Overcoming Addiction 2 Series

TOPIC: OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS 2

TEXT: TITUS 2:12

INTRODUCTION

Most people who engage in addictive behaviors and go on to develop an actual addiction, find out that overcoming it is more challenging than they expected. So it is better to prevent the problems than struggling to solve them. Thanks be to God because there is hope to the broken and addict who desires freedom from the bondage - John 16:33 ... "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" and read; 1 Peter 5:10. We shall continue to find out ways to overcome addictions according to the biblical view:

1) BE BORN AGAIN: JOHN 3:1-6, GALATIANS 3:26, 1PETER 1:22-25

Being born again gives us the freedom and the authority to stand to fight the enemies of our walk with God. This gives us a new life and we become sons of God because of the seed of God in us that is not perishable nor corrupt.

2) BELIEVE IN GOD : PHILIPPIANS 4:13, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

We have to believe that through Jesus Christ that overcame the world, that we can do all things of which overcoming addiction is part of it. There is no depth that the hand of God cannot reach to deliver us if we can believe.

3) SUBMIT YOUR SELF TO GOD : JAMES 4:7, PSALM 143:10, MATTHEW 12:50

We must consciously submit that part of us to God daily. Starve your self of the lustful cravings. Submission will demand discipline and allow Jesus Christ to Lord over us.

4) AVOID BAD COMPANY: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:33, 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14, MATTHEW 5:30

To be able to overcome certain destructive addictions we must cut off some unhealthy relationships. The company of friends you keep will define you - Proverbs 13:20. Sometimes to be a Christian means that you can no longer fit into every environment. The worldly pattern is different from Christ's pattern. Psalm 26:4-5.

5) GO FOR A RENEWED MIND: ROMANS 12:2, HEBREWS 12:1, PSALM 51:10

A mind that is governed by the flesh is hostile to God - Romans 8:7. Think and engage your mind positively - Philippians 4:8. We have a great responsibility to pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations - 2 Corinthians 10:3-7. Imaginations are the elementary components of strongholds, besetting sins give the devil a foothold that if we do not pull them out, they become strongholds (places of contention). We must recognize and apply God's purpose for our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. The word of God helps in the preserving of our minds - Titus 2:12

6) WATCH AND PRAY: MATTHEW 26:41, PHILIPPIANS 4:6, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:17

CONCLUSION

When we indulge in sinful addiction, our senses will begin to interpret signal and information wrongly; consider the case in Genesis 3:8,10 - Adam and Eve had the voice of God and instead of them to be encouraged, they were terrified. Starve yourself, knowing that the flesh will not perish with the soul in hell fire.