B.A.S.I.C. Training

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body

Three Everest ClimbersThe enthusiastThe halfway effortThe summit climber

Stopping short of the fullness of ChristBecoming comfortable with situations we

know are sinfulWe are especially prone to justifying or

simply overlooking our most challenging addictions.

They are ultimately harmful to the bodyEven worse they are harmful to the spirit

The primary problem – they are not beneficial – one of the qualifications of Paul in 1 Corinthians 6.

1 John 2:15-16 -- Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 Corinthians 6:12 -- "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial.

"Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Because they amount to idolatry

…you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Because they prevent us from honoring God with our bodies

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

Because they weigh us down with worldliness

By first confessing the sin to one another and praying for one another

James 5:16 -- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Philippians 3:17-19 -- Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Colossians 2:20-3:3–

Do not submit to “Do not handle”, “Do not taste”, “Do not touch”. Such is worldly wisdom.

Rather, submit to Christ. Seek Him where He dwells – casting our eyes and hearts to heaven.

The demise of worldliness can only take place with devotion to godliness.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

We overcome addictions when we love God and Christ more than we love the worldly things to which we are addicted.