RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025 – AGE 16-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 16TH OF MARCH, 2024 – LESSON TWENTY NINE (29) – TOPIC: DEALING WITH ADDICTION
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RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025*
AGE 16-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 16TH OF MARCH, 2024
LESSON TWENTY NINE (29)
TOPIC: DEALING WITH ADDICTION
MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me”.
BIBLE TEXT: Psalm 46:1-7.
[1](To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[2]Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
[3]Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
[4]There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
[5]God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
[6]The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
[7]The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
LESSON AIM & OBJECTIVES: To equip students with knowledge on the dangers of addiction and practical steps towards recovery. Through the lesson, students should be able to:
- Understand the reality of addiction.
- Rely on God for strength to overcome addiction.
INTRODUCTION: Addiction can be something that has control and power over you, something that controls your being, controls your personality and eventually could lead to a destructive action or tendency.
Addictions come in many forms. We immediately think of alcohol and drugs when we hear the term but people can become addicted to many things: food, gambling, shopping, work, cigarettes, pornography, the internet, video games, smart phones, texting, pain medication and so on. That could almost be a mantra for any addiction. It’s always that way. Whether it’s alcohol or something else, it’s always the best thing until it becomes the worst thing.
OUTLINES
A THE REALITY OF ADDICTION.
B. TURNING TO GOD FOR STRENGTH.
A. THE REALITY OF ADDICTION
Addiction is like a black hole. It pulls in everything good and only leaves feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. There are many ways to describe the progression of addiction and how a person becomes addicted, but let’s outline four-step process that seems to cover the main bases. Addiction begins with hurt, which leads to escape, which leads to deception, which leads to slavery.
1.) Hurt (Proverbs 18:14)
Addiction begins with hurt. It may be loneliness, guilt or shame, but at the heart of every addiction there is a deep and lingering hurt that has never been resolved. It may be a pain from your childhood or some traumatic event in your life, but there is always an underlying issue that you have never fully addressed. Addiction begins with hurt.
ii.) Escape (James 1:13-14)
This is part of the cycle of addiction. We cannot bear the emotional pain, and so we seek escape in our addiction. And we find escape in something that seems so wonderful, something that makes us feel good for a change, something that soothes all the bad feelings and numbs the pain. It’s how we learn to cope with our hurt. (James 1:14-15) When we are addicted, we experience this cycle of temptation, desire and sin over and over and over again.
iii.) Deception (Jeremiah 17:9)
Next comes deception. This is one of the most insidious parts of addiction, the lies we tell each other and the lies we tell ourselves. We become experts at hiding our addiction.
We hide it because we are afraid it will be taken away from us if it is discovered. And we don’t know that we can live without it. So we lie, we deceive, we manipulate, we blame, and in the process we lose all true sense of self. Jeremiah 17:9.
The addict’s two main tools are deception and denial. The alcoholic hides bottles around the house. The porn addict encrypts computer files on the hard drive and wipes the browsing history clean. The shop-a-holic keeps separate stashes of money and hides the receipts.
iv.) Slavery (Genesis 4:7; Proverbs 23:29-35; Romans 6:16)
Addiction begins with hurt, which leads to escape, which leads to deception, which leads to slavery. And this is really the main problem with addiction. It is bondage; it is dependency; it is slavery.
B. TURNING TO GOD FOR STRENGTH.
The weight of addiction becomes lighter when you seek a relationship with Christ. For you to overcome addiction, you need to take the following steps:
- Recognition of Sin: Acknowledge addiction as a manifestation of sin. In Romans 7:18-20, the apostle Paul speaks of the struggle with sin within himself. Understanding that addiction is a result of human brokenness is essential.
- Repentance and Confession: Turn away from the addiction through repentance and confessing it to God. In 1 John 1:9, it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
- Renewal of Mind: Transform your thinking through the renewal of your mind. Romans 12:2 instructs believers to not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of their minds.
- Seeking Help: Seek support from fellow believers, pastors, or counselors. Galatians 6:2 encourages believers to carry each other’s burdens.
- Filling the Void: Replace addictive behaviors with healthy, God-honoring activities. Ephesians 5:18.
- Guarding Against Temptation: Guard yourself against temptation by fleeing from it. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
- Forgiveness: Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes and offenses. Ephesians 4:32.
SUMMARY: Believers must guard against temptation, persevere in faith, and forgive themselves and others. By engaging in regular prayer, worship, and study of Scripture.
CONCLUSION: Addiction is a serious problem that affects society, families and individuals. If you are struggling with an addiction this morning, you need help. There’s no quick fix to your problem. It will take time and determination, but with God’s help and by applying these principles from God’s Word to your situation, you can have victory. Will you give your addiction to God this morning?
QUESTIONS:
- Mention things that one can get addicted to?
- What are the practical ways to come from addiction?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Sunday – John 1:16-30
Monday – John 1:31-15
Tuesday – John 2:1-15
Wednesday – John 2:16-25
Thursday – John 3:1-15
Friday – John 3:16-36
Saturday – John 4:1-15
Open Heavens 2025 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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