told me, “Go and sin no more!” (Jn 8:1-11). But also like ancient Israel, I would live in peace for a while...and then I’d return to “the mud and my own vomit” (2Pe 2:22). Jesus would let me sink, and sink, and sink until I would hit the bottom where I’d finally stop, turn around, open my eyes, and ask Him to forgive me and to please overcome the sin that crouches at my door, but which I have not mastered” (Ge 4:7).

Christ is faithful, even when I am not. In His mercy and grace, He has always answered my calls and cries for deliverance from the messes that I create for myself and for all who surround me. Please allow me to re-write Judges, Chapter Six, verses 1-10 in order to make them personal for me...and perhaps for you:

“Then I did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave me over to Addictions for many years. The power of Addictions prevailed against me. Because of Addictions I made for myself dens of iniquity which were in the mountains of self-centeredness, the caves of denial, and the strongholds of sin. For it was when I attempted to build a better life that Addictions would come up with Temptations and Evil Desires and set out to ruin me. So they would camp against me and destroy the productiveness of my hands as far as life itself and leave no resources for me, as well as no neighbors, friends, or family. For they would come up with their drink and drugs, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their enticements were innumerable; and they came into my life to devastate me. So I was brought low because of Addictions and I cried out to the Lord. Now it came about that when I cried out to the Lord on account of Addictions, that the Lord, Jesus Christ saved me, and He said to me, “Thus says the Lord, your God, ‘It is I who bring you out of the world and bring you out from the slavery of Addictions. ‘I deliver you from the hands of sin and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossess them before you and give you back your life, and I say to you, “I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of Addictions in whose land you live. But you must obey Me”’”. Thank You, Jesus, and help be to learn obedience. Amen.