Genuine Faith or Emotions

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Faith and Emotions

• We need to learn what part each of these plays in
  our lives.

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Faith and Emotions

• Love, anger, envy, joy, zeal, tender affections,
  compassion, grief, mourning, happiness, sadness,
  godly sorrow, worry, anxiousness, doubt, hate,
  malice, temptation, fear.

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Faith and Emotions

• We would all like to have a strong feeling of
  closeness to God, an emotional attachment that is
  not only possible but probable when we have faith
  in Him.

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The Biblical Heart

• Intellect (understanding), Will (volition). and
  Emotion (feelings).
• The appeal of God is first to our intellect.
• Understanding and faith go hand in hand.
• Having our emotions stirred can move our will to
  do what our intellect tells us that we ought to
  do.

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Faith and Emotions

• Doing what our intellect understands we should do
  will affect our emotions.
• Consider the Ethiopian treasurer. (Acts 8)
• Temptation. James 114
• In a survey, 52 of church kids say the only
  intellectual way to live is to make the best
  decisions you can based on your feelings at the
  moment.
• God expects disciplined obedience.
• 1 Cor. 926-27

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Faith and Emotions

• Undependable emotions.
• Faith is the art of holding on to things your
  reason has once accepted, in spite of your
  changing moods. (C.S. Lewis)
• Consider Peter.
• He went from I will die with You to I do not
  know the Man.

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Faith and Emotions

• What is the purpose of our assemblies?
• Entertainment or edification?
• Traditional or contemporary worship?
• Pep rallies with preachers leading the cheers?
  Feel good sermonettes?
• What is edification?
• Can our emotions be stirred during worship?
• We are strengthened in the inner man.
• Sing and pray with understanding.

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Faith and Emotions

• Do we have to constantly pump up some folks for
  them to be faithful?
• Place for encouragement 1 Thess. 514.
• Learning to have our own faith.
• Some will fall away. (parable of the soils)
• Sometimes converts who are born in excitement
  die when the excitement is over. (Charles
  Spurgeon)

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Faith and Emotions

• Faith or fun for our young people?
• Some dangers in the camps.
• Disenchanted with our assemblies.
• Spiritual activities and fun.
• Our service is contemporary and fun.
• What happens when life is no fun?
• Will we quit?
• Will we joyously be faithful?

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Faith and Emotions

• A greater or a more genuine faith.
• Faith comes by hearing. (Rom. 1017)
• Our faith should be based on careful thinking
  (in perhaps less emotional moments) about what is
  most likely true, and this foundation should be
  solid enough to withstand the emotional waves
  that are sure to beat against it from time to
  time. (Gary Henry)

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• Strong feelings of joy, inexpressible at times,
  will come with the faithfulness that endures.
• 1 Peter 16-9

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So enjoy the exhilaration when it comes. Take
the ride to the heights when you get the
opportunity. But don't get hooked on the thrill
of the moment. Take charge of your emotions.
And when it comes time to do the right thing,
dont let your feelings lead you to compromise.
That is the way to live a happier, more
successful life and one that is more pleasing to
God. (Dobson)
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The light that is visible to us in this realm
may rise and fall, and with it our feelings of
courage or despair, but He does not ever cease to
be the eternal I AM. This must be our faith.
(Gary Henry)
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