Appetites: Are You Driving or Driven?: Don't Get Left Behind

© 2005 Don Robbins. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 04/19/05

ISBN: 1-4208-2881-9 (sc)

ISBN: 9781463475390 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

Other endorsements

"Once again, author Don Robbins’ unique talent for clearly explaining difficult concepts comes through vividly in Appetites: are you driving or driven? Don’t get left behind.

"As a Hospice Chaplain, working with the terminally ill and all the dynamics involved with that process, my search for concepts to enhance my ability to minister is constant. Although that was my original goal as I started reading Appetites: are you driving or driven, I soon discovered that it was Chaplain Bill that needed to hear, be reminded again, of the basic but far reaching concepts of dealing with the appetites of the flesh. The process of recognizing that true freedom from the cycle of self indulgent appetites comes only through Christ, and not our own self discipline, is clearly explained in this excellent work. Sprinkled with realty checks and short, simple, self evaluation guides, this book is an eye opening work that is beneficial to all levels of Christians, from new believers to season clergy. Author Don Robbins’ vast experience as a counselor, and Bible teacher, are readily apparent and make Appetites: are you driving or driven? Don’t get left behind an excellent, must read edition to any library."

Bill McReynolds,

Chaplin

"Don Robbins understands what the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ has done for him. His great desire is for others to gain that same understanding and freedom for themselves. Sadly, too many of us approach our problems from the wrong perspective. This book seeks to open our eyes to the only real answer to the appetites that seem to control us."

Danny R. Dodson, Executive Pastor, Central Christian Church of the East Valley, Mesa, Arizona

"Whether we like it or not, we are engaged in a life-long battle. Our lives and the lives of our loved ones are at stake. It’s the real world and it’s tough. Don Robbins has clearly delineated the most despicable strategy of humanity’s common foe. It is an ugly, grotesque portrayal, but it’s actual and it’s biblical.

"The enemy uses us, our very own SELF, to trap us and defeat us. To respond to such a hideous attack requires more than another self-help book. We have a real problem; we need a bona-fide solution. Don Robbins succinctly demonstrates that there is only one answer…See for yourself."

Rev. Doug Maire, Assistant Pastor, Word of Life Ministries (Non-Denominational, Charismatic, Word and Faith Movement).

"Appetites are good! Without a healthy appetite we will not eat of the things that will help us grow. Yet, appetites can take control of us! The more we eat, the more we want. We buy a fast car, and discover before long, that we want an even faster car. Our appetites get out of control and move us toward addictions that are destructive. Don Robbins clearly describes the human predicament and its ultimate resolution. He helps us face ourselves honestly by asking us to face the driving appetites. He describes accurately the wreckage of appetites out of control: drug abuse, domestic violence; consumerism. The solutions are not always clear to us. Don Robbins is an experienced counselor in programs of addiction, and as a committed Christian he is able to see the connection between appetites under the law of the god of self or under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Don’s book opens my eyes in a new way to the fundamental faith decision. He does more than describe the problem; he reveals a practical biblical solution.

The Reverend Dan Turner, Sr. Pastor of Red Mountain United Methodist Church, Mesa, AZ. Currently on the Board of Family Service Agency. Previously served on the Board of Mesa Senior Services, Inc. Chaired the Mesa Ecumenical Clergy Association, and several positions with the United Methodist Church, Desert S.W. Annual Conference.

"Appetites: Are you driving or driven? Don’t get left behind, is an in-depth guide for everyone. It has helped me to go deeper in my walk with the Lord.

"We all tend to think that we have already attained the magic level of spirituality and are ready to meet God on His terms. I was content with my own level until I read Don’s first book, Living Beyond the Cycle of Defeat. Now, this new work, Appetites: Are you driving or driven? has shown me that there is never a limit on how much farther I really have to go. We all are ‘A work in progress.’

"This book, along with its predecessor, offers the deepest insight to what God’s Word tells us. That being to ‘seek first the Kingdom of God.’ Seek is an imperative word. It is a command and demands full attention. In order to look (seek) for anything, you must first eliminate all other distractions. Once this is accomplished, it is possible to give our full attention to the task at hand.

"Dying to self opens the door to our doing the will of God. Until we focus on something other than our own personal needs, desires or wants, we are incapable of being fruitful for the Kingdom.

"Don Robbins has a unique anointing for this area of teaching. Each of us has a passion given by God for His purpose. Don’s understanding of why we need to die to self and how we can accomplish this is a God given ability. His books are fun to read and challenging in their content."

Dr. Stephen J. Rockwell D.D. (Honorary), LL.B"Don Robbins and his books are partially responsible for my rebirth and salvation in Christ.

"For most of my life I stumbled around trying to conquer my personal demons (drugs, alcohol, and prostitution just to name a few) with very little success.

