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Broken Chains
Even though the lesson title is “Dealing with Addictions, Part 2,” it could also be entitled “How to Overcome Bad Habits with God’s Help.” Paul says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (KJV). We know that we all sin. However, addiction is something that we are powerless to overcome alone.
The intention of this lesson is to help you realize that bad habits and addictions can only be overcome with God’s help. You must ask for God’s power. You also will have some ideas that will help you offer support to a friend or family member who is struggling with addiction and bad habits.
Psalm 10:2-4 (New International Version)
“In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
“He who feels whole, who thinks that he is reasonably good, and is contented with his condition, does not seek to become a partaker of the grace and righteousness of Christ. Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give. There is no room for Jesus in the heart of such a person. Those who are rich and honorable in their own eyes do not ask in faith, and receive the blessing of God. They feel that they are full, therefore they go away empty. Those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action, are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 7).
“Whom Christ pardons, He first makes penitent, and it is the office of the Holy Spirit to convince of sin. Those whose hearts have been moved by the convicting Spirit of God see that there is nothing good in themselves. They see that all they have ever done is mingled with self and sin. Like the poor publican, they stand afar off, not daring to lift up so much as their eyes to heaven, and cry, ‘God, be merciful to me the sinner.’ Luke 18:13, R.V., margin. And they are blessed. There is forgiveness for the penitent; for Christ is ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29. God's promise is: ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ ‘A new heart also will I give you. . . . And I will put My Spirit within you.’ Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 36:26, 27” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 7, 8).
- Does the person in the first paragraph feel the need to have Jesus in their life? How do you know?
- Can you see your bad qualities when you don’t see the need for Jesus?
- In the second paragraph, how does the Holy Spirit get us to open our eyes?
- Will He open our eyes if we have a habit we need to break?
- Do we have to admit that we need Jesus to help us break our bad habit or addiction in order to be healed?
“The mourning here brought to view is true heart sorrow for sin. Jesus says, ‘I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.’ John 12:32. And as one is drawn to behold Jesus uplifted on the cross, he discerns the sinfulness of humanity. He sees that it is sin which scourged and crucified the Lord of glory. He sees that, while he has been loved with unspeakable tenderness, his life has been a continual scene of ingratitude and rebellion. He has forsaken his best Friend and abused heaven's most precious gift. He has crucified to himself the Son of God afresh and pierced anew that bleeding and stricken heart. He is separated from God by a gulf of sin that is broad and black and deep, and he mourns in brokenness of heart.
“Such mourning ‘shall be comforted.’ God reveals to us our guilt that we may flee to Christ, and through Him be set free from the bondage of sin, and rejoice in the liberty of the sons of God. In true contrition we may come to the foot of the cross, and there leave our burdens” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 9, 10).
If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,-—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 101).
According to the paragraphs above when do we make a decision to turn our lives into the care of Jesus?
BROKEN CHAINS
Back home for a visit with her family and her high school friends, Becky was feeling good. She was living in California now; she had a new job, and she was deeply in love with her new boyfriend, John. True, some things about her California life weren’t so perfect, but Becky felt that after dropping out of college, her life was finally headed in the right direction. When John dropped by to visit for a few days and meet Becky’s family, she felt even more sure that he was the one for her and that they’d soon end up married.
After John left, Becky went out partying with her old friends again. Since she’d come back home for her visit, every night had been a nonstop party. That Thursday night was no different. Becky and a friend finished off a bottle of alcohol before 7:00 in the evening then talked the gang into going to a local bar for more drinks.
At the bar, Becky met George, a guy she used to party with in high school. That was the last thing she remembered until she woke up Friday morning.
Becky opened her eyes to see that the red numbers on the clock read 5:03. Rolling over, she realized she was in an unfamiliar room. Becky was horrified. She remembered nothing about the night before. She went home embarrassed, and realized, I’ve lost total control of who I am.
Years of being the life of the party—going all the way back to junior high when she had found out how easy it was to fit in and have fun after a few beers—had led to this moment. Becky went into the house and saw her mother asleep on the couch. She sat up as Becky came in and sat down in a nearby chair. Her eyes filling with tears, Becky blurted out, “Mom, I think I’m an alcoholic” (Adapted from Becky Tirabassi and Gregg Lewis, Just One Victory [Campus Life Books, 1987]).
