ADDICTIONWhat is it & how do we use it to our benefit?

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

ADDICTION & OUR NATURAL BODIES

THE ADDICTION CYCLE

Belief System

Impaired Thinking

Addictive Action

Unmanageable Life

Ritualization/Habit

Compulsion

Dissatisfactions/Despair/Guilt

MECHANICS OF ADDICTION

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?

ADDICTION & OUR SPIRITUAL BODIES

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).