Release From Alcoholism (Part 2)

How to Get Released From the Captivity of Alcoholism (Part 2)

STEP FIVE "Admitted to GOD, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
Confession promotes healing and confession produces forgiveness. We are as sick as our secrets. Jesus died for our sins.
“Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
“Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
“James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
First we must acknowledge our wrongs to God and He will forgive us. Then when we confess our wrongs to another man or woman it releases the pain of our wrongs, it sharpens or brings into focus our release from the bondage of our secrets, and it promotes our healing.

STEP SIX: "Were entirely ready to have GOD remove all these defects of character."
This is a lifelong process. It is progress not perfection and it is a process of transforming our minds by renewing the way we think to God's way and our lifestyle to the one God wants us to have.
“Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
“Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”
“2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
“James 4:10, 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Our defects of character have lead us on the pathway to death. To the alcoholic not in recovery, this pathway leads to institutions, jail, and death. Before being able to lead a full and productive life, we have to be ready to have God remove all of the "secret" faults that we exposed to Him and another human being in steps 4 & 5, and believe that God is able to keep these things from having dominance or power over our lives. We must be willing to let God cleanse us.

STEP SEVEN: "Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings."
Our shortcomings have produced discomfort and pain in our lives. God has promised to remove our shortcomings (sin), to forgive us, and He will through His guidance and the instruction of His Word.
“1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
“Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
“Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
“Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
“Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
God is faithful to forgive us when we ask his forgiveness. Not only does forgive us he has removed our transgressions from us an infinite distance. God knows we are not perfect and He sent His only son to be the atoning for our sin so that we could absolved of all our sin. Since God does not hold our sins against us the scriptures say, blessed is the man that God will not hold responsibility or fault for his sins.

STEP EIGHT: "Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all."
We learn in this step to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions. We put ourselves first on the list to make amends to. We forgive ourselves for our wrongs. We stop punishing ourselves. We are willing to face the damage we caused to ourselves and others. We go back to our 4th step and take action on righting the things we have done that hurt others.
“Jeremiah 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you."
“Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
“Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you."
When we make amends to those people we have harmed, God removes the obstacles placed in our way that are harmful to us. Making amends is to treat others as we would want to be treated.

STEP NINE: "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."
We know who we can make direct amends to, and we ask God to direct us. We have to make amends face to face where possible. Sometimes it may hurt another person to make a direct amend or would hurt others, therefore until that amend can be made, we can only ask God for forgiveness and healing of the other person. It is when we start making amends that we see the healing of relationships, families, and healing in all other areas of our life begin. Some will not forgive you, still you have fulfilled your part. We can only change the things we can and ask God to give us the courage and peace to accept the things we can not change.
“Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
“Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
In order to make amends to others in some cases we need to be willing to forgive them, to remove the resentments we have held onto for so long which have destroyed relationships and families. We need to forgive those we perceive to have harmed us, and we need to be willing to give of ourselves. It is truly an act of giving, to humble our selves from self-pride, and approach those we have harmed in any way to ask forgiveness and make things right. God promises you results in this effort. As you give to those you have hurt, God in return starts the process of blessing you with an abundance of blessing in your life.

STEP TEN: "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."
We continue to take inventory of ourselves to assure we keep a clear conscience before God. When we are wrong we promptly admit it and correct what we have done wrong. Our faith in God has given us healthier thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We seek Godly counsel when needed. We have learned to associate with healthy people. We learn to guard, protect, and polish ourselves because we are the dwelling place for the holy spirit, the Christ in you the hope of glory.
“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;"
“Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you."
“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?"
“1 Corinthians 10:12 If you think you are standing firm, be careful you don't fall."
“Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
The process involves removing and replacing our wrong thoughts and intentions, that go against God and His Word. We present them to God through Jesus Christ to have them removed. We can not allow ourselves to become to proud to make a truthful assessment. We have to examine ourselves and prove ourselves to determine if we are truly walking the walk God wants us to and interacting with others as we should. Never should we have the attitude that we are completely in to it, and have progressed to the place we are doing no wrong. The process of a daily personal inventory works best when we apply the principle of the renewed mind. This means to us that we replace the negative thoughts and emotions of our minds with what God's Word says about us which is truly a transformation of our life.

STEP ELEVEN: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with GOD as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will, and the power to carry that out."
The Bible is the greatest source for discovering God's will and purpose for our lives. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is listening to God through what he says in His Word, and listening to the "still small voice" some call the conscience. To admit today that you have a conscious contact with God is more than likely to have them haul you away to the "nut farm" in a straight jacket. Still though, God does work as He has from the beginning and He has always spoken to direct His children.
“1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"
“Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
“Matthew 7:7 Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
“Revelation 3:8 I will open doors no man can close and close doors no man can open."
“Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you."
“2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Through prayer and meditation (listening to what God has to say - and considering what is said) we gain the knowledge of His will, and through prayer we obtain the power to apply this knowledge. Jesus said seek and you will find (seek knowledge of God), ask and
you will receive, and God will open doors for you. When God opens a door, gives you an opportunity in life, no one can stop you from being able to enter and receive what He has made available to you. Our operation of step 11 will truly bring into realization God's promise, "I know the plans I have For you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

STEP TWELVE: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs."
Step 12 allows us to carry the message of healing to other hurting alcoholics. We practice the principles of the steps in every area of our lives, and we are willing to help others on their exodus from the bondage to alcohol. It is in denial to selfishness and giving what we have learned to others, that we are able to keep and grow in God's grace and recovery. Without this selfless act of giving we can not maintain a full grasp of what we have gained.
“Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
“1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
“Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
“James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
Our spiritual awakening and our carrying of this message of hope to other alcoholics has wonderful results from God for us. We are to work with others in a spirit of meekness and be prepared in our hearts not to fall into temptation as well. This is the promise of God, "John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." If Jesus Christ has made you free you are free indeed.