Category
VERSES ABOUT VICES AND ADDICTIONS
Addiction and bad habits can be so destructive. Think about it, addiction is clinging to something—a behavior, a substance, an activity, even a person—that's actually harming you. So many of us struggle with these things, feeling trapped by a vice or an addiction. Sometimes, we feel like it's because of our past.
But here's the truth: in God, we're free. Christ set us free from all of that and forgave our sins. If you keep dwelling on the past, those chains can really hold you back. Sometimes, these struggles can even stem from negative spiritual influences, finding a foothold and coming to light when we unknowingly open a door, giving the enemy a legal right to step in.
You have the power to let go of what's binding you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of bondage you need to address. Receive God's forgiveness and His healing. He's there for you.
I pray that we all find freedom from anything that's hurting us and holding us back. Just like it says in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
On that day his burden will fall from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck; the yoke will be destroyed by your prosperity.
Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.
You say, “For me, everything is permitted”? Maybe, but not everything is helpful. “For me, everything is permitted”? Maybe, but as far as I am concerned, I am not going to let anything gain control over me.
Therefore, submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, and he will flee from you.
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!
No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.
Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Yeshua the Messiah; and don’t waste your time thinking about how to provide for the sinful desires of your old nature.
Stay awake, and pray that you will not be put to the test — the spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak.”
A psalm of David: Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water,he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name.Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.
because all the things of the world — the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life — are not from the Father but from the world.
I will exalt you, Adonai, because you drew me up; you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.
Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.
But the face of Adonai opposes those who do evil, to cut off all memory of them from the earth.[The righteous] cried out, and Adonai heard, and he saved them from all their troubles.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand.
You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon, who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,No disaster will happen to you, no calamity will come near your tent;for he will order his angels to care for you and guard you wherever you go.They will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t trip on a stone.You will tread down lions and snakes, young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.“Because he loves me, I will rescue him; because he knows my name, I will protect him.He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble. I will extricate him and bring him honor.I will satisfy him with long life and show him my salvation.”who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress! My God, in whom I trust!” —
Bless Adonai, my soul, and forget none of his benefits!Bless Adonai, you angels of his, you mighty warriors who obey his word, who carry out his orders!Bless Adonai, all his troops, who serve him and do what he wants!Bless Adonai, all his works, in every place where he rules! Bless Adonai, my soul!He forgives all your offenses, he heals all your diseases,he redeems your life from the pit, he surrounds you with grace and compassion,
In their trouble they cried to Adonai, and he rescued them from their distress.He led them from darkness, from death-dark gloom, shattering their chains.
Can a man carry fire inside his shirt without burning his clothes?Can a man walk [barefoot] on hot coals without scorching his feet?
You, my son: listen, be wise, and set your mind on the right way.If you have a big appetite, put a knife to your throat!Don’t be one of those who guzzle wine or of those who eat meat to excess,for both drunkard and glutton will become poor — drowsiness will clothe them with rags.
Who has misery? Who has regret? Who fights and complains all the time? Who gets bruised for no good reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?Don’t be greedy for his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.Those who spend their time over wine, those always trying out mixed drinks.Don’t gaze at the red wine as it gives its color to the cup. It may glide down smoothly now;but in the end, it bites like a serpent — yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.
“A person whose desire rests on you you preserve in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.Trust in Adonai forever, because in Yah Adonai, is a Rock of Ages.”
He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless.A voice cries out: “Clear a road through the desert for Adonai! Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God!Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall;but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.
For I, Adonai, your God, say to you, as I hold your right hand, ‘Have no fear; I will help you.
But now this is what Adonai says, he who created you, Ya‘akov, he who formed you, Isra’el: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I am calling you by your name; you are mine.“You are my witnesses,” says Adonai, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you can know and trust me and understand that I am he — no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me.I, yes I, am Adonai; besides me there is no deliverer.I have declared, saved and proclaimed — not some alien god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses,” says Adonai. “I am God.Since days began, I have been he. No one can deliver from my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”Here is what Adonai, your redeemer, the Holy One of Isra’el, says: “For your sake I have sent [an army] to Bavel and knocked down the fleeing Kasdim, all of them; their songs of triumph are now lamentations.I am Adonai, your Holy One, the Creator of Isra’el, your King.”Here is what Adonai says, who made a way in the sea, a path through the raging waves;who led out chariot and horse, the army in its strength — they lay down, never to rise again, snuffed out and quenched like a wick:“Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by;I am doing something new; it’s springing up — can’t you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.When you pass through water, I will be with you; when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched — the flame will not burn you.
