Working The Word (Walking Away From Addiction Into The Sweet Arms Of Jesus) Dying To Self

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns

Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.

“Multiplying God’s Word Around The Globe”

September 15, 2016

Dying to Self

Romans 6:6

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

I once read something that George Mueller said. This is how it goes. “There was a day when I died. I died to George Mueller. I died to his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, it’s approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends – and since then I have only to show myself approved to God.”

For the Christian, we are dead to sin. Being redeemed by Jesus means that the old man died and the new man was born in our spirit. Addiction is sin. In what way? It is idolatry. It is placing something in a position higher in our hearts than God. It is using something other than God to comfort or sustain us in some way. It is running to a worldly solution rather than to God Himself – the only real solution we have as Christians.

For the born again Christian who takes their salvation seriously, there is no more “just living in sin anyway.” The person that wanted to do that has been crucified with Jesus Christ. Our flesh, on the other hand did not get born again. That means that the flesh (human desires) will want its way. We will have to contend with this our whole life through.

The good news is that the more we work the word of God and focus on the Lord and His word; the more we exalt Him, the easier it will become to deny our flesh its evil passions and desires. We will always have the devil to contend with. He is our second worst enemy. “But I thought he was our number one enemy?” No, actually it is our flesh. We have to become slaves to the will of Jesus and not slaves to our flesh. We can remove the devil from the scene completely, and our flesh will still be screaming for its way.

But God – oh but God! He loves us so deeply. He wants to be everything for us. He is there for us at all times. He is never too busy for us. All we have to do is call on Him and He is there to help. His word is full of promises about being available to help when we need comfort. He will help when we need someone to just hold us while we cry it out. If we will make our flesh become slaves to His will, we will no longer serve the desires of the sinful flesh. That will cure any addiction on the spot.

What is our focus? What do we serve? Is it going to be sin? Or will it be our loving heavenly Father? Each of us gets to decide. If you really want to be free of what you have been addicted to, get hooked on God and His word! Become addicted to Him. That is the only thing that is acceptable to be addicted to. He is a loving, giving Father. He will never let us down – hallelujah!

Remember, the word works when we work it. Glory to God!

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.