What am I Missing Here?
Steps to Recovering Your Joy
July 18, 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:
• ANGER (Ps 39:3)
Psalm 39:3 * My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
II. It is Not Sin to Experience Negative Feelings.
Jesus Had Unpleasant Emotions. (Elwell, Baker’s Topical Analysis of the Bible, Logos Edition)
A. Jesus Experienced Anger (Mark 3:5)
Mark 3:5 * And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
B. Jesus Experienced Disgust (Mark 8:12)
Mark 8:12 * And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
C. Jesus Experienced Distress (John 12:27)
John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
D. Jesus Experienced Loneliness (Mt. 26:38)
Matthew 26:38 * Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
E. Jesus Experienced Sorrow (Lk. 19:41; Jn. 11:35)
Luke 19:41 * And when he was come near [Jerusalem], he beheld the city, and wept over it,
John 11:35 * Jesus wept.
F. Yet He Never Sinned!
III. Emotions are an Unreliable Source of Truth
A. Our Emotions Deceive Us (Jer. 17:9)
Jeremiah 17:9 * The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
• Next week, we will discuss why our emotions are so unreliable!
B. God Calls Those Who Trust Emotions “Fools.” (Pr. 28:26)
Proverbs 28:26 * He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
ILLUS: I’ve got that loving feeling. We sing with Albert Morris, “Feelings, w-o-o-o feelings.” Then a year later we are singing with the Righteous Brothers, “Bring back that loving feeling!”
QUOTE: "Emotions don’t make a good engine. They only make a good caboose." - Robert AuBuchon, Trinity Baptist Church
IV. A More Reliable Source for Truth (2 Peter 1:19-21)
2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
CONCLUDING APPLICATION TO PART I OF THIS SERMON
QUOTE: Reality-test your perceptions. Anyone who is feeling despair will have his or her view of things colored by the emotion. Elijah felt alone, but God told His prophet he was one of thousands who worship Him. Let facts shape your feelings, rather than letting your feelings distort the facts (1 Kings 19:18). Bible Reader’s Companion
ILLUS: The Price is Right. People feel convinced that the missing number is a “7.” Quickly it is discovered that their feelings were wrong. It is no different in life. It is just that the sad results are not seen within a one-hour TV episode!
