Fleeting Feelings

Fleeting Feelings

or a Firm Faith

Text: Hebrews 11

2 Cor 5:7

7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

(KJV)

I am an emotional person, I always have been and always will be. I cried when Bambi’s mother died. I have even jumped up and down at basketball and football games when my team or players did something great. There is nothing wrong about showing emotion. When God touches us we sometimes cry, or raise our hands. We will even sing just a little louder and sometimes we just shout “amen” or “praise God”. I have seen people fall out under the anointing and I have heard my mother sing in a different tongue than her natural one. I have seen people dance in the spirit and Jericho marches that lapped the church time and again. I love to sing songs that lift my spirits and make me feel as though I were surrounded by the heavenly chorus. I truly long to touch the face of the heavenly Father by the lifting up of my voice in song and praise.

With so much emphasis on emotion it is no wonder that we become worn out, burned out and absolutely fatigued. Emotions can drain the very strength from our bodies, both physical and spiritual. When we worship with our total self we realize that it takes it’s toll on our bodies and minds. I am not advocating removing emotion from our worship services! God made our emotions and He doesn’t mind us using them. If we come to church with the idea that we can just allow our emotions to run free, we soon realize that our pastors become cheerleaders and congregations become cheering fans rather than humble servants on their knees before almighty God.

We must be careful to not allow our emotions to override our knowledge. When people become so caught up in their emotions they begin to act upon feelings rather than knowledge of the truth. You have heard the saying “caught up in the crowd”. This means that people will do things that they would not do under normal and ordinary circumstances. They get caught up in the emotion of the event or moment. (Coaches who scream at officials)( Real Video crowds)

By getting caught up in the emotion of the moment people forget things that are basic and true. We as Christians must remember that we live by faith and not feelings. We cannot get so caught up in the emotional moment that we forget the basic truths. Which is the knowledge of God.

God loves me even when I do not feel like worshiping or praising Him.

God loves me even when I fall short and succumb to temptation and feel unworthy of His grace.

God is faithful even when I am not faithful.

God is still there even when I cannot feel His presence.

God does not condition His love, mercy, or grace upon my ability to feel each. The knowledge that His mercy endures forever is a fact not a feeling. My feelings are fleeting, I may be excited today but discouraged tomorrow. His grace does not somehow disappear because I feel unworthy of it. My feelings are fleeting but He gives new grace at the very moment I need it. I have never seen God with my eyes nor felt him with my hands this does not change the fact that He is real.

There is nothing wrong with feelings just do not let feelings become a substitute for faith in the basic truths of God.

High Energy! Extreme Worship! It would appear that everything in the church is moving toward a faith based on feelings. The world longs for an emotional fix. The world seeks for pleasure. The bible says in 2 Tim 3:4﷓5

4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

KJV