Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Why is it when “two or three” are gathered to pray and not just “one” person alone? Because there is power in unity!

Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” God the Father said in the Torah although, one can chase a thousand, two can put ten thousand to flight. (Deuteronomy 32:30a). Simply put, there is more power in unified and combined faith than there is in solitary faith because “in unity” the power of God is multiplied exponentially.

Let’s look at what God said at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:5 – But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

Watchman Nee wrote a book entitled, “The Latent Power of the Soul.” In it he states that man has a power in his soul (given by God at the time of Adam), enabling him to subdue the earth and all on it! It’s not physical might that enables mankind to rule over every creature as some creatures are mightier than man. Nee also asserts that mankind does not exercise this godly use of “soul power” today. On the other hand, Satan and his demonic forces manipulate mankind into utilizing their soul power for evil purposes. In Revelation chapter 18 which concerns the “Fall of Babylon,” verse 13 lists the “souls of men” among the merchandise traded in Babylon.

I believe that this soul power of mankind can be used for God’s purposes when we are led by the Spirit of God and come to understand how our soul power works in conjunction with the divine power of the Holy Spirit.

An important biblical principle that we need to understand is the power unleashed in unity. It was whenever the people of God were in “one accord” that we see the mighty movement of God recorded throughout the Bible. From the time of Moses, the Israelites were victorious through the power of God whenever they were all in one accord and purpose, and were aligned with the will of God. But whenever divisions came between them and they no longer stood in one accord in accordance to God’s will, defeat overcame them.

In Acts 2:1 we see the disciples were all in “one accord,” when on the day of Pentecost, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit with power. In Acts 2:46 we see the believers in “one accord” and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. In Acts 4:24-31 all the companions of Peter and John were in “one accord” when they prayed to the Lord for boldness to speak His word with signs and wonders and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 5:12 the believers were in “one accord” and through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14a, “You are the light of the world.” Think of that light as single flashlight illuminating an object in the darkness. Then consider how much more illuminated that object would be with many flashlights shining on it at the same time. That is the essence of unity and being in one accord.

King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:9 – Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. Strength, whether physical or spiritual, is multiplied by numbers.

When Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:21, He summed it all up when He said, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. Jesus was praying that all of His followers (later called Christians), would be united in spirit and purpose and be in “one accord,” just like Jesus and the Father. This unity would both serve as a witness to the world and assure that believers would be one in the Father and the Son as well.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians in chapter 2 verses 1-5, unity is all about humility:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

When we follow the example of Christ and believers are like-minded, serving one another in humility, there is great power that will be unleashed in our unity.

Article by Mike Minton, Editor of “The Inside Ministers’ Journal”

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

The Most Holy Place located in the Tabernacle and then later in the Temple in Jerusalem, was the focus of worship in Israel.  The inner room was known as the “Most Holy Place” or “Holy of Holies.” This room contained the Ark of the Covenant.  The lid of the ark was called, “The Mercy Seat” or “The Atonement Cover,” which had two cherubim of gold over it. There was a thick curtain or veil to separate the Holy Place which had the lamp stand, the altar of incense, and the table of showbread from the Most Holy Place.

“You shall put the Altar of Incense in front of the curtain that is near the ark of the testimony, in front of the Mercy Seat that is over the ark of the testimony, where I will meet with you. Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.”Exodus 30:6-8

In Revelation chapter four, the Apostle John is translated to the throne room of God which is an incredible scene. In Revelation chapter five God has a scroll that no one could open.  John wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.  One of the elders told John, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev 5:5b).

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Revelation 5:6-7

After the Lamb that was slain took the scroll from God the Father on the throne, verse 8 declares that the angels fell down and worshipped Jesus.  In the hands of the angels were bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints!

The prayers of God’s people rise in the face of the Risen Lord and the Father Himself!

Also in Revelation 8:4 it says that the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.

King David said in Psalm 141:1-2: “O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me!  Give ear to my voice when I call to You!  May my prayer be counted as incense before You.”

Why would God want to have incense in His throne room?  To enjoy the sweet fragrance of it!!!  The incense of our prayers continuously rises before the very face of God and they are a pleasing aroma to Him.

Wouldn’t it be marvelous to be a part of this heavenly scene?  Well, our prayers are! With this in mind, the question arises, what could be more important than prayer? When we compare all of the events of our daily life, what compares to this?

