Who are “WE” outside of what we’ve done

When compromise defines our identity



In the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous there is formal practice of identifying oneself by what they have previously done in their addiction, but this concept opposes the truth in God’s word which says, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.” (Isaiah 43:18) My question is how can a so called spiritual program reference God and exclude His word from it all together. There are some people who have spent years in and out of this program because of relapse, but still claim that it works. Of course there are some excuses that are given because of their relapse. Excuses like; they changed their mind, they never surrendered to a higher power or they stopped going to meetings, but I beg to differ. For some reason people refuse to believe that acceptance of Christ can heal anyone from bondage. I’ve heard people say, “Some are sicker than others” but there is nothing too hard for God. According to an article I read in www.raptureready.com, “AA’s murky history can seem very confusing. Prolific pro-AA author Dick B. continues to present AA’s origin as Biblically rooted.” But I have not found any origins or indications of there being a savior for salvation and restoration to God through Christ. There is another reason for my rebuttal against this so called spiritual program which comes from their literature. When reading “NA’s It’s Works, How and Why” pgs. 134-135, I found what is called “Tradition Two”, which states, “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants: they do not govern.” If there is but one God and ultimate authority in their groups purpose, which God is that authority if the individuals serve different Gods? You may have a Muslim, A Christian, A Wiccan, A Buddhist and a Hindu; so which one would be the ultimate authority for the groups purpose? The literature goes on to say that everything that is done in service to NA is related to the purposes of serving and carrying the message to other addicts. I’m trying to figure out which addicts they are speaking of; the ones who are still suffering [active] or the ones seeking help [inactive]. What is the difference between the two and why define yourself by what you no longer participate in? Can you see the controversy in this statement when cleary a Loving God, as they so vaguely put it, would not have anyone go into the Lion’s den unequipped with no Power to free another suffering addict with just a message; and what message would that be? As I continued to read further it says, “To guide them in serving others, they seek direction from a higher power and that their personal services arises from the application of principles, and this personal service is founded in a relationship with the same higher power that guides their personal recovery…WHAT? How is that possible when clearly there are those in recovery who have different belief systems? This Higher Power also is said to guide the various elements of their fellowship. If that doesn’t raise an eyebrow then I believe this statement surely will. The literature says, “Our direction in service comes from a God of our understanding, whether we serve as individuals, as a group, or as a service board or committee. Whenever we come together, we seek the presence and guidance of this loving higher power.” I don’t know if Bill Wilson, Bob Smith or Jimmy Kinnon understood the ramifications of this lie, but as you can see, nowhere in this literature does it mention Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the father except through Him. Satan is the god of this world as it says in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the Image and Likeness of God.” So why are people so bent on believing this lie that says NA is from God, when clearly this is disguised as an angel of light? [Light in terms of truth and knowledge] So much of what I have read in NA’s literature contradicts itself and when holding up under the Word of God it contradicts the gospel as well. Now let’s look at this next statement in their literature which says, “Everybody has opinions on how to serve more effectively. When we each propose a different plan for any course of action, how do we choose among them? Who has the final say in our discussions? Our answer is a loving God; the source of our unity has the final say – the same higher power that guides our personal recovery.” Now, how is this possible since My God says that if any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away; behold all things have become new and that means I am NOT to identify myself by my past performance in sin. Here is where the rubber meets the road. The final statement I want to expose says “If we are to find guidance from an ultimate authority, we need to find means of hearing that guidance together.” Now is it me or does this sound like they are insinuating that an individual can only find and hear guidance in their meetings through this so called ultimate authority. I serve, worship and follow Christ, so how can anyone who is a believer fit into this organizations belief system? This program uses group conscience, and the success of the group conscience process depends on the individual’s willingness to seek guidance from a higher power on a personal level, but then they are to bring that willingness into the group setting. In other words, the same motivation people use to seek God on a personal level, is the same motivation they want you to use in the groups..This statement has nothing to do with personal recovery, but has everything to do with the individual’s motivation to conform to their literature…Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. If anyone is offended at this, then I have done what I have been called to do. And I make no apologies for doing so. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” As long as the enemy use people to bring forth his lies in the effort to keep our minds blind to the truth, I will be exposing those lies in order that my brothers and sisters would be made free. NA unity and personal recovery are two totally different concepts…Being an addict and being a New creation in Christ Jesus are two totally different concepts. What else are people going to be besides addicts…We’ve all done our share of sinning in this life; why limit it to drug use…And if you are a believer in Christ and have given your life to God through the shed blood of Jesus, then you are no longer identified by your past or your flesh. You must know who you are and if you don’t know then I’ll tell. The Word of God says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And Romans 6:6-9, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” Now if we are in him and he lives in us then how is it possible for us to still suffer from an incurable disease of addiction? Someone is lying. And let’s not forget what it says in Colossians 2:20, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations.” And just to remind you; NA and AA are the basic principles of this world simply because nowhere in their literature does it speak of scripture, but references God, speaks of God but doesn’t reference Jesus. How convenient!!!! So my question remains, “Who are “WE” outside of what we’ve done?”

