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Holy Addiction
Contributed by Ed Warfield on Apr 20, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The Word was David’s delight. Others persecuted him for his passion, but he hardly noticed. He was lost in another realm, addicted to the Word. Let’s become a sacred conduit through which God flows into the created realm & changes the destiny of humanity.
Holy Addiction
Intro.: The Word of God was David’s delight and satisfaction. In it he feasted on the beauty of God. Others didn’t understand his passion. They persecuted, slandered and betrayed him, but he hardly noticed – Psalm 119:23. Davis was lost in another realm, addicted to the Word.
David knew God because he was saturated with His Word. He promoted meditating on the Word day and night, Psalm 1:2 and he also vowed to delight himself in God’s statutes and to not forget His Word – Psalm 119:16
I. Heavenly Minded
SAYING: He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good!
A. Show me that in the Bible
NOTE: With the majority of believers, it’s just the opposite, they are so earthly minded, they are no heavenly good.
B. There are 3 distinct mindsets:
1. Earthly minded – Romans 8:5-17 (Message)
2. Religious minded – Mark 7:5-7 & 13
3. Heavenly minded – Colossians 3:1-3
• Those that are earthly minded are captivated by the things of this world and block any flow from the eternal realm
• Those that are religious minded are captivated by hype or dogma. They are mostly irrelevant to society and have little impact
• Those that are heavenly minded are a sacred conduit through which God flows into the created realm and changes the destiny of humanity
NOTE: The devil has absolutely convinced a large majority of believers that if they completely sell out to Jesus, their lives would be dull and boring, filled with endless days of praying, Bible studies and solitude. Many of these same people will also believe the lie that in heaven we will be floating around on clouds, strumming harps forever and that they could be with their buddies in hell, partying hard.
C. Christianity is boring when it’s your “hobby” not your “passion”
1. Wherever your passions are, is what owns you
2. A job, a bank account, a fantasy (these are all drugs of a sort)
III. What are we addicted to?
A. I’ve seen a lot of drug addicts
1. They have given up EVERYTHNG for drugs
a. Moms sell their children for drug money
b. Men forsake their careers and families for drugs
c. Respectable people become thieves and murderers
B. I’ve known many “stuff” addicts
1. The accumulation of “things” is their priority
2. They never have enough
3. Their next “toy” is their priority
C. I’ve met many “religion” addicts
1. Their church, favorite TV evangelist or denomination is their
primary topic of discussion
2. Tradition holds sway over “presence”
D. God longs for a people that are addicted to Him
II Chron. 16:9 (Message), “…God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him...”
1. The disciples were addicted to Jesus – READ: John 6:66-69
a. vs. 68 “…Lord, to whom shall we go?”
2. Paul was the same…
3. No turning back!
QUESTION: Do you think these men led boring lives?
• Just think, they had no cell phones, no Wii’s, no DVD players in their vehicles and no satellite TV
• Everyday of their lives was an adventure
• Why? Because they had embraced something not only worth living for, but worth dying for!
Concl.: Jesus has a twofold mission: To seek the lost & save them
We also have a twofold mission:
To build a global army of disciples – Matt. 28:19
To get them addicted to His presence & His Word – Eph 4:11-16
1. Radicals or fanatics who live as the Glorious Bride of Christ
Let’s become that heavenly minded sacred conduit through which God flows into the created realm and changes the destiny of humanity
Let’s get addicted to Jesus and His Word and pass it on to others
As Bonnie Chavda says, “I mainline Jesus”