Do you hear the Spirit of God calling you to the pinnacle privilege of prayer?

Article submitted by Pastor Eric Young of Shepherds Heart Ministries

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

In the United States of America, the statistics concerning the use and abuse of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, illicit drugs and pharmaceutical drugs (medications) are overwhelming.  The following “Infographic” provides facts and figures concerning drug types and classification including the annual costs:

“ This Infographic is Shared by Self Help Online and Designed by Graphs “

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

PLEASE JOIN WITH US  DURING THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 26 – APRIL 27, 2014

For The

24th ANNUAL “Just Pray NO!” to Drugs  WORLDWIDE WEEKEND of PRAYER and FASTING

TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE

Since April 7th, 1991 “Just Pray NO!” Ltd. has united millions of  Christians  from 150 nations and territories around the world in intercessory prayer on behalf of the addicted and their families.

 United States    Canada  Great Britain (UK)   South Africa  India    Australia  Philippines  Ireland  Malaysia  Kenya  Germany   Singapore   Netherlands  Nigeria   New Zealand   France   Norway  Brazil  Mexico  Egypt  Uganda  Trinidad and Tobago   Bahamas  Taiwan  Italy  Israel  Switzerland    Poland  Turkey  Japan  Czech Republic  Hong Kong  Peru  Pakistan. Jamaica  Russian Federation  Barbados  Austria United Kingdom  Sweden    Finland  Korea (South)  Indonesia  Belgium United Arab Emirates  Ghana  Romania  Saudi Arabia  Cote D\’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)  Colombia  Spain  Puerto Rico  Saint Lucia  Tanzania  Zambia  Argentina  Thailand  Swaziland Botswana  Malta  Portugal  Vietnam  Denmark  Bulgaria  Zimbabwe  Hungary   Malawi  Yugoslavia  Cameroon  Bahrain  Ecuador  Kuwait  El Salvador  Solomon Islands  Iran  Qatar  Namibia  Bermuda  Lebanon  Sri Lanka  Ethiopia    Rwanda  Bangladesh  Iceland  Ukraine  Uruguay  Virgin Islands (U.S.)  Greece  Armenia  Netherlands Antilles  Costa Rica  Honduras  Lithuania  Mauritius   Chile  Venezuela  Morocco  Aruba  Syria  Estonia  Antigua and Barbuda  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Latvia  Slovak Republic  Oman.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Papua New Guinea  Jordan  Panama  Libya  Virgin Islands (British)  Moldova  Guatemala  Senegal  Dominican Republic  China  Iraq  Fiji    Bosnia and Herzegovina  Suriname  Dominica  Turks and Caicos Islands  Belize  Anguilla  Cayman Islands  Grenada  Guam  Macedonia. Guyana  Faroe Islands  Slovenia. Gibraltar  Nepal  Sierra Leone Togo  Eritrea. Gambia  French Polynesia  Algeria  Sudan  Cook Islands. Croatia   Mongolia  Cape Verde  Myanmar  Paraguay  Georgia  Bhut   Liberia

We are well aware that a number of celebrities such as singing legend Elvis Presley, comedian John Belushi and football athlete “high tower” Bubba Smith died premature deaths from drugs. When these and other icons such as the “king of pop” Michael Jackson, model Anna Nicole Smith, and actor Heath Ledger each died from drug overdose, millions of people from around the world read the story in their local newspapers and national magazines, heard the tragic news on their radios, and watched the events unfold on television.

In spite of their popularity, fortune, fame and worldly success – their lives were cut short by drug overdose.  But tragically, many of their fans and admirers did not heed the wake-up call!

We Are Losing the War on Drugs

The United States has spent over 1 trillion dollars since President Richard Nixon declared the “War on Drugs” four decades ago.

Although arrest rates have increased by 1000% in the last 20 years, 1 out of 10 Americans are still using illegal drugs.

More and More People Are Dying from Drug Overdose

In the United States alone, Drug overdose rates have more than tripled since 1990! People are not only dying from illegal drugs but are overdosing on prescription medications at an alarming rate.

The Worldwide Addiction Epidemic

The Addiction Epidemic is not limited to the Western Nations. There are literally billions of people around the world addicted to drugs including cannabis, amphetamines, the opiates and cocaine.