Like a thick cloud, I wipe away your offenses; like a cloud, your sins. Come back to me, for I have redeemed you.”
But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises* we are healed.
“Here is the sort of fast I want — releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke,
Heal me, Adonai, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise.
For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai,‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them.
Enemies of mine, don’t gloat over me! Although I have fallen, I will rise; though I live in the dark, Adonai is my light.
And do not lead us into hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One. For kingship, power and glory are yours forever. Amen.’
But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your trust has healed you. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
“The Spirit of Adonai is upon me; therefore he has anointed me to announce Good News to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the imprisoned and renewed sight for the blind, to release those who have been crushed,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.
Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”
The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.
Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.
“What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.
“I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can’t do a thing.
“I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom. In the world, you have tsuris. But be brave! I have conquered the world!”
But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners.
We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires;and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness.
Don’t you know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, then, of the one whom you are obeying, you are slaves — whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to being made righteous?By God’s grace, you, who were once slaves to sin, obeyed from your heart the pattern of teaching to which you were exposed;and after you had been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua.However, if the Messiah is in you, then, on the one hand, the body is dead because of sin; but, on the other hand, the Spirit is giving life because God considers you righteous.And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature.For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”).The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God;and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him.I don’t think the sufferings we are going through now are even worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us in the future.The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed;Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death.
Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom.
And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose;
I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect.Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor.Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer.Share what you have with God’s people, and practice hospitality.Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them!Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited.Repay no one evil for evil, but try to do what everyone regards as good.If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people.Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written, “Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.
The night is almost over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and arm ourselves with the weapons of light.Let us live properly, as people do in the daytime — not partying and getting drunk, not engaging in sexual immorality and other excesses, not quarrelling and being jealous.Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Yeshua the Messiah; and don’t waste your time thinking about how to provide for the sinful desires of your old nature.
Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves;Don’t you know that God’s people are going to judge the universe? If you are going to judge the universe, are you incompetent to judge these minor matters?for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God.
What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God — as God said, “I will house myself in them, . . . and I will walk among you. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”Therefore Adonai says, “‘Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don’t even touch what is unclean. Then I myself will receive you.In fact, I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.’ says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”
For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way;because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish argumentsand every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.
When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
What the Messiah has freed us for is freedom! Therefore, stand firm, and don’t let yourselves be tied up again to a yoke of slavery.
What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants.
And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency;Mark my words — I, Sha’ul, tell you that if you undergo b’rit-milah the Messiah will be of no advantage to you at all!involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigueand envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.
then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires;and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed,and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth.
For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light,
Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit —
Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength!Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.
And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.
for God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him.
Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.
In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.It is through his Son that we have redemption — that is, our sins have been forgiven.
Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature — sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry);
What God wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality,that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner,
so let’s not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us stay alert and sober.People who sleep, sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night.But since we belong to the day, let us stay sober, putting on trust and love as a breastplate and the hope of being delivered as a helmet.
but keep away from every form of evil.May the God of shalom make you completely holy — may your entire spirit, soul and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have.
For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.
So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace.
It teaches us to renounce godlessness and worldly pleasures, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now, in this age;
For since he himself suffered death when he was put to the test, he is able to help those who are being tested now.
For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin.Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.
Let us continue holding fast to the hope we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is trustworthy.
So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us,For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.So, strengthen your drooping arms, and steady your tottering knees;and make a level path for your feet; so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint but rather will be healed.Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many,and that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esav, who in exchange for a single meal gave up his rights as the firstborn.For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to obtain his father’s blessing, he was rejected; indeed, even though he sought it with tears, his change of heart was to no avail.For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind,to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them —looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
How blessed is the man who perseveres through temptation! For after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him.
No one being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and God himself tempts no one.Rather, each person is being tempted whenever he is being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire.Then, having conceived, the desire gives birth to sin; and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed.As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant.On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life;since the Tanakh says, “You are to be holy because I am holy.”
Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering.
If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.