05/30/2010 Freedom from Addiction

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Lord, thank You – prepare our hearts – as we worship You – knowing You are our King and God and that You are on our side – prepare our hearts – encourage, comfort, challenge, and even reprove us as we look at Your word.

1 Peter 2: 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe [them,] glorify God in the day of visitation.
Last week, we did some background stuff – and looked at the circumstances of the original audience. It is important to understand – to get the original meaning of the author to the people to whom it was written. The aliens and strangers were a displaced people, persecuted for their faith – afflicted because of their faith and circumstances. They were the marginalized poor, filling the churches. Peter was encouraging them to be faithful to God in the midst of the difficulties – to continue with holy living.
To bring it to our time – and to focus on personal application – it is important to start from that premise – but to realize that we aren’t exactly in their situation. This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day – as a nation we are blessed – because of those who have given their lives for our freedoms. As we apply this – we recognize that we belong to another kingdom – we are going to heaven, and temporarily living in this kingdom. Too often, we think THIS world is permanent – but we belong to another world and need to live for that world and by the standards of that world. Our tendency is to live by the standards of this world.
We look at the standard of culture – and we think if we are doing a little better, we are doing okay. But there is a standard of living in God’s world that is opposite of what the culture puts forth.
The problem we have – in the Church, there is not much difference in lifestyle from those outside the church. That is a problem – we should be radically different.
I am going to read this – written in 1951 –
The only thing that can save the world from complete moral collapse is a spiritual revolution. If Christians would live up to what they profess to believe, the revolution would happen. One thing that remains is for Christians to affirm their Christianity by that full and unequivocal rejection of the world which their baptismal vocation demands of them. This will certainly not incapacitate them for social action in the world, for it is the one essential (ingredient) of a Christian apostolate.
Fleshly lusts – Sinful desires – bad habits. When I think of lust, I think of appetite. I think, as Americans, we have huge appetites in all kinds of areas – not just food. We have very large sexual appetites – and for money, power, things. Work, substance abuse – entertainment – technology. Maybe you know someone who has all things Mac. Addictions to cellphones – NEVER TEXT IN CHURCH! There is a special place…oh not really. In Financial Peace – someone from outside the church joined – said that she had purchased about 600 novels – This verse is not just about sexuality! A lot of people think – if I am okay in that one – I am okay! But there are sinful habits that wage war on our souls – things that are going to battle against us that we need to get a grip on.
This week will be very practical – I am going to talk about how to overcome – whatever area it is in your life. I will through out examples – but I am not narrowing it to those examples. I know I told you last week that this week’s message would be pointless – but I have about 6 points.
The first thing to do to overcome whatever it is you are facing.
1) Acknowledge you have a problem - Profound, huh? Straight out of AA – but they got it from the Bible.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Maybe you are thinking – this is not about me, I can go back to texting! But look what this says! We live in a time where there is an excuse for everything. We have taken SIN out of our vocabulary. Even as a pastor – you think, I hate to talk about sin – what if someone doesn’t like that. But if we say we don’t have sin – we are deceiving ourselves. As you get older – you recognize and see – you would think it would be the other way – but you see your flaws.
We like to live in denial. We learn to live in denial because that is the only way we can make it! People do it for decades! Some for their entire lives – all the while, the thing they are denying is destroying them, ruining their lives.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So it starts by acknowledging that there is something wrong – all of us must change. In doing that – I believe that is the first step to hope. Too often, we don’t believe change is possible. But it is – it takes time and hard work. Acknowledging what is wrong is the first step to hope.
2) Seek to understand the issue – the temptation – in our lives. How did it get there? How does it work?
James 1: 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
This is a unique line here - we undertstand that we are fallen creatures. This is part of our nature, due to Adam and Eve. But we have our own lust – how we’ve been broken and flawed – and those issues cause us – it is because of those that we are involved in areas that are not good from us. We need to get in there and understand why – why is this the area we struggle with? When you get angry – it is usually over…like the other night – 4 in the morning – the cat – 18 ways to meow and each one more pitiful. So I got up and let that one out. This cat – ½ hour later – is banging its body against the door – you know – Your kids do something – and you blow up as if they just broke all ten commandments! The anger comes from inside of you – yes, maybe they did the wrong thing and you need to deal with that. All sexual addictions – immorality – we say, yes, that is sin – and it is. But we also need to understand – that kind of sin – sexual addiction – comes from some relational brokenness. We think they are just lustful people, but there is a relational brokenness that creates that. We need to go into those lives and help them to be healed from all that has gone wrong. It is the soul that God wants to heal – the heart – whatever you want to call it.
