Recurring Problems, Sin, Addiction (1)
- Bill Fuller
- May 10
- 8 min read
Updated: May 26
This Christian Challenge Will Prove that God Heals and Restores Nagging and Recurring Problems and Addictions Within 40 Days
PART ONE
The question "Do You Have a Nagging, Recurring Problem, and Addiction?" takes three parts to answer. Part one provides an overview of how to deal with temptation—it's what God is calling you to do. Part two provides the foundational truths on how to respond to temptation according to God's Word, which will set you free. Part three is seven (7) informational appendices that will help you along your journey to a free and fulfilled life in Christ.
Jesus is the Key
The first time Jesus came to earth, from Heaven, He brought love, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. He gave Salvation as a free gift to a dying world full of sin and death. This is called the age of grace in which you live. It is when Jesus, who is God in heaven, comes to earth to save His creation from sin, death, and wrath. He is the prophesied Emmanuel or “God with Us”. He was born by the miraculous union between a virgin (Mary) and God the Holy Spirit. This makes Jesus fully man and fully God.
As fully human, He faced every temptation just as we do, yet He remained perfect and never sinned. He chose to die on a cross, taking the place of every human being. His sacrificial death forgives sins for anyone who believes in Him. His resurrection on the third day gives believers eternal life in His presence. He ascended to Heaven and sits at the Father's right hand with a promise that He would return for His children (John 14; 1-3).
How to Get Started
We invite every Christian facing a "Recurring Problem or Addiction" with faith to have the courage to participate in this Christian 40-day Biblical Challenge; you won’t regret it.
One
Are you a born-again, Spirit-regenerated Christian who believes in Jesus Christ according to the Bible, God's Word? YES or NO
If the answer is NO or you're unsure about this definition of a Christian, we encourage you to read my post, Jesus Plus Nothing Saves You.
Two (optional)
Before you start this 40-day challenge, read any post where you need clarification or understanding, CLICK HERE: fullerofgraceandtruth.com.
This will significantly help you to succeed and learn to trust God for your healing, especially in areas you might struggle.
Introduction
Choosing to trust in God and respond to His calling is both a bold and courageous decision. Only He is willing and capable of freeing you from bondage. It is in His nature to restore, transform, and heal those who are broken. Our 20-year Prayer/Counseling Ministry aimed primarily to teach clients how to rely on God and seek Him during their most vulnerable and painful times.
We found that many factors blocked intimacy with God. Most of them were lies they believed about God, unwillingness to acknowledge their brokenness or sin, past trauma and/or abuse, and the lie that walking in the flesh offered pleasure. relief and comfort, even if temporary. These lies led to coping strategies used that are apart and against God's will. Eventually, this led to addictions in your thoughts and behaviors. Addictions are just a nice way of saying you choose slavery over freedom.
Every person has an inherent emptiness within their soul that only Jesus Christ can fill. You have the choice to fill this God-shaped void at your core either through God's power or through your own efforts, coping mechanisms, and striving, which would be independent of God. This approach essentially says, "My will, Lord, not yours!"
All humanity faces temptation from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Temptation is an allure to pursue your carnal and fleshly desires selfishly. The Holy Scriptures refer to this as walking in the flesh. There are only two ways to respond to temptation. First, focus on God, recognizing that you are being tempted without denial or pretense, and then turn to the love and power of Jesus. Second, focus on Self, circumstances, pain, and offenses, which trigger a fleshly response that succumbs to temptation and results in sin and addiction.
Respond to God's Mercy!
Can You Run to God for the Next 40 Days?
This 40-Day Addiction Challenge will change your life. Believe it or not, your addiction depends on whom you focus on, NOT how you behave. Your focus on someone or something determines your thoughts and actions. You either run to God, or you run to yourself, pain, circumstances, or pleasure, which automatically leads to sin and addiction. In the next 40 days, God will ignite, magnify, and jumpstart the transformation process. It will set up and reboot an appropriate Christian response to temptations. The decision is yours and yours alone. Freedom from addiction is right before you. It's your choice!
Therefore, do you have 40 Days where you will commit to Jesus and allow His love, power, and divine weapons to give you victory? This is a victory you have already obtained. It came as part of your inheritance when you were saved, reborn, and regenerated by God. But obviously, you don’t know how to appropriate this powerful gift. Give Jesus 40 days, and He will bless you beyond what you could ever imagine! These 6 Biblical Truths will take you out of your addiction to the foot of the cross and into an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures, Jesus is the only way to defeat temptation and the ensuing flesh response of addiction.
Respond to God's Power!
