Embracing Change: The Path to Recovery and Victory
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone! It's great to be back after being out sick last week. Tonight, we are diving into Principle Five and Steps Six and Seven of Celebrate Recovery. These steps are crucial in our journey to recovery, focusing on voluntarily submitting to every change God wants to make in our lives and humbly asking Him to remove our character defects. The scriptures backing these steps are James 4:10 and 1 John 1:9, emphasizing humility and confession.
We all hate losing, but the opposite of losing is victory. Tonight, we explore how to achieve victory over our defects of character using the acrostic VICTORY. The V stands for voluntarily submitting to every change God wants to make in our lives. This is a journey and a process, not an overnight transformation. The I stands for identifying which character defects to work on first. We have many defects, and it's essential to let God guide us in addressing them one by one.
The C stands for changing your mind. Recovery is choice-based, and we must allow God to transform us by renewing our minds. The T stands for turning your character defects over to Jesus Christ. Relying on our own willpower has failed us; we need to let God take control. The O stands for one day at a time. Recovery is a process, and we must take it one step at a time, trusting God to guide us.
The R stands for recognizing that recovery is a process. We won't achieve perfection, but we can rejoice in steady progress. Finally, the Y stands for you must choose to change. God won't force change upon us; we must voluntarily submit to His will.
In conclusion, we must be entirely ready to let God be the life-changer for us. We offer blue chips as a symbol of this commitment, encouraging everyone to take that step and declare their readiness to do it God's way.
### Key Takeaways
1. Voluntarily Submit to God's Changes: The first step to victory over our character defects is to voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in our lives. This is not an overnight transformation but a journey that requires humility and acknowledgment of our shortcomings. Romans 12:1-2 emphasizes offering ourselves as living sacrifices, allowing God to transform us inwardly by renewing our minds. [40:36]
2. Identify and Prioritize Character Defects: We have many character defects, and it's essential to identify and prioritize which ones to work on first. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we plan our course, the Lord establishes our steps. By focusing on the most painful defects first, we allow God to remove the biggest obstacles in our recovery journey. [47:00]
3. Change Your Mindset: Recovery is largely about changing our mindset. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not just about behavior modification but a complete change in how we think and feel, allowing God to change us from the inside out. [50:31]
4. Turn Defects Over to Jesus: Relying on our own willpower has led us to failure. James 4:10 teaches us that humility is not a sign of weakness but a correct estimation of ourselves as God sees us. By turning our character defects over to Jesus, we allow His strength to work in our weaknesses, leading to true transformation. [51:52]
5. Recovery is a Lifelong Process: Recovery is not a quick fix but a lifelong process. Philippians 1:6 assures us that God, who began a good work in us, will continue to help us grow in His grace until the task is finished. We must embrace the journey, taking it one day at a time, and rejoice in steady progress rather than seeking perfection. [57:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:16] - Introduction and Personal Struggles
[35:01] - Principle Five and Steps Six and Seven
[36:52] - The Concept of Victory
[38:12] - Examples of Victory
[39:31] - Overview of Principle Five and Steps Six and Seven
[40:36] - Voluntarily Submit to God's Changes
[47:00] - Identify and Prioritize Character Defects
[50:31] - Change Your Mindset
[51:52] - Turn Defects Over to Jesus
[53:24] - One Day at a Time
[57:04] - Recovery is a Lifelong Process
[58:27] - You Must Choose to Change
[01:04:17] - Be Ready for God to Change You
[01:05:56] - Blue Chip Ceremony
[01:07:13] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 4:10 - "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
2. 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
3. Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does James 4:10 say about the relationship between humility and being lifted up by the Lord? [36:00]
2. According to 1 John 1:9, what are the two actions we must take to receive forgiveness and purification from God? [36:00]
3. In Romans 12:1-2, what does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and how does this relate to the concept of transformation? [41:14]
4. What does the acrostic VICTORY stand for in the context of overcoming character defects? [39:31]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the act of humbling ourselves before God, as mentioned in James 4:10, play a role in our recovery journey? [36:00]
2. Why is confession, as described in 1 John 1:9, crucial for our spiritual and emotional healing? [36:00]
3. How does the concept of being a "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1-2 challenge our daily lives and decisions? [41:14]
4. The sermon emphasizes that recovery is a process and not an overnight transformation. How does this perspective help in managing expectations during recovery? [57:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to humble yourself before God. What steps can you take to practice humility in your current situation? [36:00]
