["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
When the role is called up yonder song 55, let's sing it out on the first
The morning
55 on the second
You
Pray dear Heavenly Father. We just come to you this evening Lord
We ask you would meet with us here tonight that you would bless the service the preaching and fellowship afterwards you say we pray
Amen. All right. So now it's time for favorites where if selected we'll sing one stanza from a song that you pick brother Terry
Go ahead
325
Sing it out on the first
Oh
I
Just like see go ahead
216
216 on the last
216 let's sing it out on the last
Is
Oh
206 on the third Oh say, but I'm glad
We're gonna sing it out on the third we have
Oh
And see brother Mauricio go ahead
249
Okay, 247
Say
Oh
Oh and brother RJ go ahead 304
Sing it on the first
Oh
Brother Edgar go ahead
334 should be the last one this evening
Make me a blessing 334
Sing it out on the first
Oh
Amen alright, well, let's go ahead and take our bulletins
We'll look some announcements real quickly
If you do not have a bulletin raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you
If you need a bulletin tonight
Just put your hand up and we will get one for you the verse this week 1st Corinthians 9 24
No, you're not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize
So run that ye may obtain and that's a good verse there
If you open up your bulletin, you'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m
And of course, we had a wonderful service this morning
We're glad you're back out tonight for the evening service at 6 p.m
And we invite you to be with us on Wednesday night for the Wednesday night Bible study
and we are finishing up not the book of Job, but the section dealing with a lie who and
I'll be glad to be done with a lie who once we're done with a lie who we're getting to the most
Interesting part of the book of Job when God speaks and those are some powerful chapters that are gonna be really super interesting
but even the last chapter of a lie who I'll just give you a little bit of a
Preview it's kind of setting the stage for God coming on the scene. So it's it's actually a pretty interesting
Chapter not because of what a lie who says but just because of the things going around in that chapter
So maybe you can read the chapter ahead of time
See if you can figure out what I'm talking about and we'll study it out together on Wednesday night
But I think you'll find it interesting
so we encourage you to join us and then of course our sewing time Saturday morning church-wide soul winning 10 a.m. Thursday soul winning 2 p.m
Sunday 2 p.m. And if you're a first-time guest, we're glad you're here
we have a gift we'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building in the
foyer in the primary for your secondary foyer
There's little gift bags and please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you
And if you are a guest we'd ask that you take a moment and fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin. We of course are a family integrated Church
Children infant or is welcome in the service. We don't separate children from their parents for any reason
baptisms if you need to be baptized
Let us know on your communication card or at the end of service while we're seeing the last song we step out that door
One of our staff guys will meet you there
If you look at the announcements and upcoming events, of course on Sunday mornings
We're going through a series called rejoice Sunday night a series called undisciplined tonight. We're gonna be talking about
Uncontrolled emotions last Sunday night. We talked about uncontrolled words tonight
We're talking about uncontrolled emotions. And then of course next Sunday night
We're having a special service. It's a little bit short notice and I apologize for that
But it's just the way the schedule worked. It was kind of the perfect time to do it. We're having on
August 8th, so that's next Sunday night
Safety is of the Lord service and on this special evening service. We're gonna I'm gonna spend a few minutes
Just talking about the theology of safety and what the Bible teaches about safety because there are some
Misconceptions that people have about safety and I'll cover that quickly and then we're gonna get into some very practical things in
Regards to what to do in case of a fire earthquake power outage things like that
We're talking about when you're in church in the church service
We aren't gonna run any drills or anything like that
But we I'm just gonna explain some of those things so that you're not clueless
If anything like that were to ever happen, nothing like that has ever happened and I hope it never does but I'd rather be prepared
So we're gonna do that next Sunday night. And then afterwards we're gonna have a potluck. All right
So I think it's been a while since we've had a potluck
So if you could bring a dish to share
We would appreciate it and we'll have a good time of fellowship after the service and then cleaning crew
We've got the cleaning crew training and appreciation dinner on Friday, August 13th at 6 p.m
So if you're part of our cleaning crew, we want to appreciate you and thank you
We have a special dinner to thank you for that
please make sure you sign up on the communication card so that we can know you're coming and make sure we have enough food and
all that and
Also, if you'd like to sign up to be part of the cleaning crew you can come on that night as well
Have dinner with us and we'll go over some things with you and we can always use help in this ministry
With the cleaning crew ministry. I think the cleaning crew ministry is probably the most important ministry in the entire church
