Day 1
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have
the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Cor 6:12)
If we examined your life, would it look like you were living based on good
advice or on bad advice? No one ever says, “I want to be an addict and
mess up my life.” But every day countless numbers of people become
enslaved to harmful behaviors and addictions. 1 Cor. 6 tells us that in
Christ we have lots of freedoms, but we can’t abuse the freedom that God
has given us and become again enslaved to sin. The Greek word
translated as “mastered” means to be controlled, enslaved, or to exercise
authority over. What has mastery over you? Coffee, smoking,
dip/chewing tobacco? The internet, gaming, credit cards, shopping, work,
love, pornography, sex, gambling, food, pleasure, codependency?
Tanning, Facebook, your self-image, football? Addictions are the
symptoms of a bigger issue, because addictions are a form of idolatry.
Idolatry is putting anything in the place of God. So if you are getting your
affirmation from social media instead of God, it has become an idol to
you. If you get more pleasure from a football game than a worship
service, be careful.
14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow
among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he
kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it. (Isa 44:14-15)
Good things can quickly become an idol to you if you don’t stay vigilant.
What brings you the most happiness in your life? Has it become an
idol? Do you put it before God? Ask His forgiveness today!
Day 2
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
13 Only acknowledge your guilt—you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and
have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord. (Jer 3:13)
Bad Advice #1
Don’t ever admit that you have a problem. Do you have a secret
addiction? Or is it an accepted addiction that society says is ok?
Admitting you have an addiction is the first step to healing.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the
guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Admitting you have an addiction or stronghold in your life can be
embarrassing and inconvenient. Satan tells us to keep it secret, what will
they think of you if you tell them? Tell yourself you don’t have a problem.
You can quit whenever you want to. Don’t believe those who care about
you. Tell yourself that you are a victim, that it’s not your fault. Besides
it’s not hurting anyone.
When you admit that you have a problem, the lies of Satan are seen for
what they are. The sin you think is harmless or done in secret is actually
affecting your family. The Bible tells us that we have all been found guilty
of sin. (Rom 3:23) We are not the victim, we are the villain. So if you
want to be addicted, deny your problem and give in to Satan’s lies.
Do you have secret sin in your life? Has anyone confronted you
with your addiction? Cast off the lies of Satan and find the healing
in Jesus Christ. Confess your sins and ask God’s forgiveness.
Day 3
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary
to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do
whatever you want. (Gal 5:16-17)
Bad Advice #2
Gratify the desires of your flesh. If you want to fall into addiction, gratify
the sinful desires of your flesh. When you are saved the flesh/sinful
desires don’t just go away. While we are in this physical body there will
always be a war going on inside you between the Spirit and the flesh.
The flesh wants what is contrary to the Spirit.
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
We have to crucify the flesh every day. But don’t get too confident.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No
temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God
is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can
endure it. (1 Cor 10:12-13)
Often when we think we have won the fight against a certain temptation;
that is when we fall the hardest. Sin is always lurking at the corner,
calling our name; enticing us, pulling us, but God is a good God and will
always provide us a way out. Those who are parents have the additional
responsibility to limit the access to temptations that could affect your
children (alcohol, tobacco, pornography, bad influences/friendships, etc.).
Are you giving into temptation and gratifying the desires of your
flesh? If so don’t be surprised when you become a slave to it.
Day 4
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who
confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Prov 28:13)
Bad Advice #3
Keep your addiction a secret. Sin grows best in the dark. When you
bring it into the light, you can find freedom. Christians don’t want to be
seen as hypocrites. The more righteous we think we are the harder it is
to admit our sin, so we bury it in the dark where it can fester and grow.
Rehab is only for people who want to get well. Accountability partners
are only for those who are serious about their addiction. Prayer partners
are only for those who are broken about their sin.
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your
presence. (Psalm 90:8)
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved
darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who
does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their
deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the
light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been
done in the sight of God. (John 3:19-21)
Sin loves darkness. Satan wants to keep you in the dark, chained to your
sin, feeling ashamed, which no hope of victory. But Christ died to set you
free from sin and guilt. (Rom 8:2)
Do you recognize where you are falling short? Find a mature
Christian to help you bring your addiction into the light, so they can
pray for you and guide you back into the arms of our loving Savior.
Day 5
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the
contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor
10:3-5))
Bad Advice #4
Depend on your own power. Maybe you know that you have a problem.
Maybe you even want to beat this habit/addiction/stronghold in your life.
But you can’t do it on your own. God has given us specific weapons;
divine power to demolish strongholds. The Greek word for power in 2 Cor
10 is dunatos meaning strong, mighty or powerful. The root word is
where we get our word for dynamite. These are not some inferior, weak
weapons, but explosive, powerful weapons that can utterly destroy
whatever strongholds we’ve allowed in our lives.
Our greatest battles take place in our minds. When Satan attacks our
thoughts we must take captive those thoughts and remember that God
has given us all we need to demolish these strongholds. The world tells
us that our thoughts are our own and that it’s ok to have bad thoughts as
long as we don’t act on them. But our thoughts lead to action.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov.
4:23)
Have you been depending on your own power to overcome an
addiction? Are you ready to finally succeed? Turn to God.
How is your thought life? Does it honor God?
Day 6 & 7
Danger: Bad Advice Ahead
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom
are kept safe. (Prov. 28:26)
Are you harboring a secret sin or addiction? Are you tired of hiding your
addiction? Your addiction will steal your freedom.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as
we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace
with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in
our time of need. (Heb. 4:15-16)
When someone comes to us for help with an addiction, we must be
careful to see them with eyes of compassion. Point them toward Jesus
and help them with accountability, pray for them, speak life and light into
their life, don’t be judgmental and if you find yourself tempted or over your
head; seek help from your pastor or deacon.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and
someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a
sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a
multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
When you fall into temptation ask God for forgiveness and commit to not
doing it in the future. Be intentional about avoiding the temptation, avoid
places where it’s particularly easy to stumble. God has given us
everything we need to be victorious. Use the powerful weapons he has
given us to overcome the strongholds in your life.
Are you nursing an addiction in your life? Admit you have a
problem, bring it into the light and find victory in Christ!