ADDICTION

1 Cor 16:15-16 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and
that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
KJV
1 Cor 16:15-16
15 Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that
they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),
16 that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth.
ASV
1 Cor 16:15-16
15 I urge you, brethren — you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that
they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints —
16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.
NKJV
1 Cor 16:15-16
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia,
and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
16 that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.
NASU (New American Standard – Updated)

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. God devoted Himself to saving the world.

I. LET’S BE ADDICTED (DEVOTED) TO SERVING GOD.

A. God’s commandment.
1. Deut 6:5-6 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
B. Examples.
1. Joseph
a. Gen 39:7-10
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said,
Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the
house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee,
because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or
to be with her.

2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

a. Dan 3:12-18
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden
image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then
they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve
my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and
dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye
worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that
shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up.

3. Daniel.
a. Dan 6:7-10
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of
any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the
Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being
open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and
gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

II. LET’S BE ADDICTED (DEVOTED) TO SHARING THE WORD.

A. As Christ commanded.
1. Matt 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2. 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

B. As the apostles and other early Christians did.

1. Acts 4:16-20
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest
to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no
man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you
more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard

2. Acts 5:38-42
38 And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this
work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they
should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

2
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame
for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

3. Acts 8:3-4
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed
them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

4. Acts 8:26-40
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth
down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen
of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what
thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come
up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb
dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken
from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of
some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what
doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw
him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

5. 1 Cor 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me;
yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

6. 1 Thess 1:6-8 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and
Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any
thing.
Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.
If one is a Christian and has done anything publicly to bring reproach upon the church, then
that person or those persons are invited to remove their separation from God by public repentance
so that prayers can be offered for them.
~C. Yawn~
3