- Was Becky ready to recognize her problem? Explain.
- Was Becky ready to turn her will over to Jesus and ask for forgiveness? How do you know?
- If Becky were your friend what should you do?
“We should not try to lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God's estimate of sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. If we had to bear our own guilt, it would crush us. But the sinless One has taken our place; though undeserving, He has borne our iniquity. ‘If we confess our sins,’ God ‘is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9. Glorious truth!—just to His own law, and yet the Justifier of all that believe in Jesus. ‘Who is a God like unto Thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.’ Micah 7:18” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 116).
“The apostle says, ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.’ James 5:16. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is brought before the only true Mediator, our great High Priest, who ‘as in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,’ and who is ‘touched with the feeling of our infirmities,’ and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity. Hebrews 4:15.
“Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity, we have never truly sought for the forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God. The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth. Explicit instruction is given concerning this matter. Confession of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt and freely expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in a flippant and careless way, or forced from those who have no realizing sense of the abhorrent character of sin. The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. The psalmist says, ‘The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.’ Psalm 34:18.
“True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty” (Steps to Christ, pp.37, 38).
Why is it important to look at our lives and then confess our sins? Why can’t we just say ‘Forgive my sins’ and keep on going?
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
All recovery programs for alcoholics and drugs addicts make a big point of the person being treated being able to say, “I’m an alcoholic” or I’m an addict.” Why do you think it’s so important for people to make that statement before they can get help? Think about a time when you’ve had to admit that you had a problem and needed help (even if it wasn’t an addiction). Was it hard to say, “I’ve got a problem”? How did things change after you admitted you needed help? Or share some other experience you have had with addiction.
Go to http://guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your answers. Be upfront and honest. Say what you think. We’ve provided space for you to write them here as well. You may also wish to share them with your class later.
King Nebuchadnezzar had four young men in his palace that proved to him many times that God in heaven is the supreme ruler. There was one thing that kept him from surrendering his will to God. Read his story that is reprinted below from the Bible. Then answer the following questions;
- What was keeping King Nebuchadnezzar from surrendering his will to God?
- How was King Nebuchadnezzar convinced that he needed God?
- Did the king surrender his will to God?
- Did God give Nebuchadnezzar a choice? Explain.
- Did Nebuchadnezzar have any bad habits? If so, what might they have been, from what we know about him in the Bible?
- Why would Nebuchadnezzar be in a lesson about habits and addictions? Did he have anything in common with people who have these types of problems? Explain.
Daniel 4:30-34 (New International Version)
“[H]e said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?‘
“The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.’
“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
“His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.”
Daniel 5:19-21 (New International Version)
“Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.”
We are discussing overcoming bad habits or addictions. The following quotations are taken from Steps to Christ and Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. One important step in overcoming sin is surrendering to God. Try to understand what it means to surrender as you read and then answer the questions below.
Psalm 25:7-9 (New International Version)
“Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.”
“The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: ‘Dead in trespasses and sins;’ ‘the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;’ ‘no soundness in it.’ We are held fast in the snare of Satan, ‘taken captive by him at his will.’ Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.
“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness” (Steps to Christ, p. 43, 44).
“Many are inquiring, ‘How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?’ You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him” (Steps to Christ, p. 47).
- How do we surrender to God? What does surrendering to God mean?
- Why is surrendering to God so important to our salvation?
- What does surrendering have to do with changing a bad habit or overcoming an addiction?
- What is your definition of surrender?
SO WHAT?
What happens to people once they recognize they have a problem—that they’re addicted? Well, they’ve already made the first important step, admitting that there is a problem. People can go for months or years denying they have a problem with alcohol, drugs, or any other addiction (to a substance, an activity, or a feeling). When you can finally say, “Yeah, this is a problem. Some things are out of control in my life, and I can’t fix them,” then you’re on the way. Compare Becky’s story from last week’s lesson to this week’s. As a teen Becky was drinking till she passed out and had blackouts, yet she didn’t believe she had a problem. As a young adult, Becky was finally able to admit, “I’m an alcoholic.” For her, that was the start of getting help and a new life.
Alcoholics Anonymous and many other addiction recovery programs say that the first step is to admit that you’re powerless over your addiction and can’t handle it without help from a Higher Power. This is the same first step we all need to take in becoming Christians—we admit we’re powerless over sin in our lives and can’t conquer it on our own. We need God. And once we admit that, changes can start happening.