EXPOSING THE ENEMY IN RECOVERY

“Abstinence alone can’t keep you”

 According to Matthew 12:43-45, “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”As quoted by Pastor Harvey Burnett, [This scripture doesn't refer to a saved person. It's referring to a person who undergoes self help and self restoration. When Jesus comes in he doesn't leave the house EMPTY. He moves in with all his furniture. The scripture is describing someone who has done many good things but hasn't been saved and is therefore empty and powerless against the devil. That's why he can come back and bring 7 more of his friends.] So why doesn't the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous promote the true spiritual concepts of recovery? Is it because they do not incorporate scripture in their organization? Or do they simply rely solely on Spiritual Principles. But where do these spiritual principles come from, if not from the bible. I won't address the answer to that question as of yet, but I will, however inform you of how this program lacks in reference to being whole and delivered, as oppose to abstinence and staying clean. There is a difference. Keep in mind that this is a universal program that welcomes many different backgrounds and beliefs of different people; therefore speaking the name of Jesus is taken as an offence in most cases. Let’s look at the first three of the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous.

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.

 I definitely agree with this first step to an extent. I was, (which is past tense), powerless over my addictive behavior, and every time I decided to try to be a productive member of society; I failed miserably. After I had given my life to Christ, the Holy Spirit led me to seek help and gave me the courage, the ability and the Power to take steps toward my recovery process. I believed the word when it says in Colossians 2:8-10, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” So this step, by the way is not rooted in Christ, isn’t what is seems to be. By admitting you are powerless, which gives the right of entry for some sort of change to begin, you have opened the door for what step 2 describes as “a power greater” than ourselves. Well, to be honest, the stronghold itself is a power greater; one could go as far as to choose another person as that greater power. In the rooms of NA it’s all left up to that individual. Leaving this most important principle open to our own interpretation is not what the Father intended concerning restoration and recovery. We must not continuously admit powerlessness every time we stand up to share our experiences with others. Confessing that you are an addict is exactly what this statement means, that you are “Powerless”. 1Peter 5:10 says, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” And for this reason, I am dedicated to exposing the lies of the enemy by sharing the truth of God’s word to any and everyone who will hear it and discern it.

2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

 Step two was one of the most enlightening statements in my recovery. The power that came to mind in my process was Jesus. I have always had a belief in Christ, but never confessed him as my lord, until I found myself suffering tremendously from my Heroin and Cocaine abuse. Until people truly believe that Christ can restore them, they will continue to lean on their own understanding of what "A Power Greater" than themselves truly means. Our final authority is rooted in Christ and God's word, not human philosophies and spiritual principles that do not reference God's word. When I was released from a treatment facility after 35 days, I began to read and study the word of God.  One day I was led by the Holy Spirit to read Romans 12:2, which says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” After that I realized that the “POWER” of the Holy Spirit could restore me to sanity.

