Calvary Grace Assembly of God
Jul 16 – 23, 2017
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BAD ADVICE How To Become an Addict
“How did I end up here?” Behind every mess of harmful habits and rough relationships, we can look back and see where we got on the wrong track. In this series we will help attenders untangle their lives by learning how to avoid Bad Advice. Topics covered include drifting from God, addiction, adultery, and dissatisfaction.
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BAD ADVICE—2
HOW TO BECOME AN ADDICT
“I have the right to do anything,” you say – but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”- but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
mastered: exousiasthēsomai; to be controlled by or enslaved, brought under the power of something.
WHAT HAS MASTERED YOU?
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He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak…15 It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 17…He prays to it and says, “Save me! you are my god!” Isaiah 44:14-15,17
WE’RE SEEKING TO FIND WHAT ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE.
HOW TO BECOME AN ADDICT
1) DON’T EVER ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against him by worshiping idols…
Jeremiah 3:13 NLT
2) GRATIFY YOUR FLESHLY DESIRES.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17
3) KEEP YOUR ADDICTION A SECRET.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
4) DEPEND ON YOUR OWN POWER—NEVER GOD’S.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Talk It Over
•Reflect on 1 Corinthians 6:12. Are you spending too much time, energy, or resources on anything that’s not beneficial?
•Have you ever been set free from something by the power of God? How did you tap into God’s power?
•Sin grows best in the dark. Who will you tell about your battle to be free?