Introduction:
See: Luke 15:11-32
2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
How Can We Best Love an Addict?
- We let them Go .
Proverbs 22:10 - Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out...
- We Wait .
- We Pray .
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
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Pastor Jeff:
00:01-00:05
Open up your Bibles with me please to Luke 15.
Pastor Jeff:
00:07-00:09
Luke 15, verse 11.
Pastor Jeff:
00:10-00:14
And he, Jesus, said, "There was a man who had two sons.
Pastor Jeff:
00:15-00:24
And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.
Pastor Jeff:
00:25-00:35
So many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property and reckless living.
Pastor Jeff:
00:36-00:41
And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
Pastor Jeff:
00:43-00:49
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into the fields to feed pigs.
Pastor Jeff:
00:49-00:53
And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.
Pastor Jeff:
00:54-00:55
And no one gave Him anything.
Pastor Jeff:
00:56-01:03
But when He came to Himself, He said, "How many of My Father's hired servants had more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger?
Pastor Jeff:
01:04-01:10
I will rise and go to My Father, and I will say to Him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You.
Pastor Jeff:
01:10-01:12
I am no longer worthy to be called Your Son.
Pastor Jeff:
01:13-01:30
Treat Me as one of Your hired servants.' And He rose, came to His Father, but while He was still a long way off, His Father saw Him and compassion, and he ran and embraced Him, and kissed Him, and the Son said to him, "Father, I've sinned against Heaven and before you.
Pastor Jeff:
01:30-01:39
I'm no longer worthy to be called your Son." But the Father said to His servants, "Bring quickly the best robe and put it on Him.
Pastor Jeff:
01:39-01:44
And put a ring on His hand and shoes on His feet, and bring the fattened calf and kill it.
Pastor Jeff:
01:44-01:56
And let us eat and celebrate, for My Son was dead and is alive again." He was lost and is found, and they began to celebrate.
Pastor Jeff:
01:58-02:00
Now his older son was in the field.
Pastor Jeff:
02:01-02:06
And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Pastor Jeff:
02:06-02:09
And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
Pastor Jeff:
02:10-02:12
And he said to him, your brother is coming.
Pastor Jeff:
02:12-02:17
Your father has killed the fattened calf because he's received him back safe and sound.
Pastor Jeff:
02:17-02:19
And he was angry and refused to go in.
Pastor Jeff:
02:20-02:21
But his father came out and entreated him.
Pastor Jeff:
02:22-02:28
But he answered his father, "Look, these many years, I have served you and I have never disobeyed your command.
Pastor Jeff:
02:28-02:32
And you never gave me a young goat that I may celebrate with my friends.
Pastor Jeff:
02:32-02:43
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you kill a fattened calf for him." And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me.
Pastor Jeff:
02:43-02:49
And all that is mine is yours." It was fitting to celebrate and be glad.
Pastor Jeff:
02:50-02:53
For this your brother was dead and is alive.
Pastor Jeff:
02:54-02:56
He was lost and is found.
Pastor Jeff:
02:58-02:59
Why did Jesus tell this story?
Pastor Jeff:
02:59-03:05
Well actually, you go back to the beginning of Luke chapter 15, it tells us exactly why Jesus told a story.
Pastor Jeff:
03:06-03:10
It says that the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining that Jesus hangs out with sinners.
Pastor Jeff:
03:11-03:12
Shame on you!
Pastor Jeff:
03:13-03:16
You hang out with the worst people, Jesus.
Pastor Jeff:
03:17-03:23
So Jesus in Luke chapter 15 actually tells… it's one story, really.
Pastor Jeff:
03:23-03:26
But the story's told in three acts.
Pastor Jeff:
03:28-03:36
And each of these three acts, each of these three little mini-stories within a big story, each of these stories have the same exact theme.
Pastor Jeff:
03:36-03:37
And here's the theme.
Pastor Jeff:
03:38-03:43
People are happy when something that was lost is now found.
Pastor Jeff:
03:44-03:50
So you see, here's what's happening in Luke 15, like the Pharisees and the scribes are like, "I can't believe you eat with sinners." And Jesus, I'm gonna tell you a story.
Pastor Jeff:
03:51-03:54
And he says, "Okay, so this guy," I'm paraphrasing here, okay?
Pastor Jeff:
03:55-03:57
"But this guy, he has a hundred sheep and he loses one.
Pastor Jeff:
03:58-04:04
"And he goes and finds it and he brings it back "and everybody's happy." And Jesus' audience was like, "Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
Pastor Jeff:
04:04-04:07
"Yeah, sure, yeah." Jesus goes, "Okay, all right, let me tell you another story.
Pastor Jeff:
04:07-04:10
"There's this woman, she had 10 coins and she loses one.
Pastor Jeff:
04:10-04:14
"And she like tears her house upside down "and then she finds it and she calls her friends.
Pastor Jeff:
04:14-04:22
She goes, "I found my lost coin!" And everybody's like, "Yay!" And everybody's like, "That makes sense." Jesus goes, "Okay, I'm not done yet. There's another story.
Pastor Jeff:
04:22-04:25
This guy has two sons, and he loses one.
Pastor Jeff:
04:27-04:30
And then he finds it. He finds his son.
Pastor Jeff:
04:30-04:36
And everybody's happy!" And the Pharisees are like, "Okay, yeah." Jesus goes, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, wait, wait.
Pastor Jeff:
04:36-04:38
Not everybody was happy.
Pastor Jeff:
04:38-04:42
Because he had a brother who was completely ticked off.
Pastor Jeff:
04:43-04:50
Jesus was saying, "By the way guys, that's you." They connected those dots.
Pastor Jeff:
04:51-04:51
That's you.
Pastor Jeff:
04:53-04:58
And you're like, "Okay, powerful story, but what in the world does that have to do with this series on addiction?
Pastor Jeff:
04:58-05:00
I mean, I thought we were finishing that today.