3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

[Now this step was the last and final step that I completed. After reading this I decided; through what I believe was the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to truly turn my life over to God through Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the end of this statement that says, “as we understood Him" is written in the form of past tense. Personally my previous understanding of God was simply that he died for my sins. Everyone does not have that same understanding, if any understanding at all. Fortunately I had given my life to Christ by faith through grace, and was lead directly to the word of God.] So if these first three steps lead me to my true identity in Christ, then I am confident that others must know the truth. We do not have to remain powerless over addictive behaviors. In Christ there is FULL RECOVERY and not simply Abstinence. When we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer addicts. It is in Him that we live, move and have our being. Our spirits immediately become new, but our minds have to be constantly renewed by the Word of God and the POWER of the Holy Spirit. I know that this is simply touching the basics, but people need to be informed of the reasons why most people relapse and have no idea why they DECIDE to change their minds once they have been clean. Relapse starts in the mind. If you have no knowledge of who you are and you don't have Christ you are undergoing self help and self restoration. We cannot continue to consider ourselves as Addicts and repeatedly confess our past affliction when we share in groups. The word of God says in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Obviously people do not know this and have not been told the truth. So what you don’t know will hurt you, so to speak. Hosea 4:6 speaks so profoundly, it says, ^“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” Hosea’s purpose involved alerting Israel to their sinful condition and to bring them back to God. The only way God’s people will not be destroyed by their lack of knowledge would be to bring the knowledge of God to the rooms. For it says in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” And without Faith it is impossible to please God.

Take a look at this video that explains Step 2 of Alcoholics Anonymous (Narcotics Anonymous) which says, "We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity" 

First of all, what is up with the power in numbers theory???? I don't care how many people gather together in unity; if the power doesn't come from the True and Living God, no one can keep you from using drugs unless they tie you up like Lazarus...LOL!

Luke 6:39, “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?"

Now what do you think he meant by "If I'm disconnected from power, I have to be connected to power?" (04:40) But as he also says, AA/NA is not telling you what Power you have to have...Just pick one. And what does he mean by the Power of community...Here comes the lies!!! Smh More intellectual power in community??? Hold up! A room full of people who believe in different God's, using only their intellect does NOT create power, but Foolishness.

Ephesians 2:11-12 (Amplified Bible)

Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the  promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. Now that we are alive in Christ and know the truth of God’s word, it is imperative that we go back and strengthen our brethren. This scripture is the reason and the core of my writings. The Holy Spirit told me, "Don't go back and live the lie, Go back and change the lie." ENEMY EXPOSED!!!!

Too ANOINTED to be Anonymous: Close Encounters of the 12th Kind

Too ANOINTED to be Anonymous: Close Encounters of the 12th Kind: In my effort to find the founding predators, oh I’m sorry, I meant the predecessors of Narcotics Anonymous, I ran across Mr. Bill Wilson who...

Our Help is in the Name of the Lord

OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD,

WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Psalm 124:8

While reading this scripture from the book of Psalms, I could only image the dangers David and his people were delivered from as a result of God’s help alone; whatever the case may be, he sure made it known that the Mighty name of God made a way of escape, but in today’s society we are led to seek a higher power or a god of our own understanding.

There are countless believers who can truly relate to this verse of scripture. All the help I needed to break free from the stronghold of addiction was found in the name of Jesus Christ. But in today’s society there is an eerie agenda lurking in rooms of what the world calls Narcotics Anonymous. Let me point out that this organization encourages confessing powerlessness over their addiction, encourages anonymity as a spiritual principle, and states that addiction is an incurable disease of mind, body and spirit.

