Temptation, addiction and difficult question

[raggedycamel]

hi,

I've been struggling with a terrible temptation / addiction since 2007. Seven years is a long time, I know. Sometimes it seems to get better and I can handle it fine and stay away from it. But about a month ago, my nephew came over and done something that I used to do before this present struggle with temptation and addiction... and it has spiraled me back into it.

I feel this:

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.

I had a talk with my nephew about it and he hasn't done it since. He's even gotten into football and is doing much better. But that one spark from him, and the remembrance of my past has brought back this present temptation and addiction that I had gotten away from for 1.5 years.

Now, I feel that God has left me, and He's taken His Holy Spirit from me. I'm so scared. God is the only thing that matters to me because He's the only thing in my life besides my dog, mom, brother and his family. I don't have friends, just online friends that live thousands of miles away.

I have repented and am totally determined to keep my focus on the LORD. I got down on my face in the floor last night and prayed, and I told God that even if His Holy Spirit is gone from me, that won't stop me from seeking His face. God is my best friend and only friend. He's my father. My earthly father has passed. He's my everything. I cannot imagine live without God.

With my repentance, which means to ask forgiveness and turn away from the sin totally, I asked God to heal my mind of this so it will never come to mind.

Whatever the answer is, I will never stop seeking God. I am so drawn to Him, I long for Him. The Bible states that if we seek Him we will find Him if we search for Him with all our heart. I've even told the LORD God before, that if I die and am burning in Hellfire, that will not stop me from praising Him, because I know that it wouldn't have been God that sent me there, but myself.

I love God so much. And I'm so scared of the thought of losing Him.

My difficult question is: How can you tell if God has departed from you, and that He has taken His Holy Spirit from you? If it's taken, can it ever come back?

Thank you for reading, and thanks in advance for answers.
Alex

 

[Steeno7]

hi,

I've been struggling with a terrible temptation / addiction since 2007. Seven years is a long time, I know. Sometimes it seems to get better and I can handle it fine and stay away from it. But about a month ago, my nephew came over and done something that I used to do before this present struggle with temptation and addiction... and it has spiraled me back into it.

I feel this:

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.

I had a talk with my nephew about it and he hasn't done it since. He's even gotten into football and is doing much better. But that one spark from him, and the remembrance of my past has brought back this present temptation and addiction that I had gotten away from for 1.5 years.

Now, I feel that God has left me, and He's taken His Holy Spirit from me. I'm so scared. God is the only thing that matters to me because He's the only thing in my life besides my dog, mom, brother and his family. I don't have friends, just online friends that live thousands of miles away.

I have repented and am totally determined to keep my focus on the LORD. I got down on my face in the floor last night and prayed, and I told God that even if His Holy Spirit is gone from me, that won't stop me from seeking His face. God is my best friend and only friend. He's my father. My earthly father has passed. He's my everything. I cannot imagine live without God.

With my repentance, which means to ask forgiveness and turn away from the sin totally, I asked God to heal my mind of this so it will never come to mind.

Whatever the answer is, I will never stop seeking God. I am so drawn to Him, I long for Him. The Bible states that if we seek Him we will find Him if we search for Him with all our heart. I've even told the LORD God before, that if I die and am burning in Hellfire, that will not stop me from praising Him, because I know that it wouldn't have been God that sent me there, but myself.

I love God so much. And I'm so scared of the thought of losing Him.

My difficult question is: How can you tell if God has departed from you, and that He has taken His Holy Spirit from you? If it's taken, can it ever come back?

Thank you for reading, and thanks in advance for answers.
Alex

Why would you think that God would abandon you in your greatest time of need? He loves you, and it is in times just as you are experiencing that He wants to help you. Jesus does not condemn us or leave us in our weakness, He can sympathize with us, because He too was tempted in all ways as we are. Heb. 4:15. He is your Rock who wants to and who can handle any situation, draw near to Him.

"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." Hebrews 4:16

 

[raggedycamel]

Why would you think that God would abandon you in your greatest time of need? He loves you, and it is in times just as you are experiencing that He wants to help you. Jesus does not condemn us or leave us in our weakness, He can sympathize with us, because He too was tempted in all ways as we are. Heb. 4:15. He is your Rock who wants to and who can handle any situation, draw near to Him.