Pastor Jeff:
05:01-05:03
I mean, what does this have to do with an addict?
Pastor Jeff:
05:03-05:11
What does this story have to do with me dealing with an addict in my family or at my workplace or my neighborhood or whatever?" Well, here it is.
Pastor Jeff:
05:11-05:22
In the story of the lost son, what we have, for lack of a better term, is what we would call an extreme sinner.
Pastor Jeff:
05:23-05:24
Now here's what Jesus was doing in this story.
Pastor Jeff:
05:26-05:29
Jesus was creating the worst possible human being possible.
Pastor Jeff:
05:29-05:30
Like just the worst.
Pastor Jeff:
05:30-05:35
This is the worst picture of a person that Jesus could possibly paint.
Pastor Jeff:
05:35-05:45
This guy completely disrespects his dad, takes his share of the wealth before his dad's dead, And he goes and he blows it on everything, and he ends up living with the pigs and wanting to eat the pig food.
Pastor Jeff:
05:45-05:50
It's like the worst possible case scenario that Jesus was painting here.
Pastor Jeff:
05:51-05:52
We have this extreme sinner.
Pastor Jeff:
05:52-05:57
This extreme sinner insisted life be on his terms.
Pastor Jeff:
05:57-06:02
Again, "Give me the inheritance, Dad." Do you realize how offensive that is?
Pastor Jeff:
06:03-06:09
Basically, he's saying, "Dad, I care more about the stuff that you're going to leave me when you're dead I care about you.
Pastor Jeff:
06:11-06:13
Basically saying, Dad, I wish you were dead.
Pastor Jeff:
06:15-06:15
Horrible.
Pastor Jeff:
06:16-06:18
So we get this extreme sinner, life on his terms.
Pastor Jeff:
06:20-06:23
And he viewed his dad as an object, right?
Pastor Jeff:
06:23-06:26
Cared more about the stuff than the relationship.
Pastor Jeff:
06:26-06:29
Dad, just give me-- please hear me.
Pastor Jeff:
06:30-06:34
This story shows how some addicts treat their loved ones, right?
Pastor Jeff:
06:35-06:38
Just give me something.
Pastor Jeff:
06:38-06:40
Provide for me.
Pastor Jeff:
06:40-06:42
Give me what I want.
Pastor Jeff:
06:43-06:44
I don't care what you want.
Pastor Jeff:
06:44-06:45
I don't care what's right.
Pastor Jeff:
06:46-06:51
Just give me what I want, using Dad as an object.
Pastor Jeff:
06:52-06:54
And there are some principles in this story for us.
Pastor Jeff:
06:55-07:00
Last week, we talked about what do we do with that addict in our family that wants to change?
Pastor Jeff:
07:00-07:01
How do we minister to them?
Pastor Jeff:
07:01-07:03
How do we push them to Christ?
Pastor Jeff:
07:04-07:06
Well, this is a much harder message.
Pastor Jeff:
07:07-07:10
Because the question is, what do you do for that addict who doesn't want to change?
Pastor Jeff:
07:11-07:17
I mean, in this parable that Jesus told, the son came to his senses and he repented.
Pastor Jeff:
07:19-07:19
What did it?
Pastor Jeff:
07:21-07:25
He realized how loving and caring his father had been to him.
Pastor Jeff:
07:25-07:26
Remember, that's what woke him up.
Pastor Jeff:
07:27-07:28
What am I doing?
Pastor Jeff:
07:28-07:33
I have a dad that cares about me I've completely turned my back on Him.
Pastor Jeff:
07:35-07:39
So the addict in your life, they have to know that you love them.
Pastor Jeff:
07:39-07:40
They have to know that.
Pastor Jeff:
07:42-07:48
No matter what happens, no matter what choices I make, no matter how bad I've screwed this up, they have to know that you care about them.
Pastor Jeff:
07:50-07:52
But even more than that, they have to know that God loves them.
Pastor Jeff:
07:54-07:56
Your sin can't outweigh God's grace.
Pastor Jeff:
07:57-08:00
You can't go too far that God can't rescue you.
Pastor Jeff:
08:00-08:01
They have to know that.
Pastor Jeff:
08:03-08:08
But as for you, last week and this week, we're addressing you more than we're addressing the addict.
Pastor Jeff:
08:08-08:13
You are totally dependent on the grace of God to intervene.
Pastor Jeff:
08:13-08:25
Because unless the addict himself or herself, unless the addict truly repents - we talked about that last week - unless the addict truly repents, there is nothing that you can do.
Pastor Jeff:
08:26-08:28
There's nothing that you can do.
Pastor Jeff:
08:30-08:35
V. 18 shows us in this parable what repentance looks like.
Pastor Jeff:
08:35-08:36
Look at it again with me quickly.
Pastor Jeff:
08:37-08:39
The son, he says, "I'm going to arise and go to my Father.
Pastor Jeff:
08:40-08:45
I'll say to Him, 'Father, I've sinned against Heaven and before You.'" That's what repentance looks like.
Pastor Jeff:
08:45-08:47
It's taking responsibility.
Pastor Jeff:
08:47-08:50
It's getting to the place that there's no one else to blame.
Pastor Jeff:
08:51-09:02
No more, "Well, this is your fault, Dad, the way you raised me." Or, "It's my friend's fault for introducing me or it's the school system's fault, or it's the government's fault, or it's...
Pastor Jeff:
09:02-09:04
The addict has to get there.
Pastor Jeff:
09:04-09:08
Done blaming anything else for the addiction to get to the point...
Pastor Jeff:
09:08-09:10
No, no, no! This is on me!
Pastor Jeff:
09:11-09:12
These are the choices that I made.
Pastor Jeff:
09:14-09:18
I'm living with the pigs because I chose to live with the pigs.
Pastor Jeff:
09:18-09:19
The addict has to get there.
Pastor Jeff:
09:20-09:23
And you saw the attitude change in the son.
Pastor Jeff:
09:24-09:29
When he came back to his dad in the parable, He didn't come back cocky with a chip on his shoulder.
Pastor Jeff:
09:30-09:31
"Okay, Dad, you know what?
Pastor Jeff:
09:31-09:34
I decided I'm going to stay here anyway.
Pastor Jeff:
09:34-09:39
You still got my room for me, and I'm going to stay here." And none of that.
Pastor Jeff:
09:40-09:41
It was total humility.
Pastor Jeff:
09:43-09:49
And when the addict in your life gets to the point of true repentance, you're going to know it.
Pastor Jeff:
09:50-09:56
Because there's going to be a distinct difference in the person that you used to know and the the person that you see now in front of you.
Pastor Jeff:
09:57-10:00
Because now they're willing to do anything to repair the relationship with you.
Pastor Jeff:
10:00-10:08
Gone is the selfishness, and the pride, and the anger, and the depression, and all of that that went with the addiction.
Pastor Jeff:
10:09-10:11
You're going to see a different person.
Pastor Jeff:
10:12-10:19
And in the parable, the father restored the relationship, and so must you if the addict repents.
Pastor Jeff:
10:21-10:25
That's why you have to be on your guard You're not like the older son.
Pastor Jeff:
10:26-10:29
Scoffing and bitter because it's so easy to fall into that trap.
Pastor Jeff:
10:30-10:30
It just is.
Pastor Jeff:
10:31-10:32
Oh, you're sorry this time.
Pastor Jeff:
10:32-10:34
How many times have we been down this road?
Pastor Jeff:
10:34-10:34
How many times?
Pastor Jeff:
10:35-10:36
Really? And this is the time it's stuck.
Pastor Jeff:
10:38-10:39
It's easy to be like the older son.
Pastor Jeff:
10:41-10:52
And even if you've managed to wrestle through that issue with the Lord, there's a great chance that you're going to see a lot of self-righteous attitudes somewhere in your family if the addict repents.
Pastor Jeff:
10:53-10:55
and family members, they're like, "Oh, you took him back.
Pastor Jeff:
10:55-11:00
Oh, he's really repentant this time, huh?" They need to be reminded of the goodness and the forgiveness of God.
Pastor Jeff:
11:01-11:08
To sinners who repent, and like the Father, you need to celebrate their repentance, because repentance is from Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
11:08-11:10
God is the one who grants repentance.
Pastor Jeff:
11:11-11:11
Did you know that?
Pastor Jeff:
11:12-11:14
Look at 2 Timothy 2.
Pastor Jeff:
11:15-11:36
It says, "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness." "God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth, that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will." That last couple of phrases doesn't describe addiction.
Pastor Jeff:
11:37-11:37
I don't know what does.
Pastor Jeff:
11:39-11:40
See, God grants repentance.
Pastor Jeff:
11:41-11:47
So the Father in this parable obviously represents God the Father.
Pastor Jeff:
11:49-11:51
The dad in the Luke 15 parable He presents God the Father.
Pastor Jeff:
11:53-11:58
And there are some things that we can emulate from this picture.
Pastor Jeff:
11:59-12:02
So on your outline, if you're taking notes, I want you to jot down three things here.
Pastor Jeff:
12:02-12:05
How can we best love an addict?
Pastor Jeff:
12:06-12:15
If we're looking at this passage and we're emulating the dad, number one, write this down, we let them go.
Pastor Jeff:
12:16-12:31
The most loving thing for you to do When somebody is in persistent, hard-hearted, rebellious, "I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do," whether you like it or not, the best thing for you to do is to let the addict go.
Pastor Jeff:
12:32-12:36
Ask them to leave, and even make arrangements for them to do so.
Pastor Jeff:
12:38-12:41
This is going to be the hardest thing you ever do in your life.
Pastor Jeff:
12:42-12:45
But the question is, what else can you do?
Pastor Jeff:
12:46-12:47
What's your options here?
Pastor Jeff:
12:47-12:50
and allow the addiction to keep happening.
Pastor Jeff:
12:51-12:55
Allow a hard-hearted, rebellious, self-destructive attitude to be tolerated.
Pastor Jeff:
12:56-13:04
Or say, "No, we're not doing that." And if that's the choice you're making, you have to leave.
Pastor Jeff:
13:06-13:12
Proverbs 22.10 says, "Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out." You know what a scoffer is?
Pastor Jeff:
13:13-13:17
It's somebody that's made their stand in sin.
Pastor Jeff:
13:18-13:23
Not somebody that's struggling or having a momentary lapse of judgment.
Pastor Jeff:
13:24-13:38
A scoffer is somebody that's like, "I'm doing what I want to do and there's nothing you can do about it." The Proverbs says, "When you've got somebody like that, you drive them out." The parable in Luke 15, the dad let the son leave.
Pastor Jeff:
13:38-13:39
Okay, you want to go?
Pastor Jeff:
13:39-13:39
Go.
Pastor Jeff:
13:40-13:41
He let him leave.
Pastor Jeff:
13:41-13:47
I'm like, "Well, surely not in the church, Pastor Jeff." Just jot this down, you can read this later, 1 Corinthians chapter 5.
Pastor Jeff:
13:48-13:49
Again, I'm paraphrasing.
Pastor Jeff:
13:49-13:50
You know what 1 Corinthians 5 says?
Pastor Jeff:
13:51-14:16
1 Corinthians 5 says if you have somebody in the church that persists in hard-hearted, rebellious, bragging about its sin, completely unrepentant, no godly sorrow whatsoever, just "I'm sinning and I'm proud of it, high five," Paul says, "You've got somebody like that in the church, you know what you do with that guy?" He says, "You grab him by the scruff of his neck, and you grab him by the seat of his pants, and you throw him through a stained glass window.
Pastor Jeff:
14:16-14:27
He is not welcome in the church anymore, until he repents." And look, this wasn't my favorite sermon to prepare, because this isn't very comfortable.
