Living In Your Will, Not Your Feelings (Part 2) Series

What am I Missing Here?

Steps to Recovering Your Joy

July 18 and 25, August 1, 2010

Calvary Baptist Church

Ephesians 5:14

SERMON 2: The Fallacy of Living In Your Feelings

NOTE: This sermon is based in part on a sermon by F.B. Meyer entitled, “Where am I Wrong?” This sermon appears as chapter 2 in two of his books, Some Secrets of Christian Living and The Secret of Guidance. Portions also from Gerald Flury, “Following Your Feelings.”

What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord?

• First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have noticed this.

• It is only by the Holy Spirit’s work in your life that you even care.

• Furthermore, it is a good sign of genuine conversion.

• For the lost man or woman, there is no thought of this.

• To them, they are just fine and see no need of the question.

• But to you, whose spirits resonate with this preacher’s question, you know that something is missing.

• You see in the faces, in the lives of others, a light, a joy, a power.

• And as you honestly evaluate yourself, you must admit that you do not have this light, this joy, this power!

• Here the words of the Apostle:

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

REVIEW

1) Dispositions differ

2) Emotions are not the test of our spiritual state.

• In our last sermon, we considered that a lack of joy may be traced to one’s failure to distinguish between his standing (or position in Christ) and his circumstances.

• My circumstances will always change with the weather.

• But my standing in Christ is constant and steady!

• Today, consider with me another possible robber of your joy:

• PERHAPS YOU LIVE TOO MUCH IN YOUR FEELINGS, TOO LITTLE IN YOUR WILL

OPEN:

QUOTE: We have no direct control over our feelings, but we have over our will. Our wills are ours, to make them God’s. God does not hold us responsible for what we feel, but for what we will. In His sight we’re not what we feel, but what we will. Let us, therefore, not live in the summerhouse of emotion, but in the central citadel of the will, wholly yielded and devoted to the will of God. F.B. Meyer

HUMOR: Conversation overheard between two young women: "I hear you broke your engagement to Joe. What happened?" "Oh, it’s just that my feelings toward him aren’t the same." "Are you returning his ring?" "Oh, no! My feelings toward the ring haven’t changed a bit!" Illustrations Unlimited, Wordsearch Edition

QUOTE: Introduction: A feeling is an internal sensation or emotion. It is an involuntary response to a mental or physical stimulus. Since feelings are involuntary they are neither right nor wrong. They just are. However, what we do about our feelings are right or wrong, good or bad. Too often the actions we take and how we deal with our feelings is wrong. (Gerald Flury)

I. Bible Terminology

IN THE BIBLE THE “HEART” IS OFTEN EQUATED WITH OUR FEELINGS

According to biblical usage, the heart is the source from which the emotions flow. All of the following are said to come from one’s heart. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

• JOY Aaron’s heart flows with joy when he sees Moses (Ex 4:14).

Exodus 4:14 And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

• HATRED Leviticus 19:17 warns God’s people not to hate their brother in their heart.

Leviticus 19:17 * Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart:

• FEAR Fear is expressed as a loss of heart (Deut 1:28),

Deuteronomy 1:28 Our brethren have discouraged our heart.

• COURAGE. Since the above is true, courage is also (being the opposite) a heartfelt emotion. (Ps. 27:3)

Psalm 27:3 * Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.

• DESPAIR These and many other emotions-for instance, despair (Deut 28:65),

Deuteronomy 28:65 * And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

• Sadness (Neh 2:2),

Nehemiah 2:2 * Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

• Trust (Ps 28:7)

Psalm 28:7 * The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: