Feb. 8 & 9, 2025
Freedom Series Week 2: Habits
Speaker: Pastor Chris Pinkston, High School Pastor
The Power Of Habits: Habits are crucial in determining who we become, both positively and negatively. Consistency plus time equals results, highlighting the importance of maintaining good habits over time. Engage in a time of self-reflection, allowing God to search our hearts in order to identify and change bad habits.
Good Habits Vs. Bad Habits: We celebrate good habits, such as going to church regularly or eating healthy. Bad habits oftentimes start as perceived solutions to problems but over time can lead to chronic behaviors or addictions. Pastor Chris highlighted our Celebrate Recovery ministry, which helps people overcome their hurts, habits, and hangups.
The Nature Of Addiction: Addiction is a significant issue in our society, affecting millions and costing billions of dollars annually. Addiction does not discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of age, class, or background. The apostle Paul acknowledged his struggle with sin and addiction, emphasizing on the fact that we are inherently addicted to habitual sin. Pastor Chris said that addictions start out with deception, turning into temptation, then sin, habitual sin, and eventually becoming an addiction.
Idolatry And Addiction: Idolatry is at the root of all addiction, whether we realize it or not. I once heard that we are all incurably religious, and that statement could not be more true. There is a hole inside all of our hearts that we long to fill; some turn to drugs, alcohol, pornography, or other things, but there is only one thing that can fill that hole, and that is Jesus. Pastor Chris encouraged us to examine ourselves and see if there are any personal idols we bow to.
Pastor Chris gave us several steps to help us overcome any bad habits we may have; the first one was to take it to God. God is the only source of true freedom, and Jesus came down to Earth to set people free. God offers abundant life and freedom. The next step he mentioned was to take it public. It is crucial to break the cycle of secrecy, and confessing our sins to other believers can lead to healing. The last step he mentioned was allow God to take it down; God’s strength and spirit enables us to overcome bad habits and addictions; some practical steps that Pastor Chris mentioned to help with this step include cutting ties with negative influences and filling the void in our hearts with God’s presence.
He closed his message by saying that we as believers should encourage those who are struggling with habits or addictions to seek God’s help and community support, and that prayer and worship are key to breaking free from addictions and bad habits.