TRUE SUPPORT
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Addiction to substances, sex, violence, anger, food, and alcohol are very serious. An addiction is something deeper than what the surface shows. It goes deep into the heart of man. It can be termed as cyclic sin (sin that continues over and over), a sin habit that rules a person's life. That is to say a person is in bondage to this sin habit. To be blunt, only Jesus Christ and His finished work at the cross can break the cycle, can take the sin habit form a person's life.
There are various support groups out there that offer help. It's important to understand that these secular groups offer a humanistic approach to healing, confessing their addictions to one another instead of God. It's not the fault of their own, for this is the mechanics of these types of groups. Often times many will complete the steps in these programs that are presented by the support groups, but they come back and hang out around the outer edges of these groups. They're looking for more, looking to fill that void that is still there. Let's take a look at Romans 7:23 where Paul shares: "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Our sinful nature rejects the law of the mind to seek after God. For sin desires to draw us away from seeking God. Consider this, when we are just trusting in other men, what is sin doing? It is warring inside of those who don't know the Lord.
There are groups that offer help. These are accountability groups. Groups in the church where men and women can meet and confess their addictions (sin habits) unto Jesus Christ. Accountability is one thing sin hates. The carnal flesh doesn't want it. It liked to make excuses so the addiction can go on. It is no lie to say, "sin feels good," because it does. It gratifies the flesh, but sin leads to death!
In these groups one can learn about freedom from sin in Jesus Christ. Jump over to Romans 8:1-2, which says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." In Christ, a person is redeemed from sin, made a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tell us: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." That sin habit is an old hat. It is taken away by the finished work of Christ.
It is important to remember that Jesus Christ is our personal Saviour, that there is a personal relationship with Him. Think about that, with Christ, your resources are endless. John 8:31-35 tells us, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever."
When we confess our sins unto Christ, He is faithful and just to forgive us and make us righteous and restore us right before God. To confess our sins to others is well and good, but it does not redeem us or set us free. We will need to confess them to Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Now think about that. What does it mean to us personally? Ephesians 4:22-24 reads, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
In accountability groups it is important to be honest with Jesus, yourself, and the others around you. That is a part of being accountable about our lives. Sin isn't a joke or a game. We're talking about life and death here! By being accountable, we work our salvation out with fear and trembling. We stay in the Word of God. We can run the race that has been laid before us. Keep pressing onward in Jesus Christ.
One thing I learned from the Marine Corps is to know your enemy and know your enemy well. It wants to corrupt and destroy because that Satan likes that. In fact, Satan actually enjoys it. In Christ we have true support, true freedom, and righteousness!
Does your church have an accountability group where the Word of God is presented, where prayer, study, and sharing is a constant reality? If not, ask your elders if one can be started in the church. If you don't have a church, maybe you can ask God to help you find one. As well as find other Christian men if you are a man, or Christian women if you are a woman in need of accountability. Ask them to partner with you in accountability. There is true support in Jesus Christ. He's personal and closer than any brother. Amen. In Him we have true support.
May God bless and strengthen you.
