Release From Alcoholism (Part 1)

How to Get Released From the Captivity of Alcoholism (Part 1)

The alcoholic knows more than anyone else the hurt drinking causes. But, traditionally, the Church has not been a haven for recovery or a place of release from this bondage from the devil. To many times the alcoholic has tried Church to relieve his or her problem only to have the people of the Church cause them to sink to an even lower state of hopelessness. The Church should be the place for deliverance and healing. We want to present here the encouragement and hope of the Word of God and provide a means of release from the prison of alcoholism. Let's first look at what God's Word says on the matter. In Proverbs, God's Word gives us a clear description of the problem of alcoholism.
“Proverbs 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."

How many of us can identify with this situation. We drink motivated by all the self-defeating problems and end up with more problems caused by drinking:
WOE - defined as; Intense mournfulness; or misery resulting from affliction.
SORROW - defined as; great sadness associated with loss or bereavement; sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment (drank to drown sorrow); Something that causes great unhappiness.
CONTENTIONS - defined as; a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement.
BABBLINGS - defined as; talking idly or incoherently (in this case definitely incoherent)
WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE AND RED EYES - we all know what this is, the old familiar hang-over.
YOUR EYES WILL BEHOLD STRANGE WOMEN - there is a major lapse in moral character.
THINE HEART WILL UTTER PERVERSE THINGS - the definition of perverse is - immorality; deviating from what is considered right or proper or good; marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict. The alcohol causes you to think and speak from the heart things that you would, while sober, never think or say.
Concluding this passage of scripture is the illustration of the drunken stager and the out come of the false attitude that you can whip the world (getting beat up in the process). It also describes the alcoholic's tendency to "black out, " no memory of what happened the night or day before, and the insanity of going out to do it all over again thinking that it will be different this time.

Another effect of being a drunkard (alcoholic) is the loss of financial health and going from a position of prosperity to poverty.
“Proverbs 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."
“Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

In Isaiah, God cautions us to the greatest threat, that alcohol addiction brings upon those who are deceived by it (Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.). They reach the place where they no longer perform the work of the Lord and they do not consider His Word. The conclusive result is that they loose all of their spirituality (their personal relationship with God) and shift into the complete control of the devil. They justify the wicked, and take a place in the firing lines against the righteous.
“Isaiah 5:11-13, 22-23 - 11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!"

The goal we want to establish is deliverance and healing to those (including brothers and sisters in Christ) who are captive to this addiction. Just a few more things in regard to drinking from the New Testament and we will move on to the steps to recovery from the stand point of the principles of God's Word.

To the Church, the body of Christ, the following is addressed in regard to drinking, we are to be filled with the spirit (which enables God to heal and remove the thoughts and feelings that cause one to drink) rather than getting drunk with wine (which does tend to anesthetize us to the extent that we do not have to contend with feelings).
“Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

Further, the epistles to the Church also state that a person in order to be acceptable for a leadership position in the Church must not be "given to wine" , "not given to much wine" , plainly speaking not an alcoholic (drunkard). The first example is for Bishops (a man of God responsible for the operation and direction of the Church in a City), the second example if for a deacon (basically the individual responsible for the operation of the Church in one particular worship place within a city). The third example in Titus covers the instruction to Titus to establish an elder (bishop) in every city and the requirements for this individual, one of which was "not given to wine".
“1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."”
“Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."

Then, Paul in his letter of correction to the Church in Corinth exhorted them not to keep company (means not make it a habit of hanging out with, socializing) with people fitting into certain categories - one being drunkard. This instruction was given by inspiration of God, because evil associations (you have to associate to communicate) corrupt good manners (defined as - social deportment ). The old saying that "if you hang out at the barbershop long enough - you'll get a hair cut" is a true analogy. If you in preference socialize with people with a moral problem, eventually they will influence you to act as they do. He did not say to exclude these people from church (worshiping), Jesus came to save those who were sick, not the folk who were well.
“1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
“1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

Paul was not saying to totally avoid people with certain moral deviations from the way we should walk as a Christian. Those are the people for which we received the ministry of reconciliation, the people we are to reconcile back to God. Then Paul counseled Timothy to use a "little" wine to ease a stomach illness he was effected by. There are some medicinal benefits of some alcoholic beverages, but this verse in no wise gives anyone a license to drink and "party hearty."
“1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."