- Refer back to the Sabbath Afternoon lesson. There we are discussing admission of sin. Does God comfort us as we begin the process of realizing our sins?
- How would that be important for a person who realizes they are addicted to an activity or a substance?
- Can any of us overcome any sin without God’s help?
Look up the texts, and fill in the blanks. If you don’t have one of the Bibles that is used for this exercise you may go to http://RealTimeFaith.net. Click on resources and look for Bible Gateway.com.
- “But ___________ be to God! He gives us the________ through our_______ Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV).
- “Every God-begotten person conquers the _________ ways. The ____________ power that brings the world to its knees is our _________” (1 John 5:4, The Message).
- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who _________ us. For I am _________ that neither death nor life, neither _________ nor demons, neither the _________ nor the _________, nor any powers, neither height nor __________, nor anything else in the _____________, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39, NIV).
- “The ________ does not come except to _________, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have ________, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).
Today’s Reading is also taken from Steps to Christ and Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. The quotations taken from these books discuss giving your will to God. Before you begin reading, let’s discuss a word that is used in Today’s Reading. That word is WILL. What do you think some synonyms for will would be? What is the definition? After looking in the thesaurus here are some of the synonyms I found that are used to describe will: mind, brain, and consciousness, thought process, determination, resolve, willpower, motivation backbone, strength of character, and self-control.
As you study, reading both the quotations and the Bible texts, ask God to help you truly understand how to give you will to Him. There are some questions at the end of the lesson to help you think about what you have read.
“Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith” (Steps to Christ, pp. 47, 48).
“If you cling to self, refusing to yield your will to God, you are choosing death. To sin, wherever found, God is a consuming fire. If you choose sin, and refuse to separate from it, the presence of God, which consumes sin, must consume you.
“It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the eternal. God does not design that our will should be destroyed, for it is only through its exercise that we can accomplish what He would have us do. Our will is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again, purified and refined, and so linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful this surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet ‘it is profitable for thee’” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 62).
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
Saying, “I have an addiction, and I’m powerless to quit on my own” doesn’t mean there’s no part for you to play. God can give us the power to overcome all kinds of additions, but He uses our will.
For example, alcoholics are kidding themselves if they say, “I can control my drinking. I’ll have just one beer tonight, and not go any further.” Most alcoholics will tell you that with this kind of thinking they will end up with a hangover. But, they do have the power to say, “I choose not to drink today. God, please give me the power to follow through on that choice.”
In any situation, there are lots of choices we can make. We can choose, with God’s help, to say “No” to the thing that tempts us. We can choose to build new habits, better habits. We may need to choose new friends who respect our choices and don’t encourage our addictions. And we can choose to get help when we need it. That could mean sharing with a caring pastor, teacher, or counselor, or joining a support group. God gives us other human beings to help us along the road.
God wants to see us free. He wants to see us succeed.
- If you have a bad habit or an addiction, is it impossible to overcome by yourself?
- Can a bad habit or an addiction be overcome? Explain.
- What does your will have to do with an addiction or a bad habit?
- God gave us the power of choice. Does that mean that we have to choose to stop our bad behavior? Explain.
“The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted. Were it possible to force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influence of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold of Satan would not be broken. The will must be placed on the side of God's will. You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God; but if you are ‘willing to be made willing,’ God will accomplish the work for you, even ‘casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5. Then you will ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure’ Philippians 2:12, 13” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, pp. 142, 143).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Our lessons this week and last week have focused on addiction. Where do they connect with your life?
- Maybe you’ve realized you’re addicted to something (a substance, an activity, or a feeling)—or that there’s something in you life that’s in danger of becoming an addiction. If this applies to you, you may be ready for a change. Write a letter to a Christian friend you trust, explaining what needs to change in your life so you can break this addiction, what steps you plan to take, and what kind of help you need. Pray about your letter before sharing it with your friend.
- Maybe addiction is not a problem for you, but you have friends or family members who are addicted to something. You can’t force them to realize they have a problem if they’re not ready, but you can gently and lovingly point out that you see a problem. Write a letter telling them why you’re concerned about them. Let them know you’re praying for them and you’re willing to help them find help if they decide to. Pray about your letter before sharing it with them.