BREAKING FREE OF CONTROLLING HABITS!
Galatians 5:1-2
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Sometimes being close isn’t good enough. Like Bill, who ordered a cord of firewood to be delivered for $100.
2. When the firewood was delivered, Bill got upset. “That’s not a full cord of wood,” Bill objected. “That’s what I call a cord,” the man answered firmly.
3. Bill fished around in his pocket and thrust some bills into the man’s hand. “Hey wait a minute,” the woodsman complained after counting the money. “You only gave me $70!" Bill shrugged his shoulders & replied, “That’s what I call $100!”
B. TEXT
1. Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
2. Today I want to speak to you about how to break free from life-controlling habits. 2 Pet. 2:19 says, “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” The Living Bible says, “For a man is a slave to whatever controls him.”
3. Many times when people hear a message about breaking free from habits, they think, ”This is a good one for the drug addict and the alcoholic; I’m not in the spotlight.” But 2 Peter could apply to almost all of us, because most people need to break free from something.
4. Some people are slaves to work, some are slaves of jealousy, some are slaves to gossip, some are a slave to anger, pornography, legal drug prescriptions, over-eating, or are slaves to fear or peer pressure.
5. So Today I want us to take an inventory of the Controlling NEGATIVE HABITS we allow in our lives, that need to be broken.
I. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY A CONTROLLING HABIT
A. WHAT IS A CONTROLLING HABIT?
1. A controlling habit is something you find yourself doing even though it is destructive – either physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally or spiritually. It’s something you do even though you wish you wouldn’t do it.
2. Paul recognized this dilemma, “I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate” (Rom. 7:15), even though he had good intentions. We must understand – MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE BOUND by controlling habits.
3. Some think that if we admit we have a habit, then we’re less spiritual. Denial only covers up the problem.
4. In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, BELIEVERS reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from:
#1 Materialism
#2 Pride
#3 Self-centeredness
#4 Laziness
#5 Anger/Bitterness (Tie)
#6 Sexual Lust
#7 Envy
#8 Gluttony
#9 Lying
5. Look at this list. Honestly, how many of these could be applied to you? Have you given up struggling against them? It’s important to bring your inabilities to God and let Him deal with them.
6. “Pride” is a major issue facing Christians that keeps them from getting deliverance. The church is sick but she doesn’t want to admit it. We have to admit we’re sick before we can take steps to achieve healing.
7. Modern Christians have adopted an ‘unbelief in change,’ adopting secular counseling ideas which tells us, “this is just who I am.” People accept their fallen natures and then decide they can never change. We’ve accepted the victim mentality. It doesn’t matter whether it’s alcohol, over-eating, or same-sex attraction – it all derives from temptation & our fallen natures. We need redemption and re-creation!
8. YES, IN THE NATURAL, WE CAN’T CHANGE, BUT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! Aren’t we a people of resurrection and hope? Don’t we serve a God Who still works miracles? Isn’t the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead living inside us? We need to leave off psychoanalysis and get back to the Jesus who still “breaks the power of cancelled sin!”
B. ILLUS: EXAMPLE OF CONTROLLING PRIDE
1. In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident.
2. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction or even a thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ships presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.
C. SIN IS A BIG DEAL IN GOD’S EYES
1. Red Devil Tool Company of Union, N.J. has as their slogan, “It’s easy with the devil.” They boast that their tools transform difficult tasks into simple ones. But they’re wrong: it’s NOT EASIER WITH THE DEVIL! The Bible says, “The way of the transgressor is hard!”
2. The Bible tells us the goal of Satan is to destroy us (Jn 10:10). He makes sin appear attractive. He shows the pleasures of sin, but not the consequences.
3. He shows the party with people drinking & dancing; but not the drunk driver killing an innocent family or beating his wife. Satan emphasizes the attraction of sex, but not the aborted baby or the sexually transmitted disease. He shows us the desirability of wealth or popularity, but he doesn’t show you the emptiness or suicides. Money does NOT make you happier -- relationships do. And the most important relationship is relationship with God!
4. Sin causes premature deaths, broken and dysfunctional homes, loneliness and heartache. The end of sin is separation from God for eternity.
II. WHY ARE CONTROLLING HABITS SO POWERFUL?
A. CONTROLLING HABITS SLOWLY BIND YOU
1. Controlling habits, at first, are almost unnoticeable. People often say, “I can quit at any time.” But Habits are like a cable: they intertwine and are strengthened, one day at a time, until we find that together, they have become an unbreakable cable.
2. “The cords of sin are too light to be felt, until they’re too strong to be broken.” Bad habits are like comfortable beds: easy to get into, but hard to get out.
B. CONTROLLING HABITS BREAK YOUR WILL
1. Once you have allowed a habit to control you, the Bible says, “That habit is your master.” That habit breaks you down to the point where you don’t even try to resist: you perceive that you can’t break free.
2. ILLUSTRATION
a. Have you ever been to a circus and seen a giant elephant with a small rope or chain around its ankle? Did you ever wonder why the elephant doesn’t just break it?
b. When the elephant was a baby, they placed a heavy chain around its ankle and staked the chain to the ground. Day after day, the baby elephant struggled to break free. But his efforts were in vain; he couldn’t break free from that powerful chain. Eventually he surrendered his will to ever be free. He resolved that there was no way he could break the chain, so he never tried again.
c. So when he grew up, his owners replaced the chain with a small rope. If the grown elephant ever realized the truth, he could break free in a moment, he would. You too can be free through the power of Jesus Christ!