NEXT LET"S LOOK AT RECOVERY FROM THIS AFFLICTION
Long before "The 12 Steps of Recovery" were compiled, these steps were principles that God placed in his Word, the Bible. The state of a person addicted to alcohol is not hopeless or beyond healing with the Word of God. It is the healing available from God's Word that activates release from this prison so many find themselves in. And, it is a prison, we start out "social" drinking until we have offended so many people and placed ourselves in so many situations where we have shamed ourselves so much, that we start to isolate ourselves and continue to drink. It is at this point hope within dies and all there is left is to keep drinking more and more to kill the pain. Yet with some rather simple steps based on God' Word, we can revitalize our lives, we can overcome the addiction that drove us so far from God and godliness. Lets look at The 12 Steps of recovery from alcoholism from the scriptural basis for them. Start to actively apply these steps in your life and you will have "release from this prison" called alcoholism.

STEP ONE: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol ... that our lives had become unmanageable."
We were powerless over our separation from God, we used dependence on alcohol to fill the void caused by that separation. We used alcohol to avoid our pain and we lived in a fantasy world of denial. We could not cope with life on life's terms because without God we were defeated on every front. We utilized denial to keep us from seeing how powerless and unmanageable our lives had become. The book of Romans describes the despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of success in stopping your drinking, this section of scripture is also referring to all forms of sin but still hits the nail on the head in describing the alcoholics hopelessness.
“Romans 7:15, 18-19 - 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

STEP TWO: "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
"Who will deliver us from the body of this death?", Romans 7:24 recounts. God, the supreme power greater than ourselves, could and will restore us to sanity. The insanity is that we continue the same behavior and expect different results. In order to be able to be restored, we had to stop fighting ourselves and God. We have to become convinced to the point that we believe He can restore us, before we can begin to function again as sane and rational people. We had to surrender to God in order for God to be able to help us.
“Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and He shall save the humble person."
“Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
“Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
“Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
“Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible."
When we humble ourselves before God, we surrender to God, then God is able to save us and restore us to sanity. In the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the coming of Jesus Christ, he said that Jesus Christ would bring us salvation. Jesus himself said that he came to seek and save them that were lost (alcoholics included). In Hebrews it says that Jesus Christ (the son of man) had come to seek and save the lost. When the angel from God appeared to Mary to tell her she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God, the angel told her one of the most important things to keep in mind in your recovery, "Nothing Is Impossible For God." Since nothing is impossible with God we can have full confidence in Him.

STEP THREE: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of GOD as we understood Him."
When we rely on God we begin to trust ourselves and others. We give him our past, our future, our will, our body, soul & spirit. With God all things are possible. I can't, God can, I'll let Him.
“Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
“Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."
“1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
“2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
“John 14:6 I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man gets to the father except through me."
We can completely have no fear in turning our will and our lives over to the care of God. When we make the commitment to allow God to be our care provider and trust in Him, He will direct our paths. We will still have moments of taking back our surrender to God, but He will still direct our steps. He cares so much for us that when we have humbled ourselves to His direction and keeping He will exalt you in due time. And to completely give ourselves to God's care, we have to accept the author of our salvation Jesus Christ because he is our only access to God.

STEP FOUR: "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."
We write our own life story. When we make an honest and complete moral inventory of ourselves, we expose not only the things we have done wrong against ourselves and others, we release the secrets in our lives that have kept us in bondage to alcohol. The things we would not admit through denial. Honesty is the key that breaks denial. It is not an easy step for anyone to take, but it is the step that has to be done if we are to be able to grow in spirituality and in recovery. This is the step that starts us on the path to being able to feel again and soon after be able to feel good about ourselves.
“Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.”
“Ecclesiastes 7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:”
“2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
“John 8:32 And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”
Once we have written an honest 4th step, we will have made statement of the truth and the truth will make you free. We have to search ourselves and the reason of things we have done and said. We are on the path of releasing the past, putting it behind us and moving forward in the right direction with our lives.