Smoking is not compatible with living a Christian, Spirit-filled life.

God has commanded us, which we strive to live Holy lives. Your body has one main purpose from God's perspective, to "Bring Glory to God." That means what ever you do "SHOULD" have God's glory in mind. Smoking does not glorify God. Smoking has no good benefits and has the potential to damage the smoker's health. Smoking Not Only Harms Ones Health It Also Destroys a Christian's Testimony for the Lord. About 419,000 people die each year from cigarette and cigar smoking and that is only in the United States. Smoke defiles the body is readily seen. Smoking causes 20 percent of all deaths in the United States each year. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung disease, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is proven to cause cancer, heart disease and hormonal problems. Smoking is also linked to pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular disease. Many profess they love the Lord, but their defeated lives controlled by their addiction to cigarettes places a serious question ma rk over their professed love for Christ. Regardless of how we may try and justify it. Smoking, and spitting tobacco, is a filthy habit.

Apostle Paul says 2 Cor: 7:1.Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The truth is a smoker is an addict and he is already in bondage in much the same way as an alcoholic and is spiritually defeated. We are told in the bible that , "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Some Christians harden their heart become rebellious against Gods word and who discourage them smoking who not only would not admit their sin, but let the Devil use them to defeat. Smoking becomes addictive which makes a slave out of those who use it, it is a bad witness for the Christ, it may be harmful to others, and causes for our weaker brethren to stumble.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians5:22,23).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love (2Peter1:5-7). Avoid temptations and shun evil companions. Read Psalm 1:1-6;

Prov.1:10-16; 1Tim.4:6-16. Keep company with Gods people and seek at all

times to help others and be a blessing to them. Rom. 12,1Corinth. 13, Col. 3:5-10

That each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1Thessalonians4:4).

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians5:1,2).

We are to love our children, but people who smoke are potentially harming young children. Many studies have shown that in the first two years of life, babies of parents who smoke at home have a much higher rate of lung diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia than babies with non-smoking parents. Infants and children have tender tissues and are more susceptible to passive smoke. Acute respiratory illnesses happen twice as often to young children whose parents smoke even if they are without asthma. Passive smoke exposure is associated with 150,000 to 300,000 cases of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia in children younger than eighteen months. Exposure to smoke can cause people to develop many lung problems, such as allergies, asthma, and heart problems. A study involving children from five years-old to nine years-old showed impaired lung function in youths who had smoking parents as compared with children whose parents were non-smokers.

Smoking by pregnant women seems to predispose premature babies to respiratory distress syndrome. Parents who smoke at home can aggravate symptoms in some children with asthma and even trigger asthma episodes. Further children exposed to secondhand smoke can develop middle ear infections, suffer from wheezing, coughing, and worsen asthma conditions. It is quite contradictory for a parent to love their children and yet expose them to cigarette smoke and by their example are teaching their children to smoke also. With every temptation the Lord is present providing the way to escape the temptation and not sin.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans12:10).

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing (2Thessalonians1:3).

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