Addiction is stealing the lives and destinies of so many of God’s children who can’t find their way out. Many good people suffer in silence from the effects of this deadly disease.
We were addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. The disease tried to kill us, and we thought there was no hope.
We finally hit rock bottom (incarceration) and found a word that would change our lives forever: Tetelestai.
Tetelestai is the Greek word that means, “It is finished!” It was the final declaration of Jesus from the cross.
We watched the power of Tetelestai play out in a courtroom verdict that no one saw coming. The shock and disbelief gave way to hopeful anticipation as we enthusiastically came into agreement with Jesus and declared our addictions FINISHED.
Living clean and sober in the power of Jesus’ words ushered us into a life that is better than we ever thought possible.
This program was developed by addicts, for addicts. God redeemed our past, gathered the broken pieces, and made us into something useful for His Kingdom.
Have you ever felt stuck? I don’t mean stuck in prison, stuck in a ditch, or stuck in the mud or snow. I also don’t mean stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, stuck in a job, or stuck with your kids.
The kind of stuck I’m talking about has to do with feelings of despair, dysfunctional behaviors, addiction, or anything else that impacts your life negatively, leaving you feeling hopeless about getting unstuck.
Sometimes we become stuck due to an obsession of the mind. It’s something that we just can’t let go of. We want to break free, but it seems to have an unshakable hold on us. What do we do?
It only takes a little faith us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus to keep us afloat. We want to stay in the safety of the boat where everything is familiar. We want to experience smooth sailing with no waves or winds. However, there is a little seed of faith inside which tells us there is so much more to life what we have known. We are certain that we have a destiny to fulfill. We know it starts with a single step…out of the comfort zone and into the unknown.
We take a deep breath, whisper, “It is finished!” to our fear of change and take that first shaky step toward the sound of His voice.
Name a time when you took a risk and moved forward despite the presence of natural fear?
We believed we were no longer damaged, dysfunctional, disease-ridden plagues on society. We sensed that our bodies, souls, and spirits were coming into harmony with our divine destiny. As light seeped in where the darkness had been, we saw things we’d never seen before. We understood spiritual concepts which had seemed confusing in the past.
We know that our emotions can be a powerful force that affects us, body, mind, and soul. We also know that Jesus has made a way to escape being controlled by our feelings, which can range from pesky to obsessive or even frightening. We are told in the Word that we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. This flies in the face of feelings which indicate something is wrong with us. Our feelings are no match for the Word of God. If the Creator of the universe says we are righteous, then our emotions have no right to dispute it.
We have been made right by the blood of Christ which was donated as a divine transfusion to heal us from the inside out. The emotions we feel, the sounds we hear, the words we say, and the images we see, must all defer to the words of our King who has decreed ‘tetelestai‘ (it is finished) over all that is wrong with us.
At the end of the movie, while still experiencing these physical reactions associated with danger, the lights in the theater would brighten and the audience would stand to leave. Those feelings of tension, which had been so prominent a few minutes earlier, would completely disappear along with its physiological effects.
We were never really in danger, but our feelings responded to sights and sounds from the screen, rather than the truth of reality. Surprisingly, our physical responses quickly corresponded with our feelings, despite the fact that our emotions were based on unrealities.
Tetelestai Recovery – Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, “It is Finished!”
Within the pages of this book you will learn how to move out of your addiction and into your destiny. Through their personal journey of recovery, the authors present indisputable evidence that total healing and release from the disease of addiction can be found through the final declaration of Christ, “It is finished!”
Whether you are a suffering addict; an exhausted 12-stepper; a chronic relapser; or a person who loves one, Tetelestai Recovery will open your eyes to the possibility of permanent sobriety without the struggle. This revolutionary concept is bringing radical changes to the recovery community. You are here for a reason and it’s time to find out why.
When comparing our cognitive distortions against the eight descriptive words in Philippians 4:8, we find a way out. With these eight guardrails in place, we can choose which thoughts to keep and which ones to set aside.
Pure
Right
Excellent
Praiseworthy
Lovely
Admirable
Noble
True
Using the acronym, PREPLANT, we can check ourselves regularly throughout the day to make sure the thoughts running through our heads line up with at least one on the list.
If a thought does not meet the criteria, it is deemed unhealthy and carries the potential to make us sick. We cannot level up until we let go of the thoughts that don’t measure up.
One member of the group shared about self-esteem issues that led him into criminal behavior and addiction. From childhood, he had been trying to cope with the confusion of trauma, unaware of what to call it. He struggled with feelings of unworthiness and was unable to feel a sense of value. That all changed when he made the choice to learn about trauma and its effects. He chose to develop a relationship with Jesus, his Healer. He made a choice to forgive and move away from the pain.
Because he says yes to openness, and no to suffering in silence, he now operates in a position of influence and serves as an advocate for others. He has the wisdom of God and the heart of a servant.
Another member shared about his past life of uncontrollable rage that resulted in murder. He spoke about feeling as if he had no choice when it overtook him. His experience with rage was like driving on a slippery, muddy road at full speed, headed straight for the ditch, and unable to stop.
It was hard for us to believe he had ever struggled with rage. This is a man who carries the joy of the Lord on his face. His smile is contagious, his demeanor is humble, and he radiates positive energy whenever he walks into the room. He often speaks of love and forgiveness as if it is his lifeline. He makes a conscious decision to forgive whenever he is wronged. He refuses to carry a grudge, but instead, chooses to walk in love. He says no to rage and yes to compassion. Forgiveness and joy are no longer second nature to him; they are his new normal.
Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!" 