No offense to the orchestra and choir and safety team and ushers or whatever
But you know if this place doesn't get cleaned up, we can't use it and I appreciate they're there
They they're often overlooked and and not acknowledged, but I really do appreciate the cleaning crew
So if you can help us with that would appreciate it ordination service Sunday, August 22nd 5 p.m
And make sure you just be in prayer for that. And if you'd like to attend
It'll be in Fresno, August 22nd 5 p.m. I'll be preaching there and
Doing the ordination discipleship class choir all of that went on today upcoming cleaning crew. You can check for your name there
And we appreciate your faithfulness to that homeschool group. They've got P class Thursday, July 12
Please don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them on silent during the service
I've denied distraction to anybody if you look at the back of the bulletin birthdays and anniversaries for the month of August
today is Jordan Taylor's birthday, August 1st and
August 4th is my daughter Lydia Jimenez's birthday. Also. Miss Brandi Barrett has a birthday on August 4th and
Abigail Deakins has a birthday on
August 7th praise report money matters all those things are there for you a couple of things continue to be in prayer for brother Jeff
I told you he went into the emergency room on Wednesday had two surgeries this week
They thought he was gonna come out yesterday. He didn't come out. We're hoping is gonna come out today still
Have not released him. They're keeping in keeping him in for observation
So, please just be in prayer for him that he'll get better and that he'll be able to get out soon. Also
Miss Jackie o2 is
also in the hospital and
She's pregnant. Of course. She's expecting and
She is in the hospital. So be in prayer for the o2 family and for miss Jackie
We actually like to set up some meals for the o2 family and miss Jackie
I'll tell you every time there's ever a need for a meal. She she always does it every single time
so I think it would be good for our church family to make sure we
Bless their family in response with that
So if you'd like to bring a meal to the o2 family see my wife after the service
She has a sign-up sheet and we'll have a meal
Schedule to take care of them as well. So just be in prayer for these different church families
I think that's it for all of the announcements. So we're gonna go ahead and take the song book
I'm gonna change up the song on you guys if that's alright and let's go to page number 308
308 I think you guys should know that one
Three zero eight. I've learned not to throw any curveballs at them
308 I surrender all and let's go ahead and sing it out together on the first
And
Oh
308 sing it out on the second
Ah
Oh
My
Good check it out on the last
Ah
Amen good singing we'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time and let's go ahead and bow our
Heads and have a word of prayer Heavenly Father Lord
We thank you for allowing us to gather together tonight
I pray that you bless the offering and that you speak to us through your word in Jesus name. We pray. Amen
You
Let's over else to cleanse the ass these three
Ecclesiastes chapter number three if you need about put your hand up and I'm not sure if I bring you a Bible
Ecclesiastes chapter number three if you need about keep your hand up and I shall come by
Ecclesiastes chapter number three will read the entire chapter as our custom
Ecclesiastes three beginning verse number one to everything
There is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven the time to be born and the time to die
The time to plant in a time to pluck up that which is planted a time to kill and a time to heal
The time to break down and a time to build up a time to weep and a time to laugh
the time to mourn and a time to dance the time to cast away stuff to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together a
Time to embrace the time to refrain from embracing a time to get the time to loose
a time to keep the time to cast away the time to rend and the time to sew a
Time to keep silence and a time to speak a time to love and a time to hate the time of war
And a time of peace what prophet hath he that worketh and that were in he labored
I've seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it
He hath made everything beautiful in his time
Also, he had set the world in their heart so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the
End I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice
To do good in his life and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor
It is the gift of God. I know that what's over. God doeth. It shall be forever
Nothing can be put to it nor anything taken from it and God doeth it that men should fear before him
That which hath been is now and that which is to be hath already been
And God requires that which is past and moreover
I saw under the Sun the place of judgment that wickedness was there and the place of righteousness that iniquity was there
I said in my heart God shall judge the righteous and the wicked
For there's a time there for every purpose and for every work
I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men
That God might manifest them that they might see that they themselves are beasts
For that which befall the sons of men befall the beasts even one thing befall them as the one diet
So diet the other yay
They have all one breath so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast for all his vanity
I'll go into one place all over the dust and I'll turn to dust again
Who know what the spirit of man that goes upward and the spirit of the beast that goes downward downward to the earth?
