Speaking Truth -
God Can Deliver You from Smoking -
CLAY CENTER - As I was concluding my sermon on Sunday morning and invited people to respond to God’s leading, Henry stepped out and started walking down the aisle. As he came near to the front, he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. I watched and wondered what was going to come next. Then he tossed them up in the air toward me, and fortunately, I caught them. Everyone’s eyes in the church were on Henry as he knelt down in prayer, seeking God to deliver him from smoking. And he did for a little while, then Henry caved to the temptation of those cigarettes once again.
Henry is just one story of millions. Among U.S. adults, 11% smoke, which is nearly 30 million people. And of those who go to church, 12% struggle with the addiction. I say struggle, because a Gallup survey found that 60% of Americans would like to quit. The great Christian theologian, R.C. Sproul, was among those. After 40 years, he walked away from cigarettes, but said of his battle, “I struggled with my own spiritual state because I had an addiction to the flesh, and I simply could not get rid of it.”
The health impact of this addiction is deadly. One report says, “Smoking causes severe health damage to nearly every organ, resulting in roughly 480,000 U.S. deaths annually, with smokers dying about 10 years earlier on average than non-smokers.” On top of that, second-hand smoke is deadly for family and friends of smokers, killing 40,000 people annually, not to mention the health complications among children. Of course, all this costs money. Smokers spend nearly $3,500 a year on their habit, and is money that does not go toward groceries, retirement, healthcare, gas, or toward their children’s or grandchildren’s needs.
Smoking is a terrible addiction, and smokers know it. They know it is not good for their health, finances, and family but struggle to give it up.
Is God okay with this? It is written, “…whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Does spending $3,500 each year on smoking glorify God? He once said, “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself:” (Leviticus 19:5) Do the risks of secondhand smoke to those around you, along with the example you are providing, demonstrate a genuine love for them?
Here are six questions to help you kick the habit.
1.The question. Do you want to quit? If you want to stop this habit, it starts with that simple ask.
2.The truth. Do you believe your addiction to smoking is morally wrong and displeasing to God? If you want God’s power to help you stop, you need to wrestle with that.
3.The choice. Are you willing to make a deliberate and thoughtful decision to turn from your addiction and to Jesus for His supernatural help? And your first step, throw away all your cigarette and vaping paraphernalia.
4.The battle. Are you willing to face the great challenges in quitting? It will be a long hard struggle. The Devil and his demons do not want you to quit. Your body and mind, and how you have trained them, will fight to keep the habit.
5.The desperation. Are you willing to throw yourself at the feet of God, and plead desperately for His mercy to deliver you? The Bible says, “In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!” (Psalm 71:2) 6.The help. Are you willing to seek the assistance of others? The Scriptures declare, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him —a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:12) Do not fight this addiction alone. Ask others for advice, for pray and be accountable to them. The Jesus who conquered death, can deliver you from smoking. Nothing is impossible with Him.
A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for the many who are battling this awful addiction. Make them desperate for your help and set them free! You are the God of the resurrection. Do miracles, O Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Clint Decker is President of Great Awakenings. Please share your comment at cdecker@ greatawakenings. org and follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot. com.
