1. Jesus Is Your Model The Bible Is Your Guide

2. Denial: John Baker, “Stepping Out of Denial into God’s Grace” tells us that this is the first step in breaking addiction. What is the denial we have to deal with? Is it a lie? Well, if it is not the truth, what is it? Where do all lies come from? In dealing with life’s problems, we need to: Look to see what God says and how He works in the scriptures. Make your decisions and evaluate your experiences based on biblical truths.

3. So, Jesus Is Your Model: Did Jesus ever lie? What is satan? He is a deceiver and the truth is not in him. John 8:43-45 John 8:43-45 When we study the scriptures, whe should not base our decisions on one isolated verse or bible story. We need to be well versed enough in the bible that we have an idea how God generally works throughout the bible.

4. Principle One: I must realize that I am not God. I have to understand what we talked about before: 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.a Step 1: So, we must admit that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing. But, through Jesus Christ, we can do all things. Philippians 4:13 What things can we do through Jesus? ALL THINGS Is breaking addictions among all things?

5. Romans 7:18 Romans 7:18 New International Version (NIV) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. [a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.a Think about it: Just like anything else in life, we can’t fix it by just saying the problem does not exist. Jeremiah 6:14-- They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.

6. https://www.scribd.com/document/377079697/CR-01-Denial-Acrostic-Handout Accept the first principle of recovery. Step out of your denial! Step into your Higher Power’s--Jesus Christ’s--unconditional love and grace!

7. Write about it: 1.What areas of your life do you have power or control over? (be specific) 2.What areas 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, what was the secret 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 reality and breaking the effects of denial?

8. Which statement is true? Which is false? 1.I can trust my experiences as an effective way to know and follow God. 2.I should always evaluate my experiences based on the truths i find in God’s Word. 3.I may get a distorted understanding of God if I do not check my experiences against the truths of Scripture. 4.I can trust God to work in my life similarly to ways I see Him working throughout the bible.

9. Read the Following Scriptures: When He called them, what did Jesus tell them about what He wanted? Jesus Calls His First Disciples 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

10. Matthew 4:21-22 The Calling of Matthew 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A1-20&version=NIV

11. What Is God’s Will? Some folks ask what is God’s will for my life? I know God will show you what He has called you to do. But, mostly God wants to lead us day by day. So, God; what is your will for me today? What am I to do so you can accomplish what you have purposed today?

12. John 5:17, 19-20 John 5:17 New International Version (NIV) 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:19-20 New International Version (NIV) 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

13. Answer the below 4 questions: 1.Who is always at work? 2.How much can the son do without the Father? 3.What does the Son do? 4.Why does the Father show the Son what He is doing? God is always at work around us. Watch to see where God is working and join Him

14. Review/Recap ●The bible is my guide for faith and practice ●The right question is: “What is God’s will?” ●Watch to see where God is working and join Him. ●God is always at work around me I realize that some folks who come to recovery or AA are there to get their tickets punched, just to get out of trouble. And, that is expected. However, there are those of you who actually do want to turn your lives around. Those folks will continue to search out God’s word, ask questions and be successful in changing their lives. God bless and keep each of you.