"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." Hebrews 4:16

Well, I guess I was thinking he abandoned me because this same thing has happened multiple times and it's gone on for so long, I thought he'd get tired of me after a while. I would repent and stay away from it. But when the temptation arose, I allowed it to rule me and I sunk into the sin of it again, and again and again.

You are so right though. Jesus our Lord was tempted like we were. He was in a human body just like us. He knows how it feels.

I am so thankful that Almighty God did send His Son Jesus to be our mediator, because although God understands us because He's our Creator and is all knowing, Jesus - however - took on the flesh body and walked among us, and died among us. Jesus' human experience can enlighten God about us, and Jesus' spiritual experience can enlighten us about God. (How cool is that!!)

I was always afraid that I would go too far away in my sins and God would get rid of me. I know that is probably possible. And I worried about that, because I have tried so hard in my temptations to focus on God. I think this is where it comes in that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I done some research online this morning and found 2 excellent articles. One is on grieving the Holy Spirit, and the other is on Salvation.

Is it really possible to renew salvation?

They said in the article that as long as we have breath we can, but the longer we stay away from God, the harder our hearts become.

I always thought that if someone had to renew their salvation that they may not have had it to begin with. I'm starting to re-think myself here too.

Because the way I see it is, if we have salvation and we are truly saved, we won't want to sin. And if temptation comes, it wouldn't over take us. Because our spirits would be strong in Jesus and our total focus would be on him, and not ourselves.

And I like that scripture you quoted.

Thank you for replying

 

[Steeno7]

Dear one, every day is a new day with the Lord...a fresh start. The past is in the past, leave it there. God does, we should too. I am praying for you. God bless.

 

[PlatinumStryker]

Temptations do not go away. God does not go away. God is the same in the past, present and future. We are the ones that move closer to or away from him. We can ask God to take away temptations, but he may choose not to. 2 Corinthians 12 about Paul's thorn in the flesh: (NIV)
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We are sinners and will always face temptation. Not an easy walk to be a true Christian. But it sounds like you have the right mindset that God is everything, he is strong and we are weak. Just because we follow God doesn't mean we won't face sin and temptation, we will. And it at times over comes us because we are and always will be sinners. Is better to follow God and fail, than to fail to follow God. I feel you can be saved and still want to sin. How we handle it and discuss it with The Lord matters. You will fall, but you get back up, confess and ask forgiveness and keep walking/running towards him. Human nature is to want to sin, it doesn't go away unfortunately. Accepting Christ doesn't make temptation and sin go away. It's a hard walk. It's easier with fellow believers, you say you have no friends, have you looked for a local church home for support? I wish the best for you, as I face sin and temptation every day. From painkillers to online porn. The want and temptation is always there, but I try to turn to Gods grace to help me through those times. I often fail, but I still pursue a close relationship with him. I am not perfect by any means, but Gods knows my heart, my struggles and my desire for him.

 

[chrisstavrous]

hi,

I've been struggling with a terrible temptation / addiction since 2007. Seven years is a long time, I know. Sometimes it seems to get better and I can handle it fine and stay away from it. But about a month ago, my nephew came over and done something that I used to do before this present struggle with temptation and addiction... and it has spiraled me back into it.

I feel this:

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.

I had a talk with my nephew about it and he hasn't done it since. He's even gotten into football and is doing much better. But that one spark from him, and the remembrance of my past has brought back this present temptation and addiction that I had gotten away from for 1.5 years.

Now, I feel that God has left me, and He's taken His Holy Spirit from me. I'm so scared. God is the only thing that matters to me because He's the only thing in my life besides my dog, mom, brother and his family. I don't have friends, just online friends that live thousands of miles away.

I have repented and am totally determined to keep my focus on the LORD. I got down on my face in the floor last night and prayed, and I told God that even if His Holy Spirit is gone from me, that won't stop me from seeking His face. God is my best friend and only friend. He's my father. My earthly father has passed. He's my everything. I cannot imagine live without God.

With my repentance, which means to ask forgiveness and turn away from the sin totally, I asked God to heal my mind of this so it will never come to mind.

Whatever the answer is, I will never stop seeking God. I am so drawn to Him, I long for Him. The Bible states that if we seek Him we will find Him if we search for Him with all our heart. I've even told the LORD God before, that if I die and am burning in Hellfire, that will not stop me from praising Him, because I know that it wouldn't have been God that sent me there, but myself.

I love God so much. And I'm so scared of the thought of losing Him.