The Physical, Emotional and Mental Devastation of Addiction

Over the course of time, alcoholism and other drug addiction destroy an individual – both body and soul. Not only is substance abuse America’s number one health problem, the devastation of alcoholism and other drug addiction impacts the abuser’s family and community as well.

How Can We Make a Difference?

What can we do to turn the tide? How can any individual make a difference?

First of all, we must recognize who or what we are fighting:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Drug abuse is not just a physical addiction or a biological or chemical problem – it is a spiritual stronghold.  Pharmakeia is a word found three times in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. It is the root word from which we get our English word pharmacy or pharmacist. Pharmakeia is translated as witchcraft or sorcery. It speaks of the occult magical arts which are often found in connection with idolatry. Drug and alcohol abuse like witchcraft, are powerful, demonic strongholds.

Secondly, we must know how the battle is fought:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

To break the bondage and tear down the strongholds of addiction, we need to pray for the addicted so that they will come to the end of themselves and seek God.

Just Pray NO! 23^rd Annual Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting

The weekend of April 6 – April 7, 2013 has been designated as the 23rd Annual “Just Pray NO!” to drugs Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting. Since April 7th, 1991 “Just Pray NO!” has united millions of Christians from around the world in intercessory prayer on behalf of the addicted and their families.

To learn how you or your Bible study group or church can participate in our annual prayer event click here: “Just Pray NO! Prayer Weekend

Please take 5 minutes to view this important video and then share this link with your friends.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 100 people in the United States die from drug overdose every day. Drug overdose death rates in the U.S. have more than tripled since 1990. (Source – http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/rxbrief/)

The horrible irony is that more and more people seeking relief from pain are becoming addicted to prescription painkillers.  Whether overdose is caused by OxyContin ®, Vicodin ®, Percocet ®or any other opiate – too often the person seeking relief from their pain – is killed by their painkiller.

The tragic loss of a close friend or family member to a narcotic overdose is not just another statistic, but can be devastating emotionally and mentally to those grieving the loss.

Dealing with the loss of an addicted friend or family member from drug overdose may be additionally difficult because of unnecessary guilt or shame carried by the mourner. They may feel guilty that they did not recognize, or were in denial, of the signs of addiction such as: mood swings, deterioration of personal grooming habits, a drop in performance at school or work, suspicious behavior, money missing, etc.  They may blame themselves and anguish over what they could have done or shouldn’t have done that could have prevented the loss of their loved one. Grief stricken family members often require individual professional counseling and/or a bereavement support group in order to find help and healing.

Often a person who is suffering the loss of their friend or family member can find some comfort and even joy by focusing on the “good times” they had together. These memories can help them to carry on with their daily lives as they make it through day by day.

“Carry On” is a beautiful and sweet song written by Heath Lanzillotti and sung by Vonabell Sherman that pays tribute to the one we may have lost and enables us to carry on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X0E_bi-m5Y&feature=plcp

For those of you seeking comfort and a peace that surpasses understanding, you need a relationship with the God of All Comfort.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:2-4

Establish a relationship with the LORD God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, and find forgiveness and freedom by praying the following prayer or a similar prayer in your own words:

“Lord Jesus Christ,

I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to earn my way to heaven. Although I deserve God’s wrath, by God’s mercy, I accept your free gift of eternal life by faith. I believe that You were born of a virgin and died on the cross to pay the price of my sins. I believe you were buried, rose again on the third day, have ascended into heaven, and will soon come again.

Lord, please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and take control of my life.” AMEN

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, then you have just made a decision by faith, to accept the free gift (God’s grace) of the substitutionary sacrifice of the Messiah (the Christ), whose suffering and death paid the price of your sins. You have been born again. As a new born, you need to be nourished.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

In order to grow and mature spiritually you need to:

•Be baptized into Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)

•Speak to God each day through prayer. (Pray each day in the name of Yeshua/Jesus).

•Read your Bible every day. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you through His Word. (If you don’t own a Bible, then we will help you get one.)

•Find a Bible believing church and attend regularly – both worship services and a Bible study.

•Share with someone what God has done for you.

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”James 4:6b

In order to receive the grace of God in your life, you must first prepare the soil of your heart. Those who are proud are self-seeking, arrogant and have a hardened heart. Jesus often illustrated moral principles for us to apply in our daily living, as well as gave us spiritual insights into His Kingdom, through parables. The Lord Jesus told a parable concerning the conditions of the heart which will prevent or bear fruit in a person’s life. An understanding of the natural elements used in His teachings and what they symbolize will give us greater insight, so that we not only hear the voice of God, but understand what He is saying to us.

