How to quit smoking, drinking and hard drugs

By Pastor (Dr.) Elisha Olusheye

Dear Reader,

Addiction and its consequences: Let us face the facts. The awful monster, drug, many times in disguise, is threatening and destroying what God created noble and good. Today, more than ever before, like the tentacles of a mighty octopus, they grasp and draw both young and old alike into their embrace. Multitudes are living in a dream world of addiction to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Pressured on every side by their peers, parental faults, and the various misleading commercial advertisements (on radio, television, newspapers and bill boards), many fall victims to the resulting degradation.

Smoking: For example, concealed in the feathers of the aromatic smoke of the innocent-looking cigarette are lethal poisons that kill, erode the senses, and defile the body, bring untimely death to the smoker, and eventually lead the person’s soul to eternal hell fire, because the holy Bible clearly states that, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (I Cor. 3:17). What is more, because of the gradual, progressive addiction to and later insatiable appetite for cigarette-smoking, many smokers delve into marijuana (Indian hemp) smoking and eventually end up with other hard drugs such as cocaine, heroine, etc., all of which are the favourites of armed robbers, assassins, murderers, rapists, cultists, and other dangerous and notorious criminals in our society.

It is because of the ruinous effects and grave consequences of cigarette smoking that the Federal Government of Nigeria has banned smoking in public places and ordered all advertisers of cigarettes to add this warning every time that, “The Federal Ministry of Health warns that cigarette smokers are liable to die young.”

The root of sinful indulgence stems from social practices. The curse of smoking, drinking and drug addiction is leaving society adrift on the sea of eternal destruction. Breakdown of morals on school campuses is a frightening picture.


Alcoholism: An epidemic of huge proportions is upon today’s society. Aside from drugs, alcoholic drink is one of the greatest corrupters of public morals, destroying character and wasting money while millions go hungry and need bread. It has been said that drunkenness has killed more men than all the wars of history.

Alcohol is a poisonous drug, and it is the essential ingredient in all intoxicating drinks. This poisonous drug (alcohol) is what the addicted person is craving for. The history of the liquor traffic condemns it. Its history is written in blood and tears. Alcoholism has shed more blood, broken more homes, armed more villains, slain more children, wrecked more lives, broken more hearts, than any other scourge that has ever cursed the world. It causes majority of accidents and untimely deaths.

Alcohol is a robber: It robs its victims of their money, their senses, their happiness and all that makes life worthwhile, and finally robs them of the eternal salvation of their souls! The liquor business is a lying business. Look at the advertisements: these show happy groups which are quite sober. If the men in this business were honest enough, they would show the state of their customers at the end of a day or a night of drinking!

What the Bible says: In Proverbs 23:29-32 the Bible severely warns us saying, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without a cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” The devastating effects of alcoholism are so serious as previously indicated by experts, hence the Bible also denounces the intoxicating wine (and all forms of alcoholic drinks for that matter) in Proverbs 20:1, saying, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”

Solution: Dear friend, are you captured by the smoking or drinking habit? Have you thought about death – sudden death, and where you will spend eternity? Death is lurking everywhere – it is right beside you as a shadow! To get complete victory over smoking, alcoholism and drugs, you must come to Jesus immediately, with your load of sins, bad habits and whatever else is displeasing about you. The Lord Jesus Christ is hereby calling you as He says, “Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… for My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

To get complete victory over smoking, alcoholism and drugs therefore, you must have a real spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-7), and Christ has further assured us that whoever comes to Him will never be rejected (John 6:37). The decision is up to you. You alone can do it, by taking the following steps: (1) You must want complete victory over your life’s problems. (2) You must realise that Jesus Christ died for your sins so you can have victory and eternal life; believe and accept with your heart this scriptural truth about God’s only plan of salvation for humanity. (3) Then repent of your sins and surrender yourself completely into Christ’s hands.

Christ will give you the courage to face the problems of life, and the strength to be an overcomer in the temptations that assail you until you stand together with the victors in the end in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit (6)

By Pastor S.S.Jemigbon

The beneficiaries of this are those that have divine power that awakens man to hear the sound of the trumpet, the glorious call for the feast of the Lamb, at which the redeemed of the Lord shall receive their rewards according to His riches in glory.

John the Baptist announced the mission of Jesus Christ to the world. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matt. 3: 11; Luke 3: 16). This presupposes that the Spirit has an effect of fire. On the day of Pentecost it was not mistaken as His infilling was described as a cloven fire descending on the disciples, after which the baptized 120 men began to spread the Gospel across the world. It was a holy flame of God that emboldened the believers to have deep passion for evangelism..

Jesus Christ confirmed the infilling of the Holy Spirit in Himself as He began His earthly mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4: 18-19).

Apostle Peter testified to the wonderful power and effect of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s ministry. In Acts 10:38, he talked on “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him”

The presence of Holy Spirit in you is a testimony of the power of God and His presence to inspire you towards attaining His purpose. Jesus Christ wanted all His disciples to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire like Himself. From thence He was able to establish the New Covenant.

“The Spirit’s Shekinah-glory, His holy flame, is for all of us believers in this dispensation of grace. It is to make us beautiful in life. This is God’s New Testament norm for His children. How much more it should be typical for all leaders in Christ’s Church!” (Wesley L. Duewel writes in Ablaze for God). He goes further to say that “when the Holy Spirit sets our heart aflame, He will cause our words to be aflame”. His works are described in the following points, according to Duewel:* He sets you aflame with His fiery baptism (Matthew 3: 11).

( to be continued )