Overcoming Addiction Through Christ

Introduction

Addiction is one of the most powerful tools the enemy uses to trap the soul. Whether it’s substance abuse, pornography, gambling, or even social media, addiction is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts.

Key Text: John 8:36 (NKJV) – “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Part 1: 10 Steps That Lead to Addiction

1. Curiosity – Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
2. Exposure to Influences – 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”
3. Experimentation – Trying a harmful substance or habit “just once.”
4. Denial – Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”
5. Regular Use – Patterns form, and the behavior becomes a crutch.
6. Neglect of Spiritual Life – Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
7. Secrecy and Isolation – Shame and guilt drive one into hiding. Proverbs 28:13
8. Dependency – The person needs it to function emotionally, mentally, or physically.
9. Bondage – Romans 7:18-19 – “For I do not do the good I want to do…”
10. Loss of Identity – Addiction defines the person instead of their identity in Christ.

Part 2: 10 Steps to Break Free from Addiction

1. Acknowledge the Problem – Psalm 32:5 – “I acknowledged my sin to You…”
2. Repent and Turn to God – Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
3. Confess to Someone Trustworthy – James 5:16 – “Confess your trespasses to one another…”
4. Build a Prayer Life – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”