Hostage: Addiction

Another incredible morning. Sermon will be uploaded soon (whillschurch.org). We had some MAJOR glitches behind the scenes this week. The worship center computer crashed plus the projector wouldn’t come on and had to be reset. On Thursday, it me that we needed to serve communion. Gary H. did a great job at getting us set up to do this. In the middle of dealing with all of this God reminded me that if you let it, the non-important will distract you from the vital. I’m so glad we didn’t.

Addiction comes in all sorts of sizes and packages. Some more acceptable than others, some easier to recognize than others. But all addictions have one end in mind – total dominance and control over a person. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, porn, eating, greed, pride — the inevitable end of every addiction is to consume.

Addictions consume, control, and rob people. It becomes their god.

Paul’s journey in Romans 6,7, and 8 has great insight for addicts. I don’t do what I want to do but the evil I don’t want to do I do. The solution is to feed the “Good Wolf.” (Confused? Listen to the sermon! ha ha)

Romans 8:1 is the most scandalous verse in scripture. How ridiculous is it to say there is NO, none, nada — zip — condemnation for those IN Christ Jesus? Our bodies and emotions don’t believe this truth of scripture most of the time. Yet, this truth stands in the middle of our messes as God’s declaration of what He wants to do, WILL do and IS doing for those who place their life IN Christ. It’s nothing sort of scandalous.

It doesn’t remove our need for God AND our need for a place to share the LAST 10%. It does provide the basis for such a context – since there is no condemnation, I can BE accountable.

Next week: Anger