2. Confession is a powerful tool for healing. Is there something you need to confess to God or a trusted person to begin your healing process? How can you take that step this week? [36:00]
3. Offering ourselves as a living sacrifice involves daily choices. What is one specific area in your life where you can surrender more fully to God’s will? [41:14]
4. Identify a character defect that you feel God is calling you to work on first. What practical steps can you take to address this defect with God’s help? [47:00]
5. Recovery is a lifelong journey. How can you remind yourself to take it one day at a time and celebrate small victories along the way? [57:04]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of changing our mindset. What is one negative thought pattern you need to change, and how can you start renewing your mind with God’s truth? [50:31]
7. The blue chip ceremony symbolizes a commitment to doing it God’s way. What is one area in your life where you need to stop doing it your way and start doing it God’s way? How can you make that commitment today? [41:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Voluntarily Submit to God's Changes
Recovery begins with a willingness to let God make changes in our lives. This is not an instantaneous transformation but a journey that requires humility and the acknowledgment of our shortcomings. Romans 12:1-2 emphasizes offering ourselves as living sacrifices, allowing God to transform us inwardly by renewing our minds. This means we must be open to God's guidance and be willing to let go of our old ways. It’s about surrendering our will to God and trusting Him to lead us through the process of change.
This step is crucial because it sets the foundation for all other steps in recovery. Without a willingness to submit to God's changes, we remain stuck in our old patterns and behaviors. By voluntarily submitting, we acknowledge that we cannot do it on our own and that we need God's help. This act of submission is a powerful declaration of our faith and trust in God's plan for our lives. [40:36]
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to submit to God's changes? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: Identify and Prioritize Character Defects
We all have multiple character defects, but it’s essential to identify and prioritize which ones to work on first. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we plan our course, the Lord establishes our steps. By focusing on the most painful defects first, we allow God to remove the biggest obstacles in our recovery journey. This step involves self-examination and prayer, asking God to reveal the areas in our lives that need the most attention.
Identifying and prioritizing our character defects is a critical step because it helps us to focus our efforts and not become overwhelmed by trying to change everything at once. It’s about taking one step at a time and trusting that God will guide us through the process. By addressing the most significant defects first, we can experience more substantial progress and build momentum in our recovery journey. [47:00]
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: What is one character defect that causes you the most pain or trouble? How can you begin to address this defect with God's help?
Day 3: Change Your Mindset
Recovery is largely about changing our mindset. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not just about behavior modification but a complete change in how we think and feel, allowing God to change us from the inside out. It involves letting go of old thought patterns and embracing a new way of thinking that aligns with God's truth.
Changing our mindset is essential because our thoughts influence our actions. By allowing God to renew our minds, we can break free from the lies and negative beliefs that have held us back. This step requires intentionality and a commitment to immerse ourselves in God's Word and truth. It’s about replacing old, destructive thoughts with new, life-giving ones that reflect God's love and grace. [50:31]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What negative thought patterns do you need to let go of? How can you begin to renew your mind with God's truth today?
Day 4: Turn Defects Over to Jesus
Relying on our own willpower has led us to failure. James 4:10 teaches us that humility is not a sign of weakness but a correct estimation of ourselves as God sees us. By turning our character defects over to Jesus, we allow His strength to work in our weaknesses, leading to true transformation. This step involves acknowledging our inability to change on our own and asking Jesus to take control.
Turning our defects over to Jesus is a powerful act of faith. It’s about admitting that we cannot do it on our own and that we need His help. By surrendering our defects to Him, we open ourselves up to His healing and transformative power. This step requires humility and a willingness to let go of our pride and self-reliance. [51:52]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: What is one character defect you have been trying to change on your own? How can you turn this defect over to Jesus and rely on His strength?
Day 5: Recovery is a Lifelong Process
Recovery is not a quick fix but a lifelong process. Philippians 1:6 assures us that God, who began a good work in us, will continue to help us grow in His grace until the task is finished. We must embrace the journey, taking it one day at a time, and rejoice in steady progress rather than seeking perfection. This step involves patience and perseverance, trusting that God is at work in our lives even when we don’t see immediate results.
