First: The problem

Drugs, alcohol, tobacco are the obvious. Directly or indirectly, addiction to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol is thought to account for a third of all hospital admissions, a quarter of all deaths and a majority of serious crimes. In the U.S. alone the combined medical and social costs of drug abuse are believed to exceed $240 billion. The problems associated with these addictions are enormous and they are known.

There are others which are less thought of in this regard. There is compulsive gambling. They say that playing the lottery is the tax on those who are poor at math. Gambling addictions are increasing rapidly in America.

There are the problems of the internet. For all the tremendous good on the internet, there is also a darker side, chief of which is pornography. They say there are now 50,000 pornographic websites. But some people, it is not the content. The are consumed by the medium. They spend hours a day to the neglect of the rest of their lives.

There are video and computer games. Both young people and adults spend their lives there. Instead of advancing in their career or at school, they play life away.

There are eating problems. Some eat too much, or uncontrollably. Others eat too little. Some eat to satisfy the craving of the soul, rather than the body.

There is the problem of sexual twistedness in its 101 forms. Homosexual thoughts. Thoughts of sex with those who are not your spouse.

There is garage saling, or shopping. Some cannot help themselves. They buy what they do not need. They shop compulsively.

Television and movies have become the drug of choice for others. As they watch, they cry, or become joyful. They slip into dispair or laugh with abandon. They become sexually aroused or terribly angry. They shout, or they cower in fear. All this, in response to what does not exist. How different is that from the hallucinating drugger who swats or cries out at imaginary images?

There are statistics on some of the more notorious addictions:

Sources: SAMHSA, National Coffee Association *coffee drinkers

Second, we have the example of Jesus.
We are now in the 40-day period known as Lent. During this time we identify with Jesus who spent 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and being tested by the devil. Jesus was willing to deny his flesh so that he could accomplish his mission.

The themes of these 40 days have to do with spiritual disciplines. We say that if we follow the example of Jesus we will see similar results in our character. We know that we are saved by the blood of Christ, but that we mature as we pursue the spiritual disciplines of Jesus. He is both our Savior and our example.

Third, if we are to be transformed into different kinds of people, we need help.
This service is not about trying harder. If it were easy, you would already be free. If it were a matter of willpower, the problem would be solved. In my opinion, most of the real struggles you are having are not a matter of willpower or determination. I do think we need to help ourselves. But the fact is, we also need help.

D. We need the help of whatever people and resources that are available. This is why I have invited some people to be with us today. Pam Bryant is a drug and alcohol counselor. I have been impressed that she is one who mixes the spiritual and the secular together very well. Bob McKigney was 14 years a homosexual. He was an alcoholic. There were terrible addictions in his life. Today he is free and is a Chaplain at the Bread of Life Mission. He has the ability to help people with his kinds of experiences. Mike Ferrel testified that it took a couple of weeks for him to overcome drug addiction after he was saved. Bob McKigney said it was a couple of years before his mind was sexually normal after 14 years as a homosexual.

E. On the back table, I have information on several 12 step programs as well as other people and group resources to help. These counselors will be there to answer questions. There is help available.

F. We need the help of the Church. Today will be a catalyst for change. After today you will never fall into that habit again. Others will be motivated, but will fail in the days ahead. You need the church. You need some place to go where your faith can be encouraged and your spirit strengthened. You need someplace to be forgiven of your sins and hope for your future.

G. We need the help of God. I believe God helps us in more than one way. He helps us in our Mind and Body.

1. He gives us hope. Hope is a powerful, positive emotion. He give us satisfaction. He gives us peace and joy. He gives us love. These things might be more important than you think. These things just might do something in our body as well as our spirit.

2. All these addictions may have one thing in common. Each one apparently raises the level of dopamine in the brain.

3. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter--a molecule that ferries messages from one neuron within the brain to another. Serotonin is associated with feelings of sadness and well-being, dopamine with pleasure and elation. Dopamine can be elevated by a hug, a kiss, a word of praise or a winning poker hand--as well as by the potent pleasures that come from drugs.

4. The idea that a single chemical could be associated with everything from snorting cocaine and smoking tobacco to getting good grades and enjoying sex has electrified scientists and changed the way they look at a wide range of dependencies, chemical and otherwise. Dopamine, they now believe, is not just a chemical that transmits pleasure signals but may, in fact, be the master molecule of addiction.[4]

5. When we say that it is not about willpower, this is what we mean. Back in the days of the Jesus people, these ex-hippies used to talk about being high on Jesus. Not being a drugger or a hippie, or anything close (I was a Republican even when I was at the University) I couldn’t understand what they were talking about. Maybe they were more right than we knew. Maybe they discovered that God met those needs they had through their relationship with him.

6. Eph 5:18 seems to recognize this. It says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

E. God helps us in our Spirit with a gift of faith.

In this context, a gift of faith is the ability to say, who needs that other stuff, I have something better. I don’t have to be a slave to tastes and feelings. I am free. I’m tired of being “dissed.” Disease, discomfort, dysfunction, disdain, despair. Who needs being “dissed”? I have a future, and that is not in it. Why should I spend my life with a whiny loser’s limp?

I’ve spent enough money and years reaching for the tobacco, I’m reaching for the future. I’ve reached for food enough, now I’m reaching for Jesus.

I’ve lifted the glass enough. Now I lift my hands and bless the Lord.

I’ve stuck my finger down my throat for the last time. Now I’m going to stick my finger in the devil’s eye.

From now on, the only shooting up I’m going to do is when the trumpet of God sounds and I go shooting up into heaven.

Prayer:
(Pin your addiction to the cross and kneel for prayer)

Heavenly Father,
We pray that today would be a turning point in these lives. May each of these look back and say that was the day when I became free or when I started on the path of freedom. As we pin the bondages and addictions to the cross, we pierce the wood.

Thank you Jesus, that you let them piece you so that we could be free. You were bound to the cross, unable to escape, so that we could escape our bondages today. By your stripes we are healed and we pray for that healing today.

Restore the years that the cankers have eaten. Restore health, restore vitality, restore strength, restore peace!