THE LORD WANTS TO WORK IN OUR WHOLE BODY, NOT JUST OUR SPIRITS
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Body – Soul – This physical body that God gave us to take care of
- If we are sick in the body
- We may not be able to care for our spirits
- Spirit- is that part of us the grows and matures as we feed it
WE CAN LOOK AT ADDICTIONS AS LIKE WEEDS THAT ARE ROOTED IN OUR GARDEN
• Addictions are the ROOT of many Christians problems in
o physical (health) and spiritual health
• Addictions cause the weeds or seeds of sin in our lives
o Pull those weeds early before they get rooted in (elaborate)
o Stir up the soil of your heart with the Word of God
JESUS SAID IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER:
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
• Cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and lusts for other things
• Lead to addictions, AND CHOKE THE WORD
• The Word WILL NOT have the proper effect on your life
AND THE PERSON BECOMES ENSLAVED TO THAT ADDICTION
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.
• We see again reasons why addictions can have a dramatic effects
o In a person’s physical lives
o As well as their spiritual lives
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
SOME REASONS FOR ADDICTIONS
Could be:
• Low self esteem
o -may think they are useless
• Could be genetic:
o Come through the family line
• Pier Pressure
THAT OLD MAN OR FLESH HAS TO BE CRUCIFIED SO THAT WE CAN RISE IN THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:24: And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
• Affections and lusts can represent addictions in our lives
JESUS CAN HELP US DO THIS THROUGH PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE
BUT MOSTLY THROUGH INCORPORATING THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES
AND NOT ALLOW THOSE THINGS THAT “BESET US” CHOKE THE WORD IN OUR LIVES
THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO OUR ADDICTIONS IS JESUS CHRIST
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.