Learn How To Be Set Free From Self-Destruction by Rick Warren

Do you know there are three enemies that want to mess up your life? They want to keep you from having joy and purpose in your life? If you don’t know who the enemy is you can never win the battle. Best intentions are not enough. What does God want for me?

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Video Highlights

Here are some highlights from this message about how to be set free by Rick Warren.

The world around you, the flesh within you and the devil against you will tag team to try and defeat your family, your life and steal your soul. Paul says in Romans 7 that “I can’t figure myself out” and “I want to do the right thing, but I don’t and I don’t want to do the wrong thing but I do.” That’s the story of you and me! Inside of us wants to do what’s easy and what’s quick rather than what’s right and best. Rationalizing is when we tell rational lies to ourselves. There are seven weapons of self destruction.
1. Shame…it robs you of all happiness
2. Uncontrolled thoughts…they will ruin your life
3. Compulsions…inner desires made you do it even though it was wrong
4. Fear…enormous destroyer
5. Hopelessness..keeps you from keeping on
6. Bitterness…you hurt YOU the most…get better or bitter
7. Insecurity…poser…you will do or say anything.

At 9:00, Rick talks about the truth found in Romans 8:

Romans 7:24 Paul says “What a miserable person I am! I’ve tried everything and nothing helps! Who will FREE me from this life dominated by sin.” Romans 8 is the answer to Paul’s question.
Seven mental habits that explain the great truths of Romans 8
1. Remind myself daily what Jesus did for me.
Romans 8:1-4 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving SPIRIT has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful…God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow THE SPIRIT.” Jesus has paid for your past sins and the ones you are going to commit tomorrow. Before Jesus you only had will power, now you have God’s power in you. Keeping laws never work they simply work on outside behavior they don’t work on inside change, only God can change the inside.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts
If you ask the Holy Spirit to give you better thoughts He will! In Romans 8:5-6 it talks of two kinds of mindsets. Mindset of your old nature and the mindset of the Holy Spirit. Your life problems probably won’t change, but your mindset can change. The principal of replacement is anytime you want to change something in your life you don’t resist it, you replace it. You choose what you dwell on. The devil gives you ideas (temptations), the Holy Spirit give you ideas (inspirations) and you get ideas. Invite the Holy Spirit to have free access to your mind then it will always be truth, always be right, always be pure and that is instead of that is the mindset that leads to peace.

At 31:20, Rick continues teaching on Romans 8:

3. Realize I have a new ability to say “no”
Before you were a believer you only had will power. Will power wears out when you can’t say no to habits, compulsions and impulses. When you tap into the power of the Holy Spirit He gives you the ability to say no. Why should I limit a natural desire? Allot of natural desires are poison or self destructive. Maturity is when you do the right thing, not what you feel like doing, because what you feel like doing it isn’t always the best for you, the best for somebody else or God’s will. Romans 8:12 tells us you have a new power inside you. You Simply need to call on the Holy Spirit in that moment of temptation.
4. Turn my thoughts to God whenever I’m afraid
God’s spirit sets me free from me. Romans 8:14-16 reminds us to stop focusing on fear and start focusing on your Father. Whenever you are afraid remember you are a son or daughter of God and there is family protection! You know whose family you are a part of? The creator of the universe, you are a child of God and God takes care of His kids. The number one fear people have is being out of control. The longer you feel life is out of control it creates enormous fear in your life. The longer you feel it’s out of control you start thinking I am out of control and the maybe I’m losing my mind, maybe I’m going crazy, maybe I’m going insane. We have all felt this! Crazy people don’t fear that so you are rational, you are not going crazy. Everybody’s broken, nothing is perfect in this world but the Bible says we should not be afraid but turn to God.

At 45:50, Rick focuses on the long-term:

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. The Holy Spirit gives us a spirit of love, power and self control.
5. Focus on the long-term, not on the short term!
Think about what you are going to become at the end of a year, five years, ten years etc. The more long term your thinking is the more successful you will be in life. You need to focus not on your pain right now, but on long term benefits of doing the right thing and sharing in glory forever. You put up with short term pain, losses, and failures for long term benefits.
6. Remind myself that God is good and in control.
Romans 8:19-25 God sets us free from bitterness. Sin has damaged the world so everything in the world is broken. Everything in the world has lost original purpose, everything has suffering, everything has pain and is frustrated. The result of living in a broken world is pain and the result of pain is bitterness. Life is unfair because it’s broken. Pain in your life is not optional, but misery is. Remember these four things.
A. The Holy Spirit is praying for me!
The Spirit speaks to God for us, He is praying for me. Romans 8:26-27
B. God is using everything for good in my life.
It’s not all good, but He’s using it for good. Romans 8:28
C. God wants me to succeed!
I am in the family, my Father is God! Romans 8:31-32
D. God will give me what I need
There is nothing in your life that God doesn’t care about. Romans 8:32
7. Insecurity
Trust that God will never stop loving me! Remember you belong to God and have the Holy Spirit in your life. Romans 8:38-39 “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Conclusion

When you are feeling blue, and when you are feeling bitter you need to remind yourself that God is good and in control. His Spirit is praying for me. He’s using everything for good in my life. He wants me to succeed and He’s going to give me what I need.