The Bondage Breaker
The Bondage Breaker: How to win (and help your friends win) the battle of addiction
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
More In This Series
“The Bondage Breaker:
How to Win (and Help Your Friends Win) the Battle of Addiction”
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□ One Story
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The American Society for Addiction Medicine: “Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain
reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.” (http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction)
- “The secret cause of the affliction that had made this man a fearful spectacle to his friends and a burden to himself was in his own life. He had been fascinated by the pleasures of sin, and had thought to make life a grand carnival. He did not dream of becoming a terror to the world and the reproach of his family. He thought his time could be spent in innocent folly. But once in the downward path, his feet rapidly descended. Intemperance and frivolity perverted the noble attributes of his nature, and Satan took control of him.” (Desire of Ages 256)
- Mark 1:21-28
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The American Society for Addiction Medicine: “Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain
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□ Seven Truths
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#1—We are in a between two invisible .
- Ephesians 6:12—“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers . . . the authorities . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual of evil in the heavenly realms.”
- Neil Anderson: “There is no inner conflict which is not , because there is never a time when your mind, emotions, and will are not involved. Similarly, there is no problem that is not . There is no time when God is not present. . . . The Bible presents the unseen spiritual world just as real as the natural world we see with our eyes [2 Corinthians 4:18].” (The Bondage Breaker 21)
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#2—The primary weapon of Satan is .
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John 8:44—“ . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, [the devil] speaks his native language,
for he is a and the father of lies.’”
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Duane McBride: “Cultural leveling, Dr. McBride explains, describes the tendency of a minority
group to gradually conform or change to reflect
the attitudes of the majority group.” (Student Movement 3-5-14 p 3)
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If the devil can put your conscience to sleep, you will do under the influence what you
wouldn’t think of doing in your right and sober mind!
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Duane McBride: “‘Responsible alcohol use? I’m not sure how much “responsible” there is. . . .
The clarity and quality of our relationship with God depends on, essentially, sobriety and a
mind that functions.’” (Ibid)
- The only defensible position for a Christian to take is abstinence.
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John 8:44—“ . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, [the devil] speaks his native language,
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#3—The primary weapon of Christ is .
John 8:32—“Then you will know the , and the will set you free.” John 8:36—“So if the sets you free, you will be free indeed.” -
#4—The showdown at the decided the of the war.
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Colossians 2:15—“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Christ] made a public
of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
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The Great Controversy: “In the Saviour’s expiring cry, ‘It is finished,’ the death knell of Satan
was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then ,
and the final eradication of evil was made certain.” (503)
- Read Matthew 27:24-54—every day.
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“Tell [Satan] of the blood of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin. You cannot save yourself from
the tempter’s power, but he trembles and when the merits of that precious blood
are urged.” (5T 317)
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Colossians 2:15—“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Christ] made a public
- #5—You must decide your .
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#1—We are in a between two invisible .
- #6—To not decide is .
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#7—You must call on the B B.
Steps to Christ: “As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you really are, do not give up to despair. It was sinners that Christ came to save. We have not to reconcile God to us, but—O wondrous love!—God in Christ is ‘reconciling the world unto Himself.’ 2 Corinthians 5:19. He is wooing by His tender love the hearts of His erring children. No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God with those He seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tender entreaties to the wanderer than does He.” (35)
“Free indeed!”