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works
That is his portion Peru shall bring him to see what shall be after him
Let's pray family father. Thank you for this evening. God
I thank you for your word Lord and for our church and from that's here as to please give us ten hearts of the message
God as to please be their pastor to strengthen them and fill in their spirit. We love you and you say pray. Amen
Amen
All right. Were there any claims they asked you to chapter number three and of course on Sunday nights
We've been going through the series called undisciplined and we've been looking at these different areas of life
Where people tend to lack discipline and we've been learning about how to live a disciplined life
and if you remember we started several weeks back and I preached a sermon on laziness and tardiness and cleanliness and then last week I
Preached a sermon
Entitled out of control words tonight. We're gonna be looking at this idea of out-of-control
emotions having our emotions
in control and we're gonna learn about how to be an
emotionally mature
Person see the Bible teaches that emotions were given to us by God
God himself
Experiences emotions the Lord Jesus Christ had many emotions while on this earth
We're gonna look at some of that tonight and we were made in his image. So we
Experience emotions and it was given to us by God emotions are not something that are to be
Suppressed in fact, they're in Ecclesiastes chapter 3. I want you to notice what?
Solomon says here. If you look at verse 1 he says to everything
There is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven
and of course he goes through all these different things that there are different seasons of life and seasons of time that we may
experience them but I want you to notice verse 4
He says a time to weep and of course we weep as a result of an emotion
Then he says a time to laugh and we laugh as a result of an emotion
He says a time to mourn that's an emotion and a time to dance that comes as a result of an emotion
Look at verse 8. He says a time to love. That's a feeling it's an emotion and a time to hate
That's a feeling and an emotion
I want you to notice here the Bible does not teach us that these things are bad things or
That we should suppress them or that we should ignore them
In fact, the Bible says look there are times in your life when you're gonna weep and there are other times when you're gonna laugh
There are times when you're gonna mourn and times when you're gonna dance times when you should love and times when you should hate
these are emotions that were given to us by God and we should embrace them and we should
Balance them in our lives. Are there any Ecclesiastes chapter 3?
