Phil. 3:10 (GN) "All
I want is to know Christ and to experience the power
of His resurrection."
From Ash Wednesday until Easter -- traditionally known
as the time of Lent -- Cedar Park has been studying
the Spiritual Disciplines. The Spiritual Disciplines
remind us that we should not be controlled by anything
other than the Holy Spirit who is at work in those who
belong to Christ. Many people do not feel that Christ
is fully in control nor are they in control over certain
areas of their lives. These areas are in control of
them. Something more than "more discipline"
may be needed. On March 17th, 2002 Cedar Park Church
will hold it's fifth annual "Freedom from Life
Controlling Habits" service: A special day of prayer
and intercession for removal of life controlling habits.
It has been an annual service since 1998. After listening
to the morning sermon by Dr. Joseph Fuiten, those participating
filled out a card naming the issue or area that they
were not in control of - an area that was in fact controlling
them. They then made their way to the front of the sanctuary
where a ten foot cross stood. One by one they would
tack their papers to the cross, then make their way
to a place of prayer - or to be prayed for. We have
made resources available here for you. You can read
a message from this sunday, it is also available to
you in audio form. Pastors are able to help with the
needs you may have.
The whole goal of living a discipline life is freedom
to be a better worshipper. Worship requires freedom
for us to worship God. Because if we are not free, then
we are slaves – slaves to sin. Exodus shows us
that God would not allow his children to remain in bondage
in Egypt and worship him. This is why God called Moses
and called the children out of Egypt into the desert
to worship him. Be honest with me, with God and yourself
today. Do no ignore it. Do not rebel.
How is it Defined:
Worship –our recognition of God actively present
in our lives and our response to Him in appropriate
ways that bring Him glory and us joy.
Sin – is a failure to recognize God’s active
presence in our lives and a failure to respond (either
out of rebellion or indifference).
I. HABITS
Freedom to worship. For us to be free to worship some
things must die. Depending on how you respond to God’s
initiative will lead you to worship or to sin and rebellion.
You cannot worship as a slave. You must be free to worship
God. I can speak but if your heart is not receptive,
then there is nothing that can be done to help.
A. A habit is a pattern of behavior acquired through
repetition. Habits can be moral (putting my kids to
sleep), amoral (neither good nor bad, just the we handle
it), or immoral (we know that if we hang out in certain
places then certain behaviors will follow). Habits will
drive us either to or from God. Habits are intended
to be a gift of God that simplify life and build momentum.
B. A habit becomes strengthened through repetition
and is more difficult to break. It is not just me that
is participating in the habit that we cannot break –
there is a spiritual activity. Habits meet a need/desire.
· · Need – something we cannot
live without.
· · Desire – something we don’t
want to live without.
2. 2. We have legitimate and genuine needs. We need
God, grace, truth Love, friendship & affection.
Over time a desire can deceptively pose as a need and
they get confused – so needs starts to elevate
itself as a genuine need. We think we NEED a drink,
we NEED sex, we need,,,
3. 3. Control: to exercise authoritative or dominating
influence over; direct. To hold in restraint; check.
To exercise the highest influence.
Romans 6:12 “Do not let sin control the way you
live; do not give in to it’s lustful desires.”
Romans 8:5-8 (NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful
nature think about sinful things, but those who are
controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that
please the Spirit. [6] If your sinful nature controls
your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls
your mind, there is life and peace. [7] For the sinful
nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's
laws, and it never will. [8] That's why those who are
still under the control of their sinful nature can never
please God.
4. 4. But, our fallen nature tends to develop sinful
habits instead of godly ones. Does not need to be everyday
for it be a pattern. Could be every day, every week,
every month. The spirit of God convicts us of our sin,
and the need for repentance - we are not in the dark
about of life habits. Do not allow this opportunity
to be missed – this is not just an theological
discussion – these are things that need to be
owned by you
a. a. External
1. 1. Sexual
2. 2. Alcohol
3. 3. Gluttony
4. 4. Lying
5. 5. Stealing
6. 6. Drug
7. 7. violence/abuse/temper
b. b. Internal
1. 1. Coveting
2. 2. Greed
3. 3. Pride
4. 4. Lust
5. 5. disagreeable spirit
Whole world may be capable of seeing what your sin
is and you may think it’s hidden. You may have
done very well in not having it discovered, but you
must really address them. Luther says that Satan, world,
flesh are all our adversaries. We will talk only about
the first one today…
II. OUR ENEMIES
A. Satan: enemy of God. In no way is God’s equal,
but he wants to be like God. All he is steeped in pride.
