C.O.O.L SIGNATURE
“At C.O.O.L. we accept the Word of God as ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Word of God is infallible, inerrant, irrefutable, undeniable, inexhaustible, God-Inspired and God-Breathed. No matter what any or all of us does, says, feels or thinks, if it does not line up with God’s Word, we are wrong and God is RIGHT! Based upon the premise of God’s Word in Proverbs 23:7, “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he….” People do what they do because they believe what they believe. If people believe lies, it produces problems in their thinking, which produces darkened emotions, which produces godless behavior. The world always treats a person the way they think, feel or act. God always starts with the way a person believes in their heart. In C.O.O.L. Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Meetings we treat people’s belief system which addresses the root cause of their drug and alcohol addictions or co-dependency issues. We believe by helping people who are hurting and perhaps who do not know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, we are doing our part to create the atmosphere by which God will draw them into His Presence and introduce them to their Healer. Therefore, we exalt the Holy Name of Jesus above everything we do and give God all the glory, praise and honor. For truly it is His. C.O.O.L. Ministries number one objective is to encourage every single person that crosses the threshold of our life to draw closer to God and develop a deeper and more meaningful, intimate relationship with Christ. We cannot heal anyone nor can we save them, but we know someone who can and that someone is Jesus Christ whom we serve with our whole hearts. Helping hurting and healing people get into living water of the Holy Word of God and meet their Healer, Jesus Christ, is the basis for everything we do.”
I would like to extend a very COOL and Cordial Invitation to each and every one who are close enough to our Houston Headquarters to come experience a 7-week journey through out 100 plus page Curriculum for Breaking The Chains (BTC) Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery and Relapse Prevention Program. We will meet at COOL Church-Houston located at 5005 W 34th Street- Suite 105-C Houston, Texas 77092
The Class will begin on Wednesday evening, September 21st and finish on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016 from 7-9 pm weekly.
The Church will remain open to anyone and everyone who happens to come by, however, only the registered students from the beginning and through the end will actually receive a Certificate of Completion on November 2nd, 2016
Everyone’s recovering from something, or at least they need to be. Every believer should be recovering from the effects of sin.
We have taken our steps back to the Bible. They teach basic concepts of surrender (Give Up), repentance (Clean Up), forgiveness (Make Up), and spiritual growth (Keep Up).
Component 1: The Give Up Steps:
Give Up: Steps 1 – 3
The first 3 steps are the Give Up steps. They teach us to humble ourselves and submit to the Lord. We become aware there is sin in our life (Romans 7:18). We can’t overcome it without Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:13). We accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and make a decision to let Him work in our life (Romans 12:1).
Component 2: The Clean Up Steps:
Clean Up: Steps 4 – 7
Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 teach us to confess our sins and repent of them. We identify the sin in our life (Lamentations 3:40) and ask God to remove it through confession and repentance (James 5:16, James 4:10). We boldly take authority over our carnal minds and exchange all of our thoughts with His thoughts.
(II Corinthians 10:3-5)
Component 3: The Make Up Steps:
Make Up: Steps 8 – 9
These steps teach us forgiveness. We identify people we have harmed and ask for forgiveness, this includes ourselves (Luke 6:31, Matthew 5:23-24), and we forgive people who have harmed us (John 20:22-23).
Component 4: The Keep Up Steps:
Keep Up: Steps 10 – 12
Steps 10, 11, and 12 are the Keep Up or maintenance steps. They teach us to continue our practice of confession and repentance (I Corinthians 10:12), grow in our relationship with Jesus (James 1:5-6), and carry the Good News to others (Galatians 6:1-2, Matthew 28:19-20).
We have taken our steps back to the Bible. They teach basic concepts of surrender (Give Up), repentance (Clean Up), forgiveness (Make Up), and spiritual growth (Keep Up)
The Purpose of The Addiction Recovery
and
Relapse Prevention Treatment Program
- To access the power of God and permanently overcome all addictive
behavior.
(Romans 1:16) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (NASV)
(Ephesians 1:18-21) “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”(KJV)
(Revelation 12:11) “And they overcame him because of the blood of the
Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and did not love their
life even when they faced death.” (NKJV)
- To teach practical, faith based skills used as tools to resist temptations.