Go back with me of the book of Proverbs if you would just one book backwards Proverbs chapter 18
When you get to Proverbs
Do me a favor and put a ribbon or a bookmark there or your bulletin because we're gonna be
Coming back to the book of Proverbs throughout the sermon
Tonight so we're gonna learn about becoming an emotionally mature person
And the first thing I want to say just by way of introduction is that emotions should not be suppressed
They should not be ignored
They should be embraced now
Let me just give a disclaimer right at the beginning here and and let me say this there may be a medical reason
why your emotions are
Imbalanced and if that's the case, then you
May need to seek some medical attention
There are definitely reasons
biological reasons in the body of a person that can cause your emotions to not be balanced as
They should and like I said
If that's the case you need to see a doctor or get some medical attention in regards to that if if that's you
That's ever been you. I want to be clear. This sermon is not about that
I'm not a medical doctor and I'm not gonna get up here and give you
Medical advice what I'm referring to is for people that are not having a physical
reason as as as to why their emotions may be
Imbalanced and it's just their own sin and flesh
Not wanting to control their emotions and of course whenever you preach to a crowd, you know
We preach the 150 people 170 people 180 people 200 people of course you can't get into every specific
Detail of every person's life, but by and large what we're talking about is just controlling your emotions
And like I said if there's a medical reason as to why there may be an imbalance there or something you need to get
Checked out then I definitely would counsel and advise that you seek that medical attention with that said
Emotions are a very important part of our life
Our emotions can help us succeed or they can cause us to fail in life and especially in the Christian life
You're there in Proverbs 18. Look at verse 14
The Bible says this the spirit of a man and the word spirit there is referring to your emotions
Obviously it is the spirit but it is how you feel in your spirit
It says the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity
See someone could be going through a difficult time maybe even in infirmity and if their
Emotion if their inner man if they're feeling or the way they feel is good
He says the spirit of man will sustain his infirmity
but a wounded spirit who can bear when your spirit when your
emotions when your inner man is
Wounded then you're going to be in trouble a wounded spirit the Bible asks this question who can bear you're there in Proverbs 18
Flip back to Proverbs 17 Proverbs 17 look at verse 22 Proverbs 17 22
The Bible says a
Merry heart do with good like a medicine
It's good like a medicine the Bible says for your heart to be merry
But a broken spirit drieth the bones go to Proverbs 15 and verse
13 if you flip back a couple of chapters Proverbs 15 and verse 13 a
Merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken sorrow of the heart is a reference to a feeling an
Emotion and by the sorrow of the heart the Bible says the spirit is broken
But a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance your your countenance your face
Oftentimes will express to us the way you feel on the inside
And I just want to show you that
Emotions are something that the Bible says it's good to have them in their proper place. It's good to have them in their proper
Balance is good to have them controlled
Why because a merry heart do it good like a medicine because a merry heart may hear the cheerful countenance
Because the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear this is why?
Solomon said there is a time to weep and when it's time to weep you should weep and when it's time to laugh you should
Laugh when it's time to mourn you should mourn you should embrace mourning there are difficulties in life
Oftentimes people try to avoid mourning
But mourning is something that God has put in us to help us to get through difficult times
And if it's a time to mourn you ought to mourn if it's time to dance you ought to dance and a time to love
And a time to hate these are all things the Bible teaches even the secular world is becoming
starting to realize that
Emotions are an important thing let me just quickly just by way of introduction
I'd like to read to you some excerpts from a few articles here regarding these new terms that are being used
Emotional intelligence now I realize that emotional intelligence can probably be used to push a bunch of negative
Agendas and things that we don't agree with but I thought these articles were interesting
Let me just read to you a little bit from from them one article is called EQ versus IQ
Which one is more beneficial EQ emotional?