According to Colossians 2:8, this organization promotes and is being influence by the basic principles of this world and NOT according to Christ. It is said that this organization has helped many people change their lives and stay clean through the working of the steps and its literature, but I beg to differ. This organization has only helped people to abstain their flesh for a certain amount of time. I could go into the success rate and all that, but seriously what would that accomplish since there is no real way to get a accurate count of how many people have relapsed countless amounts of times in order to receive the freedom they so desire. I can’t even count the amount of times I have witnessed people go in and out of treatment and in the rooms of AA and NA. My main concern is with the 3 statements I have read in their literature, which I have underlined above.  When a person is recovering from this sort of bondage it is imperative that they realize that we need to be saved from this State of being, which is our natural state as sinners needing a Savior. Nowhere in AA or NA’s literature does it imply that salvation is needed or offered. For the believer who is seeking to recover from addiction, it is imperative that we know who we are in Christ, why he died, and what were the results of  Him dying for our sins. It really saddens and grieves my heart when I see Christians following the ways of the world and denying Christ in the process. In the rooms of NA no one can speak the name of Jesus because they believe that anything can be your god. They welcome all of society’s beliefs in order that they might not offend anyone, but help all. The trouble with that is Deuteronomy 6:14, which says, “You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you.” Not to mention what is says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Am I missing something or does fellowship still mean friendship, association or partnership.  As Christians and bible readers, we are told that Life and Death are in the POWER of our own tongue. (Prov. 18:21)

 So I believe it is safe to say that when a believer confesses that he or she is powerless over their addiction, they are actually speaking defeat and hopelessness over themselves. My purpose is to bring people near by the blood of the lamb and by exposing the lies of the enemy by telling the truth in God’s word.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:11-12)

I am pleading with the body of believers to come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you.” But first let me clarity what the word ‘touch’ means in this text. According to the Blue letter bible – lexicon it means to fasten one's self to, adhere to, cling to. So many of God’s children who have confessed Christ are being deceived into believing that AA and NA is of God, but in actuality it is not. I could go into the origins and the beliefs of the founders of this organization and how it began; as a matter of fact, I think I will. One of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous whose name is William Griffith Wilson aka Bill Wilson, was one who participated in what I call an experiment with curing addiction. As stated in the NY Times article, “In October 1909, Dr. Alexander Lambert boldly announced to a New York Times reporter that he had found a surefire cure for alcoholism and drug addiction. Even more astounding, he stated that the treatment required “less than five days.” The therapy consisted of an odd mixture of belladonna (deadly nightshade), along with the fluid extracts of xanthoxylum (prickly ash) and hyoscyamus (henbane).” Bill Wilson was one of the patients involved in this so called cure all treatment of addiction. The article also stated, “Although Mr. Wilson made some progress in temporarily abstaining, he relapsed after each of the first three hospitalizations. It was around this time that he reunited with a drinking buddy named Ebby Thacher. Unlike previous times, when they went out on wild binges, Mr. Thacher told him that he quit booze and was a member of the Oxford Group, a church-based association devoted to living on a higher spiritual plane guided by Christianity.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/health/20drunk.html?_r=1

Obviously this was not a cure all. If anything it was making him worst. The effects of the belladonna were enough to drive him crazy, not to mention the side effects of the additional drugs. The article also stated that even before the promotion of this drug being a cure all for addiction, it was known to cause hallucinations.  Belladonna hallucinations are normally based on recent discussions the person had but become far more fantastic.

Now that I have shared this information, I can understand why Mr. Bill had this so called spiritual awakening he so passionately explains in this you tube video I watched.

One of the other statements that concern me is anonymity being a spiritual principle. Let’s look at what is found the NA’s How It Works, How and Why literature (pg132)

“Anonymity, the spiritual foundation of our traditions, supports NA unity as well. When we apply anonymity to the first tradition, we overlook the differences that would separate us.” Now let’s look at what the 1^st tradition is, “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity.” What kind of foolishness is this? Anonymity mean secrecy and if people apply secrecy to this tradition it would mean that you have NO say, personal opinion or individuality in your recovery process. So in other words, keep your opinions and beliefs to yourself because NA unity is more important than your personal recovery. In my opinion this influences fear of speaking your mind and is a form of bondage; it only holds you to conform to their way of living. For the believer it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is most important.