(II Timothy 3:16) “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action.) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (AMP)
(I Corinthians 10:13) “For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin) [no matter where it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that I not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as a man Can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear it patiently.
- To promote a responsible, sanctified lifestyle that will prevent relapse.
(Romans 12:1-2) “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by it’s new ideas and its attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]”. (AMP)
(I Peter 1:13-23) “Therefore prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance., but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.”
(II Thessalonians 3:13) “But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in well doing.”
- To restore family relationships.
(Acts 11:14) “He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.”
(Acts 16:31) “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your whole household.”
- To establish a fellowship of believers who have overcome addiction and are equipped to minister to others in a way that will lead them into freedom from addictions.
(I John 1:3-7) [We are writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our own eyes, Whom we have gazed upon for ourselves and have touched with our own hands. And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eye witnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers] What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you to may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, (The Messiah). (AMP)
How It Works
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in your life places you in a position to access the Word of God and The Power of The Holy Spirit to permanently change your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
- Accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.
(Romans 10:9-11) 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)
- Repent of your sin by working the 12-step process of recovery.
(Acts 2:38) 38And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (AMP)
(Romans 2:4) 4Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (NKJV)
3. Be baptized in water.
(Acts 2:38) 38And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (AMP)
- Receive the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your life.
(John 20:22) 22And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit! (NIV)
(Acts 2:4) 4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit [a] kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. (AMP)
- Everyday read the Word of God, praise God (Psalm 103), pray, and demand holiness from your lifestyle.
(II Timothy 2:15) 15Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. (AMP)
(Philippians 4:6) 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (ASV)
(Romans 6:19) 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (KJV)
† Work through the process of recovery and relapse prevention as described in the 12 steps to Christ Over Our Life, and supported by the Holy Bible.
The 12 Steps to Christ Over Our Life
Step One
We admit that without Christ Over Our Life we are powerless over our addictive or co-dependent behavior and our life has become unmanageable.
Romans 3:22-24 –“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned, and fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.”
Step Two
We come to believe that God, through Jesus Christ, has the Holy Spirit power to deliver us from every plan, power and work of the devil.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only SON, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Step Three
We make a decision to invite Jesus Christ into our lives and crown Him the Lord of all, with no reservations. We accept God’s forgiveness in the person of Jesus Christ and become born-again.
Romans 10:9-10 – “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”
Step Four
We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves and ask the Lord to show us what needs to be confessed, repented of and forsaken, in Jesus’ Name.
Acts 3:19-20 – “Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again”
Step Five
We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another Christian believer, the exact nature of our wrongs.
James 5:16 – “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.”
Step Six
We commit ourselves to obedience to God and when The Holy Spirit reveals an area of our lives that needs to be changed, we quickly obey and surrender that area to Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:15 – “I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.”
Step Seven
We humbly and boldly take authority over our carnal minds and exchange all of our thoughts with His thoughts, realizing that God’s Word contains His thoughts.
II Corinthians 10:3-5 “We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. With these weapons, we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.”
Step Eight
We make a list of all people we have harmed and who have harmed us, and become willing to make amends to them all, including ourselves.
Mark 11:25 – “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Step Nine
We seek forgiveness from everyone we have harmed and are willing to make amends to them all without causing any further injury.
John 20:23 – “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.”
Step Ten
We continue to take the light of the Word we hear and shine it into the darkest areas of our own life, looking for places we can come up higher.
James 1:22 – “And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself.”
Step Eleven
We actively pursue the Wisdom of God, which is the Will of God, applying it accurately to our life in solving problems, developing intimacy with Jesus Christ through prayer and obedience to keep His Word.
Joshua 1:8-9 – “Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you – Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Step Twelve
The chains of your addiction are so light that you can’t feel them yet so strong you can’t break them, but Jesus already has. Having become a disciple of Christ Jesus, we carry the message of Good News and Hope to others who are bound with the chains of addiction. Also, we continue to grow with Christ Over Our Life.
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
“Our goal is to put out the fire of addiction and start an on-fire desire to serve God.”
This is a sample of what we will be learning and applying together at the BTC Class at COOL Headquarters on Wednesday Evenings for 7-weeks, from September 21st through November 2nd, 2016 7-9 pm
In His Mighty Hand of Love & Powerful Grip,
Pastor Boyd L. Harrell
