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Dealing With Addictions
AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:8
Gambling, alcoholism, stealing, pornography - these are addictions that get our attention. But there are other addictions that we don't often deal with but are just as dangerous such as lying, gossiping, slandering, and pride (just to name a few).
All of us sin. All of us have things in our life that we struggle with. We tell the world that Jesus died for our sins, but do we ever think about what that means? It means that we have done so many terrible things that God Himself had to step in to save us.
We all have addictions of some sort that need to be dealt with. This includes me. I stand before you not as an accuser - I'm not thumping you on the head with my Bible - I stand before you as someone who struggles too. Maybe I struggle with slandering and you struggle with gambling. They seem totally different on the surface but the cause is the same: our sinful nature.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." -John 8:34
Sin... addiction... whatever you want to call it starts out seemingly harmless. "I'll just take one peak", "I'll only place this one bet", "Only one drink", "Just one hi". You start out small, and slowly - without even realizing it - you devote more and more time to it. It controls you. What is happening is by entertaining this addiction Satan has found a vulnerable spot to attack you and he will use this weakness to sabotage the relationship between you and your family, you and your friends, and ultimately you and God.
Usually with addiction the person with it doesn't even know he/she has a problem. It's amazing that we can see the faults of others with 20/20 vision but we are blind when it comes to looking at our own hearts.
Unfortunately many have to hit rock bottom before they see their need for help. A friend or family member or a job or a life savings is lost, you look at what you've done and what you've become and you don't even recognize yourself. Weary from a battle you cannot win by yourself, you cry out to Jesus for help
WE HAVE REASON TO HOPE
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. 1 John 1:9 tell us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We first ask for forgiveness and turn our life over to Jesus.
After we ask the Lord for guidance we do what He tells us to do. Matthew 5:30 says "If your right hand cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." In other words, if you know going to the bars on the weekend will lead to drinking too much then go somewhere else on the weekend. Go to the movies, go out to dinner, spend time with people you care about - do something but don't go near the bars because it will get you in trouble. See, by avoiding situations that cause you to be tempted you are "cutting off the hand that causes you to sin" like Jesus said to.
This isn't a "read this and all your problems will go away" study. This was written to show that there are problems in our life and that Jesus is the answer to those problems. The bottom line is to ask His forgiveness and His direction and go where He leads you. He is your best friend. You will find that He will never leave you or forsake you. You give Him ashes and He gives you beauty. You give Him fear and He gives you strength. You give Him darkness and He gives you morning. All things are possible through Christ. Including freedom.
Article by: Dealing With Addictions - BibleStudyPlanet.com
AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:8
Gambling, alcoholism, stealing, pornography - these are addictions that get our attention. But there are other addictions that we don't often deal with but are just as dangerous such as lying, gossiping, slandering, and pride (just to name a few).
All of us sin. All of us have things in our life that we struggle with. We tell the world that Jesus died for our sins, but do we ever think about what that means? It means that we have done so many terrible things that God Himself had to step in to save us.
We all have addictions of some sort that need to be dealt with. This includes me. I stand before you not as an accuser - I'm not thumping you on the head with my Bible - I stand before you as someone who struggles too. Maybe I struggle with slandering and you struggle with gambling. They seem totally different on the surface but the cause is the same: our sinful nature.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." -John 8:34
Sin... addiction... whatever you want to call it starts out seemingly harmless. "I'll just take one peak", "I'll only place this one bet", "Only one drink", "Just one hi". You start out small, and slowly - without even realizing it - you devote more and more time to it. It controls you. What is happening is by entertaining this addiction Satan has found a vulnerable spot to attack you and he will use this weakness to sabotage the relationship between you and your family, you and your friends, and ultimately you and God.
Usually with addiction the person with it doesn't even know he/she has a problem. It's amazing that we can see the faults of others with 20/20 vision but we are blind when it comes to looking at our own hearts.
Unfortunately many have to hit rock bottom before they see their need for help. A friend or family member or a job or a life savings is lost, you look at what you've done and what you've become and you don't even recognize yourself. Weary from a battle you cannot win by yourself, you cry out to Jesus for help
WE HAVE REASON TO HOPE
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. 1 John 1:9 tell us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We first ask for forgiveness and turn our life over to Jesus.
After we ask the Lord for guidance we do what He tells us to do. Matthew 5:30 says "If your right hand cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." In other words, if you know going to the bars on the weekend will lead to drinking too much then go somewhere else on the weekend. Go to the movies, go out to dinner, spend time with people you care about - do something but don't go near the bars because it will get you in trouble. See, by avoiding situations that cause you to be tempted you are "cutting off the hand that causes you to sin" like Jesus said to.
This isn't a "read this and all your problems will go away" study. This was written to show that there are problems in our life and that Jesus is the answer to those problems. The bottom line is to ask His forgiveness and His direction and go where He leads you. He is your best friend. You will find that He will never leave you or forsake you. You give Him ashes and He gives you beauty. You give Him fear and He gives you strength. You give Him darkness and He gives you morning. All things are possible through Christ. Including freedom.
Article by: Dealing With Addictions - BibleStudyPlanet.com