intelligence versus IQ
Here's what the the article says it says human intelligence is marvelously complex for centuries researchers and philosophers
Has have attempted to define it in the modern era researchers have relied on
intelligence quotients or
IQ tests to measure both what people know and how quickly they can solve problems using reasoning
But IQ tests alone don't necessarily account for the full range of your thinking abilities
IQ tests don't always predict success in school life or business either so in recent decades
researchers have expanded the definition of intelligence to include a wider set of skills in the last 20 years the concept of
emotional
Intelligence or EI has emerged as a way to describe another set of thinking skills
emotional intelligence
refers to your ability to recognize and regulate
emotion and to use social awareness in
problem solving
The article goes on to say this it says your emotional
Quotient or EQ generally refers to your ability to sense emotion in
Yourself and in other people it also refers to how you use the awareness to guide your
Behavior in general if you have a high EQ you may find it easier to identify emotions in yourself and others
Empathize with others adapt your feelings and behaviors to different situations
Control your impulses withstand temptations and delay gratification
resolve conflict with others and
communicate
Effectively, here's another article entitled is IQ or EQ more important they answer this question, which is more important
It says at one point in time IQ was viewed as the primary determinant of success people with high IQs
were assumed to be destined for a life of accomplishment and achievement, but today experts recognize that IQ is
Not the only determinant of lie of a life of success instead
It is part of a complex array of influences one that includes emotional intelligence
Many companies now mandate emotional intelligence training and use EQ tests as part of their hiring process
Research has found that individuals with strong leadership potential also tend to be more emotionally intelligent
suggesting that high EQ is an important quality for business leaders and
managers so even the secular world is
Beginning to understand the importance of emotions and understanding our emotions and regulating our
Emotions and and being able to be responsible with our emotions
I want to speak to you tonight on the subject of
Controlling your emotions and what we're gonna do go with me if you would keep your place in Proverbs
Go me to the New Testament book of Mark Mark chapter 3
You've got Matthew Mark second book in the New Testament Mark chapter 3 keep your place in Proverbs
We're gonna look at two different headings in regards to our emotions tonight
The first one is things to know about your emotions
Just some things the Bible teaches and things that you should know and understand about your own emotions
And then secondly we're going to talk about how to control your emotions
So things to know about your emotions and how to control your emotions
I would encourage you to write these things down of course on the back of the course of the week
There's a place for you to take down some notes
Things you should know about your emotions first of all you should know that your emotions can be good indicators
In fact God gave you emotions to be able to help you
Have some discernment in regards to situations sometimes your emotions are an alarm
They are an indicator to help you
understand or perceive a
Situation I told you in my opening statements that the Lord Jesus Christ himself
Had many emotions and we could spend the whole night looking at the emotions of Jesus
I'm not going to do that, but I do want to give you some examples
You're there in Mark chapter 3 look at verse 1
Mark chapter 3 verse 1 the Bible says this and he this is referring to Jesus
entered again into the synagogue and there was a man there which had a withered hand and
They this is the Pharisees watched him whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day
That they might accuse him so here
We have Jesus teaching in the synagogue a man with a withered hand comes in and of course Jesus already been healing people and
Helping people like this and the the Pharisees they don't sit back to watch to see
Whether Jesus can heal them or will heal them they want to see whether he would heal them on the Sabbath day
That they might accuse him of working on the Sabbath day, and of course they had an improper
Understanding of the Sabbath day, but I want you to notice Jesus response look at verse 5 the Bible says this and when he Jesus
Had looked round about on them notice these words with anger
Notice that Jesus was angry now of course we understand that when most people get angry they sin Jesus of course was sinless
This is righteous indignation
He did not sin it is possible to get angry and not sin in fact the Bible says be angry and sin not
We know that Jesus did not sin, but I want you to notice that he was angry
He was upset and when he had looked round about them about on them with anger
notice these words being
Grieved they were to grieve. It's an emotional word. It means having deep sorrow
He was angry, and he was grieved why for the hardness of their hearts
He saith unto them unto the man stretch forth thine hand and he stretched it out and his hand was restored
Whole as the other see Jesus looked at this situation. He perceived. What was going on. He perceived that the Pharisees were
watching him and maybe they were whispering to each other and speaking in low tones, and they were
Wondering whether he was going to heal this man on this day the Sabbath day
So that they might accuse him and Jesus was grieved the Bible says
