Powerless Lesson

I am a grateful believer in Jesus overcoming control and healing from racial trauma. My name is Cheryl. I'm so glad to be with you. Whether you're new to Celebrate Recovery or you've been around for a while, I welcome you. And I'm doing lesson two today, Powerless. Principle one says, realize I'm not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. Matthew 5 3 says, happy are those who know they are spiritually poor. Another version says, happy are the poor in spirit. And Jesus clarified that he wasn't speaking of physical poverty, but he's speaking of spiritual poverty, the poor in spirit. The beginning of repentance is the recognition of one's spiritual bankruptcy, one's ability to become unrighteous on their own, the powerlessness. The blessing or the happiness that belongs to the poor in spirit is because that person is, by his admission, already moving towards participating in God's kingdom plan, doing the thing that God wants them to do, and acknowledging his need for a source of salvation outside of himself. He knows that he needs a Savior because he can't do life on his own. Blessed to be envied or happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor. Happy are the poor in spirit. They're happy. You know the phrase poor in spirit according to commentary Michael Green has a long history in the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, and it refers to those who have confidence in God. They have learned to put their trust in God alone, and their unspeakable joy, the unspeakable joy that they find, they find it from the kingdom, and they know that it's God's free gift to them. Their joy springs from sheer, undreamed of grace. Those who trust God for deliverance, they are the ones who know they are powerless. You know, Jesus is pronouncing blessings, not issuing orders in Matthew 5 3, and what a relief as we're working each step towards freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. What a blessing to know that we have this ability to be aware, to be aware of and acknowledge our sin, and to know and walk in the fact that we're powerless. This awareness and this mindfulness drives us to the hands of God, and he will care for us. Again, Principle 1 says, realize I am NOT God. I admit that I am

powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing, and that my life is unmanageable. And Matthew 5 3 once again says, happy are those who know they are spiritually poor. And Step 1 in our Christ-centered 12-step process says, we admitted we were powerless over our addictions and over our compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. That's Romans 7 18. In this lesson, we're going to identify nine things that we lose when we admit we're powerless over our addictions, over our compulsive behaviors, or as we say in Celebrant Recovery, over our life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. These things, these nine things negatively impact our lives, and when we rid them of our lives, we become more like Christ. So listen, before we start, go grab a pen, grab a piece of paper, and your Bible, or use your phone, because I've got a lot of scripture today. So the first thing we lose is pride. Pride refers to unwarranted attitude, to an unwarranted attitude of confidence. While pride can have a positive connotation of self-worth or boasting, it's often used in scripture to refer to an unhealthy elevated view of one's self, one's abilities, or their possessions. Pride can be a hindrance on the path to acknowledging powerlessness and seeking help, emphasizing the need for humility. Proverbs 29 23 says, pride ends in a fall, while humility brings honor. And Matthew 23 12 says, all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Humility can refer to a virtue that involves modest self-perception. In this sense, it's the opposite of pride and the opposite of arrogance. So number two is only if. Only ifs represent the conditional mindset that keeps us trapped. This concept underscores the importance of facing reality and acknowledging powerlessness without relying on conditional scenarios. Luke 12 verses 2 and 3 says, whatever is covered up will be uncovered and every secret will be made known so then whatever you said in the dark will be heard in broad daylight. Confronting the reality of our lives points to vulnerability and it points to humility and marks the beginning of a transformative journey towards recovery and healing. So number three is worry.

