Freedom From Lifes Hurts, Hang-ups, and Habits - Celebrate Recovery Study

If you long to break free from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits, then you are going to want to participate in the Celebrate Recovery program.  Dr. Rick Warren is the Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church (wrote the book Purpose Driven and he gave the prayer at President Obama's inauguration) .  He had a ten-week series of messages called "The Road to Recovery" - principles of recovery (in logical order) given by Christ in His most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount.  His associate pastor John Baker developed four participant's guides, which became the heart of their church's Celebrate Recovery ministry.  The Celebrate Recovery Bible lifts you up and shows you how to walk, step by attainable step, on a path of of healing and liberty.  It has articles that explain eight recovery principles; 112 lessons that unpack eight recovery principles in practical terms; recovery stories offering encouragement and hope, 30 days of devotional readings; over 50 full-page biblical character studies illustrate recovery principles; plus side-column reference system keyed to the eight recovery principles, and a topical index.

So next week Lorraine (gatorlorraine) and I are going to begin together on this journey of recovery.  Lorraine had mentioned this series about a month ago when she visited her in-laws church.  The Lord really laid this on my heart last week to do something.

You've heard the expression "Time heals all wounds".  Unfortunately, it isn't true.  The truth is, time often makes things worse.  Wounds that are left untended fester and spread infection throughout your entire body.  Time only extends the pain if the problem isn't dealt with. I know this is so VERY true in my life.  Once, I was able to talk with my husband, changes have come about in the healing of my physical body.  I have so much more to work on.

I purchased the Celebrate Recovery Bible through Barnes & Noble for $22.49 and the Participant Guide 1 - Stepping Out of Denial into God's Grace was $6.29.

So here is an open invitation to join us in finding a deeper peace and lasting freedom in Jesus Christ as we walk on our own road to recovery.

Twelve Steps and Their Biblical Comparisons*

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  (Romans 7:18)
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"  (Philippians 2:13)
3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."  (Romans 12:1)
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.  "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40)
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.  "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.  "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."  (James 4:10)
7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (I John 1:9)
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became wiling to make amends to them all.  "Do to others, as you would have them do to you."  (Luke 6:31)
9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.  "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."  (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.  "So, if you think you are standing firm,be careful that you don't fall!"  (I Corinthians 10:12)
11. We sought through pryaer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."  (Colossians 3:16)
12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.  "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."  (Galatians 6:1)

* Throughout this material, you will notice several references to the Christ-centered 12 steps.

The Road to Recovery (Eight Principles Based on the Beatitudes by Pastor Rick Warren)

1. 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.  "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor."  (Matthew 5:3)
2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.  "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"  (Matthew 5:4)
3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.  "Happy are the meek" (Matthew 5:5)
4. Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.  "Happy are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8)       (Check out Accountability)
5. Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires." (Matthew 5:6)
6. Evaluate all my relationships.  Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. "Happy are the merciful." (Matthew 5:7)   "Happy are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9)
7. Reserve a daily time God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
8. Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.  "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."  (Matthew 5:10)

SERENITY PRAYER by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen

DENIAL - Lesson 1

Principle 1:  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.

  "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor."  (Matthew 5:3)

Step 1:  We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

 "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  (Romans 7:18)

The acrostic for DENIAL spells out what can happen if we do not face our denial.

Disables our feelings - By repressing our feelings we freeze our emotions.  Understanding and feeling our feelings is freedom.  (2 Peter 2:19)

Energy lost - A side effect our our denial is anxiety.  Anxiety causes us to waste precious energy running from our past and worrying about and dreading the future.  It is in the present, today, where positive change can occur.  (Psalm 146:7)

Negates growth - We are "as sick as our secrets."  We cannot grow in recovery until we are ready to step out of our denial into the truth.  (Psalm 107:13-14)

Isolates us from God - God's light shines on the truth.  Our denial keeps us in the dark.  (I John 1:5-7)

Alienates us from our relationships - Denial tells us we are getting away with it.  We think no one knows - but they do.  What is the answer?  (Ephesians 4:25)

Lengthens the pain - We have the false belief that denial protects us from our pain.  In reality, denial allows our pain to fester and grow and turn into shame and guilt.  (Jeremiah 30:17)

Accept the first principle of recovery.  Step out of your denial!  Step into Jesus Christ's unconditional love and grace! 

