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To: Cvengr

One of the greatest gifts of God is the freedom of choice. Control, as it were, over our own decisions in life. Whether to do good or evil.

A person who becomes an alcoholic has given up much of their God-given freedom in order to satisfy base desires. Thus allowing Satan to have that much more influence and control over him.


126 posted on 06/03/2014 10:04:32 PM PDT by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch

Which is why we place control in the hands of God.

IMHO, we all are mislead from the initial fall in the Garden, since we all now possess the knowledge of the tree of good and evil, we surely die from that knowledge.

We too easily confuse good and evil for righteousness and justice, i.e. holiness. That confusion distracts us from relying on His Providence, and instead thinking we can control it for Him.


127 posted on 06/03/2014 11:10:37 PM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch
A person who becomes an alcoholic has given up much of their God-given freedom in order to satisfy base desires. Thus allowing Satan to have that much more influence and control over him.

Such a situation is inconsistent with the Holy Spirit dwelling within the person.

1 John 3

"10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

If we drink (or smoke, etc.) a substance, and when we do we think and say and do sinful things, it's the substance that's controlling our thoughts, words and actions. If the Holy Spirit were indwelling, it would be helping us to stay on the straight and narrow path.

1 Corinthians 6

"9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
129 posted on 06/04/2014 12:30:35 AM PDT by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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