For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions … were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. … sin…produced in me every kind of covetous desire. … sin … deceived me, and … put me to death. … I do not understand what I do. For … what I hate I do. … the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. … What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:5, 8, 11, 15, 19, 24-25

Biblical context: Rules do not provide power for godly living

There are many kinds of sinful desires

1. Elements of addiction

A. Repetitive

A habit is a behavior repeated until it becomes automatic and difficult to stop

B. Degenerative

C. Unmanageable

D. Medicative

An addiction is a compulsive behavior we do to avoid difficult emotions or experiences

E. Destructive

2. The addiction cycle

None of them end well

1. Deception

2. Slavery

… a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. II Peter 2:19

3. Death

But there is a spiritual solution!

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. II Corinthians 10:4

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October 21, 2007
Released to Serve

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. … So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. Luke 9:1–2, 6

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. …Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' …The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." … At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. …
Luke 10:1-3, 9, 17, 21

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. … Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:1, 4

What do you need to step out in faith to do?

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October 28, 2007
Under Construction

II Peter 1:3 – 14

We have what we need to be godly

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

· God’s power

· God’s promises

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4

Godliness requires hard work and a plan

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure …

… train yourself to be godly. 1 Timothy 4:7

· Which of these virtues have increased since July 28th (3 months)?

· What efforts have you made?

When we increase these virtues we will …

… they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

· … be spiritually successful

· … have clear vision

· … live without guilt

· … remain connected

· … make it to heaven

The challenge: stay focused on godliness

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Who reminds you?

How will you remind those you love?

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