"I believe the Holy Spirit finally got my attention and sent me off to the house of God where I was led to a Sunday School class being taught by Don called Living Beyond the Cycle of Defeat (his first book). As the class worked through his book I learned that these illegal behaviors were not mine to conquer. If only I would surrender to Christ He had already forgiven me of them.

"I felt the first step in this process was to become clean and sober which I did and after a year I asked Don to baptize me. This was a true REAL commitment (maybe the first in my life for me) to search out what Jesus wanted for me in my life. Since then he (Don) has been one of my mentors and life friends.

"About a year ago Don told me he was working on another book and frankly I wondered at that time what more he could say on the subject. Well I didn’t have to wait long and I found myself in his Sunday School class again studying his latest book Appetites: Are you driving or driven? Don’t get left behind. The second book brought to my attention a few, MORE sophisticated addictions, not like my drug habits (illegal) but other sinful behaviors (legal ones) that maybe only God notices and doesn’t like but which surely were holding me back from my spiritual growth. I learned in order to mature in the Lord I needed to clean up ALL of my act and be more like Jesus. This was not an easy mountain to climb but with the Holy Spirit on my side to point out the right path I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"I think the progression from the first book to the second is a matter of first discovering the main behavior problems and then as I matured in Jesus, looking a little closer for the underlying personal and spiritual problems that are keeping me from a more personal relationship with God. Realizing that Jesus has already given me the answer to these problems when He forgave me of my sins (past, present and anything that comes up in the future) this is probably the first step in overcoming my ‘appetites and behaviors.’

"So I’ve learned first, when the Holy Spirit (which is of course inside of us so he has a good view of these problems) brings the problem or ‘appetite and behavior’ to our attention, we must seek forgiveness. Then comes the hard part, remembering about the faith and trust we must have in the promises of Jesus (how He has taken away all our sins).

"Somewhere in there you must surrender your self-control and fill that spot with God-control. I think that is what’s called being crucified with Christ. If you truly feel this then the only thing left is to claim your freedom from the sinful ‘appetites and behaviors.’ If you can just ‘let go and let God’ the peace and contentment we all are searching for just happens."

Shelby Hensley.

To my wife Ginny, with all my love.

To have and to hold….

A vision in a yellow dress

you delighted my soul

that California Sunday morn.

Blacker than midnight,

your bright sparkling eyes,

set fire to this heart so forlorn.

Framed by black hair

that cover girl face

flashed a smile that was something to see.

No words were exchanged.

None needed, I knew

that this was the one meant for me.

We met face to face

at the door of the place

we would on that great day be wed.

God blessed on that day

in His own special way

when my wife you would be you said.

Yes! Love at first sight

that’s what it is called.

But there’s much more to it you see.

Five decades have shown

what I’ve always known:

you’re God’s greatest blessing to me!

Your Don.

Acknowledgements

As never before I realize that I am so very greatly indebted to my wife Ginny. By her sustaining love, she encourages and lifts me up in everything I do. That would be more than enough to expect from anyone, but best of all she brings to life that child in me that did not exist before she came and begins to fade when various duties separate us for a time.

I am also greatly indebted to my firstborn, Judy, who provides excellent biblical advice as an expert on Jewish laws and ceremonies (see her The Jewish Holidays G-d’s Prophetic Calendar by Judy Robbins Reeves); to my daughter Sandy, who, by her indomitable Spirit, continues through the pain of hip replacements etc. to praise the Lord and to inspire love in all who know her, and to my son Tim, who provides excellent literary advice as my grammatical and punctuation editor.

I am also indebted to my church family at Grace EFC in Mesa AZ who by their love and Spiritual depth were a significant part of my efforts to validate the accuracy of the information contained in this book and to make sure that it is couched in terms that are not only technically correct but easy to understand.

I am particularly indebted to two such church family members, Gary and Becky Ladd who encouraged me in my writing chapter two. (Becky K. Ladd, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, Arizona State University and Dr. Gary W. Ladd, Professor of Family and Human Development, ASU.)

Appetites: Are You Driving or Driven?

Don’t Get Left Behind.

Overview

A bird’s eye view

Overview

I really need this book?

Appetites: Are You Driving or Driven? Don’t Get Left Behind describes why most of us become so driven by uncontrollable appetites that we spend much of our lives doing things we know we shouldn’t do, and failing to do things we know we should do (see Chapters One and Two). It also describes how we can be set free from those overpowering I-want-what-I-want-and-I-want-it-now appetites and from the unholy behavior they cause so that we will NOT be left behind when the rapture takes place and can live joyously victorious until that great day arrives (see Chapter Three). That’s the package deal that Jesus purchased for each of us. If that package deal is what you really want more than anything else in the world you can have it. In fact, it’s already yours for the taking. All you have to do to get it is to agree that God has already done for you all that His Holy Word says He has done for you (see Chapters Four and Five). And it’s not that difficult to agree with God. All you have to do is to look at your life from His point of view. Do you usually do that? Let’s see….

