The reality is this side of heaven, even as believers, we continue to be tempted. The other thing I’ve noticed working with people that come out of rehab is there’s maybe some skills, some practical things that are given, but there is not a robust temptation plan that is put into place.

You’re not helping them to see the gospel of Christ and how a relationship with Him is really the first step toward any sort of change and growth. Why is that? So often-even though there’s a time and place for rehab where we can stabilize and detox them, which are wise things to do-typically in that setting you’re not addressing the heart. As is so often the case when someone is discharged from a rehab facility involving addiction, they relapse almost immediately. They’ve recently come from an intensive two-week rehab treatment. They’ve had some physical issues as well, some health issues that have led to them being on pain meds, which is one more source of potential addiction. Amongst the other struggles, they’re involved in various sexual sin-adultery, pornography. The drug that they have been most recently struggling with is meth. They have a history of drug use, they both have psychological diagnoses, and one of them is on a psychotropic medication. As you engage in ministry, here’s the story as it envelops in front of you: Both Mike and Molly have a criminal record and have spent some time in jail. Let’s say they’re in your church and they’re getting to know people, building relationships, and as you get to know them you get a tragic phone call that this dear couple is struggling in significant ways. With that in mind, let me introduce you to a couple that we’ll call Mike and Molly. We come to ministry with a confidence not in ourselves, but in Him. We need to remember that when we come alongside difficult cases like addiction. Amen.”īrothers and sisters, God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. We need to stand on a truth of God’s Word that will give us hope.Įphesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. I want to anchor what we’re going to talk about in practical ways in dealing with temptation and repentance in a text. This is not an easy topic and this is not an easy situation. I want to begin with a text, because I don’t know if you feel like this, but when I come to a topic like addiction it absolutely overwhelms me.

Will god forgive me for my addiction