Understanding that recovery is a lifelong process helps us to stay committed and not become discouraged when we face setbacks. It’s about celebrating small victories and recognizing that each step forward is progress. By focusing on the journey rather than the destination, we can experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [57:04]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you embrace the journey of recovery and celebrate small victories? What is one step you can take today to move forward in your recovery process?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The opposite of losing is victory. And what do you think of when you think of victory, right? Maybe it's a sports image like that. You know, there's a golfer. Yay. Everybody's coming. Or maybe it's like this one right here. Oh, hey. Who's that? The Cleveland Browns. How about that? Okay. Or maybe it's like this picture here. Oh, look. The Browns again. How about that? Yeah. Right?" [38:12] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Recovery happens up here in our mind. And so we are letting God transform us. When you accepted principle three way back when in this journey, you made the most important decision of your life because you chose to turn your life and your will over to the care of God. And that decision got you right with God, right?" [42:42] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God wants to change more than just our behaviors. Recovery's not about just behavior modification. He's not just trying to change our behaviors. He wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to change the way we think. And therefore will change the way we feel about things. Simply changing behaviors is just like pulling the weeds. Not out by the root, but just trimming them. They're going to grow. They're going to grow back, right?" [51:11] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Recovery happens one day at a time. One moment at a time. It really does. I've told this story 100,000 times. But a sponsor I had for a little while once, he told me about his journey in recovery and that he was really, he was so addicted to drugs and alcohol, and he was in recovery for that, and he grew so much. But at one time, his sponsor gave him a 10-minute chip. A 10-minute chip. You made it 10 minutes. Here's a chip. And that wasn't to make fun of him. That was victory. That was progress." [55:58] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God gives strength to the humble. He doesn't give punishment to the humble. Or ridicule. Or condemnation. He gives strength to the humble. We come to God and we say, God, I don't got it. I don't have it. I can't do it on my own. I need you. He gives strength to the humble. So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And when you draw close to God. It doesn't say God will be grossed out and push you away. It says, when you draw close to God. I just imagine crawling up in his lap." [01:03:07] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Voluntarily submit to every change God wants me to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my shortcomings. That's a loaded, loaded sentence. Think about that. Voluntarily submit. To every change God wants me to make in my life. Now, let me tell you this. It doesn't happen all at once. When we go to God and say, okay, God, I want you to just make any change. He's not going to change everything overnight. It's a journey. It's a process." [40:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you share with another person out loud, the secret ends. And that's important because secrets have power over you. People that keep secrets have this heavy weight on their lives all the time. They've always got to watch out over their shoulder. They've always got to cover their tracks. They've always got to check their lies against their new lies. They've always got to do all this stuff. And when you confess it to another person, the secret's out. It's not out for Instagram, but it's out to another person. And you see that that other person still accepts you and wants to help you and help you overcome." [44:12] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I talk to people all the time that just say, I can't live this way anymore. It is killing me. I want to get rid of my hurts and habits and hang-ups, but how do I do it? How do I do it? And the good news in that answer is that you don't do it. It says you're entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character. Right? Nobody does their own surgery. I had to have my appendix out a couple years ago. Right? That would be pretty wicked if I had to do it myself." [45:43] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need the help of a trusted person who can help us kind of understand ourselves better. Help us interpret what God is showing us. Help us kind of sort this stuff out. Help us not move too fast. Help us not move too slow through our recovery. But we can't... That's why we say we can't do it alone. Because it's just too much. It's just too much to interpret what's in our minds and hearts already. And then match it with this new information coming in through recovery and all the stuff we're learning in our groups and everything. And to mesh it all together. It's just too much." [01:00:04] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And to find that you're not rejected. You're not ridiculed. You're supported. You're loved. But you're also free. You're free from that. Just the power that the secrets had over you. For Christmas one year. Like a husband normally does. I got my wife this. I didn't know what to get her. That's where the normal man part comes in. But I got her this weighted blanket. Has anybody ever heard of that before? It was like one of those things. Like an impulse buy. Right by the register at Kohl's or something like that. And I thought, oh, thank you. And so I bought it for her. And it's exactly what it says. It's a very heavy blanket." [01:01:49] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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