Breaking Free Of Controlling Habits

1. “Embracing Change To Experience Life!” Breaking Free Of Controlling Habits Galatians 5:1

2. INTRODUCTION Galatians 5:1…. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (NKJV)

3. 2 Peter 2:19b…. “…..For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (NIV) “…..For a man is a slave to whatever controls him.” (LB)

4. You will never know the FREEDOM of being in God’s presence as long as you remain ENSLAVED. Psalm 24:3,4 Matthew 5:8

5. Some people are slaves to.... • Pornography • Various drugs • Gossips • Work • Jealousy • Anger • Other vices that holds • them in bondage.

6. MAIN POINTS 1. How Do We "IDENTIFY" A Controlling Habit?

7. "CONTROLLING HABIT" “Something you find yourself doing even though it is destructive either physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally or spiritually.”

8. "CONTROLLING HABIT" “You consistently do something you wish you wouldn’t do, but you find yourself doing it any way.”

9. Romans 7:15…. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (NIV)

10. Romans 7:15…. “I do not understand my own actions for I am as far from habitually doing what I want to do that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate.” (TCNT)

11. Many good people are bound by bad controlling habits. BAD HABITS....

12. Be honest, look at your life…. EVALUATE the things you find yourself doing that you hate.

13. REALIZE the importance of the identification process. SUBMIT your own inabilities to make the necessary changes.

14. TEMPTATIONS seems more potent when people neglect their time with God and are tired physically. We can become self-confident, instead of God-confident.

15. The Sin of Pride is an absolute killer among many good people. Three things we need to know about God...

16. A) GOD SEES Our Secret Sins And Vices

17. Psalm 139:3,4…. “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” (NIV)

18. Satan seeks to destroy mankind. He makes SIN appear to be attractive. He shows how pleasant SIN and immoral conduct can be.

19. Satan never shows the tragic end of sin.

20. The Bible does say there is pleasure in sin, but such pleasure is only momentary. The end result is not only pain, butseparation from God on earth & eternity.

21. B) GOD DESIRES For Us To Confess And Repent Of Our Sins

22. 1 John 1:9…. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

23. CONFESS "homologomen" implies…. “we must acknowledge that our sins is sin and admit that we committed it.”

24. Once we CONFESS our sin, the character of God guaranteesFORGIVENESS.

25. C) GOD DESIRES A Blameless Witness For His Children

26. 1 Peter 1:15,16…. “(v.15) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (v.16) for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” (NIV) cf. 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Peter 3:11; Leviticus 11:44

27. God desires His children to REFLECT WHO HE IS to a lost and dying world. How do we do that? Through our words & actions!

28. Matthew 5:13a,14a…. “(v.13a)You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it’s saltiness.... (v.14a)You are the light of the world ….”

29. Matthew 5:16…. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds [“erga”] and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

30. “Good deeds” or “works” are not distinct from WORDS, but “works” connote entire “life-style” (Greek, “erga”). The triumph of the Kingdom of God must be visible in the lives of its disciples.

31. How? By the observation of how we conduct ourselves, others will come to understand what God is like and be drawn to Christ.

32. 2. Why Are Controlling Habits So "POWERFUL?"

33. A) They Slowly Bind You “Life controlling habits” are formed at a pace almost unnoticeable.

34. Bad habits are like comfortable beds – easy to get into, but hard to get out. Note:

35. HABITS are formed through willful behavior. HABITS are SO POWERFUL, because they are so subtle.

36. B) They Break Your Will “HABITS”will break your will. Once you allowed a HABIT to control you the Bible says, “That habit is your master.” 

37. That habit breaks you down to the point where you don’t even try to resist anymore because you feel like you can’t break free.

38. Galatians 5:1…. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” (NIV)

39. C) They Destroy Your Life “Bad controlling habits” will destroy you …. • physically • mentally • emotionally • relationally

40. At first, it seems very harmless. Over a period of time that HABIT like an enemy begins to advance and destroy you.

41. Be careful not to take HABIT lightly! Once it’s full-grown, it’s domineering and controlling.

42. 3. How Can You Be Loosed Or Break-Free From Controlling Habits?

43. First, you must understand what God’s Word says in… 1 Corinthians 10:13

44. 1 Corinthians 10:13…. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. ….

45. 1 Corinthians 10:13…. …. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)

46. How can you BE LOOSED or BREAK-FREE? What are the steps to victory?

47. A) "ADMIT" You Have A Problem CONFESSION Accepting the responsibility that you have a problem.

48. 1 John 1:9…. “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

49. I believe true healing starts with CONFESSION!

50. B) "DEPEND" On God's Power To Combat Bad Habits Philippians 4:13…. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV; Isaiah 41:10)