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:1-9

Everyone in the crowd had ears, but unless they had spiritual insight into what Jesus said, they were unable to comprehend His parables. Many heard the voice of God the Son that day, but they were unable to receive the truth He spoke. Unless a person understands the symbolic meaning of the natural elements used in the parable, it remains a mystery.

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Mark 4:10-11

Except for the followers of Jesus, the Jews had committed blasphemy of the Spirit. They attributed the glorious working of Jesus’ miracles by the Holy Spirit – to the power of Beelzebub.  Therefore, Jesus began to speak in parables in public so that the secrets of the Kingdom were hidden to the masses.

Once in private and away from the crowd, it says in verse 13:

…  Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?”

The reason that understanding the parable of the sower is primary is that it emphasizes the key to unlock the understanding of the other parables. The key is that elements related to the natural world such as soil, seed, thorns and fruitful crops are symbolic with spiritual applications. There is a natural as well as a spiritual application in God’s Word.

The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:14-20

Seed must be planted in good soil means that the Word of God can only take root, grow and bear fruit in a softened heart and compliant heart. The hardness of the soil of the heart must be broken by humbling oneself, repenting of sins and forgiving others. The stones of bitterness and selfishness need to be removed. The heart must be watered by the Word of God and softened by the oil of the Spirit. When properly prepared and received, the word of God will bear much fruit.

There are two types of fruit. The first is the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ being developed in the believer so that the person is conformed to His image. The second type of fruit – is bearing fruit after its own kind by leading others to Christ. Fruit contains seed. When a single seed falls to the ground which is prepared to receive the seed and it is watered, it grows into a plant. When the plant matures, it bears fruit that contains many more seeds. Therefore developing a godly character that producers a good witness will bless both the messenger and bring conviction to many of those hearing the message of the gospel.

If you are abusing alcohol or other drugs and want to lead a victorious life and be set free from addiction you need to have a relationship with the LORD God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. To find forgiveness and freedom,  pray the following prayer or a similar prayer in your own words -

“Lord Jesus Christ,

I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to earn my way to heaven. Although I deserve God’s wrath, by God’s mercy, I accept your free gift of eternal life by faith. I believe that You were born of a virgin and died on the cross to pay the price of my sins. I believe you were buried, rose again on the third day, have ascended into heaven, and will soon come again.

Lord, please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and take control of my life.” AMEN

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, then you have just made a decision by faith, to accept the free gift (God’s grace) of the substitutionary sacrifice of the Messiah (the Christ), whose suffering and death paid the price of your sins. You have been born again. As a new born, you need to be nourished.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

In order to grow and mature spiritually you need to:

•Be baptized into Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)

•Speak to God each day through prayer. (Pray each day in the name of Yeshua/Jesus).

•Read your Bible every day. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you through His Word. (If you don’t own a Bible, then we will help you get one.)

•Find a Bible believing church and attend regularly – both worship services and a Bible study.

•Share with someone what God has done for you.

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

Wikipedia – Heath Ledger as the Joker

Although there were numerous empty pill bottles found by Sage’s body, the cause of his death was ruled as a heart attack.   At age 36, actor and director Sage Stallone is the most recent celebrity thought to have died from drug overdose. Stallone died of natural causes and the toxicology test came back “negative except for a sub-therapeutic level of hydrocodone,” — though the drug played no role in his death according to L.A. County Chief Coroner Craig Harvey.The list of celebrities who have died from perscription drug related deaths includes:

• Whitney Houston at the age of 48, although she died from drowning, her blood contained a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol.
• Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress and a 1950s & 1960s sex symbol died from an overdose of sleeping pills at the age of 36.
• Brian Epstein, the manager of the Beatles died on August 27, 1967 from an overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol at the age of 32.
• Judy Garland who was a triple threat – actress, singer and dancer, and is remembered for her role as “Dorothy” In “The Wizard of Oz” died from an overdose of sleeping pills while on tour in London, England at the age of 47.
• Guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix choked on own vomit after taking too many barbiturates at the age of 27.
• Superstar and showbiz legend, Elvis Presley, died of cardiac arrhythmia caused by large prescription drug intake at the age of 42.
• While completing his role as the darkly disturbed Joker in the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight,” Heath Ledger complained about his inability to sleep, so he was given several prescriptions. The much beloved, 28-year-old actor and father was found naked and dead on the floor of his apartment. The official cause of death in his accidental overdose was “acute intoxication” by the combined effects of six drugs he was supposed to be taking. For whatever reason, he simply took too much of them all at once.
• Michael Jackson died with multiple pharmaceutical drugs in his blood stream. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined the cause of Michael Jackson’s death was “acute propofol intoxication.” Lorazepam, another sedative sold under the brand name Ativan, contributed to the death. Additional drugs detected in Jackson’s system were the sedatives midazolam and diazepam, the painkiller lidocaine and the stimulant ephedrine.
  

