OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS 1
TEXT: TITUS 2:12
INTRODUCTION
We shall consider the meanings of the two key words in today's study: Addiction and Overcome. Addiction is a habit or practice that damages, jeopardizes or shortens one's life.
Overcome means to win, prevail or to surmount. Addiction holds millions of people in strong bondage to substance, activities or attractions that ruin lives sometimes even to a Christian. In today's study we will lay the foundation of overcoming addiction from the biblical point of view.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
* EVERYTHING IS NOT BENEFICIAL - 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 10:23
As Christians we should not be partakers of all the pleasures of this present and dying world if we want to live long and please God. The world has their pattern of thinking and operating and we are told never to conform to the pattern of the world but to be fashioned to the image of Christ.
* DO NOT TRADE YOUR ETERNITY FOR EARTHLY PLEASURES - Mark 8:36
We can trade our destiny eternity for destructive pleasures of the world through addiction. They can only give temporary relief but they destroy our soul. There is the way that always seem right in the eyes of man but the end is destruction.
* THERE INHERITANCE IS NOT IN GOD'S KINGDOM - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
When we consider the inheritance of those who disobey the word of God, we will fight against those sinful addictions. There is the inheritance in God's kingdom, go for it.
* GOD SEES IT AS IDOLATRY: 1 Corinthians 10:14, Exodus 34:14
Idolatry is the worship of idols, and anything we admire and praise more than God is taken to be an idol. Whatever substance or activities we trust or rely on more than God must be taken out of such positions.
* WE ARE NOT TEMPTED ABOVE OUR ABILITIES: 1 Corinthians 10:13
There is no temptation that comes on our way that is greater than the grace given to us by God, so it means that those wrong cravings and addictive behaviours are not more powerful than us.
* GOD HAS THE BEST PLAN FOR US: 3 John 2, Jeremiah 29:11
Depression has led some people to addictions and that is not an excuse. Some people have resorted to quick temporary reliefs when faced with challenges but God wants us to trust in His plan and remain immovable in the face of those issues.
* WE CARRY GOD'S TEMPLE: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
The knowledge and understanding that our bodies are God's Holy temple will guide us in keeping our bodies to the glory of God. We should always see this body as a bought over property of God. Also remember Hebrews 13:4-5.
* WE ARE NOT LEFT ALONE: John 14:18, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:38-39
Be conscious of the truth that God is with you always. He did not leave us to face the enemy alone rather He fights with us only if we can yield to Him when the urge or hunger of addiction comes. God always makes a way of escape, find it and flee.
* BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT WITH DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS: Ephesians 5:18-29, John 16:7-8
The manner that Jesus Christ spoke of the need for the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer gives us a better understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit. It is not by might , knowledge, will power but by God's Spirit in us. When He comes, He gives us power to resist and live above addictions.
* OUR FIGHT IS NOT CARNAL: 2 Corinthians 10:4, Romans 7:18-19, Ephesians 6:12
One of the best tools that any recovering addict can keep at the ready is a strong sense of spirituality. Most of the destructive acts that manifest in the lives of people are connected to satanic plans and purpose. Demons are attached to these operations and activities and we must fight spiritually too.
CONCLUSION
Whether you are struggling with the addiction to alcohol, tobacco, sex, food, lying, phone, drugs, fashion and gambling etc, admitting that you have a challenge is the first step to overcoming it. Remember that others may but you cannot.