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following in the Celebrate Recovery Chat topic:

1. What areas of your life do you have power (control) over?  Be specific.
2. What areas of your life are out of control, unmanageable?  Be specific.
3. How do you think taking this first step will help you?
4. As a child, what coping skills did you use to get attention or to protect yourself?
5. In your family of origin, what was the "family secret" that everyone was trying to protect?
6. How do you handle pain and disappointment?
7. How can you begin to address your denial?
8. In what areas of your life are you now beginning to face rality and break the effects of denial?
9. Are you starting to develop a support team?

POWERLESS - Lesson 2

Principle 1:  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.

  "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor."  (Matthew 5:3)

Step 1:  We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

   "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  (Romans 7:18)

When we accept the first recovery principle and take that first step out of our denial and into reality, we see there are very few things that we really have control over.  Once we admit that by ourselves we are powerless we can stop living with the following"serenity robbers," spelled out in the acrostic POWERLESS.

Pride - Ignorance + power + pride = a deadly mixture! (Proverbs 29:23)

Only ifs - Our "only ifs" in life keep us trapped in the fantasyland of rationalization!  (Luke 12-2-3)

Worry - Worrying is a form of not trusting God enough!  (Matthew 6:34)

Escape - By living in denial we may have escaped into a world of fantasy and unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others.  (Ephesians 5:13-14)

Resentments - Resentments act like an emotional cancer if they are allowed to fester and grow.  (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Loneliness - Loneliness is a choice.  In recovery and in Christ, you never have to walk alone.  (Hebrews 13:1-2)

Emptiness - You know that empty feeling deep inside.  THe cold wind of hopelessness blows right through it.  (John 10:10)

Selfishness - We often pray:  "Our Father which art in heaven: give me, give me, give me."  (Luke 17:33)

Separation - Some people talk about finding God - as if He could ever get lost!  (Romans 8:38-39)

At this stage in your recovery, you need to stop doing two things:

1. Stop Denying the Pain.  You are ready to take your first step in recovery when your pain is greater than your fear.  (Psalm 6:2-3)
2. Stop Playing God.  You are unable to do for yourself what you need God to do for you.  You are either going to serve God or yourself.  You can't serve both.  (Matthew 6:24)

In addition to stopping certain behaviors, you need to start doing two things:

1. Start Admitting Your Powerlessness.  As you work the first principle, you will see that by yourself you do not have the power to change your hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  (Matthew 19:26)
2. Start Admitting That Your Life Has Become Unmanageable.  You can finally start admitting that some or all areas of your life are out of your control to change.  (Psalm 40:12)

HOPE - Lesson 3

Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

In the first principle, we admitted we were powerless.  Now in the second principle, we come to believe God exists, that we are important to Him, and that we are able to receive God's power to help us recover.  It's in the second step we find HOPE!

Principle 2:  Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.  "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"  (Matthew 5:4)

Step 2:  We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"  (Philippians 2:13)

Higher Power

Our Higher Power has a name:  Jesus Christ! Jesus desires a hand-on, day-to-day, moment-to-moment relationship with us.  He can do for us what we have never been able to do for ourselves.  (Romans 11:36; 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Openness to change

Throughout our lives, we will continue to encounter hurts and trials that we are powerless to change.  With God's help, we need to be open to allow those trials to change us.  To make us better, not bitter.  (Ephesians 4:23)

Power to change

In the past, we have wanted to change and were unable to do so.  We could not free ourselves from our hurts, hang-ups, or habits.  In Principle 2, we come to understand that God's power can change us and our situation.  (Philippians 4:14; Psalm 25:5)

Expect to change

Remember you are only at the second principle.  Don't wait before the miracle happens!  With God's help, the changes that you have longed for are just steps aways.  (Philippians 1:6)

How do we find hope?  By faith in our our Higher Power, Jesus Christ.  (Hebrews 11:1)

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following in the Celebrate Recovery Chat - Lesson 3 topic:

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope?
2. What do you believe about God?  What are some of His characteristics?
3. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike?  How do they differ?
4. How can your relationship with your Higher Power, Jesus Christ, help you step out of your denial and face reality?
5. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you?
6. What things are you ready to change in your life?  Where can you get the power to change them?