  Medication (Photo credit: Drowning Sky)

Over the past 50 years the devastation of alcoholism and other drug abuse has only escalated. It is not only the rich and famous that are drinking and drugging themselves to death. Everyone is susceptible regardless of age or station in life.

BREAKING THE BONDAGE

Drug addiction is not just a biological and chemical dysfunction, it is a spiritual bondage. Pharmakeia is a word found three times in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. It is the root word from which we get our English word pharmacy or pharmacist. Pharmakeia is translated as witchcraft or sorcery. It speaks of the occult magical arts which are often found in connection with idolatry. Drug and alcohol abuse including nicotine and caffeine addictions, like witchcraft, are powerful, demonic strongholds that need to be fought with spiritual weapons. We need to pray for the addicted!

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7a

Past hurts and emotional wounds often are at the root of addictive behavior as the abuser uses drugs and alcohol to temporarily medicate away the pain of rejection. An important key to freedom and healing is found in forgiveness. To be set free from addiction, there needs to be a release from addictive thoughts. That release is found through forgiveness and renewed thinking.

In Romans 12:2 we are urged not to be conformed to this world. Instead we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The Greek word translated as “renewing” is, ajnakaivnwsiß (anakainosis). Anakainosis means a renewal, renovation or complete change for the better. What needs to undergo a renovation, so that it can be changed for the better, is our “mind.” Our mind is the faculty that enables us to think, understand and perceive. When a person is born-again, he/she is delivered out of the dominion of darkness and has been brought into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). We no longer are to follow the behavior and customs of this sin-stained world. Our behavior is the reflection of our thinking. As a new creature in Christ our spirits have been regenerated and are perfect, but our souls (our minds, wills and emotions) need to be sanctified (set apart for the holy purposes of God).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, we need to put off the old worldly ways of thinking and no longer submit to carnal desires. We need to be made new in the attitude of our minds.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

We are exhorted to renew our minds and be free of hatred and strife but how is this accomplished?

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,Ephesians 5:25-26

The church or universal body of believers is cleansed (sanctified/made holy) by replacing worldly and fleshly thoughts with the Word of God. If we are to be true followers of Christ, then we must think and act like our Master. To think and act like our Lord, we must learn about His life and character. By studying the four Gospels, we will learn about the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

By regular and faithful reading of the divinely inspired Scriptures and applying the Word of God to our lives, we will transform our minds. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, we will progressively be freed from worldly thinking and carnal desires.

A second essential key to renewing our minds and enabling us to put away our bitter, malicious and wicked thoughts is our willingness to forgive those who have caused us bitter suffering.

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28

Jesus, who was innocent of any wrongdoings, was falsely accused, illegally arrested and unfairly tried, mocked, beaten, scourged and crucified. Yet He cried out from the cross, “Father, forgive them …” According to the Lord’s Prayer we will be forgiven to the extent that we are willing to forgive others. The world teaches us to harbor unforgiveness and hatred, but a Christian who has the mind of Christ will be known by his love.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

 How can you love your neighbor as yourself, if you do not love yourself?  Not only forgive those who have mistreated you, but also be sure to forgive yourself.

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.

Various pills (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They can take these pills on their own or get together with friends at a “pharm party.”All those invited each bring some pills, which will be combined in a bowl to make “trail mix.” Teenagers are either ignorant of the potential danger of taking pills to get high, are in denial, want acceptance by their friends, are rebellious, or simply don’t care about the risks they are taking.

The immediate potential side effects of using anyone else’s prescription, abusing a medication, and especially mixing medications includes: impaired judgment, nausea, loss of coordination, headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, numbness of fingers and toes, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, aches, seizures, panic attacks, psychosis, euphoria, cold flashes, dizziness, and diarrhea. Of course, there is always a possibility of over dosing which can lead to becoming comatose or a drug related death.

