People with these problems need total restructuring. Drunkedness, drug addiction, and homosexuality are life-dominating sins; they usually affect every area of life.

1. These problems are sin, 1 Cor. 6:9 ; Gal. 5:19-21

2. These problems are life-dominating sins, Eph. 5:18 ; 1 Cor. 6:12 ; Deut. 21:21 ; Prov. 20:1 ; 7:6-23 ; 23:29-35 ; Isa. 5:11 , 13 , 22 ; Joel 3:3 ; 1:5 ; Amos 6:6 ; Hosea 4:11 .

Accordingly, these sins affect the person's -

These people are insecure, unhappy people who are looking for satisfaction. They often do not know how to cope with life and are riddled with guilt. They turn to the bottle or drugs for quick satisfaction. For example, when Joe performs poorly at work, he feels bad, so he turns to the bottle for satisfaction. Then he performs worse and feels worse . So he drinks again, and in time, his health suffers and his relationship with his wife becomes strained. This causes him to feel worse, and he turns again to the bottle for relief.

3. Since the problems are sin (not disease) , there is hope.

1. 1 John 1:7
2. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 ; Rom. 6:14 ; Eph. 5:18

4. God's solution to life-dominating sin is the filling of the Holy Spirit, Eph. 5:18

1. To be filled with the Spirit means to submit to the Spirit's directions in every area of life. It means to be filled with right things. It means to put -off the old man and to put-on Jesus Christ. It means restructuring your life according to God's word. It means submitting to God's directives concerning work. It means handling your problems God's way. It means handling money in a God-appointed way. It means learning to relate to people according to the Scriptures.
2. To be fillled with the Spirit involves replacing the unbiblical behaviour and attitude with Biblical behaviour and attitudes, Eph. 4:17-22 . It involves reorganizing and reorienting your responses into a new pattern, Rom. 6:19 .
3. It may involve probing into every area of your life to discover concrete ways you are failing God and others. Honesty and thoroughness are essential.
4. Then, having discovered the ways you are operating unbiblically, you must repent and adopt Biblical patterns. You probably will need to replace certain friendships. You must avoid all close contact and associations with companions with whom you have indulged in this practice, 1 Cor. 15:33 ; Prov. 13:20 .

   You will also have to stay away from those places frequented by people engaged in the same practice. Conversely, you will need to deepen or develop friendships with Christians who are strong in the Lord. , 2 Tim. 2:22 ; Heb. 10:24-25 . Your whole life may need to be restructured; how you do your work; where and how you spend your time; how you relate to people; how you spend your money, etc.

5. You will need to institute a meaningful program of Bible reading, prayer, Scripture memorization, and church attendance and fellowship.
6. You may also need to keep a daily journal of times when you are tempted; what you do when you are tempted; where you are; with whom you are; what you are thinking about. This journal may be of immense value in overcoming your problem.
7. You may also need assistance in setting Biblical goals for living and for attaining them.
8. You should establish a regular schedule, making sure you have time for all your God-given responsibilities.
9. You must devise a specific plan to use whenever you are tempted and put that plan into practice immediately and regularly when the temptations comes, Rom. 12:17 . You must exercise(discipline) yourself for the purpose of godliness, 1 Tim. 4:7 .

To assist in developing and restructuring the mindset (attitudes), Eph. 4:22-24 , and in order to attain and maintain godly habits and patterns of thought , speech and actions that are pleasing to God, use and apply any or all of the forms and worksheets listed below.

Also check out lessons 20 and 21, 'Life-Dominating Sins', Self-Confrontation manual.