Misc

We have to disciple through God's Word. Help people understand that counselling from the world (AA, NA, etc) is not what they need, but that the real help they need is to be found in the Word. Understand that you, as a discipling partner, are competent to counsel because you have God's word. (Romans 15:14)

Expect emotional immaturity. Remember, using abusively stunts your ability to deal with emotional difficulty and problem-solving. People are therefore very susceptible to relapse in the early stages of recovery, because the life of a disciple demands emotional maturity. Here's how to help people identify what they're feeling: Have them write a list of feelings like the ones below:

Happy
Mad
Sad
Glad
Afraid
Embarrassed
Etc.

Biblically, chemical dependency boils down to being enslaved to drugs and alcohol and a person can't get out of it without God.
You will meet "users" and "abusers", it is crucial to know the difference.
It is not necessarily sinful to use alcohol but its wrong to abuse.
Addiction = when getting drunk or high progresses to the point where you have no choice over it anymore.Question: How do you know when you are enslaved?
Answer: You keep getting the consequences for using and they get worse and worse but you keep using.We have to be willing to get honest with ourselves and accept on an emotional level that we are powerless over drugs.Ephesians 1:18,19 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

What does it really mean to be an alcoholic or a drug addict? An alcoholic or drug addict is someone who is powerless over their using. They experience negative consequences, both in their own lives and in the lives of those close to them and yet continue to use. It is someone who uses chemicals to deal with their emotions. They must alter life in order not to deal with it. It is a consistent abuse.

Concept of Powerless:

Some statistics:
1 in every 7 people who drink or use drugs become addicted
500 million with a problem world wide - we have a big job ahead of us as disciples if we are going to win the world for Christ. We need people who can relate to people and their problems (with their thinking). We've got a lot of evangelism to do.
10% of people in church and sister churches have alcohol or drug problems That's why its important for us to know what it is. We're talking about a tremendous problem.
Enabling people doesn't help the real problem. As Christians we make mistakes in helping people the wrong way. Need to let them sink low.

Powerlessness:

Rm. 7:14-25 - This scripture defines powerlessness perfectly. When we want to do good, evil is right there with us. This is talking to us about who we really are. Treatment Centers, AA may help but God and the scriptures are the most effective. They are the easiest to relate to.