Our Heaven-Sent Helper – Part 4: Overcoming Control Issues!

Romans 7:14-23 (MSG)

What I don’t understand about myself is I decide one way but end up acting another way … I can will it, but I can’t do it … my decisions don’t result in better actions. Something gets the better of me every time. And it happens so regularly that it’s predictable. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.

Overcoming our control issues begins with –

them!

Indicator #1: Our responsibilities begin to suffer!

Indictor #2: It takes more and more to get less and less!

Indicator #3: We take greater and greater risks for our control issue!

Indicator #4: We’ve tried to quit, but we can’t!

Indicator #5: Our control issue takes God’s place!

Overcoming our control issues takes –

empowering !

The first empowering partnership we need is with the Holy Spirit!

Romans 8:2 (TLB)
For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.

Romans 8:12,13 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³ For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Philippians 4:13 (TLB)

I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

The second empowering partnership we need is with other believers!

1 Corinthians 12:25,26 (MSG)

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part … if one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing.

Overcoming our control issues calls for –

a new !

Romans 8:5 (NIV)

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

Philippians 4:8 (MSG)
You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.