He was grieved in his heart because of the hardness of their heart the Bible says that he was angry
So I want you to notice that sometimes look sometimes you might feel angry
Now allowing anger to take control will lead you down the wrong path, but sometimes you may be feel angry
And that's a good indicator God put that in you sometimes you may be grieved and that's an indicator
God is showing you that there's something there that you should be paying attention to go to the book of John if you would you learn
Mark you have Luke and John John chapter number 11 Mark Luke John John chapter number 11
Emotions can be good indicators
When it comes to detecting lies and
Trying to get to the truth of a situation
it is often you know people say trust your gut and
There's truth to that in the sense that whenever you get that feeling in your gut that
Something's not right here
Something's not going not not correct here your gut is probably correct about in fact
Most of the time I would say your gut is correct about that feeling now. You may be incorrect about your gut
If that makes sense
Sometimes we get this feeling like oh something is not wrong something's not right here, and we might start making assumptions
Well, it's this and it's this and it's this and you make that's where you find yourself like Job and his three friends
That's where you might find yourself like a lie who knowing something's up here, but you start making assumptions about what is up
The point is this that your emotions can be good indicators. God gave you emotions to try to help you perceive
to
guide
your relationships with other
Individuals John chapter 11 look at verse 33 notice Jesus again John 11 33 when Jesus therefore
saw her weeping
Remember we read I read to you that article about emotional intelligence people that are high in
Emotional intelligence identify emotions in your and themselves and others empathize with others adapt their feelings and behaviors to different situations
Control their impulses withstand temptations resolve conflicts communicate effectively
I would say based off that definition that Jesus was very high in emotional intelligence notice how he
empathize with others here verse 31 Jesus therefore saw her weeping and the Jews also weeping this of course after Lazarus is death
Which came with her notice these words he grow
The word grown means a deep sound of despair
I want you to notice that Jesus was a very a man that was in touch with his emotions
He groaned the Bible says in the spirit and was troubled and said where have they laid him they said unto him?
Lord come and see and then of course you have John 11 35 one of the most famous
Verses in the Bible the shortest verse in the Bible the Bible says Jesus
wept
Why do we?
Because he was in touch with his emotions. He was connected to his emotions see your emotions
Can be an indicator in fact the Bible says this you have to turn here you go to Proverbs 16 if you would
Proverbs 16 I'll read to you from Hebrews chapter 4 Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15
This is about Jesus. It says for we have not an high priest Jesus is our high priest for we have not an high priest
Which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities?
But was an all points tempted like as we are yet without sin
See Jesus felt everything you felt
Jesus went through every motion that you've ever gone through Jesus went
Experience everything you've experienced the only difference is he did it without sin you and I often do it with sin
But I want you to notice that emotion is can be good indicators
Emotions sometimes things happen and you instantly kind of get that
agitation or upset or that's not right or why are they doing that or why are they saying that and look that's something that God put
In you God put in you that emotion as an indicator to tell you hey
There's something you should be paying attention to here
This is not going well the Pharisees are not sitting here watching because they're hoping that you'll heal him know his emotions
Kind of went up that that alarm went up and there was something to indicate there now of course Jesus was sinless
So he didn't sin we need to be careful because number one emotions can be good
Indicators that's true, but number two you and I need to realize that our emotions can be unreliable
They may be good indicators that something's going on here that I need to pay attention to but
Sometimes when that emotion goes up we begin to make assumptions like if we know
See you come to church and somebody you know kind of gives you the silent treatment or stuck back and and and
Maybe they don't they don't walk up to you and say hello or whatever and and and and and you feel that and there's an
Indicator there something's wrong
Now your emotions can run with that and say they must be my mortal enemy. I
Must get on Facebook and rat them out about all the sins they have or maybe they're going through a rough time
Or maybe they're you know you you don't know look your emotions might be that that's you might sense it and say oh, that's different
Good
Understand God gave you that emotion, but before you start running with every little assumption
Well, they subbed out about me, and she looked at me that way
I don't like that. I don't like this realize that your emotions can be good indicators, but your emotions can also be very unreliable
So allow them to indicate, but don't allow them to lead
Allow them to bring things to your attention
But don't allow them to take control or charge of the situation
Proverbs 16 verse 25
See your emotions the Bible tells us they come from our heart right the spirit. These are all terms that are used interchangeably heart
spirit
The the inside of a man your soul who you are
The Bible says in Proverbs 16 25 there is a way