My difficult question is: How can you tell if God has departed from you, and that He has taken His Holy Spirit from you? If it's taken, can it ever come back?

Thank you for reading, and thanks in advance for answers.
Alex

If you have hope that god will help you and at the same time you think can't do anything about the problem yourself, what else can you do but keep waiting on god.

 

[raggedycamel]

Temptations do not go away. God does not go away. God is the same in the past, present and future. We are the ones that move closer to or away from him. We can ask God to take away temptations, but he may choose not to. 2 Corinthians 12 about Paul's thorn in the flesh: (NIV)
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We are sinners and will always face temptation. Not an easy walk to be a true Christian. But it sounds like you have the right mindset that God is everything, he is strong and we are weak. Just because we follow God doesn't mean we won't face sin and temptation, we will. And it at times over comes us because we are and always will be sinners. Is better to follow God and fail, than to fail to follow God. I feel you can be saved and still want to sin. How we handle it and discuss it with The Lord matters. You will fall, but you get back up, confess and ask forgiveness and keep walking/running towards him. Human nature is to want to sin, it doesn't go away unfortunately. Accepting Christ doesn't make temptation and sin go away. It's a hard walk. It's easier with fellow believers, you say you have no friends, have you looked for a local church home for support? I wish the best for you, as I face sin and temptation every day. From painkillers to online porn. The want and temptation is always there, but I try to turn to Gods grace to help me through those times. I often fail, but I still pursue a close relationship with him. I am not perfect by any means, but Gods knows my heart, my struggles and my desire for him.

Wow thank you.

When you said that when I fall to get back up and confess, ask forgiveness and keep running toward Him, that just clicked so harmonious with me.

I'm so scared of committing the unpardonable sin.

From my understanding, there are 2 things I've discovered about it:

1 is crediting satan for works God does and 2 is willful sin after you know better.

And my temptation, I know better, but I've failed many times about it, but for some reason I just cannot help but keep my eyes on God and I crave, thirst, hunger for more of Him. My soul is never satisfied... I can read the Bible and even hear preaching.. but I feel like I need more and more of His word. I crave God.

Lately, and I know this is NO coincidence, because I don't believe there are coincidences with God - the message of OBEDIENCE has shown up for me sooo many times within the past 3 days.

Since I wrote this original post, I had another temptation of the same thing.

But I still crave God more than my temptation. And He has given me the message of Obedience.

I think The LORD is helping me deal with this temptation through obedience. Maybe He is saying, "Obey me and my word, and I will help you endure temptation".

It always brings to mind my favorite verses on temptation, which I have actually wrote out in markers and put on my closet door:

James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

AND

James 1:12-15

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

These are what keep me going.

~~~

I want to thank you all for listening to me and helping me walk through my temptation.

I will come back here if it returns, to read your words again.

Thanks again, everyone. God bless you all.

 

[raggedycamel]

If you have hope that god will help you and at the same time you think can't do anything about the problem yourself, what else can you do but keep waiting on god.

That's excellent advice. Thank you. I must remember patience.

That makes me think:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (I just looked this up)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

[1ofGodsChildren]

I can tell you one thing my friend. You would not be longing for Him if He had left you. Those are sure signs He is there. Sometimes we get things backwards. He is the one who seeks and finds us (Luke 15). We can't come to Him without the Father drawing us and granting us( John 6:44,66). He promises that those who do come He won't reject( John 6:37). He draws us and it's not that we suddenly changed from being ungodly sinners. It's Him giving us that desire. You love Him. You could not do that on your own. God says that not me. Without Him we would NEVER EVER choose Him. I don't understand how it works but I believe what He says and He chooses us. Be encouraged that you have those desires. I've seen lots of lost people who NEVER worry about what God thinks. I see signs of spiritual life in you my friend. We don't always have warm lovey feelings. We don't always feel saved. He is there. Even I can see the evidence.

Remember this verse, Ephesians 1:17" In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE"

 

[PlatinumStryker]

I heard this at church a week or so ago, but the pastor said obedience must come before understanding. And understanding may come much later, but obedience will have to come first.

 

[MadamImAdaminChrist]

Cannot stress how much this has blessed me in dealing with temptation and addiction:

Legalistic, Alcoholic Preacher Set Free!
Freedom from Addiction | Helping people find true and lasting freedom in Christ

He thought he was just a poor sinner and God was through with him. Not the case at all!

I also have a book with him and Neil T. Anderson (the Freedom in Christ Guy)

 

[raggedycamel]

I can tell you one thing my friend. You would not be longing for Him if He had left you. Those are sure signs He is there. Sometimes we get things backwards. He is the one who seeks and finds us (Luke 15). We can't come to Him without the Father drawing us and granting us( John 6:44,66). He promises that those who do come He won't reject( John 6:37). He draws us and it's not that we suddenly changed from being ungodly sinners. It's Him giving us that desire. You love Him. You could not do that on your own. God says that not me. Without Him we would NEVER EVER choose Him. I don't understand how it works but I believe what He says and He chooses us. Be encouraged that you have those desires. I've seen lots of lost people who NEVER worry about what God thinks. I see signs of spiritual life in you my friend. We don't always have warm lovey feelings. We don't always feel saved. He is there. Even I can see the evidence.

Remember this verse, Ephesians 1:17" In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE"

Wow. Thank you for that reminder. I had forgotten. He draws us to Him!

Amazing!! Thank you so much!! God bless you!!

 

[endofrope]

(sorry but going to make a pedantic correction here)If it's HE'S taken, can it ever come back?

Thank you for reading, and thanks in advance for answers.
Alex

Yes. I just received back the Spirit after many long years of stubbornness and rebellion. Don't sweat it. It sounds like your attitude is right.

 

[raggedycamel]

Yes. I just received back the Spirit after many long years of stubbornness and rebellion. Don't sweat it. It sounds like your attitude is right.

Thank you for correcting me! HE is not an it by any means. Please forgive me.

Since I first wrote this, the temptation has gone away from me so much. It was a mind set in a way, and constantly reminding myself of the Promises of God and how they overpower any addiction... now I must use this same thing on my cigarette smoking addiction. I had one addiction before, that was something else that I was getting out of ... it was just so stupid really, I got myself addicted to taking larger doses of diphenhydramine than I was supposed to. It led me to depression. But that's in the past now.

Please pray for me, as I will for you all, on my smoking addiction. I've tried many times to quit, but I know I can do this. If I could quit two other things in the past, I can quit these things.

And a huge thank you to you, and everyone who has commented and sent me links and helped me on my walk through this. To you all: I appreciate all your words and encouragement.

Alex

 

[Dave-W]

Raggedy - I would like to commend you on keeping up the struggle. A pastor I knew some years ago said this: To struggle against the flesh IS walking in the Spirit.

No - we are not always successful. Even the apostles received this assessment from the Lord: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. And they turned the world upsidedown.

So there is hope. The struggle makes you stronger.

BTW - who told you that 'Blaspheming the Spirit' has anything to do with "2 is willful sin after you know better." Really? Where does it say that? (if it is from Hebrews 6 then it is taken WAY out of context)

Of course that is what the devil would have us believe - that there is no hope for us and God abandoned us; so we might just as well save the effort and give up. Then he has you firmly in his clutches.

Don't even let that happen. You think it is tough now? if that happens it will be 10 times worse.

 

[raggedycamel]

Raggedy - I would like to commend you on keeping up the struggle. A pastor I knew some years ago said this: To struggle against the flesh IS walking in the Spirit.

No - we are not always successful. Even the apostles received this assessment from the Lord: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. And they turned the world upsidedown.

So there is hope. The struggle makes you stronger.

BTW - who told you that 'Blaspheming the Spirit' has anything to do with "2 is willful sin after you know better." Really? Where does it say that? (if it is from Hebrews 6 then it is taken WAY out of context)

