FREEDOM FROM NICOTINE
“I would walk around town feeling bad. I would be wearing a shirt that expressed my faith in Jesus, but at the same time I would be smoking a cigarette. What kind of witness was I being?”
Hello and God Bless you,
My name is Scott and I would like to share how Jesus set me free. My story begins in 2006, when I was lost in the world. I made some choices in life that caused me to lose hope and self respect. The spirit of hopelessness, working hand in hand with the spirit of suicide had me in bondage. I had a great void in my life that I was trying to fill with alcohol and different drugs.
Nothing was filling the emptiness I was experiencing, so I began to use crack. Using crack took me into a deeper bondage and those demonic spirits drove my family away, even my own daughter. With the void in my life not filled, the spirit of suicide deceived me into trying to kill myself by overdosing on crack. Even after the failed suicide attempt, I chose to continue using drugs and alcohol. My poor choices were taking me further and further away from my purpose in life.
At this time, I became homeless and I lived under a bridge or wherever I could find a place to stay. A person don’t really know how much time there is in a day until you have no where to go or nothing to do in life.
On the evening of November 6, 2006 I said to myself, “Jail would be better than this life.” The very next day, I got what I asked for, I ended up in jail. I believe God used the words I spoke the night before and said, “Thank you Scott, now I can save you.”
Three months into my jail sentence, I made a choice to try out the Bible studies that were offered. In March 2007, I became a born again Christian. It was there that I met Pastor Bob and Mike from the New Life Deliverance Center. They were such a blessing. I knew that I needed to go to the Friday night meetings they have when I got out of jail. While I was in jail, God renewed my mind and Jesus set me free from all my addictions. I was delivered from the foul tormenting spirits that had me in bondage.
On August 10, 2007 I was released from jail. During the checkout process, I received every possession that I originally went in with, even the pack of cigarettes I had. See how the devil works? Here I now had a nasty nine month old pack of cigarettes and I said to myself, “I will smoke these and quit.” That was a lie from the devil! I did not quit like I told myself.
I went to the New Life Deliverance Center the first Friday night after I was released from jail. While I was there, I saw others get delivered and share their testimonies of being set free from smoking. Although I wanted to be set free, the spirit of nicotine would tell me “one day I will be set free, but not right now.” I kept procrastinating and because I chose to listen to this deception, I remained in bondage.
BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, I Timothy 4:1 (Amplified)
I would walk around town feeling bad. I would be wearing a shirt that expressed my faith in Jesus, but at the same time I would be smoking a cigarette. What kind of witness was I being? I decided I wanted to be set free, but I still had some doubt. At the meetings, I would go to the altar and get prayed for and would be set free, but my heart and mind was not completely in agreement in this, so I would start smoking again.
Every time it got worse.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Matthew 12:43-45 (KJV)
In November 2008, at a banquet for New Life Deliverance Center, Bob made an altar call and I went forward to be prayed for. I wanted a touch from God. I raised my hands high and said, “Whatever you have for me God, I receive it in Jesus name.” Bob placed anointing oil on his fingers and placed his hand on my head and began to pray. At that moment, I felt something in my chest. I never felt anything like that before. It began to move from my chest to my neck. Whatever this was, it felt like it got stuck in my throat. I began to gasp for breath. My face began to turn blue. The Holy Spirit told me to pray in the Heavenly gift, so I did. I heard Bob yell, “Where’s the doctor?”
Meanwhile he continued to bind the spirit and command it not to manifest. At this time, Steve Coyle, the chaplain at the county jail, said, “He’s ok, he is getting set free.” I don’t know how long this process took, but I finally got my breath back and began crying as I laid on the floor. I felt so joyful. I had never felt such freedom.
I had been set free from the spirit of nicotine and since then I have not had a desire to smoke again and I have not even gained weight from not smoking. Because the wholeness of God has filled me, I have never had to worry about filling any void in my life.
From that moment on, I got stronger in my walk with Jesus, got closer to God and the ministry God is calling me into is growing. I now go to the jail and preach to the men that are incarcerated and I have been able to share my testimony at different churches and functions.
To be set free is to have the fullness of God. I praise God for setting me free that night at the New Life Deliverance Center banquet. As of today 10/18/2010, I am still set free from nicotine in Jesus name. Jesus is the only way to get set free from any evil spirit in your life.
What Jesus did for me, He will do for you too!
Shalom!
