Post on 26-Dec-2015
Definitions:- Man’s view…- God’s view…
Effects of our natural bodies…Spiritual applications & goals…
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITION – MAN’S VIEW
Webster’s: ‘to devote or surrender to something habitually or
obsessively’ ‘persistent compulsive action that is known by the individual
to be harmful’
Addiction ‘synonyms’: Disease Bad habit Genetic pre-disposition ‘I don’t have a problem’ (rationalization)
DEFINITION – MAN’S VIEW
Examples: Drugs Alcohol Smoking Pornography Video games Television Work Power Money Gambling
Internet (social websites, etc.)
Sports Shopping Depression Victimhood Apathy Laziness Isolation
DEFINITION – GOD’S VIEW
‘Addiction’ occurs only once in Scripture (I Cor. 16:15)
God’s opinion of addiction:
Rom. 6:12 – Sin reigning over our bodies Reign (936) – to exercise the highest influence or control
Gal. 4:3 & 9 – Being enslaved to the world Bondage (1401) – to give wholly to one’s needs & service Bondage (1398) – to obey, give one’s self up to, to become a slave
Exo. 20:3 – No other God’s before Me
THE ADDICTION CYCLE
Belief System
Impaired Thinking
Addictive Action
Unmanageable Life
Ritualization/Habit
Compulsion
Dissatisfactions/Despair/Guilt
BE CAREFUL…
Humanistic view: See…it’s not my fault It’s a chemical problem, not a moral problem We can ‘fix’ it
Spiritual view: Battle against the weakness of the flesh It’s an opportunity for growth, not a stumbling block God created us with this ability…how can we best use it?
BREAKING THE ADDICTION CYCLE
Belief System
Impaired Thinking
Addictive Action
Unmanageable Life
Ritualization/Habit
Compulsion
Dissatisfactions/Despair/Guilt
Matt. 5:29-30I Cor. 10:13-14Prov. 28:13-14I John 1:8-10Eccl. 4:9-10James 5:16
CREATING A HEALTHY ADDICTION
I Cor. 16:15 – ‘…addicted to the ministry of the saints.’
God created us with this characteristic, it’s up to us to decide how we’re going to make it work in our lives
Eph. 6:13 – ‘Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand (present) in the evil day and having done all, to stand (future).