Notice that seemeth right unto a man
But the end thereof are the ways of death
See sometimes we look at a situation, and we say oh that seems right, and it may look right in the moment
But it's not right
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but it's not the right way
It's just looks right to you, but the end thereof are the ways of death
You
Say why is that or how can that be continue to keep your place in Proverbs go to Jeremiah chapter 17 Jeremiah chapter 17
Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Jeremiah 17
I hope I'm asking and I'm praying the Lord will help me with my
Communication ability to make sure I can communicate this clearly to you the point
I'm saying is this your emotion sometimes you come in contact with someone you have an interaction with someone and and there's an emotional
There's an emotional response from you you feel something hey God put that in you
That's an indicator to say maybe there's something wrong here. Maybe there's something I need to think about here
Maybe there's something I need to look into here. That's good
It's a good indicator, but don't start making assumptions that just because you feel something
You now know
everything
Maybe you don't know maybe you're right your guts telling you there's something here, but you don't know what that something is
You should think about it. You should pray about it. You should ask questions
Because there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death
Jeremiah 17 look at verse 9
Jeremiah 17 9
Notice these words the heart is deceitful above all things
The heart
That's a very poetic way of saying you
Me
The heart is of seat full above all things and desperately wicked who can know it
You know I say it's America. We like to tell people fall follow your heart follow your heart
That's the worst advice you can get somebody follow your heart
Last thing you want to do is follow your stinking heart
Your heart is the seat full above all things and desperately wicked
The last thing you want to do is fuck well
I'm just I'm just gonna do what you know and this is what people are often you you go out in the world and they
You start trying to get counsel from your girlfriend or your boyfriend or whatever
They get counsel from your co-workers, and I say well you got to take care of yourself
Tell me where does it? What does the Bible say that?
Well you got to look out for for yourself really because when I read the Bible it says to esteem others better than yourself
They say I'll follow your heart. Do what makes you happy do what you think is right do what feels good
Do what feels right? No all of that is wrong the Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things
Desperately and desperately wicked who can know it so your emotions. Yes your emotions can be a good indicator
But they can be a terrible leader
Your emotions are a good indicator, but they can be very unreliable
Matthew chapter 15 if you would first book in the New Testament notice what Jesus said Matthew chapter 15 and verse 19
Matthew 15 and verse 19 the Bible says this Jesus said for out of the heart
proceedeth
evil thoughts
murders adulteries fornication staffs false witness blasphemies
See sometimes your heart starts to tell you something
Something's not right here
Something's not right here with my spouse something not right here with my kids something not not not right here with this church members
I'm not right here with the pastor or the pastor your heart tells you there's something not right here, and that's good
That's an indicator. God gave you that emotion to say hey. There's something off here something is different something's changed
But before you start running off and making all sorts of assumptions about everyone and everything
Remember that your heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked remember that out of the heart that the that Jesus said for out of
the heart proceeded evil thoughts
Murderers adulteries fornication staffs false witness blasphemies
Let me tell you something here's what I know about you
And I don't have to know you very well to know this about you in fact
I know this about everyone even people I've never met you can know this about me
And this is the truth every stupid thing we've ever done every sinful thing
We've ever done everything we did that cost us a time and energy
and gave us spiritual wounds and gave us a
And gave us problems in our life every stupid and dumb thing you and I ever did in life
We were the masterminds of
Came out of our heart
We had that idea we decided to go there we decided to call her we decided to go
We decided to spend that money we decided to get a divorce we whatever whatever bad idea
You've had whatever bad experience. You've had you were the mastermind behind it
I was a mastermind behind it
For out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts
So allow your emotions to be an indicator, but don't let them lead you
Don't let them take charge
Don't let them
Start making decisions because emotions are good indicators, but emotions can be unreliable
Because they come out of your heart and your heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked
Who can know it you can't I can't
number three
Not only can emotions be good indicators number two not only can emotions be unreliable number three
emotions can be controlled
Emotions can be controlled Proverbs 16 and verse 32
Proverbs 16 and verse 32 the Bible says he that is slow to anger is
better than the mighty
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty look last part of verse 32, and he that ruleth his spirit
Then he that taketh the city
The Bible says it's better to rule your spirit than to rule a city
Is that it's better for you to have control of?
