Addictions are obviously the work of the Devil. People wreck their lives, their families and their very souls. How does this happen? We can blame the Devil or we can make the choice to choose the right way. We can choose the way of grace, the way of peace, the way of salvation.
The Devil came against a beautiful church with its stained glass windows. He burst through and pushed the minister aside who was reading the morning announcement. With fire and terror, he chased the church people out of the building, except one little man in the front row. Thundering from the pulpit, the Devil said: "hey little man, why aren’t YOU afraid of me? Why don’t you tremble? The little man looked up and said: "Hey you old Devil, I lived with you for fifty years, now I’m livin’ for Jesus!!
We have to get to the point in life to make a choice.
Point 1: Are you ready to make a choice? Are you ready to change your life? Are you concentrating and interested in making the right choice?
Look at Isaiah 55: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." The Lord, thorought he pen of Isaiah is telling those who are bound, and those who are troubled and thirsty to come to the waters. He’s taking about healing waters. He’s talking about something that man cannot do. He’s talking about spiritual source, a spiritual renewal.
I knew a man some years ago who had a problem with drugs. He didn’t care what it was, he just wanted to get high. Problems arose. Job after job went by. He found himself at the bottom. He went to rehab. But he didn’t change. He was thirsty, but he didn’t come to the waters. He tried the program. It’s not a program exactly, it’s a spiritual change of heart. You must decide that your thirst must be satified by the water. The spiritual water from the Lord.
2. The decision to do drugs has cost you everything. Come for your cure for free.
In California, there is a clinic called Betty Ford. They do a wonderful work for drug addicts and those burned out on alcohol. They have wonderful programs and a nice setting in Palm Springs. The location and the staff are top-notch. The price-tag is expensive. The treatment is very expensive. The rich and famous go to Betty Ford.
Isaiah says we can get our cure for free. Look at the rest of this first verse: "and he that hath no money: come ye, and buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without moneya nd without price." Isaiah is telling us that this cure is for free. That the Lord of Hosts provides a spiritual healing that we need. It is what you need. It’s not a physical thing. It’s a spiritual thing.
3. The problem is, we spend our time and our money and our existance on the wrong things. We must focus on the right thing.
Our world is into self-gratification. But there is no end to it. We seek and see and seek more. We’re a lot like rats in the maze.
Look at what Isaiah says in verse two. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that whcih satisfieth not?
Most of us are not living, we’re existing in a world of our own creation. It is a false world, a world that doesn’t satify.
4. The solution to your addiction is the Lord of Hosts.
Hear his words in the end of the second verse: "hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." You move from your addicted state, to a life with Him. He can deliver you, he can help you. Listen to Him seek him and eat from him that which is good.
5. To sustain your freedom, listen to the Lord.
Look at the third verse: "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live." The healing takes place. You are following the new leader. You listen for his direction each moment of life. You have new ears to hear. You hear and you have a soul that lives. You live. A life of freedom, a life of fullness, a life of fatness, a life free from your addiction!