SANITY - Lesson 4

Principle 2:  Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.  "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"  (Matthew 5:4)

Step 2:  We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"  (Philippians 2:13)

Insanity has been described as "doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result each time."

Sanity has been defined as "wholeness of mind; making decisions based on the truth."

The following are some of the gifts we will receive when we believe that Jesus Christ has the power and will restore us to SANITY!

Strength:  Jesus gives us strength to face the fears that in the past have caused us to fight, flee, or freeze. (Psalm 46:1); Psalm 73:26

Acceptance:  We learn to have realistic expectations of ourselves and others.  (Romans 15:7)

New life:  We discover that we have an opportunity for a second chance!  We do not have to live by our old ways any longer.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Integrity:  We begin to follow through on our promises.  Others start trusting what we say.  3 John 4

Trust:  We begin to trust relationships with others and Jesus Christ!  (Proverbs 29:25

Your Jesus Christ, loves you just the way you are:

No matter what you have done in the past, God wants to forgive it!  (Romans 5:8)

No matter what shape your life is in today, together God and you can handle it!  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

And if you take action to complete the next principle, your future will be blessed and secure!  (Matthew 6:34)

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following in the Celebrate Recovery Chat - Lesson 4 topic:

1. What things have you been doing over and over again, expecting a different result each time (insanity)?
2. What is your definition of sanity?
3. How have your past expectations of yourself or others been unrealistic?  Give Examples.
4. In the past, how has trusting only in your own feelings and emotions gotten you in trouble?
5. How can Jesus Christ, help restore you to make sane decisions?  How do you get a second chance?
6. What areas of your life are you ready to release control of and hand over to God?  Be specific.

Look up the following Principle 2 Verses and write them out in your own words.  Ephesians 2:12-13, 2 Corinthians 4:7-8, Colossians 1:27, Romans 12:2, Isaiah 42:3

Review the following:

SERENITY PRAYER by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen

The Road to Recovery (Eight Principles Based on the Beatitudes by Pastor Rick Warren)

1. RealizeI'm not God.  I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.  "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor."  (Matthew 5:3)
2. Earnestlybelieve that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.  "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"  (Matthew 5:4)
3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.  "Happy are the meek" (Matthew 5:5)
4. Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.  "Happy are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8)       (Check out Accountability)
5. Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires." (Matthew 5:6)
6. Evaluate all my relationships.  Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. "Happy are the merciful." (Matthew 5:7)   "Happy are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9)
7. Reserve a daily time God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
8. Yieldmyself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.  "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."  (Matthew 5:10)

Twelve Steps and Their Biblical Comparisons

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  (Romans 7:18)
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"  (Philippians 2:13)
3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."  (Romans 12:1)
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.  "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40)
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.  "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.  "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."  (James 4:10)
7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (I John 1:9)
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became wiling to make amends to them all.  "Do to others, as you would have them do to you."  (Luke 6:31)
9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.  "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."  (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.  "So, if you think you are standing firm,be careful that you don't fall!"  (I Corinthians 10:12)
11. We sought through pryaer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."  (Colossians 3:16)
12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.  "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."  (Galatians 6:1)

TURN - Lesson 5

Principle 3:  Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.  "Happy are the meek" (Matthew 5:5)

Step 3:   We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."  (Romans 12:1)

How do you TURN your life over to the one and only Jesus Christ?

