Stupid question

[Steffenfield]

Whenever I light up a cigarette, I feel that I've personally lost my salvation, that the Holy Ghost flees from my soul and I have to ask Christ to come back into my life after I'm finished inhaling.

I'm trying to quit with God's help but is this a natural thought process or am I completely insane?

Thanks.

 

[Robin Shawn]

You're not insane. Smoking is harmful to you, very addictive, and it doesn't please God that you are doing it. The Holy Spirit is speaking to your conscience.

I will pray that you can overcome.

Shawn

 

[Steffenfield]

Thank you Shawn. I'm trying to quit one addiction at a time. Don't ask how many I have.

But still, progression doesn't count as being a true Christian, you're either there or not.

So in the meantime, do I need to ask the Holy Spirit back after every gasping lung bomb I inhale?

 

[TomCS]

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, by His death payment for your sins on the cross, then you are saved since the first moment you believed. It is unrealistic and just plain false to think that you will never sin again after being saved. God doesn't want us to sin anymore after we are saved, but we will continue to sin for as long as we live in these vile bodies. Jesus died for us to save us from being damned for our sins. He took our damnation for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus accomplished all that is needed to save us and keep us saved forever by His total payment to God the Father for all of our sins. We shouldn't continue to live in sin, but the motivation is now gratitude to God for saving us instead of fear of being condemned again.

I struggle with the same feeling of fear and uncertainty after I sin, and I need to keep reminding myself of the totality and finality of Jesus Christ's payment on the cross for me. There is no sin that He did not pay for, and everyone who trusts Him is saved forever.

 

[Steffenfield]

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, by His death payment for your sins on the cross, then you are saved since the first moment you believed. It is unrealistic and just plain false to think that you will never sin again after being saved. God doesn't want us to sin anymore after we are saved, but we will continue to sin for as long as we live in these vile bodies. Jesus died for us to save us from being damned for our sins. He took our damnation for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus accomplished all that is needed to save us and keep us saved forever by His total payment to God the Father for all of our sins. We shouldn't continue to live in sin, but the motivation is now gratitude to God for saving us instead of fear of being condemned again.

I struggle with the same feeling of fear and uncertainty after I sin, and I need to keep reminding myself of the totality and finality of Jesus Christ's payment on the cross for me. There is no sin that He did not pay for, and everyone who trusts Him is saved forever.

Wow, Tom.

That was really nice.

Thank you for sharing.

Just hope you're right.

 

[TomCS]

You're welcome sir. I would recommend that you visit the website www.rightlydividing.org I am in no way affiliated with them. They have been very helpful to me in showing me why believing in Christ alone is enough for salvation. Go to that site and click on the link in the lower left side of the screen that says "salvation exam." This will give you a step-by-step explanation, using proof from the Bible, that trusting in Jesus and His complete work on the cross is enough to save anyone.

 

[Robin Shawn]

Steffenfield, you're welcome.

I, too, have had many addictions in my life, and with God's help, taking me through the circumstances of my life, I have been able to overcome them. I had an addiction to masturbation for about 26 years. I began about the age of twelve. At first, until I reached the age of 24, I had no guilt over masturbating. When I reached 24 and became ill with paranoid schizophrenia, I began to have remorse and guilt about masturbating, and wanted to stop but couldn't. God wasn't a part of my life, and it wasn't until about ten years later that I began seeking Him fervently, but I was still unable to stop. See, God gives us over to our lusts and addictions as it says in Romans chapter 1, but He also sees our hearts and brings us through experiences conducive to getting us to repent. His Spirit, at times, works on our consciences and makes it possible for us to heal from our addictions. When we backslide, He withdraws His presence and gives us over to our sin again. It really is up to us to respond to the Holy Spirits working, and with all our being to desire to be free from bondage, and to make effort to be free. Sometimes, especially with addiction, it takes a long time to fully repent and heal. Now, after a lot of backsliding, I'm finally free from my addiction to masturbation, after God putting me through many circumstances and experiences...finally, I am free from it, although at times I am tempted, I am able to resist, knowing that I feel truely good not being in bondage. I think that must be the greatest feeling in the world: not being in bondage.

I also had an addiction to gambling for about five years...a big addiction where I was winning and losing a lot of money, making $100 bets on blackjack, playing high-limit slot machines. I won big for a while, but no amount of winnings satisfied me: I won $15,000 on a slot machine in one pull, and I still wasn't satisfied. Eventually, I would go into a casino and lose, over and over, everything that I had, and more, accumilating a big debt that I am still trying to pay to this day. The point is, God didn't just wave a magic wand and I was free...it took a lot of losing and a lot of pain before I responded to the Holy Spirits working on my conscience. It had such a hold on me that this spring, after being free for some time, I went into a casino and put some money in a slot machine. But God was with me and spoke to my conscience, and I thought what am I doing? I cashed the money out without losing anything and walked out of that casino. I knew I was finally free and could be a good steward of the money God puts in my possession. I was responsive to His working on my conscience, so instead of giving me over to my sin, He helped me further.

You ask if you need to ask the Holy Spirit back after each time you sin, backslide, fall...absolutely yes, and He will see your heart and your willingness to repent and will encourage you further instead of giving you over to your sins until a more opportune time when you are ready to be helped. Ultimately, it is up to us to respond to the Holy Spirit's working on our consciences and in our lives.

Fight the good fight and want it with everything you are, and you will eventually be free from your addictions, just as I am...hopefully it won't take you as long as it has taken me. Addiction has destroyed many people...they overdosed or didn't overcome their addiction, and it got them to their death beds. Don't let that happen to you! Keep seeking God and asking Him to make it possible for you to be free, whatever it takes.

I will remember you in my evening prayers, Steffenfield.

Thank you Shawn. I'm trying to quit one addiction at a time. Don't ask how many I have.

But still, progression doesn't count as being a true Christian, you're either there or not.

So in the meantime, do I need to ask the Holy Spirit back after every gasping lung bomb I inhale?

 

[Steffenfield]

Great story Shawn.

You really opened up everything with that post.

So I think I understand what you're saying.

But it feels like I'm playing Holy Ghost volley ball inside me and it's so frustrating.

I just need to get serious about quitting since each time, I feel this raging spirit of conviction that has me by the throat.

Anyway, I'm on night 3 of detox and, for me, that's a little more important to worry about now.

I wish I could drop all the chains, it seems like that should work and have heard stories of this happening in other people's lives. For some reason, just not mine. At least not tonight.

Thanks again for the testimony. It will help me get through at least another hour of tonight.

 

[Robin Shawn]

Steffenfield, you will reach a point where the pain of withdrawing is less than the pain of continuing your addiction. It is, or will be, possible for you to quit. Keep praying, and I will pray for you, too, every evening.

Shawn

 

[Steffenfield]

Steffenfield, you will reach a point where the pain of withdrawing is less than the pain of continuing your addiction. It is, or will be, possible for you to quit. Keep praying, and I will pray for you, too, every evening.

Shawn

Okay, that's it!

You're my new bestest friend!

 

[R.A.IN]

Thank you Steffan for starting this. Smoking is one of the addictions I struggle with as well.