This is the seventh podcast in a nine part series entitled “Overcoming Addiction.” For the various counseling options available from this material visit www.summitrdu.com/counseling.
- The “Overcoming Addiction” seminar is also available in video format.
NOTE: Many people have asked how they can get a copy of the seminar notebook referenced in this verbal presentation. Summit members can pick up a copy of the notebook in the church office. For those outside the Summit family, you can request a copy from Summit’s admin over counseling at counseling@summitrdu.com (please note this is an administrative account; no individual or family counsel is provided through e-mail).
“Learning to Enjoy Living Free”
IMPLEMENT the new structure pervasively with humility and flexibility.
“Plans are easier than life. They exist outside my sinful heart and broken world. Trying to live out my plan has taught me more about my self, my sin, and my Savior. As I have had victory, the old expressions of addiction have taken new forms. I have had to remember that my plans are merely how I intend to rely on God and not, themselves, my deliverer. Here are the unexpected challenges I faced [list], how I failed [list], where I succeeded [list], what I learned [list], and how God was faithful [list]. I now see that [list] is really the most important part of my plan.”
Memorize: Romans 6:12-13 (ESV), “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “Let not” – Overcoming addiction requires a persistent commitment to oppose new forms of temptation.
- “Reign” – You must remember that sin’s desire is to rule (Gen. 4:7). Its initial returns will seem innocent. Beware!
- “Obey its passions” – In God’s design for life your passions/desires are made to obey you as you seek to honor Him.
- “Members… yourselves” – Sin compartmentalizes and divides life. God wants your whole life to be whole and holy.
- “As those” – Remember you fight as one who has already been brought back from the death of sin to life in Christ.
Teaching Notes
“One’s ability to cope with stress – in particular, with anger, frustration, boredom, anxiety, and depression – has been identified as a critical deficit area in many theories or models of addiction (p. 13).” Carlo DiClemente in Addictions and Change
“Marital problems usually get worse soon after the addict begins walking a path of change (p. 124).” Ed Welch in Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave
“When you want to change and don’t want to change, the truth is you don’t want to change (p. 15)… To succeed, you must learn how to fail… The difference between the wise and the foolish is that the wise learn from their failures (p. 82).” Ed Welch in Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction
“Less frequent events and intense stressors are two critical types of triggers that must be negotiated successfully to sustain change and manage the Maintenance stage of recovery (p. 195).” Carlo DiClemente in Addictions and Change
“The brain does not forget. From the standpoint of psychology, this means we can never become so well adjusted that we can stop being vigilant. From a neurological viewpoint, it means the cells of our best-intentioned systems can never eradicate the countless other systems that have been addicted. And from a spiritual perspective, it means that no matter how much grace God has blessed us with, we forever remain dependent upon its continuing flow (p. 90).” Gerald May in Addiction & Grace
Other podcasts in the G4-addiction series are available at:
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