Overcoming Addictions, Smoking
Christians and non-Christian alike battle with addictions and other behaviors that they find themselves struggling to leave behind. Through faith in Jesus Christ and placing emotional and spiritual health as attainable goals, we can all be overcomers.
Produced by Certified Recovery Specialist Beth Livingston, is for people to exchange struggles and victories of breaking free from addictions and other hurtful behaviors.
While the Bible doesn't address the issue of smoking directly, you will find a number of biblical principles which apply to your smoking habit. The following study guide will help you discover these principles: (Print this out and use as a guide for journaling your answers.)
1. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God puts His Holy Spirit into you.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
a. According to this passage, how does God view your body?
b. How should you treat your body in light of this?
c. Considering what is known about the effects of smoking on your body, do you think smoking is in conflict with how you should treat your body?
2. Read Genesis 1:26:
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
a. What did God give man to rule over?
b. How does the earth's plant life fit into this plan? How can man "rule" over it? Where do you think the tobacco plant fits into this plan?
3. In 2 Peter 2:19, the Bible addresses the danger of false teachers who had given themselves to indulging fleshly appetites and were leading others into worldly behavior.
Read 2 Peter 2:19
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
a. How does this verse describe someone who is controlled by something?
b. The nicotine found in cigarettes has been proven to be addictive. Therefore, based on this verse, how would you describe a habitual smoker's relationship to cigarettes?
c. How does this compare to the order God intended when He gave man rule over all the earth?
4. Read Ephesians 5:17:
Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Based on the scientific evidence of the effects of smoking and your understanding of what the Bible says, what do you think God wants YOU to do about smoking?
5. If you believe that smoking is something that God wants you to stop doing, then it is a sin for you to smoke because you are doing something contrary to God's will.
Read Romans 6:12:
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
Write what it means to you as far as smoking is concerned:
What Are God's Promises?
6. Cigarette addiction is one habit of this world that many people struggle with.
Write in your own words the promises God gives you in the scriptures below that will help you overcome the desire to smoke:
1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 4:7
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
7. One problem that concerns many smokers who want to quit is how the withdrawal will affect them emotionally.
Read Isaiah 26:3:
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
What promise does God give in this scripture to those who trust God?
What If I Need More Help?
8. Jesus acknowledged that people sometimes have difficulty doing what they know is the right thing to do.
Read Matthew 26:41:
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"
What are two things Jesus says to do?
a.
b.
9. Read Psalm 119:11:
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
The scripture mentions something else that will give you strength. What is it?
Note: 1 John 2:17 and Philippians 4:13 are two good verses to "hide in your heart" (memorize them and then think about them if you feel the need to smoke). You will find many other verses that will help you grow strong in your walk with God.
1 John 2:17
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
10. Are you filled with God's Spirit?
If you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior, ask God to FILL you with His Holy Spirit and to give you HIS power to do ALL that He wants you to do-not just to quit smoking. Read Luke 11:11-13 and Galatians 5:16.
Luke 11:11-13
"You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."
Galatians 5:16
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Write out your prayer for God's Spirit to fill you and give you the power to be free from cigarettes:
What If I Fail?
11. Read 1 John 1:9:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
This verse tells you how to face any failure you have in obeying the will of God. Summarize this verse in your own words.
12. Follow up any failure you meet in obeying God's will with 2 Thessalonians 3:13:
As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. What's the nugget of wisdom in this verse?
When You Smoke
No matter how old you are, or how long you've been smoking, unless irreversible disease has begun:
Christians and non-Christian alike battle with addictions and other behaviors that they find themselves struggling to leave behind. Through faith in Jesus Christ and placing emotional and spiritual health as attainable goals, we can all be overcomers.
Produced by Certified Recovery Specialist Beth Livingston, is for people to exchange struggles and victories of breaking free from addictions and other hurtful behaviors.
While the Bible doesn't address the issue of smoking directly, you will find a number of biblical principles which apply to your smoking habit. The following study guide will help you discover these principles: (Print this out and use as a guide for journaling your answers.)
1. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God puts His Holy Spirit into you.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
a. According to this passage, how does God view your body?
b. How should you treat your body in light of this?
c. Considering what is known about the effects of smoking on your body, do you think smoking is in conflict with how you should treat your body?
2. Read Genesis 1:26:
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
a. What did God give man to rule over?
b. How does the earth's plant life fit into this plan? How can man "rule" over it? Where do you think the tobacco plant fits into this plan?
3. In 2 Peter 2:19, the Bible addresses the danger of false teachers who had given themselves to indulging fleshly appetites and were leading others into worldly behavior.
Read 2 Peter 2:19
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
a. How does this verse describe someone who is controlled by something?
b. The nicotine found in cigarettes has been proven to be addictive. Therefore, based on this verse, how would you describe a habitual smoker's relationship to cigarettes?
c. How does this compare to the order God intended when He gave man rule over all the earth?
4. Read Ephesians 5:17:
Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Based on the scientific evidence of the effects of smoking and your understanding of what the Bible says, what do you think God wants YOU to do about smoking?
5. If you believe that smoking is something that God wants you to stop doing, then it is a sin for you to smoke because you are doing something contrary to God's will.
Read Romans 6:12:
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
Write what it means to you as far as smoking is concerned:
What Are God's Promises?
6. Cigarette addiction is one habit of this world that many people struggle with.
Write in your own words the promises God gives you in the scriptures below that will help you overcome the desire to smoke:
1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 4:7
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
7. One problem that concerns many smokers who want to quit is how the withdrawal will affect them emotionally.
Read Isaiah 26:3:
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
What promise does God give in this scripture to those who trust God?
What If I Need More Help?
8. Jesus acknowledged that people sometimes have difficulty doing what they know is the right thing to do.
Read Matthew 26:41:
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"
What are two things Jesus says to do?
a.
b.
9. Read Psalm 119:11:
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
The scripture mentions something else that will give you strength. What is it?
Note: 1 John 2:17 and Philippians 4:13 are two good verses to "hide in your heart" (memorize them and then think about them if you feel the need to smoke). You will find many other verses that will help you grow strong in your walk with God.
1 John 2:17
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
10. Are you filled with God's Spirit?
If you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior, ask God to FILL you with His Holy Spirit and to give you HIS power to do ALL that He wants you to do-not just to quit smoking. Read Luke 11:11-13 and Galatians 5:16.
Luke 11:11-13
"You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."
Galatians 5:16
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Write out your prayer for God's Spirit to fill you and give you the power to be free from cigarettes:
What If I Fail?
11. Read 1 John 1:9:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
This verse tells you how to face any failure you have in obeying the will of God. Summarize this verse in your own words.
12. Follow up any failure you meet in obeying God's will with 2 Thessalonians 3:13:
As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. What's the nugget of wisdom in this verse?
When You Smoke
- Each puff you take assaults your lungs with about 4,000 chemicals, more than 40 of them known to cause cancer.
- You are 10 times more likely to get cancer than a nonsmoker.
- You are two times more likely to have a heart attack than a nonsmoker.
- You are more likely than a nonsmoker to suffer from emphysema, chronic bronchitis, a stroke, male impotence or one of numerous other ailments to which smoking has been linked.
- You chance joining the 320,000 people who die unnecessarily each year -- because of smoking.
- Research with nonsmoking spouses and children of smokers confirms you may be hurting the health of people you love.
- If you are addicted to cigarettes, you are essentially a slave to a plant. Yet God created you to rule over the earth.
No matter how old you are, or how long you've been smoking, unless irreversible disease has begun:
- Your risk of heart disease lowers IMMEDIATELY!
- Your circulation improves immediately.
- Within days your lungs begin to clear.
- Your risk of cancer drops steadily.
- After 5 years your risk of many diseases is the same as a nonsmoker.
- After 10 years your overall risk of death is the same as someone who has never smoked.