Pastor Jeff:
14:29-14:35
Because there's something about this that sounds, it sounds to our flesh so unloving.
Pastor Jeff:
14:36-14:37
Here's the thing.
Pastor Jeff:
14:37-14:40
It just doesn't matter what our flesh thinks.
Pastor Jeff:
14:41-14:43
What matters is what God thinks.
Pastor Jeff:
14:43-14:45
And God says, "My ways are not your ways.
Pastor Jeff:
14:45-14:46
My thoughts are not your thoughts.
Pastor Jeff:
14:47-14:50
My ways and thoughts are higher than yours." Isaiah 55 stuff, right?
Pastor Jeff:
14:51-14:57
So I'm looking at God's Word, and what's the consistent teaching on somebody that persists in sin?
Pastor Jeff:
14:58-15:04
The consistent teaching in God's Word is you let them go out, not here.
Pastor Jeff:
15:04-15:05
You're not doing that here.
Pastor Jeff:
15:06-15:08
You're not welcome here if you insist on doing it.
Pastor Jeff:
15:09-15:11
This is a whole different thing than the guy that's like, "Please help me.
Pastor Jeff:
15:11-15:14
"Can you please help me?" That was last week's sermon.
Pastor Jeff:
15:14-15:15
Please help me.
Pastor Jeff:
15:15-15:16
That's on the website.
Pastor Jeff:
15:16-15:17
Check last week's sermon.
Pastor Jeff:
15:17-15:19
We're talking about the guy that says, "I don't know.
Pastor Jeff:
15:19-15:25
"No, no, I'm not interested in breaking this addiction "or giving this up or changing my lifestyle.
Pastor Jeff:
15:26-15:30
"I'm doing what I'm doing." And your response, biblically, is you're not doing it here.
Pastor Jeff:
15:32-15:33
And oh, they're going to try the guilt trip.
Pastor Jeff:
15:34-15:35
How can you do this?
Pastor Jeff:
15:36-15:39
You call yourself a Christian and you're not going to help me?
Pastor Jeff:
15:41-15:42
And here's your response.
Pastor Jeff:
15:43-15:44
OK, write this down.
Pastor Jeff:
15:44-15:46
You can say this verbatim.
Pastor Jeff:
15:47-15:49
Here's your response when the guilt trip comes.
Pastor Jeff:
15:49-15:53
I will do anything in the world to help you, but you are refusing to get real help.
Pastor Jeff:
15:54-15:59
I will help you break from your addiction, but I will not help you in your addiction.
Pastor Jeff:
15:59-16:01
Letting them go means no enabling.
Pastor Jeff:
16:03-16:05
No enabling, again, we talked about this last week.
Pastor Jeff:
16:05-16:07
No money, no rides, no covering for them.
Pastor Jeff:
16:08-16:09
Nothing.
Pastor Jeff:
16:10-16:11
You see in the parable that Jesus told?
Pastor Jeff:
16:12-16:13
You see what the Father did not do?
Pastor Jeff:
16:13-16:15
He didn't chase His Son down.
Pastor Jeff:
16:16-16:17
He didn't call Him.
Pastor Jeff:
16:17-16:18
He didn't text Him.
Pastor Jeff:
16:19-16:20
He didn't email Him.
Pastor Jeff:
16:21-16:23
He didn't show up and bribe Him.
Pastor Jeff:
16:23-16:26
"Oh, please come back." He didn't threaten Him.
Pastor Jeff:
16:26-16:29
"If You don't come back..." What did He do?
Pastor Jeff:
16:29-16:30
The answer is He let Him go.
Pastor Jeff:
16:32-16:37
And the relationship ended for a season, That wasn't the father's choice, that was the son's choice.
Pastor Jeff:
16:39-16:49
And when the addict makes the choice to refuse help, the only thing that you can do is allow them to reap the fruit of their actions.
Pastor Jeff:
16:51-16:52
So how can we best love an addict?
Pastor Jeff:
16:52-16:55
It sounds so contrary to what we would think.
Pastor Jeff:
16:56-16:57
Number one, we let them go.
Pastor Jeff:
16:58-16:59
Number two,
Pastor Jeff:
17:01-17:02
(sighs)
Pastor Jeff:
17:05-17:06
We wait.
Pastor Jeff:
17:08-17:10
Again, what did the dad do in Jesus' story?
Pastor Jeff:
17:11-17:11
What did he do?
Pastor Jeff:
17:12-17:14
He watched and he waited.
Pastor Jeff:
17:15-17:16
What did Tom Petty teach us?
Pastor Jeff:
17:18-17:21
The waiting is the hardest part.
Pastor Jeff:
17:22-17:24
I think we need to work on that before we take it on the road.
Pastor Jeff:
17:26-17:28
That's what dad did though, didn't he?
Pastor Jeff:
17:28-17:31
And look, again, I'm not saying this stuff is easy, right?
Pastor Jeff:
17:31-17:33
I'm totally with Tom Petty.
Pastor Jeff:
17:33-17:36
I think in this particular instance, I think his theology was pretty good.
Pastor Jeff:
17:37-17:40
The waiting is the hardest part, but that's what the dad did, he waited.
Pastor Jeff:
17:42-17:44
You're like, well, shouldn't I do something to help him?
Pastor Jeff:
17:44-17:47
I mean, if I don't help him, what's gonna happen?
Pastor Jeff:
17:48-17:49
Well, I'm gonna tell you what's gonna happen.
Pastor Jeff:
17:50-17:53
If you don't help, I'll tell you exactly right now what's gonna happen.
Pastor Jeff:
17:53-18:04
They're going to squander everything they have because that addict does not have unlimited resources and they're going to blow through what they have quickly.
Pastor Jeff:
18:05-18:11
And like the son in the story, the addict in your life might even get to the point where he attaches himself to someone.
Pastor Jeff:
18:11-18:20
Whatever it takes to stay afloat, self-first mentality, and when there's no one left to mooch from, the addict's going to be in need.
