Page 54 - Overcoming Addiction

look at women in bikinis. It would be hard to estimate how many teenage boys are
enticed into a life of lust as they are exposed to the annual swimsuit issue of
Sport’s Illustrated. This is one of Satan’s most successful traps as he takes young
men who are enthused about sports and ensnares them in a life of sexual lust.
It does not take long, however, until women in bikinis do not offer enough
stimulation to satisfy the soul. Softcore pornography is the next step, and then
hardcore pornography. Should a man be taken completely captive by the desires
that he has been feeding, these desires will become a raging monster inside and
lead to a life of adultery, fornication, or worse. Sexual predators do not become
what they are overnight. Their soul is shaped over time by that which it feeds
upon.
Those who struggle with drug addiction experience this same progression. I
have listened to many men who stated that they first engaged in underage
drinking, perhaps having some beer with friends. This then leads to a search for
greater stimulation. Liquor or marijuana is often the next step, and then cocaine,
and other drugs with a more powerful effect upon the body. The drive to satisfy
the cravings for these drugs grows more intense over time, until a person finds
themselves stealing in order to acquire that for which their body is now clamoring.
This principle of being transformed by that which we feed upon, is not all
negative, however. We can feed our souls on positive and healthy foods that shape
us in very beneficial ways. We can also feed the spirit of a man, and find that we
are increasing in conformity to the Son of God.
As the children of Israel prepared to depart Egypt they observed the very
first Passover Festival. As part of this event they were instructed to remove all
leaven (yeast) from their houses. Leaven is an ingredient added to many breads
and baked goods that causes the batter, or dough, to rise. Throughout the
Scripture bread is a symbol for man’s flesh. Leaven is also a symbol for sin.
The apostle Paul said “In my flesh dwells no good thing... Sin dwells in my
flesh.” Sin is that which causes the flesh of man to rise up. The Scriptures tell us
that in Christ there is no sin. He was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. He
was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. Just before Christ was crucified
He partook of the Passover meal with His disciples. A part of the Passover meal
was the serving of unleavened bread. As Yahshua took up the bread, He said, “This
is My body broken for you. Take and eat in remembrance of Me.” There was no
leaven in this bread, for it was a symbol of the Son of God Who is without sin.
Just prior to the Israelites leaving Egypt they removed the leaven from their
homes, and they kneaded dough without leaven which they took with them as they
left Egypt. This is symbolic of a change of diet. They were to leave behind the diet
of Egypt, and begin to eat that which was cleansed and purified. As the Israelites
were going forth into the wilderness, they would need to continue to eat, and God
wanted them to continue to eat that which would shape them into an image of
godliness. He did not want to feed their flesh. He wanted them to become like He
is, holy and righteous.
The Israelites could not carry enough food to sustain them in the wilderness,
so the Father did a remarkable thing. He gave them the bread of heaven.