In Romans 8:14-15, it says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God; For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” For when our time is up on this earth everyone is going to have to give an account for themselves. God is not going to ask you “What did the Big Book or the NA book say and did you follow it. Please take a look at two of the most enlightening scriptures that some believers I believed have overlooked. The first one comes from Matthew 10:33, which says, “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” and Luke 9:26, which says, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” These two scriptures put to rest this so called spiritual principle of anonymity. As it says in Matthew 12:36, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.” The whole concept of their 1^st tradition is centered in building groups [with no voice] and NOT Faith in Christ. I will say this until the day my Lord and Savior calls me home, “We grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ, not in the knowledge of the steps and NA literature. Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly, he did not come to give us a program. Another statement that needs to be exposed is found on pg. 132 of Its Works, how and why is this, “In the context of unity, anonymity means that the message of recovery is for every addict who wants it. We learn to set aside our prejudices and focus on our common identity as addicts.” Now I hope you can see what I mean concerning being conformed to this world’s way of thinking. This statement is only speaking of a person’s sinful nature without Christ, and in the context of identifying yourself by your past performance. Romans 8:5-14 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Now you tell me who is the liar; God or this program. The Father quickened us together with Christ and has raised us together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2: 4-6) The only help I know is found in the name of the Lord. Our help is not found in any other name on the face of this earth. I am not concerned with what people say against me nor am I concerned with how established this organization is. My only concern is with doing the work of the Lord and walking in Faith while being a Minister of reconciliation. I leave you all with this:

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Close Encounters of the 12th Kind

In my effort to find the founding predators, oh I’m sorry, I meant the predecessors of Narcotics Anonymous, I ran across Mr. Bill Wilson who is one of the men who actually started Alcoholics Anonymous; then I ran across a video of his spiritual experience and here he describes his experience this way:

“If you are an alcoholic, you have an obsession that condemns you to drink; an allergy that condemns you to die. Your only resource is a spiritual experience. If there is a God, will he show himself! And then came the miracle. The room instantly lit up, in a blinding glare of white, white light. I was seized by an ecstasy such as I have never known. It seemed to me that I then stood on a mountain top, where a great clean wind was blowing. I thought to myself, but this is not air; this is spirit. This is the God of the preachers. I felt myself filled with the consciousness of the presence of spirits, of God.”  What!!!!! Does he mean he was in the presence of 'spirits' or in the presence of 'God'. So I guess he just walked right pass Jesus as if he’s irrelevant…As if he has more authority than Jesus Christ in the Spirit realm.

[But Bill never once mentioned Jesus in this experience, but Paul had a similar experience on the road to Damascus and he was persecuting the believers in the beginning] Selah!!!
So what spirits seized him in ecstasy? This sounds so familiar to me. Hmmmmmmm!

As I remember the story of Jesus being led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, I noticed that this man’s description of this occurrence sounds more like an “Ecstasy” trip. In Matthew 4:3-4, it says, “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Now look at what Mr. Bill is saying above, “If there is a God, will he show himself!" And then came the miracle. The room instantly lit up in a blinding glare of white, white light.” Not once did this man use the words “It is written” as a defense against this spirit. The written word of God is the only defense against satan.

So in essence, the enemy already knew by the words that proceeded out of his mouth that he questioned if there is even a God to begin with. He just opened the door and has given place for the enemy to operate. So the devil knew that it wouldn’t take much to tempt and deceive him, because Mr. Bill didn’t know who he was from the start. But 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” [Remember that white, white light he described] I like the way he describes how he stood on a mountain top, where a great clean air was blowing. Now listen to this, he says he thought to himself this is not air, but spirit. Well what do people do with air? They breathe it in, so in actuality he is describing the inhaling of this spirit. Many might say I have gone overboard, but I beg to differ. Listen to it for yourself @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNmFjszzrKo&feature=related.