Pastor Jeff:
18:22-18:29
So not only must you cut off the finances, you need to pray that other people get tired of supporting the addict.
Pastor Jeff:
18:29-18:36
And you need to tell your family, "Look, do not support him." Okay, he left the house.
Pastor Jeff:
18:36-18:37
He doesn't want help.
Pastor Jeff:
18:38-18:40
He's going to be calling you for some kind of support.
Pastor Jeff:
18:40-18:41
Do not give him anything.
Pastor Jeff:
18:42-18:43
You need to tell your family.
Pastor Jeff:
18:43-18:45
All points bulletin.
Pastor Jeff:
18:46-18:47
We're not helping him.
Pastor Jeff:
18:48-18:51
"Pastor Joe, you mean not even feed him?" No.
Pastor Jeff:
18:52-18:53
Man, that sounds pretty harsh.
Pastor Jeff:
18:53-18:57
Well, look at v. 16 in Luke 15 here.
Pastor Jeff:
18:58-19:02
This kid in this story, he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.
Pastor Jeff:
19:03-19:07
It says, "And no one gave him anything." He had to get to that point.
Pastor Jeff:
19:08-19:14
Your addicted loved one must be in real need before real change is sought.
Pastor Jeff:
19:16-19:23
They're always going to stay addicted if they never experience any painful consequences as a result from their addiction.
Pastor Jeff:
19:24-19:31
and you have to get to the place in your life where you realize you cannot protect them from their consequences.
Pastor Jeff:
19:32-19:33
Is that what you want?
Pastor Jeff:
19:34-19:36
You want them to never experience pain?
Pastor Jeff:
19:36-19:41
You want them to not get to the point where they realize change absolutely has to happen?
Pastor Jeff:
19:42-19:44
Like, well, what's gonna happen to the addict?
Pastor Jeff:
19:44-19:53
Well, jail, hunger, homelessness, and yeah, it can lead to the ultimate consequence.
Pastor Jeff:
19:54-19:54
It can lead to death.
Pastor Jeff:
19:56-19:58
And you might think that you can prevent the addict's death.
Pastor Jeff:
19:59-20:05
You can't prevent that addict from indulging in his addiction, and you can't prevent that addict from dying from it.
Pastor Jeff:
20:05-20:06
You can't do it.
Pastor Jeff:
20:09-20:18
No matter what systems, safeguards, barriers you set up, he's going to find a way to feed the addiction if that's what he's committed to.
Pastor Jeff:
20:18-20:22
The addict absolutely needs heart surgery from the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
20:24-20:31
It's also important to note here that there's no specific time frame in this parable between the son leaving and returning.
Pastor Jeff:
20:32-20:34
Like how long did that dad stand there waiting?
Pastor Jeff:
20:34-20:35
Five minutes?
Pastor Jeff:
20:35-20:36
Five years?
Pastor Jeff:
20:36-20:36
I don't know.
Pastor Jeff:
20:39-20:41
But I do know that repentance often does not happen right away.
Pastor Jeff:
20:42-20:48
And you might have to wait for an extended season of your life waiting for that addict to hit bottom and come to himself.
Pastor Jeff:
20:50-21:00
And during that season, I would commend to you times of intense, deep praying, seeking the Lord, not saying your prayers, but on your face, crying out to the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
21:01-21:05
Seasons of fasting while you cry out to the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
21:06-21:12
No distractions, just focusing on my walk with Christ and lifting this addict before the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
21:12-21:16
times in his word, "God, what are you teaching me?
Pastor Jeff:
21:17-21:26
And how can I persevere while I'm doing the hardest thing I've ever done in my life?" By letting this addict go, and not chasing him down and dragging him home by his hair.
Pastor Jeff:
21:27-21:28
You have to wait.
Pastor Jeff:
21:29-21:32
There's another saying we throw around here when we're not singing Tom Petty.
Pastor Jeff:
21:32-21:40
We say, "He is God, and I am not." And this is your friendly reminder that you are not God.
Pastor Jeff:
21:41-21:44
which means you are unable to control the situation.
Pastor Jeff:
21:45-21:58
So calling or sending money or trying to keep some semblance of a relationship afloat while this time period is happening, it's just not going to work and it's not going to help.
Pastor Jeff:
21:59-22:05
The addict is going to come back if and when he comes to himself.
Pastor Jeff:
22:06-22:14
We have a very special guest with us that I'd like you to give a warm Harvest Pittsburgh North welcome to Jimmy Woods.
Pastor Jeff:
22:15-22:16
[APPLAUSE]
Pastor Jeff:
22:25-22:33
Now, Jimmy, I'm-- like you, please, if you don't know, Jimmy's-- he's got the coolest vehicle parked in the parking lot right now.
Pastor Jeff:
22:37-22:47
And founder of Mission Mahi-- And I asked Jimmy, because of the subject matter of this series, if you just take five minutes and share a bit of your story, what brought you to this point.
Pastor Jeff:
22:48-22:57
And I'd also like you in light of the sermon content this morning, I'd like you to answer one question as you close your time.
Pastor Jeff:
22:57-23:04
What would you say to encourage someone that's sitting here that loves an addict, but that addict doesn't want help?
Pastor Jeff:
23:05-23:11
So what would you say to that person sitting here that's like, hey, I got an addict in my life and they're not playing ball.
Pastor Jeff:
23:11-23:12
What would you say to encourage them?
Pastor Jeff:
23:13-23:14
So, encourage us, brother.
Jimmy Woods:
23:14-23:16
Exactly what you just got done saying.
Jimmy Woods:
23:17-23:28
I'm sitting here with Austin and I'm patting him on the back and we're both smiling as you're telling that story because exactly what you told people to do is what our parents did to us.
Jimmy Woods:
23:29-23:30
And here we both sit.
Jimmy Woods:
23:30-23:32
He's been in recovery working with me.
