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recovering addicts are the modern day "fools"

I was fortunate to share my testimony on how I arrived at 20 years sobriety and someone asked for the notes. Below is the video of my testimony along with my sermon notes. I hope you enjoy it!





Testimony share on 7/23/2021


27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29


Why this scripture?

  • It reminds me of addicts; especially those in recovery

  • For me specifically, because I know I lived foolishly and weak

Synonyms for foolish

  • crazy

  • insane

  • irrational

  • ridiculous

  • unwise

  • senseless

  • short-sighted

  • weak


THIS FOOL

This fool thought he had it all figured out…

This fool thought doing drugs—smoking weed, smoking crack, crank, dropping acid, & snorting coke was cool…

This fool thought beating his women was justified…

This fool thought stealing, cheating, & drug dealing was a well-lived life…

This fool thought God didn’t exist…


Psalm 14:1

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”


Proverbs 10:23

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.


Context of scripture

  • It’s a letter from Paul to the Corinthians

  • These were a group of people that Paul and some of his disciples help lead to Christ

  • The Corinthians also thought they were too wise for the gospel

  • The gospel preached was foolishness in the eyes of worldly-wise men

  • God chose “normal” people to start His church. He used people that the world at the time would not consider worthy of listening too:

    • Fishermen

    • Tax collectors

    • Murderers

    • Even a carpenter

  • In the eyes of the early world, God seemed to have chosen “fools” to share this newfound spiritual knowledge.

My foolish world

  • Violence

  • Drug dealing

  • Addiction

  • DUI

  • Community service

  • Anger

Us recovering addicts, are the modern day “fools” of the world

  • God chooses people that others would not consider to be worthy

  • He chooses them because He doesn’t want the world thinking that our worth is based on social or economic standing, or even intellect or education—God sees into the heart

“Everything God has allowed you to march through in life so far has been intended to mature your faith, fortify your principles, shape your character, and cement your allegiance to Him.” (Priscilla Shirer, Elijah: Faith & Fire, p. 42.)

  • Step 7 – We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

  • When God starts removing our shortcomings, we need to replace them with something

So what should we be doing?

  • We should cultivate more wisdom in our lives

“Wisdom matters today for the same reasons it mattered in the past. Wisdom is good for both the individual and the community.” (https://www.mindfulwisdom.ca/blog/2020/1/21/does-wisdom-still-matter, Does Wisdom Still Matter?, Mindful Wisdom, Annette Avoledo, 7/17/2021.

  • “We should get addicted to God’s love & wisdom. We should desire it more than life itself.” (Marvello V)

Proverbs 3:13, Amplified Bible

13 Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],

How do we cultivate wisdom?

  • Definitely read the Bible, do devotionals, join a Bible study group, pray over important life decisions

  • Wisdom is often seen as the ability to integrate and balance a number of perspectives.

  • Only from a calmer more connected brain will you be able to access your wisdom.

  • Let go of your ego and need to be right.

  • Practice. Like everything else, this takes intention and practice.

Concluding thoughts

  • I often state that it’s easier to destroy than to build up. And besides, this world doesn’t need more destroyers. We’re a dime a dozen. What this world really needs is more people who turn their lives over to God and start pouring out His love to others.

  • That’s what the world really needs—the “love virus”. We need to infect another person with God’s love who then in turn infects another person with God’s love until it spreads throughout the world.

  • That’s why us “fools” need God, and why we need the 12 Steps. Because they both lead us to a better life. A life filled with love and wisdom.




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