Truly I can say that this deceiving spirit comes straight from satan. It says in 1 John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” Not only this scripture, but it also says in 1 John 4:1-4, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every (human) spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every (human) spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” So if his spiritual experience was from God, then why does his literature only tell people to get “a god of your own understanding” The literature not only expresses a form of the antichrist, but it says this is the “spirit” of the Antichrist” and the spirit of a thing is what pushes or gives power to the thing itself. It’s like the engine of a car; the engine is what powers it and makes it run. In other words, “the spirit” of the Antichrist is the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one, as translated by Greek the definition. So why are people so bent on following and practicing these philosophies and high sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ? Are people so desperate to be clean from drugs that they will try anything; even at the risk of humiliating themselves even more by confessing that they are what they have done and that they will be this way forever, or are people simply tired of the consequences of their drug use, but want to continue to live a sinful lifestyle? I am not by in large speaking of all members of Narcotics Anonymous. I am speaking of the deceiving spirits, half truths and flat out lies that people have conceived as truth and try to push it on others as if NA is the only way to be free from addiction, and have the nerve to tell people that “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program” (AA, How It Works Chapter 5) but as the word says in 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” I stand on the “Word of God”, not on the words of a man who believes he had an encounter with God, but has never confessed Christ as the way, the truth or the life. He only writes about “A God of your own understanding” and people eat it up like it’s something good to eat. Another thing bothers me about what I found in Narcotics Anonymous, It Works How and Why, step one, pg. 7 it says, “The spiritual part of our disease, the part we may recognize only by a feeling of emptiness or loneliness when we first get clean, is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of addiction for us. Because this part of our disease affects us so profoundly and so personally, we may be overwhelmed when we think about applying a program of recovery to it. However, we need to keep in mind that recovery doesn’t happen overnight for anyone.” First of all, this is describing what a person experiences spiritually and mentally once their bodies have been clean from drug use, and the feeling of emptiness and loneliness is most liking what I call "A God shaped whole" that only Jesus can fill. I have experienced these same feelings, but the only difference in this description, as it pertains to me, is that I did not apply a program of recovery to it. “IT” being what NA calls the “spiritual part of the disease” [stronghold]. But for the true purposes of recovery and restoration through Christ, I will explain what I see in this statement. As it states in Matthew 12:43-45, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Here lies the root of the problem. The unsaved, unbelieving members have no way of fighting against this spirit that influences the stronghold of addiction. Instead people are being led to believe that the 12 traditions and steps of recovery can fight against an unseen enemy of their souls, so they apply the program to “IT” and therefore people remain powerless against the enemy. NA’s literature is not spiritual in nature. Their literature is merely basic worldly principles and steps written by a man who himself struggled with his addiction and claimed “powerlessness” over it and by the way, Mr. Bill admittedly states he felt the presence of spirits. [plural] Keep in mind that John 4:24 says, "God is a "spirit" [singular], and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Let me break this down for you. Spiritual warfare is an invisible war in which we cannot fight with carnal weapons. There are only two divisions in the invisible war. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me" (Luke 11:23). You cannot be neutral in this spiritual war. You are on one side or the other. Please take a look at John 6:63, it says, “It is the Spirit [singular] who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” The Greek translation of the word “spirit” in the text refers to a way which emphasizes his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth"). Without the working of the Holy Spirit and the Power He gives to overcome the addiction, people are left empty and feeling hopeless and for this reason, I can see how this would affect people in a profound and personal way because people want to be free and the fear of using again does enter our minds, and people long for something to fill them with the Power that can free them from this stronghold. Mentioning God as a higher power and actually confessing Jesus as that Power by using and referencing His word are two different things. I have never seen such foolishness in my life, except when I was in active addiction…This is nonsense and the word clearly tells us in Hosea 4:6[a], “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Well, when are God’s people going to wake up and hear the voice of the Lord? As a Believer, I know by faith that the only way to get to God is by way of Christ. I have steadied myself in this fight to expose the enemy in recovery for the purpose of setting the minds of people free from deceit, half truths, and flat out lies; And the only way to do that is to reveal the Truth of God’s word, but as it says in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” I am confident, just by reading 2 Timothy 2:17-19 where it explains the spread of profane and idle babbling from mere men, and how their message spread like cancer; for these men actually strayed from the truth, but it goes on to say that by spreading these untruths they have overthrown the faith of others. In my opinion this is what Narcotics Anonymous is doing to people in this day and time. But let’s not forget what it goes on to say in verse 19, I love this part. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Since the solid foundation still stands, I will to. Once the Truth is conceived in the hearts of the individuals who have been deceived and lied to, I believe they will depart from sin and leave disconnect themselves from the unfruitful works of darkness and truly seek God through Christ to be resurrected, renewed, revived and restored by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Be Blessed!!