A young person looking to get high can avoid going out to the streets by purchasing marijuana alternatives on the Internet. The following is an ad from an online herbal smoke shop:

Description: WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF THE HOTTEST MOST SOUGHT AFTER EXTREME MARIJUANA ALTERNATIVE HERBAL SMOKES IN THE WORLD!                                                        Fusion Herbal Smoke is right up there with Spice Gold Herbal Smoke and is positively without a doubt among the strongest most potent USA legal herbal smoking blends currently being offered by any U.S. herbal smoke website.

Marijuana Plants (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

An additional marijuana alternative is the use of nutmeg which has some mild hallucinogenic effects. Teenagers sprinkle nutmeg on rolling papers and then smoke it in a way similar to marijuana.

Another alarming trend is the use of the new synthetic and highly addictive drugs called “bath salts” which are intended to be snorted, smoked or injected. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers and the U.S. Department of Justice, bath salts” were being sold on the Internet and at gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores under such street names as “Blizzard,” “Cloud Nine” and “Ocean Snow.” These products contain psychoactive chemicals known as mephedrone and/or MDPV. Side effects include tachycardia, hypertension, euphoria, hallucinations, psychosis, paranoid delusions, agitation and diminished requirement for food and sleep. The psychosis can cause extreme violent, combative and self-injurious behavior. The most profound side effects from large overdoses include seizure, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure.

Besides the abuse of prescription medications, smoking herbal marijuana alternatives and nutmeg, and the synthetic bath salts drugs, teenagers are getting drunk by using hand sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers use a formula up to 62 percent ethyl alcohol to kill germs, but some students desperate for kicks are using salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer, and making a potent 120-proof liquid equal in strength to a shot of hard liquor. Health effects from the drink reportedly include diarrhea, memory loss and even blindness and irreversible organ damage.

In America, we have taken the Bible, prayer and the Ten Commandments out of our schools and the public arena. The vast majority of our young people no longer have a moral compass. Broken homes, single parenting, the corruption of our culture and the secularization of society have led to  an entire generation of young people feeling lonely and hopeless. As teens tattoo and pierce their bodies for attention and peer acceptance, we find that sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide rates for young people are on the rise.

What can we do to turn the tide? How can any individual make a difference?

First of all, we must recognize who or what we are fighting:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Drug abuse is not just a physical addiction or a biological or chemical problem – it is a spiritual stronghold.  Pharmakeia is a word found three times in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. It is the root word from which we get our English word pharmacy or pharmacist. Pharmakeia is translated as witchcraft or sorcery. It speaks of the occult magical arts which are often found in connection with idolatry. Drug and alcohol abuse like witchcraft, are powerful, demonic strongholds.

Secondly, we must know how the battle is fought:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

To break the bondage and tear down the strongholds of addiction, we need to pray for the addicted so that they will come to the end of themselves and seek God.

If you are abusing alcohol or other drugs and want to lead a victorious life and be set free from addiction you need to have a relationship with the LORD God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. To find forgiveness and freedom,  pray the following prayer or a similar prayer in your own words -

“Lord Jesus Christ,

I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to earn my way to heaven. Although I deserve God’s wrath, by God’s mercy, I accept your free gift of eternal life by faith. I believe that You were born of a virgin and died on the cross to pay the price of my sins. I believe you were buried, rose again on the third day, have ascended into heaven, and will soon come again.

Lord, please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and take control of my life.” AMEN

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, then you have just made a decision by faith, to accept the free gift (God’s grace) of the substitutionary sacrifice of the Messiah (the Christ), whose suffering and death paid the price of your sins. You have been born again. As a new born, you need to be nourished.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

In order to grow and mature spiritually you need to:

•Be baptized into Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)

•Speak to God each day through prayer. (Pray each day in the name of Yeshua/Jesus).

•Read your Bible every day. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you through His Word. (If you don’t own a Bible, then we will help you get one.)

•Find a Bible believing church and attend regularly – both worship services and a Bible study.

•Share with someone what God has done for you.

We have a variety of resources for you on our website such as:

Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction, Teachings on Prayer and Fasting, links to Christian resources for the addicted: Find Help, Healing Scriptures and information on our Annual Weekend of Prayer event.