Road To Recovery (Do not worry) - Coping mechanisms.

Introducion.

Well tonight I thought we would have a thinks about Coping Mechanisms when we are worried. So often our struggles with addictions have been as a result of seeking comfort or excape because of life Pressures.

Questions for discussion.

1) What is a coping mechanism?

What kind of Preasures in life can cause us to

What is a copin

2) What kinds of Preasures in life can cause us to turn to coping mechanisms. In many ways our coping mechanisms are actually idols, (Mini Gods).

Coping mechanisms are mini gods.

What kind of Preasures in life can cause us to

We give them our time, our money, our devotion, in extreme cases we sacrifice others to serve and be enslaved to our them, how many families have been effected by addiction?

Good News.

One of the Reasons Jesus Came was to Rescue us from our Idols, and that is good news to those who are on the road to recovery, Jesus specialises in replacing our coping mechasnisms with something far better.

Worry and Anxiety?

What did Jesus teach about worry and Anxiety? (Lets Read together)

What did Jesus Teach?

Is his teaching? Reasonable, impossible?

If possible what might make it possible?

What did Jesus command we do instead of worry?

We can turn away from coping mechanisms by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ask Seek Knock) And Channel our axiety towards God

Mat 6:19-27

We can turn away from coping mechanisms by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ask Seek Knock) And Channel our axiety towards God

Lets see this modeld by Jesus?

Jesus Felt the effects of anxiety on the Body. (Read Example together)

Jesus Felt the weight of Temptation.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Channeled his anxiety (not worry) in a particular direction, towards God.

Big Lesson, Its not about

Teaching about Money and Possessions 19“ Don’t store up treasures

Teaching about Money and Possessions 19“ Don’t store up treasures here oearth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 22“ Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24“ No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25“ That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries

Teaching about Money and Possessions 19“ Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 22“ Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24“ No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25“ That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries

God Wants to be Your God.

Those of us who started a road to recovery did so becuase our coping mechanisms left us in the gutter In the end, they lied to us, they couldnt diliver or sustain what they promised. They became harsh masters.

A Brused reed God will never turn away.

God will never leave you in the Gutter, he will never

God wants to be the one we turn look to for comfort, for escape.

Let God be God

More than this he commands us to come to him for these things.