Breaking Free Week 12

Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

Breaking Free from Addiction

2 Peter 2:19 (NIV)
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

HOW TO B.R.E.A.K. F.R.E.E.

B - Begin today.

Proverbs 27:1 (MSG)
Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.

R - Refuse to blame others.

Proverbs 19:3 (GN)
"Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and they blame the Lord."

James 1:14 (NIV)
… but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

E - Examine my life.

Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)
"Let us examine our ways and test them, and return to the Lord."

Psalms 32:4-5 (LB)
"My dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration ... until I finally admitted my sins and stopped trying to hide them ... And God forgave me! All my guilt is gone!"

A - Ask Christ to take over my life.

Romans 6:12-13 (LB)
"Don't let sin control your body any longer; don't give in to its sinful desires ... But give yourself completely to God -- every part of you -- to be used for His good purposes."

K - Keep away from the temptation.

Hebrews 12:1-2b (NIV)
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

F - Focus on something better.

Romans 8:5 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Philippians 4:8 -9 (NIV)
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

R - Restore broken relationships.

Romans 12:18 (Ph)
"As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone."

E - Enlist a support group.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)
⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: ¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

James 5:16 (NIV)
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

E - Extend myself to others .

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (MSG)
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)
"If a person is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself; you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ."

1 Corinthians 10:13 (GN)
"God keeps His promise: He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out."

NEXT STEPS:

• Today I will take responsibility for my addiction and ask Jesus to be Lord over all of my life.
• Today, for support, I will commit to join a Covenant Small Group or specialized group focused on my addiction.
• This week I will find a way to use what God brought me through to help others.