Now worry is a lack of peace experienced physically, spiritually, or mentally. I think we've all had to deal with worry at some point in our lives. So worry takes the form of a lack of trust in God's provision for our lives and it acts as a barrier to surrendering control to Jesus who is our higher power. Matthew 6 34 says this, don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. You know in this Jesus isn't telling people to postpone their worrying for a day. He's instructing to stop worrying altogether and encouraging to rely on his gracious provision. This points us back to principle one. I am not God. I am powerless. Philippians 4 6 says do not worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. In this Paul is challenging believers to acknowledge their dependence on God and his provision for our lives and his provision for our freedom from our addictions and our compulsive behaviors. Number four is escape or living in denial. When we live in denial we may have escaped into a world of unrealistic expectations of ourselves and of others and escape refers to avoiding the reality of one's situation by creating a world of fantasy. We're encouraged to face the truth rather than seeking refuge in illusions. Ephesians 5 13 through 14 says this, for light is capable of showing up everything for what it really is. It's even possible for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also. And then Psalm 139 verses 1 through 7 this is a long verse a bunch of scriptures but I wanted to read this. It shows that we have a God who is inescapable and Alan Ross in the Bible knowledge commentary notes that the Lord knew David penetratingly and he knows you and I penetratingly. So listen to Psalm 139 verses 1 through 7. It says this, you have searched me Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you Lord know it completely. You hand me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? David said God's knowledge came as if he had scoured every detail of his life and then knew him intimately. I love that. So number five, we lose resentments. Resentments are lingering toxic emotions like animosity or bitterness. If they're not addressed and are allowed to grow they can lead to anger which will hinder us spiritually and emotionally. Ephesians 4 26 through 27 says this, in your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you're still angry and do not give the devil a

foothold. Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure aroused by a wrong whether it's real or perceived. Isn't that interesting? Proverbs 29 22 says one given to anger stirs up strife and the hothead causes much transgression or much misbehavior. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object and when not exceeding due bounds. Anger is a natural feeling. Number six is loneliness. Loneliness is an emotional isolation that can be experienced in recovery contrasted with the assurance that you do not have to go at it alone. There's a wonderful community in Celebrate Recovery. There may be times when you feel alone or when you feel lonely but my challenge to you is when you're in those moments that you reach out to your accountability partner or your sponsor, your therapist, a ministry leader, or someone you know. You don't have to go at this alone, and loneliness is real. Hebrews 13, one and two says this, "'Continue to love each other with brotherly love. "'Don't forget to be kind to strangers, "'for some who have done this have entertained "'angels without realizing it.'" Isn't that interesting? Number seven is emptiness. The feeling or quality of being without significance, value, or purpose. This describes a profound inner void or hopelessness, contrasted with the promise of finding fulfillment and purpose through spiritual growth and reliance on our higher power. And again, we have the opportunity in CR to do this in community. John 10, 10 says, in the Living Bible, it says, Jesus, I'm sorry, my purpose is to give life

in all its fullness. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. And Luke 12, 24 says, consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap. They neither have storehouses or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more value are you than birds? Listen, who is worth more to God than you? A raven in the skies or a person made in the image and entrusted with caring for his universe? He cares for us. You are valued and your life is significant. Number eight, selflessness is another thing we lose when we admit we are powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. Selfishness is self-centered concern for oneself without regard to the needs of others. Scripture treats selfishness as an aspect of sin and urges believers to care for others as well as they care for themselves. Luke 17, 33 says this, whoever clings to his life shall lose it and whoever loses his life shall save it. The opposite of selfishness is generosity or kindness. And Colossians 3, 12 says this, a portion of that scripture says, clothe yourself in kindness. You know, this is an intentional action. And a commentary notes that kindness conveys the thought of knowing another's need and helping them to fulfill it.

Kindness shifts our focus from selfishness and places it on others. It shifts our focus from ourselves and places it on others. And lastly, we lose separation when we admit we are powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. We have unbreakable, I'm sorry, we have an unbreakable connection with God. This discredits the idea that we could be separated from him and reinforces the enduring nature of divine love. Remember Psalm 1, we have a God who is inescapable and he is our higher power. Romans 8, 38 through 39 says, for I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't, the angels won't and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us. You know, we will always, always face opposition in life and in our recovery journey. But there's not one thing that can separate us from God. These nine things we lose when we admit we are powerless over our compulsive behaviors. Pride, only ifs, worry, escape, resentment, loneliness, emptiness, selfishness, and separation. And lastly, nothing can ever separate you from the love of God.

May the Lord bless you on your recovery journey.