ALCOHOLISM

THE PROBLEMS

USUALLY THE ALCOHOLIC HAS SOME DEEP CONFLICTS. DRINKING PROVIDES A SORT OF RELEASE AND COMFORT FOR THEM. IT TENDS TO DISSOLVE THEIR SELF CRITICAL FACULTIES, INHIBITIONS, GUILT, AND CONTROL ARE TEMPORARILY REMOVED; AND PRIMITIVE DRIVES ARE UNLEASHED.

GUILT, SHAME, AND DEPRESSION ARE PART OF THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN DRINKING. THEY MAY CONSCIOUSLY DESIRE EARNESTLY TO QUIT, BUT THEIR SUBCONSCIOUS DRIVES THEIR WILL. DRINKING BECOMES A COMPULSION. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISORDERS RESULT.

THE ALCOHOLIC MUST ADMIT THAT THEY NEED HELP. TIMES OF CRISIS COME, AND IN THOSE TIMES HELP IS OFTEN SOUGHT! DEPENDENCE ON GOD MUST BE REALIZED AND COOPERATION GIVEN. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THE ALCOHOLIC’S PROBLEM IS THE TURNING OVER OF HIS LIFE COMPLETELY TO GOD AND RECEIVING FORGIVENESS AND HELP.

THEY MUST COME TO THE PLACE THAT THEY CAN LIVE A DAY AT A TIME WITH A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER AND STUDYING HIS WORD. HE MUST TRUST IN GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND PROTECTIVE CARE A STEP AT A TIME.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE ALCOHOLIC

GOD’S POWER IS SUFFICIENT TO SET YOU FREE FROM ALCOHOL. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT AND HIS STRENGTH IS AVAILABLE IN OUR WEAKNESS. GOD IN HIS INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY DESIRES TO WORK RECEPTIVELY IN EVERY LIFE.

A PERSON CAN BECOME A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17). VICTORY IS OURS THROUGH JESUS (1 CORINTHIANS 15:57). GOD WILL CONTROL AS A PERSON TURNS OVER THE PROBLEMS THAT HE HAS IN LIFE TO HIM. GOD’S POWER CAN BE EXPERIENCED IN PLACE OF MAN’S WEAKNESS.

GOD IS HERE TO MEET YOUR PRESENT NEED. FORGET ABOUT THE PASTAND DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT TRUST GOD FOR RIGHT NOW AND EACH STEP OF THE WAY, HE WILL HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU.

INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN SOME LOCALITIES SPECIALIZE IN WORKING WITH ALCOHOLICS. IT IS SOMETIMES HELPFUL TO UTILIZE THEIR ASSISTANCE. THESE HELPS ARE IN THE AREA OF THE PHYSICAL. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL HABIT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL BONDAGE. SOMETIMES STRONG SPIRITUAL FORCES ARE AT WORK (EPHESIANS 6:12). THESE POWERS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AND BOUND IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO FREE THE INDIVIDUAL AND DELIVER HIM FROM THIS ADDED OPPRESSION. THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE CAPTIVE CAN BE SET FREE.

SCRIPTURES FOR THE ALCOHOLIC

“WAIT ON THE LORD: BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART”. PSALM 27:14

“THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES.” PSALM 34:6

“I AM POOR AND NEEDY; YET THE LORD THINKETH UPON ME: THOU ART MY HELP AND MY DELIVERER.” PSALM 40:17

“GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.” PSALM 46:1

“HE WILL REGARD THE PRAYER OF THE DESTITUTE, AND NOT DESPISE THEIR PRAYER.” PSALM 102:17

“WINE IS A MOCKER, STRONG DRINK IS RAGING: AND WHOSOEVER IS DECEIVED THEREBY IS NOT WISE.” PROVERBS 20:1

“WHO HATH WOE? WHO HATH SORROW? WHO HATH CONTENTIONS? WHO HATH BABBLING? WHO HATH WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE? WHO HATH REDNESS OF EYES? THEY THAT TARRY LONG AT THE WINE: THEY THAT GO TO SEEK MIXED WINE. LOOK NOT THOU UPON THE WINE WHEN IT IS RED, WHEN IT GIVETH HIS COLOR IN THE CUP, WHEN IT MOVETH ITSELF ARIGHT. AT THE LAST IT BITETH LIKE A SERPENT, AND STINGETH LIKE AN ADDER.” PROVERBS 23:29 – 32

“IT IS NOT FOR KINGS, O LEMUEL, IT IS NOT FOR KINGS TO DRINK WINE; NOR FOR PRINCES STRONG DRINK: LEST THEY DRINK, AND FORGET THE LAW, AND PERVERT THE JUDGMENT OF ANY OF THE AFFLICTED.” PROVERBS 31:4, 5

“WOE UNTO THEM THAT RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, THAT THEY MAY FOLLOW STRONG DRINK; THAT CONTINUE UNTIL NIGHT, TILL WINE INFLAMES THEM.” ISAIAH. 5:11

“THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE” ISAIAH 26:3

“THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.” ISAIAH 40:31

“FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ISAIAH 41:10

“WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOR DRINK, THAT PUTTEST THY BOTTLE TO HIM, AND MAKEST HIM DRUNKEN ALSO, THAT THOU MAYEST LOOK ON THEIR NAKEDNESS!” HABAKKUK 2:15

“AND ALL THINGS, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE.” MATTHEW 21:22

“IT IS GOOD NEITHER TO EAT FLESH, NOR DRINK WINE, NOR ANYTHING WHEREBY THY BROTHER STUMBLETH, OR IS OFFENDED, OR IS MADE WEAK.” ROMANS 14:21 “AND BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE, WHEREIN IS EXCESS; BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.” EPHESIANS 5:18