3. We must stop allowing our lives to be controlled by things Jesus already defeated at the Cross! Paul said, “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace” Rom. 6:14.
C. CONTROLLING HABITS ARE PROGRESSIVE
1. First a habit gets a “foothold.” Then in time it gains ascendancy over you, little by little, taking your freedom. Eventually it begins to destroy you. The habit begins to affect other things in your life.
2. How many marriages have been lost to Controlling habits? How many families divided? How many jobs have been lost? How many relationships destroyed? How many minds have been wasted? How many diseases spawned?
III. GOOD NEWS! YOU CAN BE LOOSED TODAY!
How can you break free from the grip of a bad habit? Paul tells us -- “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, but God is faithful: He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Cor. 10:13. HERE ARE 3 STEPS TO VICTORY:
A. ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
1. The first step is recognizing and admitting that you have a controlling habit/a problem. People who live in a state of denial can never break free.
2. Alcoholics who won’t admit they’re alcoholics – won’t find freedom. People filled with anger who won’t admit it, won’t get freedom. It’s true of every controlling habit – God wants you to humble yourself & admit your need for Him.
B. DEPEND ON GOD’S POWER TO COMBAT BAD HABITS
1. Many wrongly conceive of the gospel as a call to change themselves through willpower. NO! THIS IS NOT A SELF-HELP PROGRAM!
2. Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengthens me.” 2 Cor. 12:9, “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
3. WHERE IS GOD’S POWER? It comes as you call on Jesus Christ and cling to Him for your deliverance – He’s the Answer! His resurrection power will flow into you and defeat the sinful nature! Miracles are normal to God!
4. If you believe that God exists and created the universe, then miracles are easy. The Flood of Noah, the parting of the Red Sea, the virgin birth, Peter walking on water, feeding 5,000 people with a boy’s lunch, and all the other biblical miracles, become not only possible, but expected.
5. Miracles are STILL NECESSARY TODAY because they meet human needs, they get people’s attention focused on God, they confirm Christ’s deity (Acts 2:22), and they build our faith (John 11:45).
6. Many times we face an impossible situation. THE DEVIL says: “EVEN GOD CAN’T SAVE YOU!”
a. Your KID has walked away from God and won’t listen to you. You’ve prayed and tried everything. The devil says, “They’ll never get saved!” Say back to him, “Shut up devil! God has promised to save my household! All things are possible with God!”
b. Or maybe there’s not enough MONEY in the bank. You overspent or your hours have been cut, so that you’re going under. Debt is piling up; the bills aren’t being paid. Your landlord and creditors are calling.
c. The devil says, “You’re going to be bankrupt! Think what your friends will say!” Say to him, “Shut up devil! My God shall supply all my needs by His riches in Christ!”
7. For some of you, your HEALTH is impaired. The devil is whispering, “You’re not going to make it through this year! You’re going to be bedridden or dead!” Look your fear in the face and say, “Shut up devil! God says I ‘SHALL NOT DIE, but live, and declare the praises of the Lord!’” Ps. 118:17. “I WILL be healed because “by His stripes I am healed!”
8. God’s able to work an earth-shaking miracle for His glory! God said through Isaiah, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
9. Jesus can do more in a moment than doctors can’t do in a lifetime! It’s time to stop trying to do it by yourself; it’s time to believe God for a miracle and call on the Name of Jesus!
C. BEGIN TO ACT ON YOUR FAITH
1. Once you have touched God in prayer and done what God said, it’s time to “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see...” Mal. 3:10.
2. If you’re believing for healing, begin believing God is healing you right now and move your arm or test your back – expecting God to heal you. Often Jesus told people to stretch out a crippled hand, or get up and walk, or head to the priests – by faith. As they did they were healed.
3. Whatever you’re asking for, begin to expect it to manifest as you move out in faith!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: How an MMA Fighter Found Jesus
1. Justin Wren became an MMA fighter who fought in a cage. Growing up, Justin faced severe bullying. Then at 13, he was diagnosed with clinical depression, and battled suicidal thoughts. After an injury, he got addicted to drugs.
2. Justin gained a spot in a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight. But as his career skyrocketed, so did his addictions. He was kicked off one of the world’s best fight teams for drug use. But his friend, Jeff, didn’t give up on him. Jeff invited him to a men’s retreat where Justin heard the Gospel and prayed:
3. “God, I’m a drunk and drug addict. I’m a liar and a cheater. God, I’ve hurt everybody. I don’t want to hurt anybody anymore. I desperately need you in my life.” As he prayed, he felt God lift him up. He felt like something finally release him – he was free! All the emotional chains of depression, all the bondage, just broke and fell away.
4. Justin prayed: “God, I’m yours. Is there anything you want me to do?” He suddenly had a strange vision in which he saw people living in a cluster of twig-and-leaf huts with malnourished children. His mentor, Caleb, said he was describing a Pygmy tribe in the Congo. Justin ended up living with them for a year, sleeping in a twig-and-leaf hut, eating their food, and suffered their troubles.
5. After a five-year hiatus, Justin returned to the MMA cage to raise money for “Fight for the Forgotten,” the organization he founded to help serve the Pygmies. Now he’s fighting to fulfill God’s call on his life! [Christianity Today]
B. THE CALL
1. With every eye closed, how many of you know you have some HABIT you need to overcome? Let’s all stand up & come forward.
2. How many want to make a commitment to Jesus this morning? PRAYER.
[This is a rewrite of Darrell Vaughn’s message of the same title]