A Quick Look at What God is Calling You to Do
There are two Biblical pathways you will follow and learn to be set free from your recurring problems and addictions. They are ways of "Walking in the Spirit" that lead to freedom and restoration. When you are tempted, the correct action is to Move TOWARDS God. When believers are tempted and give in to their fleshly desires, God doesn't abandon you. He gives you a different pathway BACK to Him.
One responds correctly to temptation, and the other reacts incorrectly to temptation. Either way, God rescues you and brings the Christian back to His loving-kindness and an intimate relationship. God not only saves you by His grace, but He keeps you saved by His grace (undeserved love and mercy, not by your merit but by Jesus alone). It is all about God's free gift to those who by faith believe in Jesus. So, you can be assured that God is in control, and you don't have to. Because of this your faith and God's healing transformation bring glory to God and joy to you.
Respond to God's Loving-kindness!
General Patterns of Response to Temptation
Evil —> Temptation —> Correct Response —> Focus on God —> Walk in the Spirit —> God Provides a Way of Escape —> Freedom from Addiction
OR
Evil —> Temptation —> Incorrect Reaction —> Focus on Self, Circumstances, Pleasure —> Walk in the Flesh —> Satan Deceives —> Bondage to Addiction
Only Two Pathways
ONE, moving "TO GOD" and Resisting Temptation!
GODLY RESPONSE TO TEMPTATION CYCLE
Nine (9) responses leading you to move towards God when resisting temptation.
Acknowledge you’re being tempted by whom and how
Choose to Focus on God
Resist the Devil and Submit to God
Tell the enemy, world, or flesh to leave in Jesus' name
Ask Jesus for His Way of Escape
Thank Jesus for giving you His strength and direction
Expect the Holy Spirit to Lead and Empower you
Walk by faith according to God's Way of Escape
Be Thankful
The next time you are tempted, repeat the Godly Response to Temptation Cycle
Let's Simplify this Cycle that moves you Toward God
1) Acknowledge —> 2) Focus on God —> 3) Follow Way of Escape —> 4) Be Thankful
TWO, moving "BACK TO GOD" by Confessing Sin!
GODLY RESPONSE TO SIN/ADDICTION/FLESH, A CONFESSION CYCLE
Seven (7) reactions leading you to move back to God when you've fallen to temptation.
Acknowledge your Sin
Confess and Repent of your sin
Ask God to cleanse you
Thank God you are forgiven past, present, and future
Receive your Forgiveness
Ask God for His Strength
Be Thankful
Follow the Godly Response to Temptation Cycle the next time you are tempted.
Let's Simplify this Cycle that moves you Back to God.
1) Acknowledge Sin —> 2) Confess and Repent —> 3) Receive Forgiveness —> 4) Be Thankful
A Summary of the Seven Truths to Defeat Temptation
There are only two ways to respond to temptation and acknowledge that you are being tempted. You and you alone are the one who determines what path you take. You will either give in to temptation and sin or defeat temptation through the power of Jesus! This is a summary of the 7 truths that lead to intimacy with God and freedom from addiction.
Acknowledge or Identify Your Addiction or Recurring Problem.
Name the Addiction or Problem
Name What You're Tempted to Do
Choose to Take Your Attention off the problem on to God
Run to God and focus on Him the exact moment you are being tempted.
Run to God the spring of living waters.
Acknowledge your broken cisterns or coping mechanisms.
Everything happens the moment you are tempted.
Believe the truth!
Jesus was tempted in every way but without sin.
God does not tempt you!
You are tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Focusing on temptation rather than God leads to sin.
Lustful thoughts turn into behaviors.
Thoughts and behaviors acted out become sins.
Unrepentant sin allows demonic strongholds and bondage.
Focus on God in the moment of temptation.
Humbly submit to God, and He will draw near.
Resist the devil and he must flee.
You are not tempted beyond your means.
God is always faithful.
God always provides a way of escape—Jesus!
Jesus is our mighty and powerful weapon!
Jesus is your example!
Acknowledge the temptation at the moment.
Be intimately acquainted with God and His Word.
Reject the lie of the enemy, accept the truth.
Tell the enemy to leave in Jesus' Name
Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ during the moment of temptation.
You take every loose thought, emotion, desire, and impulse captive to Christ by fixing your eyes on Jesus.
Simply focus on and agree with Jesus (let Him reveal the truth).
This type of thinking allows your actions and life to be structured and shaped by Christ.
Responding and using God’s way of escape clears away every temptation (obstruction) and sets in motion freedom.
Be Thankful in all things.
Nurture a thankful heart.
Thankfulness leads to praise and worship.
Give God, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit all the Glory.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND FEEL HIS LOVING PRESENCE?
This is the ultimate Christian online course on learning how to be intimate with God, not just knowing about Him, but to experience Him so He influences your heart, your marriage, family, church, and world.
JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU
This is a detailed discussion on who Jesus is and how you get saved!
We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.
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