1. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 1

2. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 2 To Define:  “Custom or practice; especially an aptitude or inclination for some action, acquired by repetition and showing itself in facility of performance or in decreased power of resistance.” Webster To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times.

3. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 3 “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

4. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 4 Are you allowing bad habits to rob you of your:  Happiness? -  Health? –  Spiritual Growth? –  Spiritual Productivity? -  Confidence? –  Security? – Drug Addiction - Drinking Alcohol – Pornography – Covetousness - Tobacco – Overeating - Cursing / Swearing Lying Gossip – Fault Finding – Complaining – Worry – Wasteful – Absenteeism - Tardiness -

5. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 5  Blindness to the need of stopping a bad habit insures the rejection of all pleas to stop – Mat 13:14,16; Rev 3:17  The cause must be identified! – NOT JUST the symptoms... Mat 15:12-19; 23:26  The sooner the better!! - 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb 3:15  Recognize & Identify The Problem!

6. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 6  The desire to quit must be stronger than the desire to continue! – John 7:17; Rom 6:16-18  Requires proper and sufficient motivation! – Prov. 1:7; Ps 112:1; John 14:15; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 John 3:3; 5:4  People do what they REALLY want to do!!  Recognize & Identify The Problem!  Must Cultivate A STRONG Desire To Quit!

7. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 7  Too many have a lax view of sin and its consequences! – We need to see sin as being black & hell as hot! – Mat 5:29,30  We MUST hate anything that prevents us from bearing fruit!! John 15:1-7; Ps 119:104; Pr 8:13; Rom 12:9  Recognize & Identify The Problem!  Must Cultivate A STRONG Desire To Quit!  Must Cultivate A Hatred For The Habit!

8. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 8  What is God’s will regarding sin in your life? Acts 17:30; 2 Pet 3:9; Ez. 18:30-32  What temptation CANNOT be overcome with God’s help? - Eph 6:10-18; 2 Cor 10:13  I can do ________ through Christ! – Phili 4:13!  Recognize & Identify The Problem!  Must Cultivate A STRONG Desire To Quit!  Must Cultivate A Hatred For The Habit!  Seek God’s Help!

9. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 9  Recognize & Identify The Problem!  Must Cultivate A STRONG Desire To Quit!  Must Cultivate A Hatred For The Habit!  Seek God’s Help!  Seek Aide From Brethren!  Humility is needed in each of these steps – but one needs enough humility to seek out support from other brethren! – 1 Peter 5:5; Rom 15:1; Gal. 6:1,2;  The strong CANNOT force accountability upon the weak! – Heb 13:7,17; 1 Thes 5:12-14

10. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 10  Recognize & Identify The Problem!  Must Cultivate A STRONG Desire To Quit!  Must Cultivate A Hatred For The Habit!  Seek God’s Help!  Seek Aide From Brethren!  Quit NOW!!!!  The sooner action is taken – the easier quitting is! – Eccl. 12:1; Prov 22:6; 2 Cor 6:2  What if you were diagnosed with cancer while it was in its early treatable stage? Would you delay?? What about sin? Which is more serious??

11. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 11 Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.  Our Thoughts!

12. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 12 Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  Our Thoughts!

13. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 13 Romans 8:5-6 (NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Our Thoughts!

14. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 14 Psalms 119:11,97 (NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!

15. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 15 Isaiah 34:16 (NKJV) 16 "Search from the book of the Lord, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!

16. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 16 Acts 17:11 (NKJV) 11 These were more fair- minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!

17. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 17 Luke 18:1 (NKJV) 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 pray without ceasing,  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!

18. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 18 Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!

19. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 19 Acts 8:4 (NKJV) 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (NKJV) 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!  Sharing Our Faith!

20. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 20 Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Romans 12:10 (NKJV) 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!  Sharing Our Faith!  Doing Kind Deeds!

21. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 21 Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!  Sharing Our Faith!  Doing Kind Deeds!

22. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 22 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV) 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!  Sharing Our Faith!  Doing Kind Deeds!  Speaking Words That Lift Others Up!

23. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 23  Our Thoughts!  Bible Study!  Prayer!  Attendance!  Sharing Our Faith!  Doing Kind Deeds!  Speaking Words That Lift Others Up! Acts 11:23 (NKJV) 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

24. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 24  Requires Desire,  Commitment, 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

25. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 25  Requires Desire,  Commitment,  Diligence,  Focus, 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.

26. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 26  Requires Desire,  Commitment,  Diligence,  Focus,  Determination,  Dedication  Action! 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

27. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 27 “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

28. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 28  Are there any sinful habits that that you need to break? – ( Recognize your need )  The longer you continue in sin the harder it will to stop – ( Stop TODAY - REPENT )  Cultivate a hatred for sin and for all that stands between our spiritual growth and eternal reward AND cultivate a love for God, and for that which is right and good!! – ( Commit & Start Today )  Replace sinful habits with godly habits – ( Take Determined & Decisive Action )!! – (Col. 3:1-17)  Are there any sinful habits that that you need to break? – ( Recognize your need )  The longer you continue in sin the harder it will to stop – ( Stop TODAY - REPENT )  Cultivate a hatred for sin and for all that stands between our spiritual growth and eternal reward AND cultivate a love for God, and for that which is right and good!! – ( Commit & Start Today )  Replace sinful habits with godly habits – ( Take Determined & Decisive Action )!! – (Col. 3:1-17)

29. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 29

30. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ / January 14, 2007 30 Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV) 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.