Trust - Deciding to turn your life and your will over to God requires only trust.  Trust is putting the faith you found in Principle 2 into action.  (Romans 10:9)

Understand- Relying solely on your own understanding got you into recovery in the first place!  After you make the decision to ask Jesus into your life, you need to begin to seek His will for your life in all your decisions.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Repent- To truly repent, you must not only turn away from your sins, but turn toward God.  Repentance allows you to enjoy the freedom of your loving relationship with God.  (Mark 1:15)

New Life- After you ask Jesus into your heart, you will have a new life!  You will no longer be bound to your old sin nature.  God has declared you NOT GUILTY, and you no longer have to live under the power of sin!  (Romans 3:22)

We will work on the "how tos" of TURNING our life and will over to God next Monday (Lesson 6).  But do not forget this key point:

Turning your life over to Christ is a once-in-a-lifetime commitment!  Turning your will over to Him requires a daily recommitment!  Pray the following prayer daily:

Dear God, I have tried to do it all by myself, on my own power, and I have failed.  Today, I want to turn my life over to You.  I ask You to be my Lord and my Savior.  You are the One and only Higher Power!  I ask that You help me start to think less about me and my will.  I want to daily turn my will  over to You, to daily seek Your direction and wisdom for my life.  Please continue to help me over-come my hurts, hangups, and habits and may that victory over them help others as they see Your power at work in changing my life.  Help me to do Your will always.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following in the Celebrate Recovery - Turn - Lesson 5 Chat topic:

ACTION - Lesson 6

Principle 3:  Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.  "Happy are the meek" (Matthew 5:5)

Step 3:   We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."  (Romans 12:1)

Even after taking the first two steps we can still be stuck in the cycle of failure: guilt -> anger -> fear -> depression!

How do we get "unstuck"?  How do we get past the barriers of pride, fear, guilt, worry, and doubt that keep us from taking this step?

The answer is we need to take ACTION!

Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior! - Make the decision to ask Jesus unto your heart.  Now is the time to commit your life, to establish that personal relationship with Jesus that He so desires.  (Romans 10:9)

Commit to seek and follow HIS will- We need to change our definition of willpower.  Willpower is the willingness to accept God's power.  We are that there is no room for God if we are full of ourselves.  (Psalm 143:9-10_

Turn it over - "Let go, let God!"  Turn over all the big things and the little things in your life to Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ wants a relationship with ALL of you.  What burdens are you carrying that you want to TURN OVER to God?  (Matthew 11:28-30)

It's only the beginning - In the third principle we make only the initial decision, the commitment to seek and follow God's will.  Our walk with Jesus Christ begins with this decision and is followed by a lifelong process of growing as a Christian.  (Philippians 1:6)

One day at a time- Recovery happens one day at a time.  If we remain stuck in the yesterday or constantly worry about tomorrow, we will waste the precious time of the present.  We can only change our hearts, hang-ups, and habits in the present.  (Mathew 6:34)

Next: How do I ask Christ into my life? - Ask yourself the following questions (see below), and if you answer yes to all of them, pray the prayer that follows them.  That's it.  That's all you have to do!

How to Establish a "Spiritual Base" for My Life by Pastor Rick Warren

Do I ...

Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and showed He was God by coming back to life?  (I Corinthians 15:2-4)

Accept God's free forgiveness for my sins?  (Romans 3:22)

Switch to God's plan for my life? (Mark 1:15; Romans 12:2)

Express my desire to Christ to be the director of my life? (Romans 10:9)

Dear God, I believe you sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins so I can be forgiven.  I'm sorry for my sins and I want to live the rest of my life the way you want me to.  Please put Your Spirit in my life to direct me. ~Amen

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following in the Celebrate Recovery - Action - Lesson 6 Chat topic.

AFTERWORD

Now that you have completed all six lessons to the best of your ability, CONGRATULATIONS are most definitely in order!

In Principle 1 you faced your denial and admitted that by yourself you were powerless to manage your addictive or compulsive behavior.

"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  (Romans 7:18)

In Principle 2 you found the hope that God could and would restore you to sanity, and that only He could provide the power for yo to recover.

"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants."  (Phillipans 2:13)

And finally, in Principle 3, you were able to take the action, to make the decision to turn your life and your will over to God's care and direction.

"And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.  Let them be a living sacrifice, holy - the kind he can accept.  When you think of what he has done for you, is that too much to ask? " (Romans 12:1)

Now, you are ready to take the next step in your journey on the "Road to Recovery."  Facing your past - the good and the bad.  Principle 4 can be difficult, but remember you're not going to go through it alone.  Jesus Christ, and others that He has placed alongside you on your "Road to Recovery" will be with you every step of the way.