REMOVING ADDICTIONS AND HANGUPS OUT OF OUR HEART !
IN SECOND PETER WE WRITES TO THREE CLASSES OF PEOPLE
CHAPTER 1 --- THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME WEARY
THIS IS A TEMPTATION WE ALLFACE AND HE INSTRUCTS US TO ADD TO OUR FAITH
VIRTUE --- VOLUNTARY OBEDIENCE TO TRUTH
KNOWLEDGE -- WHEN WE OBEY HE GIVES A GREATER KNOWLEDGE
TEMPERANCE -- CONTROL DISCIPLINE
PATIENCE -- CONTINUED TEMPERANCE
GODLINESS -- BROTHERLY KINDNESS AND CHARITY
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
[8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[9] But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
[10] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
IN CHAPTER 2 -- HE WRITES A CROWD OD FALSE TEACHERS WHO HAVE BECOME WICKED !
CHAPTER 3 -- HE WRITES TO HIS COMING AGAIN , BECAUSE OF THIS CHAPTER 1 AND CHAPTER 2 IS THE STATE OF THE WORLD WHEN HE RETURNS .
NOTE : WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery,
and that cannot cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls:
an heart they have exercised with
covetous practices; cursed children:
THEY HAVE BECOME A GENERATION THAT NOT ONLY HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD -- BUT ADDCITED SO THEY CAN’T QUIT !
2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are the servants of corruption:
for of whom a man is overcome,
of the same is he brought in bondage.
WHAT IS HE OVERCOME BY -- THE SIN IN VERSE 14
2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome,
the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
HERE IS A GENERATION RIGHT BEFORE JESUS COMES -- NOTE WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US HERE
THERE IS NO ONE MORE THING THAT TO HAPPEN FOR JESUS TO COME -- THESE ARE CURSED
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery,
and that cannot cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls:
an heart they have exercised with
covetous practices; cursed children:
WHAT IS THE CURSE ?
The satisfying of their lusts is the main ambition: they cannot cease from sin. The verb suggests “they are unable to stop.” Why? Because they are in bondage (2 Peter 2:18-19). The apostates consider themselves to be “free,” yet they are in the most terrible kind of slavery. Whatever they touch, they defile; whoever they enlist, they enslave.
2 Peter 2:18-19
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
[19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Beguiling unstable souls:
“Beguiling unstable souls” presents the picture of a fisherman baiting a hook or a hunter baiting a trap. The same image is used in James 1:14 where James presents temptation as “the baiting of the trap.”
Satan knows that he could never trap us unless there is some fine bait to attract us in the first place. Satan promised Eve that she and Adam would become “like gods” if they ate of the forbidden tree (Gen. 3:4-5), and they “took the bait” and were trapped.
What kind of “bait” do the apostates use to catch people?
For one thing, they offer them “liberty” (2 Peter 2:19).
2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Along with “freedom” they also bait the trap with “fulfillment.”
This is one of the “buzz words” of our generation, and it goes right along with “doing your own thing” and “having it your way.”
They say, “The Christian life that the church offers is old-fashioned and outdated. We have a new lifestyle that makes you feel fulfilled and helps you find your true self!”
Alas, like the prodigal son, these unstable souls try to find themselves, but they end up losing themselves (Luke 15:11-24).
In their search for fulfillment they become very self-centered and lose the opportunities for growth that come from serving others.
2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome,
the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
ENTANGLED -- LIKE A SPIDER WEB !
A SPIDER CAN SPIN A WEB THAT CAPTIVATES A INSECT 100 TIMES IT’S OWN WEIGHT --
SO A BEE OR BUG --- HE LOOKS AND DECIDES THAT HE CAN OVERPOWER -- AND HANDLE AND WALK THROUGH IT -- BUT WHAT HE DIDN’T KNOW THAT THE WEB --- IS STICKY SO HE FIGHTS AND THE MORE HE FIGHTS THE MORE THE GETS ENTANGLED IN THE WEB !
THAT’S WHY THIS PREACHER PLEADS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT SIN
, BECAUSE I KNOW JUST LIKE THE SPIDER IT WILL ENTANGLE YOU BEFORE YOU EVER KNOW IT HAPPENED .
HOW DO WE GET LOOSE FROM THE CURSE AND ADDICTIONS ?
EVERYONE HAS A WICKNESS IN THE FLESH -- AND THE DEVIL LOOKS FOR THAT PLACE WHERE HE CAN GET YOU TRAPPED !
1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
THE POTENTIAL IS IN EVERYONE OF US HERE TONIGHT TO GET ENTANGLED WITH SIN -- THERE’S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS DEPRAVED NATURE WE HAVE AND THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT US IS JESUS !
