"Freedom From Addiction: Turning from Your Addictive Behavior"
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Welcome and greeting
Share a statistic or story to highlight the importance of tackling addiction - Jayson
Introduce Ed T. Welch's booklet "Freedom from Addiction" as a framework for today's sermon
“God is the source of all wisdom, and when we understand his wisdom, and when we understand his wisdom it sounds true, right, and good…You might be an expert in your addiction, but consider the possibility that the God who made you know best how to help you out of your addiction.”
Part I: Understanding the Struggle
Why You Do Your Addiction
Address common underlying reasons for addiction
“You do your addiction because you not only like it, you LOVE it.” (4)
“We do things we love and avoid things we hate!” (4)
“What you didn’t anticipate is that love, whenever is it self- centered, matures into worship and you are a slave to what you worship.”
“Having an addiction means you are worshiping something and are controlled by it. It owns you. You think about it, plot how you will get more of it, dream about when you don’t have it, and are willing to sacrifice almost anything to get it.”
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
Discuss how our own brokenness can lead us to destructive habits
Your Addiction is about You and God
Explain how addiction is a symptom of a deeper spiritual issue
Your addiction may not seem personal, but it has an affect on those around you. You may lie to get what you want. You spend money that you shouldn’t which affects your family.
It especially affects your relationship with God.
“When you try to avoid God and worship something other than him, you become a slave to what you are worshiping. Worship sex - become its slave. Worship cocaine - be owned by it. That’s the way God’s universe is constructed. It’s all about our allegiances. When your allegiance is to something other than God, you will simultaneously feel both in control and out of control. You will love your addiction and hate it. You will feel both alive and dead.” (6)
This the reality of sin. “All false worship is sin; and sin, when you keep practicing it, will oppress you. Sin is the real diagnosis for addiction.” (6)
Genetics, parent, peers, and many other factors can contribute to your addiction, but the root of your problem is sin. (6)
Explore how it reveals our distorted relationship with God (Romans 1:25)
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Your Biggest Problem Is Not Your Addiction
Challenge the idea that overcoming addiction is solely about stopping a behavior
“Take this critical first step: Acknowledge that addiction is against God. Sin is when you worship anything others than the true God. Son is voluntary. We choose it. And it is also slavery. It dominates us. We need to turn from in and be delivered from it.” (7)
But the question should be is your addictive behavior your biggest sin? No! It is actually your lack of relationship with the God who created you. (7)
“Consider what you addiction says about your relationship to God.”
“You believe you can manage your world apart from God.”
“You believe there are places where you can hide from God. You think God is like a person, only stronger, with more acute senses.”
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
“You love your addiction more than you love God. You think there are things more beautiful and satisfying than Him.” (8)
You want to be God (8) This is you biggest sin - your desire to be your own God.(vs 9)
Aren’t you thankful that He hasn’t snuffed you out because of your treason against him? Aren’t you thankful that he is a forgiving God?
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Because this is a sin issue above all else there is hope!
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Explain that the core issue is a disordered love and a need for reconciliation with God (Matthew 22:37-39)
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
This kind of love is only possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Part II: Practical Strategies for Change
Speak Honestly
Lies are part of the addiction game.
“I can stop anytime I want.”
“I’m not like those people (other addicts). I would never ___________ (use needles, drink alone, use my children’s food money, drink on the job, watch sadistic pornography.)”
Remember who you are aligning yourself with - Satan himself.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Encourage confession and open communication (James 5:16)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Discuss the power of bringing hidden struggles into the light (Ephesians 5:13)
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Go Public
Emphasize the need for community and accountability (Galatians 6:1-2)
This calls for great humility on your part.
Call the church to be a safe space for healing and restoration
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Get a Plan
Advocate for intentional, well-thought-out strategies for overcoming addiction
Radical amputation...
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Most if not every addiction will not go down without a fight.
Encourage seeking help alongside spiritual guidance (Proverbs 15:22)
22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Make Jesus Central
Explain the importance of making Christ the center of our lives and our recovery (Colossians 3:17)
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Discuss how a deeper relationship with Jesus offers true freedom (John 8:36)
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“Keep your eyes on the Son.”
Find a Church/Use the Church
Reinforce the importance of being part of a faith community that supports and nurtures spiritual growth (Hebrews 10:25)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Live with Hope
Conclude by offering a message of hope anchored in the promises of Scripture (Romans 15:13)
Emphasize that freedom is possible through Christ, and the church community can play a key role in this journey - You really can be set free!
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Conclusion
Summarize the central points of the sermon
Why You Do Your Addiction
Your Addiction is about You and God
Your Biggest Problem is Not Your Addiction
Speak Honestly
Go Public
Get a Plan
Make Jesus Central
Find a Church
Live with Hope
Invite those who are struggling to seek support and guidance
Close in prayer, asking for God's grace in overcoming the challenges we face, individually and collectively