Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When I used to get home from school, I would sit down at the kitchen table and eat one of my favorite meals. Although we didn’t get them every day, whenever there was a large bowl of them, they didn’t last very long. All the kids would come running in from the school bus and sit down to a nice big meal of taco rolls. I like fresh rolls, but these had a little extra kick because they were seasoned. I liked them so much that I always tended to eat a few too many.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Addictions can be both good and bad. Sometimes, people can have trouble abstaining from certain things for a period of time. I drink coffee, but sometimes I can go a week without it. I like fresh pizza, but that doesn’t mean I have to eat it all the time. Addiction has to do with anything that is a part of your everyday life. It’s been defined as something that you cannot depart from for a certain period of time. Some people are addicted to pop or donuts, and although it might not affect them in the same way as alcohol or drugs, it’s an addiction nonetheless. Some people are addicted to gambling or playing their game stations. Some people are addicted to fishing, or making money. I’m sure a lot of people really don’t want to call it an addiction, but that’s really what it is. It is anything in your life that you love just a little too much.
1 John 2 ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
With anything, you have to be able to turn away from it for a certain amount of time. This is so you know that it has no power over you. It’s exercising self-control over every aspect of your life. Even fasting and dieting are examples of the quality of moderation and self-restraint.
1 Corinthians 9 ²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: ²⁷ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:…….
We need to possess habitual moderation in the indulgence of natural appetites and passions. You could take two cookies at the supper table or six. What we want to do is retrain our mind on activities that are beneficial during our day. After all, a horse wears blinders to keep them on the straight path in front of them. If there’s anything to be addicted to, it’s ministering unto the Saints.
1 Corinthians 16 ¹⁵ I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) ¹⁶ That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
2 Timothy 1 ¹⁵ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: ¹⁷ But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸ The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
The more good deeds and activities that we can apply our mind to, the better.
“But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.” Galatians 4:18
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” Hebrews 10:24
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
Acts 26 ¹⁹ Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: ²⁰ But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Addiction is a compulsive habit forming behavior or activity, one that causes you great difficulty of having to give it up for a period of time. It doesn’t have to be just a physical addiction, it can be a mental one as well. Rather than developing bad habits, we need to keep focus on good ones, displaying temperance and moderation.
2 Peter 1 ⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:5,
In order to overcome sinful issues in one’s life, you first need to accept the truth. The servant of sin is not going to be in the kingdom of heaven, and that’s why people need to repent of sin right now. We can be freed from our sins, but you first have to acknowledge them. To become righteous, we must walk in the light, as He is in the light.
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46
John 8 ³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ³³ They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? ³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. ³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
True freedom is learning to go and sin no more.
Romans 12 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We have to learn to turn away from everything that is displeasing to God, this includes casting off bad vices and addictions. It’s only then that we can truly become changed into what He wants us to be. We must prove His perfect will, so that we can become completely transformed into…
……The Children of God
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 