Jimmy Woods:
23:32-24:12
I met his dad at the Light of Life Rescue Mission serving breakfast and I was on two years of house arrest. I had crawled into Memorial Park Church on January 6, 2013 and I begged for help. I had been in jail 15 times that year in the hospital just as many times. I crawled into that church and I slept and I begged for help and I walked out of that church and I got hit by a car crossing the street and almost killed. I woke up in the hospital and I didn't think my prayers had been answered but they had. I got to that point where I and I got it. Not exactly what I needed, or what I wanted, but what I needed.
Jimmy Woods:
24:13-24:15
And I had been cut off. My house was for sale.
Jimmy Woods:
24:16-24:19
My bar and restaurant had been taken from me.
Jimmy Woods:
24:19-24:21
The police were looking for me.
Jimmy Woods:
24:22-24:24
And I found a safe place in that church that night.
Jimmy Woods:
24:25-24:31
And when I woke up tied down in that hospital, I didn't think that, I was begging to die, to tell you the truth, at that point.
Jimmy Woods:
24:32-24:34
And I knew they knew where I was.
Jimmy Woods:
24:34-24:35
I knew I was in a lot of trouble.
Jimmy Woods:
24:36-24:41
I was at the end of my rope and I got exactly what I needed from the court system.
Jimmy Woods:
24:41-24:45
I got put into a rehab facility or prison, those were my two choices.
Jimmy Woods:
24:47-24:51
In that rehab facility I had an experience with God that I can't even put into words and justify.
Jimmy Woods:
24:52-25:01
He came to me in that rehab facility through the most intense, loving light and told me in no words that everything was going to be okay in the worst time of my life.
Jimmy Woods:
25:03-25:05
From that moment on, everything made sense in that moment.
Jimmy Woods:
25:06-25:16
What I had been looking for in drugs and alcohol, the temporary happiness and the temporary what I was receiving from drugs, alcohol, and I throw women in there too because I used them just like a drug.
Jimmy Woods:
25:17-25:22
I got through that loving light and it was a thousand times stronger and it was real.
Jimmy Woods:
25:23-25:25
Everything changed in that moment and I knew it had changed.
Jimmy Woods:
25:26-25:28
Nothing in my life had changed.
Jimmy Woods:
25:29-25:31
I was still facing two years on house arrest.
Jimmy Woods:
25:31-25:38
I didn't have a job, I didn't know what I was gonna do, but I knew I needed to do something with what I had just received.
Jimmy Woods:
25:38-25:40
I knew it was something special.
Jimmy Woods:
25:40-25:44
And I was in the bar business and I was enabling people.
Jimmy Woods:
25:45-25:53
I was selling drugs to people, I was allowing them to work for me, with me, as long as they shared their drugs with me, as long as they drank with me and they weren't too drunk, it was okay to work for me.
Jimmy Woods:
25:54-26:00
And in that rehab facility, I met a bunch of young people and they were all scared to go back to work and they all seemed to work for a guy like me.
Jimmy Woods:
26:01-26:03
And that's where Mission Mahi was born.
Jimmy Woods:
26:03-26:06
I knew I needed to open something and give them a safe place to work.
Jimmy Woods:
26:07-26:15
And while Mission Mahi, while I was pulling my life back together through all the surgeries I had from the accident, I was volunteering at the Light of Life.
Jimmy Woods:
26:15-26:25
I was just doing things to take up my time and I was meeting some wonderful people and I joined Memorial Park Church and they poured a sidewalk outside for me.
Jimmy Woods:
26:25-26:31
And I have a memorial sidewalk in my name in front of Memorial Park Church.
Jimmy Woods:
26:31-26:49
An old man came up to me after church one day and he said, "I've been trying to get that sidewalk poured "for years." I said, "I'm glad I could help." But what your pastor just told you is, and go figure, the Bible was right.
Jimmy Woods:
26:50-26:51
What a surprise.
Jimmy Woods:
26:52-26:57
The Bible is all over the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which I'm a huge part of now.
Jimmy Woods:
26:58-27:00
I was amazed by it.
Jimmy Woods:
27:00-27:03
The very first time I opened up the Bible, I was in a wheelchair.
Jimmy Woods:
27:04-27:05
I was in a wheelchair for four months.
Jimmy Woods:
27:05-27:10
They were gonna amputate my right leg, my right arm and shoulder sewn on with cadaver ligaments and tendons.
Jimmy Woods:
27:10-27:13
I had a head injury so bad I couldn't put a sentence together.
Jimmy Woods:
27:14-27:19
I was stacking colored blocks in a brain trauma rehab facility, and here I stand.
Jimmy Woods:
27:20-27:31
You know, but it's just been an amazing adventure, and I don't wanna take up too much time, but like the prodigal son, Austin and I were giggling because that was us.
Jimmy Woods:
27:31-27:34
And it's not funny, I'm sure, to somebody that's experiencing it.
Jimmy Woods:
27:34-27:36
Our parents did the right thing.
Jimmy Woods:
27:36-27:44
His parents went to six steps to sanity at Grace Church and learned how to deal with him and threw him out.
Jimmy Woods:
27:44-27:45
I had to throw him out once or twice.
Jimmy Woods:
27:47-27:51
But just like the prodigal son, I love these kids.
Jimmy Woods:
27:51-27:52
I have no children of my own.
Jimmy Woods:
27:52-27:54
The kids that work for me are like my kids.
Jimmy Woods:
27:54-27:56
Some of them call me dad, like this guy.
Jimmy Woods:
27:57-28:09
And I love it, and we're close, and he always knows, and I tell him this, if you decide to go back up, which he has, I'm always gonna be here for you when you're done, and when you're done, you're welcome to come back.
Jimmy Woods:
28:10-28:11
And we've had that happen a couple times.
Jimmy Woods:
28:11-28:18
Another kid back that worked on the truck, and he's now, Austin's mentoring him in the kitchen at the restaurant, we have a restaurant up in Cranberry as well.