When you see that you have done something that you should not have done, what do you usually do?

A. Make excuses for yourself.

B. Look around hoping no one noticed, and try to pretend it didn’t happen.

C. Look for someone else to blame so that you won’t look bad.

D. Admit that you were wrong and try to do better next time.

E. Praise God for His having shown you that you have an appetite that needs to be put to death via the power of the Holy Spirit.

F. Ask God and everyone else involved to forgive you and try not to do the same thing again.

G. None of the above.

If your failures most often cause you to, Praise God for His having shown you that you have an appetite that needs to be put to death via the power of the Holy Spirit, and if you can explain to others why this option works far better than the other options, you can put this book back on the shelf. You don’t need it.

What makes E the best answer? How is it different than the rest? What makes the other six answers so terribly wrong?

Let me answer that this way. The most serious problem in our churches today is the same one Jesus so vigorously condemned 2000 years ago: Too many of our religious role models have for too long proudly modeled exemplary behavior and have strongly urged their followers to do the same. That causes men to focus on behavior. But that’s NOT what Jesus focused on. He was NOT impressed with exemplary behavior! In fact, the record clearly states that Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees whose behavior was the best that men can possibly produce. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matt 23:15 (NASB). If their behavior was better than that of anyone else and better than that of any of today’s religious leaders, why did Jesus repeatedly condemn them?

Before it’s too late we need to know what Jesus was trying to tell them. Maybe what He was saying to them about their behavior applies to us or to someone we know. (See all of Matthew chapter 23.)

Our next-most serious problem in our churches today is the same one Paul so vigorously condemned 2000 years ago: too many of our converts are trying to emulate exemplary behavior. In Galatians 3:1, we read that Paul found such behavior so outrageous that he sternly lashed out at them: You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you…. In the verses that follow we find that Paul told them as sharply as he knew how that they were on the wrong path.

Before it’s too late we need to know what Paul was trying to tell them. Maybe what He was saying to them about their behavior applies to us or to someone we know. (See Galatians 3:2 & 3)

So, when it comes to our most serious problem, Jesus condemned the religious leaders of his day even though their behavior was exemplary. And when it comes to our next-most serious problem, Paul lashed out at his converts for their trying to produce exemplary behavior.

All of this should tell us that discipleship is NOT about behavior. But if it isn’t about behavior, what is it about? Are we to continue on in our old sinful lifestyle and expect our Savior to repeatedly forgive us over and over again for the same old and for additional new sins?

That’s the question Paul asked and answers in Romans 6:1-7:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?

Rom 6:2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

Rom 6:3 Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.

Rom 6:5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].

Rom 6:6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.

Rom 6:7 For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]. Rom 6:1-7 (Amplified).

Romans 6:2 answers our question, but if we are not to remain in sin, what are we to do instead? What does he mean by How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

The next 5 verses explain what he means but without our knowing what he has said on this subject in other references, what he says here is not that easy to understand. That’s what this book is written to clarify. All the same, let’s take a quick look at what we are told here.

Romans 6:3 clearly indicates that if we don’t know what we’re supposed to know about our behavior it’s because we are ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. My question is, do you know that you were baptized into His death?

My next question is, do you know why Christ’s followers have been baptized into His death?

The answer Paul gives in these verses is that Christians were baptized into His death:

A. So that we might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. verse 4.

B. So that we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. verse 5.

C. So that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, verse 6.

D. So that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. verse 6.

If you haven’t been baptized into His death then you haven’t received what is promised here. And if you haven’t received what is promised here you’re in grave danger because you haven’t been saved at all: you haven’t become a child of God! You are NOT rapture ready!

Now for the really tough question, Is it possible that you have been baptized into His death and have received these gifts and you don’t even know it?

Let me answer that question with a question, Is it possible that someone has deposited $100,000,000.00 in your bank account and you don’t even know it?

I suspect you’re keeping such a close eye on your bank account that you would instantly know if someone were to give you such a gift. I know that I would know it in a heartbeat. And do you know what I would do? I would start writing checks against it or making huge withdrawals to see what happened. It would be risky! I could get slapped with an overdraft notice and penalties! But I would do it anyway! Wouldn’t you? That’s what this book is all about. It’s trying to get you to risk acting upon what the Bible has been telling you to believe.

I strongly suspect that most of you have been baptized into His death and have received these gifts and you don’t even suspect it. And if you don’t even suspect there’s $100,000,000.00 in your bank account, you aren’t going to start writing big checks or making huge withdrawals are you?

Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees because they were banking on their own righteousness. They were so proud of their own earnings and so smug about the adequacy of their own deposits to cover their sin debt that they gave no thought whatsoever to the possibility that they were, on God’s books, sadly insolvent: bankrupt!

Paul lashed out at his converts because they were heading down the same path that the Scribes and Pharisees had taken. And why wouldn’t they? It stands to reason that no righteous God would