Divine healing: Conquering substance abuse
We often hear about divine healing, but wonder how it can cure many people caught in substance abuse.
Drug dependency is an alarming worldwide crisis, affecting countless households.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated in their 2023 World Drug Report that around 296 million individuals consumed drugs in 2021.
A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2020 revealed that tobacco claims the lives of more than eight million people annually.
Furthermore, the WHO's 2018 Global Status Report linked 3 million deaths, accounting for 5% of all global deaths in 2016, to alcohol.
The said statistics emphasize the devastating impact of substance abuse worldwide.
The scourge of drugs and alcohol
A man drunk on a roadside. (Photo by Nicola Barts from Pexels)
"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16
Drugs and alcohol are widely used substances that people turn to escape the hardships of life or simply for recreational purposes.
Similar to fast food, these substances are easily accessible, whether it is a pill, a shot of brandy, or a line of cocaine.
Ancient organic substances like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana, and opium continue to be prevalent worldwide.
New synthetic narcotics like Ecstasy also appeal to young users due to their unique psychoactive effects.
The use of alcohol and drugs dates back to biblical and ancient times.
Even in the story of Noah, he became intoxicated with wine. He was found uncovered in his tent (Genesis 9:21).
The Opium War in China during the 1700s resulted in millions of addicts.
During World War II, drugs were abused by the Nazis, Japanese, and Allied forces to enhance resilience and alertness in battle.
God created substances such as alcohol, opium, and cocaine with a beneficial purpose: to aid humanity through medicines.
Historically, alcohol fights infections. Opium was an analgesic for battle wounds and surgeries, and cocaine was an anesthetic.
Unfortunately, we have abused these substances, seeking artificial pleasure and escape from life's hardships and monotony.
The enemy's lies have deceived us into thinking that comfort and security lie within these substances.
However, true joy and safety can only be found in God's loving embrace.
Instead of relying on temporary solutions and earthly comforts, we should embrace the redemptive power and grace of Jesus Christ.
In doing so, we can transcend the fleeting and find everlasting solace.
Idolatry: The essential root of addiction
A graven idol on the hill. (Photo by Julia Volk from Pexels)
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." - Romans 1:18
In the ancient era, during the ninth century B.C.E., Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, married Ahab, the ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel.
The Phoenician culture was characterized by the worship of numerous gods and goddesses, with Baal being the prominent deity associated with fertility and agriculture among the Canaanite people.
Jezebel's historical accounts depict her as an influential figure who propagated various forms of evil, exerting her negative influence over individuals and nations.
Her reign as the queen of Israel was marked by idolatry, envy, murder, deception, promiscuity, and seduction.
Interestingly, the spirit of Jezebel continues to hold sway over our lives even today.
Modern society is plagued by idolatry, a lust for power, greed, abortion, addiction, and other wicked sins and practices that infiltrate our homes and dominate the social and political landscape across nations.
Contemporary drug addiction epidemic reflects the curse of heathenism, reminiscent of the ancient Canaanites' idolatrous tendencies.
The scourge of addiction has rapidly spread across countries, resulting in a growing population of addicts who have replaced God with drugs and alcohol as the center of their lives.
In this modern-day scenario, drug kingpins, smugglers, traffickers, dealers, and users collectively resemble the Canaanites of old, notorious for idolatry and wickedness.
Addiction gives birth to spiritual harlotry, as drug dependents willingly sacrifice their souls and descend into a dark and abyssal existence in exchange for drugs.
It becomes a cycle that persists because God's wrath has not been appeased.
The Lord demands our exclusive worship and abhors our devotion to money, material possessions, and drugs.
To break free from the clutches of this modern-day Jezebel, we must redirect our reverence and devotion solely toward God, relinquishing our sinful attachments to money, possessions, and the allure of drugs.
Only by heeding this divine call can we hope to overcome the pervasive influence of Jezebel and restore righteousness and virtue to our lives and societies.
The power of divine healing: Overcoming addictions
Five Biblical Helps for Overcoming Addictions #biblestudy
"When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'" - John 5:6
At the renowned pool of Bethesda, where the waters were believed to possess healing properties, Jesus Christ approached a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years.
Gathered around the pool were individuals with various disabilities, such as the blind and the lame, eagerly awaiting the stirring of the water, which they believed would grant them wellness.
Amongst them was an unnamed man who felt a sense of frustration and victimhood, as he had never received assistance to reach the pool, and whenever the waters were stirred, someone else would surpass him and claim the healing.
Jesus, perceiving the man's despair, posed a poignant question: "Do you want to get well?" Although he desired to be restored, he had resigned himself to the notion that healing might forever elude him. Moved by compassion, Jesus commanded: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8). Miraculously, the man was instantaneously cured.
The passage illuminates Jesus' profound demonstration that healing stems from unwavering faith and resolute action to pursue wellness.
It underscores the need for collaboration between God and the afflicted individual. Through his intervention, Jesus revealed the transformative power of belief and decisive steps toward restoration.
Similar to the paralyzed man, addicts easily succumb to complacency and doubt. Taking an active stance and claiming their divine right to God's healing becomes arduous.
Beneath their addiction, they know that their encounters with unreality are fleeting.
They cling to a faint hope that things will miraculously improve with time.
However, the allure of drugs and alcohol is so powerful that the choice to change is often postponed indefinitely.
Jesus Christ: Our Great Healer
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." - 1 Peter 2:24
In the face of sickness and despair, the call for change by Jesus resonates powerfully today.
Addicts find themselves trapped in resignation, hesitation, and conflicting thoughts when the idea of recovery emerges. They have mental paralysis that prevents them from charting a clear path forward.
Their most significant challenges lie in deciding to break free from drugs and mustering the willpower to transform their lifestyles.
They are torn between continuing to serve the Devil through mind-controlling substances or embracing a faith that offers genuine peace and purpose.
The New Testament records numerous accounts of Jesus healing the sick and performing physical and spiritual healing miracles.
His ability to restore health and bring wholeness to people's lives demonstrates his divine nature and compassion for humanity.
In the Gospels, Jesus is depicted as healing various ailments such as blindness, leprosy, paralysis and even raising the dead.
Such healing acts were physical and carried deep spiritual significance, revealing Jesus' power over sickness, sin, and death.
The belief in Jesus as the Great Healer extends beyond the accounts in the Bible.
Throughout history and into the present day, many Christians have testified to experiencing divine healing through their faith in Jesus Christ.
It can take various forms, including physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Understanding Jesus as our Great Healer emphasizes the belief that He can bring restoration and wholeness to all aspects of our lives.
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