Jimmy Woods:
28:19-28:26
But God gave me the food truck, that's about all I had money to purchase at the point of, in my recovery that I was.
Jimmy Woods:
28:27-28:29
I started hiring one person at a time on that food truck.
Jimmy Woods:
28:30-28:30
And here we are.
Jimmy Woods:
28:31-28:34
God gave us a place up in Cranberry now.
Jimmy Woods:
28:34-28:36
And it's like our little chapel.
Jimmy Woods:
28:37-28:40
And the whole Victory Worship team came in last night.
Jimmy Woods:
28:41-28:46
And I bought most of them dinner for the Christmas show that they put on.
Jimmy Woods:
28:46-28:46
I went to it.
Jimmy Woods:
28:46-28:47
It was amazing.
Jimmy Woods:
28:48-28:50
And they come in after church sometimes.
Jimmy Woods:
28:50-28:51
They need to eat at the restaurant.
Jimmy Woods:
28:51-28:54
So it's been an amazing adventure.
Jimmy Woods:
28:55-29:20
Like I said, every single thing that your pastor said, which obviously came from the Bible, teachings of the Bible, and we don't always wanna follow those, and I know that, and I know what's right, and I try to follow it, and I wear this cross out all the time to remind myself of who I'm trying to be like, and when I do, I feel better about myself, I'm proud of myself, and I try to teach these kids that too, and thank you for having us.
Jimmy Woods:
29:20-29:21
I hope I said something.
Jimmy Woods:
29:22-29:24
Honestly, I felt like a prop, you know?
Jimmy Woods:
29:24-29:30
I'm listening to him, I'm like, yeah, that and that and that and that, it's like, he nailed it.
Jimmy Woods:
29:31-29:41
Nailed it, everything that he said, the advice that you got today, follow that and your product will stumble from crawling back and just like we did, so thank you.
Pastor Jeff:
29:42-29:43
Amen, thank you so much, Jimmy.
Pastor Jeff:
29:52-29:53
Thank you so much, Jimmy.
Pastor Jeff:
29:54-29:57
The church knows how our family has been affected by addiction.
Pastor Jeff:
29:57-30:00
We lost our 27-year-old nephew.
Pastor Jeff:
30:01-30:14
And I just appreciate so much your testimony and the way the Lord had a much different outcome for you and the way the Lord's using you to bring that about in the lives of others.
Pastor Jeff:
30:14-30:15
So thank you for sharing today, Jimmy.
Pastor Jeff:
30:16-30:20
So what do we do when I love an addict but he doesn't want to change?
Pastor Jeff:
30:21-30:26
So we let them go, and we wait, and then you probably saw this last one coming, number three, we pray.
Pastor Jeff:
30:27-30:28
We pray.
Pastor Jeff:
30:30-30:33
What do you do when you wanna help the addict more than they want help?
Pastor Jeff:
30:34-30:36
You're like, well, all we can do is pray.
Pastor Jeff:
30:36-30:37
Don't you say that.
Pastor Jeff:
30:38-30:39
You know how much I hate that phrase.
Pastor Jeff:
30:39-30:41
All we can do is pray.
Pastor Jeff:
30:41-30:46
Like we have some really lame plan C.
Pastor Jeff:
30:48-30:49
What do we say?
Pastor Jeff:
30:49-30:52
Instead of all we can do is pray, what do we say instead?
Pastor Jeff:
30:53-30:55
Prayer is the best thing that you can do.
Pastor Jeff:
30:55-30:57
The best thing that I can do is pray.
Pastor Jeff:
30:59-31:01
So we're going to close our service here today.
Pastor Jeff:
31:02-31:03
And here's what we're going to do.
Pastor Jeff:
31:04-31:09
We're going to hand the addict over to the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
31:11-31:17
Because I really believe that there are probably some people sitting here today that have never actually done that.
Pastor Jeff:
31:18-31:20
You see, the Lord already has them.
Pastor Jeff:
31:22-31:28
What we're going to do is we're going to let go and we're going to trust.
Pastor Jeff:
31:29-31:32
So I would like if our elders would come forward, please.
Pastor Jeff:
31:32-31:44
While our elders come forward, you know, oftentimes at this church, like during the worships that we get into these prayer groups, and this is a safe place to pray.
Pastor Jeff:
31:45-31:58
We say this all the time, that if you would get into prayer groups of like five or seven, and if you're not comfortable doing that, if you'd like to just sit and pray by yourself, hey, this, like Planet Fitness, we are a no-judgment zone.
Pastor Jeff:
31:59-32:02
You can sit and pray by yourself, that is totally fine.
Pastor Jeff:
32:04-32:11
So I want you, if you would please, to stand up, take a minute, get into prayer groups, or station yourself. Go ahead.
Pastor Jeff:
32:13-32:16
If you want to get into prayer groups, this is a safe place to pray.
Pastor Jeff:
32:17-32:23
And I want you, as you're getting in your groups, I want you to have the name of the addict that you want to pray for.
Pastor Jeff:
32:23-32:25
The name. We're specific when we pray, right?
Pastor Jeff:
32:26-32:27
We're specific.
Pastor Jeff:
32:28-32:30
When we come to the Lord, He's called us to be specific.
Pastor Jeff:
32:31-32:34
So we are praying for these addicts by name.
Pastor Jeff:
32:35-32:41
So first, what we're going to do, we're going to take a few minutes, and I want you to pray for that addict.
Pastor Jeff:
32:41-32:44
I want you to pray that God would preserve their lives.
Pastor Jeff:
32:44-32:46
I want you to pray that God would grant them repentance.
Pastor Jeff:
32:47-32:51
I want you to pray that God will put someone in their path who they will listen to.
Pastor Jeff:
32:52-33:00
I want you to pray that God will bring them to that point of total destitution so that they might come back and truly repent.
Pastor Jeff:
33:00-33:02
Take time and pray about that now.