Next – we need to understand our preoccupation with the temptation.
Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.' " 4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make [one] wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
Look what is happening here – there is this preoccupation with the tree – what about the middle one? You can picture – as the serpent is talking – that they are walking and there they are – and then she looks at it – and studies the fruit – and it was a delight to the eyes and desirable to make one wise – and she took it! We get preoccupied with it – it fills our minds. Maybe you’re infatuated with the next iThing – I was at a Pastor’s conference – and a guy with the new iPad walked by…
Think about your own life – you look at something – then you examine it – and become preoccupied with it.
Then you need to analyze – any area in which you struggle, you have a pattern of failure. Maybe your issue is overeating – and there is a pattern of failure in your life – maybe it is depression – or a failure at work – or like Neil Postman said – to amuse yourself to death – to vege out and accomplish nothing.
When you recognize you are in the pattern – this happens causing that – which causes this and that and you end up there! If you can stop at This causes that…
We need to shine the light of God’s truth on the area:
Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
God’s word starts in our hearts – that inside of us which we think - it starts there and when we bring God’s word into that area of our life – there is a power to transform. It exposes things that are wrong – it has a healing and transformational power inside of us.
It goes to work inside of us. It is living and active – cutting through all the other stuff to the core of who we are and it works on that core. It is a work.
Fourth – we are to create new preoccupations!
Romans 8: 5 For those who are according to the flesh preoccupy their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind preoccupied on the flesh is death, but the mind preoccupied on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind preoccupied on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so]; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Don’t think about a pink polka dotted elephant – well, all you can think of is that! You need to focus on something else – maybe a green polka-dotted elephant! Just kidding. When you are angry – you need to focus on peace and patience.
This is true about everything – if it is self-control in eating – it might not just be about stopping eating – but putting on exercise and working in the yard.
Take away the opportunity!
Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts.
If you struggle with pornography – you should not have unlimited unrestricted access to the Internet. Remove that which makes it easy – that gives the opportunity to dive into this. This is not magical – there is no magic in God! We think of miracles and we connect that to magic – God does miracles – but He has set up life in such a way that if we do what He recommends, our lives will go better.
We need to get a partner
2 Tim. 2: 22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love [and] peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
You can’t do it on your own – you need a partner.
Why does AA work? Accountability. Weightwatchers? Accountability. You need someone to talk with. Not a lot of people – but just a couple who can help you and hold you accountable.
Some simple, practical things –
Set goals. If you want to quit smoking – you need to set a goal to not smoke for one day – maybe it is one hour – then two days, etc.
So it is with whatever you struggle in – achievable, specific goals.
Celebrate every little victory! That doesn’t mean go out and buy a sundae every time you don’t yell at your kids. I am trying to learn to be more thankful. When something – when positive things happen – to really stop and thank God – to recognize that positive thing is happening because of God.
Finally – this might sound like pop psychology – remember it is a journey and not a destination. Hallukah – to walk – that is how the Jews viewed their lives and to follow God’s law and ways – taking one step and then another and another. It is a process. It is something to live out. Too often, we take out the journey – we just type in where we are going and where we are leaving – but walking with God is a journey. There is deep meaning here – our life is a journey with God. That is biblical – that is how they thought – it was a journey. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
1 Peter 2: 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe [them,] glorify God in the day of visitation.
You know – what he closes off by saying – we have a higher goal – the goal is NOT to not be angry or to NOT be involved in sexual immorality or abusing substances – the ultimate goal is to glorify God. That is where the motivation comes from. God has created us for a purpose and we are to become all He wants us to become as we learn to live and walk as He asks.
Let’s pray – Lord, we thank You and ask You to help us – we each have areas in life where we struggle – no one is immune. Help us to confront, acknowledge – to face those things we struggle with – it could be an area of addiction or an emotional difficulty that we allow to affect the way we treat others. Help us to deal with it by Your grace and power.