Of course that is what the devil would have us believe - that there is no hope for us and God abandoned us; so we might just as well save the effort and give up. Then he has you firmly in his clutches.

Don't even let that happen. You think it is tough now? if that happens it will be 10 times worse.

I appreciate your words so much. I never thought of it like that - when you said about that struggling against the flesh is walking in the spirit.

About blaspheming the Spirit and willful sin after you know better, I collect many books, or I did for a long time, about the Holy Spirit and a LOT of authors connected the two. (If you'd like a list of the books, it may take me just a bit to find them, but I can list them for you).

I've also heard a few preachers say this. Most of them on t.v. The pastor of my old church didn't talk much about it that I remember, but he was a hellfire type preacher and didn't talk much about grace or anything. I didn't find out about grace until I studied at home on my own when I became unable to go out and do things.

This is a bit embarrassing to tell people, but I've got 2 herniated discs in my back and degeneration in my spine, which is arthritis, and I have RA in my hands (swan neck deformity in 4 of my 10 fingers). I seem to be riddled with illness, and I am embarrassed of it, especially to Christians, because I cannot get out and go to church like I'd love to do. I crave to be with other believers, but even getting on here, the internet, is hard to do (I have a desktop computer and it's hard to sit in a chair and even to type it hurts sometimes). That's why I don't get on here often.

I sometimes wonder if my physical illness is related to what I've done like my temptations and giving into them (something so dumb, it was an addiction to Benadryl and then I still smoke cigarettes, and I want nothing more than to quit! But I haven't had Benadryl like that in many months).

I have mental things going on too, but those were before the temptations, before I done those two things, it was since I was 15. I'm 30 now. The mental part is still here but not as bad as it once was.. and sometimes I think my physical pains are because of my wrong thinking too.

But anyway, I sincerely appreciate every one of you so much. Your help, every word, enlightens me even more. I thank you so much.

And I'm sorry about my temptations and addictions. I hope it don't make anyone upset. Sometimes I think God gets mad at me because of them too. I get worried about that.

Thanks again, all of you. Your support helps me tremendously.

Alex

 

[amilynne1977]

I have a messed up spine and most of my body. I got addicted to pain pills. I got filled with the spirit in July of last year, and I'm still battling addiction. I was prophecied to that if I stay on my path of loving and learning about God's word, that He will deliver me from these other things. I deal with condemnation daily. If I could have quit within my own power, well it would have been done many years ago. I've told Jesus that I don't have it within my own power , that I'm gonna have to rely on His power. I'm worthless without Him.

 

[raggedycamel]

I have a messed up spine and most of my body. I got addicted to pain pills. I got filled with the spirit in July of last year, and I'm still battling addiction. I was prophecied to that if I stay on my path of loving and learning about God's word, that He will deliver me from these other things. I deal with condemnation daily. If I could have quit within my own power, well it would have been done many years ago. I've told Jesus that I don't have it within my own power , that I'm gonna have to rely on His power. I'm worthless without Him.

Thank you for your reply.

I understand what you mean. And I've went back and read all the comments of everyone and it fills my heart with so much love for you all, knowing I'm not alone, but that we all do have God to rely on.

amilynne, I went through the condemnation too! Everytime I'd take the Benadryl, I'd think I was condemned to Hell just for doing it on purpose when I didn't need it, but now I've been away from it since some time last year, and it used to bring deep depression with me thinking and dwelling on that I couldn't get away from it. But like you have said, we have to rely on Jesus and His power to stop. It IS indeed difficult at times... I often think about: "well I wanted to experiement with things and now it's gone too far, and plus my dad dying and all it just seemed like the right thing to do then." But then also I used to want to really experiement and all I could do was of course Benadryl and I used to have an inhalant problem when I was younger, when I was 15, and for 7 years it went on. Then after that I went to Benadryl for 7 years. I was like (to myself): "I wanted to experiement and all these other people get the (so-called) "good stuff", and I suffer with things that could really kill me like paint thinner and all" I just wanted to be like other people who had their time of experiementing, then moving on with life after it was over, but I risked my life with those things. And I used to get mad that other people got the so-called 'good stuff', really which is illegal in usa, you know, pot or whatever. But I got stuck with the harsh stuff and for a long time I was like, "this isn't fair". But then I came to realize that it IS fair, and God was keeping me from going deeper into the wrong direction.

Just me rambling - I used to think I was an experiement in itself, gone wrong. But I have to accept me for me, and all my thorns in the side with it, because I know that if God won't remove the thorn, He will take me through it and be by my side the whole way.

But I'm so glad I've got away from those things. Occasionally now I'll get a temptation, but I am beginning to keep myself busy with things that matter instead of things that - although feel good at the moment - are like a vapor - here today gone tomorrow, because feelings don't last, especially if you're trying to get a high or something. But being filled with love, peace and joy are eternal feelings, not even really feelings but states of mind, and when it comes from God, it makes it soooo worth it ....

Please forgive my ramblings here. I didn't plan it, these are just things that come to my mind.

Thank you again for replying. I wish everyone a healthy life. God bless you!

Alex