NOW I CONFESS I DON’T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THINGS PEOPLE GET INTO BUT THE GREATEST MYSTERY IS WHY THEY STAY IN IT AND SINK A LITTLE FURTHER FROM GOD EVERYDAY !
IN MANY WAYS WE AR EPREACHING TOA CURSED GENERATION -- WHAT IS SHOWN ON BILLBOARDS WASN’T SHOWN IN BED ROOMS 25 YEARS AGO .
EVERYONE HAS A WEAKNESS IN THIS FLESH AND WE HAD BETTER FIND WHAT IT IS AND REALIZE
OUR HELP IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD !
ED BALLEW -- SAID I CAN HANDLE TEMPTATION IF IT NEVER MEETS OPPORTUNITY !
3 WAYS EVERYONE IS TEMPTED !
1 - BY EXPERIENCE -- WE TRY SOMETHING -- CURIOSITY SETS IN !
EVERY ADDICTIONS BEGIN WITH THE FIRST TIME -- AND IT TRRAPS THEM BEFORE THEY EVERKNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED !
MISERY LOVES COMPANY AND NOTHING SOOTHES THEIR CONSCIENCE LIKE DRAGGING SOMEONE ELSE WITH THEM !
THE BEST WAY NOT TO EVER BE ADDICTED IS TO NEVER TRY IT OUT !
2 - TURNS INTO A HABIT -- THE CONTINUAL EXPERIENCE -- IT IS WHEN THE ONE TIME
ILLUS : TWO PIT BULLS -- TASTE OF BLOOD !
DOGS -- DUCKS
ONCE THEY GET A TASTE -- THEY ARE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN -- THEY GOT A HABIT !
3- BECOMES A ADDICTION --
THE PRORITY THAT IT DEMANDS FROM THE HABIT YOU HAVE DEVELOPED FROM AN EXPERIENCE !
IT IS ADDICTION WHEN :
A - FIRST THING YOU THINK OF EVERYDAY
B - WHEN YOU WILL GO TO EXTREMES TO FILL THE LUST IN YOUR SOUL
C- WHEN YOU GET OFFENDED WHEN OTHERS MENTION IT TO YOU
D - WHEN YOU WILL LIE AND STEAL AND HURT THOSE YOU THE MOST .
TOP TEN ADDICTION : THESE ARE NOT IN ORDER BECAUSE THE EXPERTS DONNOT TOTALLY AGREE !
1 - DRUGS -- PRESCRIPTION
2 - ALCOHOL ALL KINDS
3 - SEXUAL MISCONDUCT -- EVERY KIND
4 - MUSIC -- GREAT EVANGELIST
5 - EATING
6 - STEALING
7 - LYING
8 - TOBACCO
9 - SPENDING MONEY
10 - ENTERTAINMENT -- TV - GAMES --
HOW DO WE GET HELP ?
1 - ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AREA OF YOUR LIFE
-- BLIND MAN CAME TO JESUS -- HE’S STUMBLING OVER EVERYTHING AND YET JESUS ASK HIM DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU ?
YOU GET HELP WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM --
YOU WOULD THINK AS WELL AS WE CAN PICK OUT EVERYONE ELSES PROBLEMS AND DECICDE EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED -- OUR OWN WOULD BE EASY !
YOU CAN’T GET SAVED UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOU ARE LOST !
John 5:6
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
2 - ADONDON ALL HUMAN ABILITY FOR RELIEF
OVERCOMING AN ADDICTION IS MORE THAN RETRAINTS --
IN RESTRANING YOURSELF YOU ARE SIMPLY FIGHTING YOUR SELVES --
GOD -- THIS IS MY PROBLEM AND SO GOD IT HAS TO REST ON THEE AND THEE ALONG --
3- ADDRESS YOUR ADDICTION AS GOD ADDRESSES YOUR ADDICITION !
TAKING SIDES WITH GOD ABOUT YOUR SELVES
4 - ALTERNATE YOUR TEMPTATION FOR SOMETHING BETTER !
REMOVE BAD -- REPLACE IT WITH GOOD
LISTEN ROCK OUT -- GOSPEL MUSIC IN
5- WEAK PLACE YOU HAVE BE ACCOUTABLE TO SOMEONE ELSE
There can be no freedom or fulfillment apart from submission to Jesus Christ. “The purpose of life,” said P.T. Forsyth, “is not to find your freedom, but to find your master.”
Just as a gifted musician finds freedom and fulfillment putting himself or herself under the discipline of a great artist, or
An athlete under the discipline of a great coach, so the believer finds true freedom and fulfillment under the authority of Jesus Christ.
IF GOD WOULD OPEN FOR ALL TO SEE
WE WOULD PROBABLY RUN OUT THE DOOR TO THE ADDICTIONS HERE TONIGHT !