We continue our sermon series entitled ‘Life Reboot’. Preaching by Nathan Gordon, and the service led by Beverley Sills.

Semon Notes

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.

Mastering control

Spiritual strongholds begin with a thought. One thought becomes a consideration. A consideration develops into an attitude, which leads then to action. Action repeated becomes a habit, and a habit establishes a “power base for the enemy,” that is, a stronghold. – E Elliot

Habits = A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to GIVE UP. (Oxford Languages)

Although the Bible does not specifically mention the word habit, the meaning of the word is included throughout the Bible. As humans, we have the potential to exercise good and healthy habits that are beneficial to our bodies such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. Spiritually we can also develop positive habits such as praying and studying the Bible regularly. However, this morning we are looking at the topic of confronting the habits that deplete our spiritual reservoirs. Those habits take us away from God’s perfect will for our lives.

This year we can confront those habits through the power of the Holy Spirit!

If we are going to reboot our lives this year through the renewal and refreshing of the Holy Spirit, we must confront those habits in our lives that keep us bound. – God can and wants to help us overcome those bad habits through the power of the holy spirit and the word of God.

God has called us to freedom, not bondage.

Paul in chapter six highlights the importance of not allowing fleshly desires and habits to become a MASTER in our lives. The Christians in Corinth were surrounded by reminders of their former way of life. Sexual immorality, sensuality, perversion, and idolatry formed part of the Corinthian lifestyle. Paul’s encouragement to the church was the exaltation to break the chains of those ingrained habits!

Challenge – What habits are mastering our lives today? Is there anything in our lives that we find has gained control of our decision-making?

How can we overcome those bad habits in our lives?

1) Remember who you are in Christ – v12-13 & 19-20

• Our body is the residing place of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables us to be living temples which means we BELONG TO GOD.
• (We may have the liberty to do anything we choose but not everything is beneficial to our spiritual lives)

2) Resolve to make prayer a healthy habit – Mark 14:38

• Jesus taught his disciples about the daily war that inevitably we all face. (The lust of the flesh)
• Jesus encouraged his disciples to be watchful and prayerful for the spiritual habits to overcome the desires of the flesh.

Challenge – Through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and studying God’s word we can limit the potential of bad habits by mastering the control of our lives. 

3) Recognise the need for accountability – v16-18

• Firstly, we are accountable to God – 2 Cor 5:10, Rom 14:12
• Secondly, we can approach the support of trusted friends and fellow Christians who can help us in our fight against those habits.
• The Apostle Paul encourages the church to not be connected to the wrong people who do not help us in our spiritual development.
• The example used by Paul is the sin of fornication or immorality with a prostitute.
• In our day this could extend to any relationship, union or connection that is contrary to God’s word or does not help us create healthy habits in our lives.

Challenge – Are we connected to the right sources and people? Do our connections endorse our bad habits or help us to overcome those habits?