Speaker 3:
33:06-33:06
So
Unknown:
33:06-33:10
dear Lord, Lord, You heard our prayers, Lord.
Unknown:
33:10-33:40
You know each of the names that we pray for Lord God. We just cry out to you Lord God. We just Lord at times we don't even always know what to pray for Lord, but we just lift up these people to you Lord We pray that there would be repentant hearts or God We pray that your Holy Spirit would be poured out upon these people Lord that there would be life change Lord God Life change that only happens from you Lord God and change from the inside out. It wouldn't be from It wouldn't be from self-help, Lord God.
Unknown:
33:40-33:45
It would be by repenting and your Holy Spirit being poured out upon them, Lord.
Unknown:
33:45-33:56
Help fill the void and the bondage and the chains from alcohol, drugs, whatever the addiction might be, Lord God, and that you would fill that void, Lord God.
Unknown:
33:56-33:58
And so we just lift these people up to you.
Unknown:
33:58-34:01
We pray your anointing and your Holy Spirit be poured out upon them, Lord.
Unknown:
34:02-34:07
And we ask, Lord, that you would do what only you and you alone can do, Lord God.
Unknown:
34:07-34:10
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Pastor Jeff:
34:11-34:16
Staying in your groups, not only do we need to pray for the addict, now you're going to pray for yourself.
Pastor Jeff:
34:17-34:19
You're going to pray for yourself.
Pastor Jeff:
34:19-34:33
You're going to pray that God would use you to eventually lead that addict to Christ, or to have that addict recommit themselves to Christ, whatever, but that the Lord would use you to minister to that addict when he comes home.
Pastor Jeff:
34:33-34:38
You're going to pray that your heart would not be hardened toward the attic while you wait.
Pastor Jeff:
34:38-34:45
And most of all, right now, you need to pray that you would grow in your trust for the Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
34:45-34:55
That you would really trust God - I mean, really trust God - while you wait, knowing that He's sovereignly in control of this.
Pastor Jeff:
34:56-34:58
Pray for yourselves right now, please, for a few moments.
Speaker 4:
35:02-35:05
Father, we come before Thee today.
Speaker 4:
35:05-35:08
God, we ask that You would fill us with Your wisdom, Lord God.
Speaker 4:
35:08-35:11
Godly wisdom that could lead and guide us.
Speaker 4:
35:11-35:13
For God, that we would be filled with Your Spirit.
Speaker 4:
35:13-35:18
For God, that we would have willingness to be open to those that are in an attic situation in our families.
Speaker 4:
35:19-35:25
God, we ask that that wisdom would include being slow to speaking, open to hearing.
Speaker 4:
35:25-35:28
Lord God, most importantly, loving those.
Speaker 4:
35:29-35:38
For God, it is very difficult in our flesh, Lord, that we desire to have worldly sorrow or compassion to want to do something to enable, but Lord God, it is all Your work.
Speaker 4:
35:38-35:45
Lord God, may that wisdom include the things that may not feel good, but Lord God, knowing that they are biblical principles, Lord.
Speaker 4:
35:46-35:56
So please fill everybody here, Lord God, with the wisdom, Lord God, and most importantly, the love that You have for those that have an addiction, Lord God.
Speaker 4:
35:56-35:59
May Your Holy Spirit fill us in that same sense.
Speaker 4:
36:00-36:01
That's why we just ask in Jesus' name.
Speaker 4:
36:02-36:02
Amen.
Pastor Jeff:
36:03-36:04
Stay in your groups. One more thing.
Pastor Jeff:
36:05-36:06
I promise, one more thing.
Pastor Jeff:
36:07-36:10
We need to pray for - I want you to pray for this church.
Pastor Jeff:
36:10-36:14
I want you to pray that this church would be a place where addicts would come to know Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
36:15-36:21
Pray that this church would be faithful to minister not only to addicts, but to family members and friends and neighbors of addicts.
Pastor Jeff:
36:21-36:28
Pray for Harvest Bible Chapel to faithfully represent Jesus Christ in a destructively addictive culture.
Pastor Jeff:
36:29-36:31
for our church for just a few moments.
Pastor Jeff:
36:31-36:36
If the worship team would come up, Rich is going to close our prayer team and then we're going to close with our worship song.
Rich Sprunk:
36:41-36:46
Our most gracious Father, O Lord God Almighty, God most high.
Rich Sprunk:
36:48-36:49
Is there Balm in Gilead?
Rich Sprunk:
36:51-36:52
Yes, there is.
Rich Sprunk:
36:53-36:54
And He is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Rich Sprunk:
36:55-37:05
And we pray, Father, you would make us ambassadors in an embassy for Jesus Christ, to those who are struggling with addiction, and those who are seeking help.
Rich Sprunk:
37:06-37:31
Father, when they reach the bottom of the pit and in desperation, and they come to their senses and they realize, "In my Father's house, there is everything I need." And I pray that you would make Harvest that place of welcome, of comfort, but most of all the gospel of Jesus Christ that transforms.
Rich Sprunk:
37:33-37:38
There is no one else to whom we can go, for he alone has the words of life.
Rich Sprunk:
37:39-37:42
There is no other name given among men under heaven by which we may be saved.
Rich Sprunk:
37:44-38:00
I pray, Father, you would make us a congregation of loving, welcoming, helping people to reach the lost, to reach the dead, to faithfully proclaim your gospel.
Rich Sprunk:
38:02-38:06
And we ask it in his great and glorious name, in the name of Jesus, amen.
Small Group Discussion
Read any of the passages from this week’s message
What was your big “take-away” from the message?
How do you know when an addict truly repents? What are some signs?
When an addict is unrepentant, what specifically do YOU do while you wait?
How do you know what course of “treatment” is best for an addict (residential, group therapy, living with a believer, etc)?
Breakout
Pray for an addicted loved one, by name, that God would grant them repentance, spare their life, and use you and others to minister the Word to them.