· · What motivates him? Pride (Isa. 14:12-19,
Eze. 28:12-19)
B. What are his primary tactics?
1. 1. father of lies – if you are a liar –
tells who your father is. (John 8:44) “God can
never forgive me…” that is a lie. If at
any point you are believing a lie you are in a place
of letting the enemy have a major foothold in your life.
2. 2. temptations (Luke 4:13) temptation that is a
lie. All you need to do Jesus is participate in a lie
and you can still get the kingdoms of the world and
avoid the cross.
3. 3. accusations (Revelation 12:9-10) convicted, sick,
broken feeling but you do not know why you felt that
way? Enemy will speak lies and accusations but you will
never know what you did. Accusation crushes the will
of the children.
4. 4. scripture twisting (Matthew 4:6 ) Satan told
Jesus, “it is written…” using God’s
word to get to his own end.
5. 5. murder or mixture (John 8:44, I John 3:7)
· · Satan will seek to destroy a Christian.
· · Satan will seek to mix a Christian
with the world so they are polluted in both their doctrine
and morals. And you will become an evangelist for the
devil by living such a poor example.
V. DESTRUCTIVE HABITS
A. Gerald May’s (addiction and grace) five essential
characteristics of genuine addiction:
Tolerance: God convicts us of something and because
we are not immediately punished we come to the conclusion
is that’s it’s not that big of a deal. So,
we learn to live with it.
Withdrawal symptoms: coffee drinkers – know the
power of a day without caffeine?
Self-deception: start to justify. I am only looking
at porn on the Internet, it’s not like I am with
an actual woman/man. I know I go shopping most everyday,
but it’s not like when I shop I buy things not
on sale. Don’t think your still a really good
person just because you are making progress. Sin needs
to be cut off.
Loss of willpower: some have cast off all restraint.
Now you cannot control it.
Distortion of attention: Now this thing that you were
going to participate in just a little bit, now has the
whole of your life going toward this behavior. Counseling
centers have a whole new category of behavior to deal
with where some are online 12-15 hours a day –
sports must be played and watched! Food must be eaten.
B. I Cor. 6:12 “Everything is permissible for
me” – but not everything is beneficial.
“Everything is permissible for me” –
but I will not be mastered by anything.”
VI. How we kill the sinful desires
Rom. 8:13-16 “For if you live according to the
sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you
put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons
of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes
you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit
of sonship. And by him we cry ‘Abba, Father.”
Sin must be killed. Sin is like a cancer. It will keep
growing until one of two things happens – it kills
you or you kill it!
Some sins are intrinsically a part of who you are.
Some have tried the legalistic rout and have tried to
by shear will power overcome a sin habit. You have tried
and have lasted no more than a day or two. But if by
the spirit you put to death the misdeed the body. Those
sins in your life that you have held onto – do
you want them to do? Not managing them so they are under
control so you can bring them back when you want, Paul
makes it painfully clear, either you put them to death
or they will put you to death. Maybe you are used to
trying to do things on your own, but Paul tells us here
that you are a son/daughter of God. You have a new family,
the family of God.
Most of us really love what God has done in our lives,
and we live under the myth that we are free to go back
to our sins. Whereas really we are free not to go back.
Am I willing to trust God and let him kill my flesh
and then trust him for the next step?
Like some women, who could never get free of abusive
men cannot think of a life without that man in her life?
Odd that we would find that type of life so obviously
a distortion, but not see that same attitude when we
will not let go of our sine because we cannot imagine
our life without it.
THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE is found in the CROSS
of jesus Christ
1. 1. IT'S THE POWER TO CANCEL YOUR PAST.
"He has forgiven all our sins... and canceled
ever record of the debt we had to pay: Christ has done
away with it by nailing it to the cross." Col.
3:14 (JB)
"There is now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus." rom. 8:1
2. THE POWER TO CONQUER YOUR PROBLEMS
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or danger..." No, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loves us!" Rom. 8:35 & 37
Thanks to Marc Driscoll at Mars Hill Fellowship for
the concepts.
“Quitting smoking is easy. I know people who
have quit hundreds of times.”
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