your
inner man
Than to have control over other people
Then to have control over a nation a city a Providence
He that rule of the Spirit
Says the idea is that you're better than he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that rule of the
Spirit better than he that taketh a city see your
emotions can be controlled and the lie that we like to tell ourselves and
Tell other people is that once I get you know once I get going I can't stop and once I you know once I get
Upset or once I get sad or one and you know there's no stopping it, but the truth matter is that you can't control it
The Bible says that you can rule your spirit
And let me just be clear about something and again
There's medical reasons why people may have these problems with their emotions and in those cases. They need to seek medical
Help, but when we're talking about someone that's not dealing with something medically
Biologically in that sense and it's just you need to get control over your emotions
Let me tell you something the Bible says you can do it
Say how can you how can you promise that well?
I can promise it because the Bible says that you can walk in the spirit the Bible says that when you walk in the spirit
You will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and the Bible says that the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long suffering
Gentleness goodness meekness temperance
self-control
When you have when you're walking in the spirit the fruit of the spirit is self-control
So you can control your spirit he that rule of the spirit is better than he that taketh the city look look
Here's what we think we think I can't control my emotions
So if I can just control my husband if
I can just control my wife if I can just control my children if I can just control my co-workers
If I can just control those crazy church members
Then then everything will be fine, but God said no no see you think I can't control myself
So let me try to control everyone else and by the way when you can't control your emotions you will try to control everyone else
But the Bible says the Bible says he that rule of his spirit is
Better than he that taketh the city. He said it's better for you to control yourself than control other people
Yeah, it would be better for you. It'd be more beneficial for you to learn to take control of yourself
And to try to control a whole city worth of people or a whole church worth of people or a whole house worth of people
So your emotions can be controlled and and and you say well
How do you know when I'm in control of my emotions or where my emotions are in control of me?
And we're going to talk a little about that, but let me just say this when your emotions stop you from doing something
You're not in control
When you don't go
When you cancel
When you make up a reason why?
When you lie and say well, you know I can't because of this or I won't because of that when your emotions stop
You from doing something that you want to do or you should do I would go soul winning, but I'm just so shy
Hey, you're not in control of your emotions. Your emotions are in control of you
Now you say yeah, but I have those emotions
Look, we all have emotions that we need to try to get control over and get a hold of but I'm not trying to hurt
Your feelings. I'm just telling you if you're being stopped by your
Emotions if your emotions stop you from doing something that is good for you to do or something that God
Asked of you to do when they stop you your emotions are in control not you
and
You have to learn to overcome those emotions
We all have to learn to overcome emotions
Look, I'm not standing up here. Like I'm some you know, I got it all put together and I've got it all situated. I
Struggle my emotions just like anyone else. I
Get upset and angry and and and all those things just like anybody else. I
Deal with
Anxiety and things just like anybody else. I've been talking a lot about this lately with different people
but you know, I'll tell you this and
You may or may not know this about me and and I don't know that it's really that big with you
I was just talking to pastor Anderson. Just just maybe an hour ago. We're on the phone and
His his wife had told him this and he's like, oh, I didn't I didn't know that about you. But you know, I I
I don't deal with this in real life like in just the real saying but there's something about getting on planes
I'm just a little claustrophobic when it comes to getting on those planes and you know
I get on these planes sometimes and and my anxiety just kind of starts picking up
The interesting thing is that I can fly on a plane for an hour two hours three hours and have no problem
But once I'm on that plane for about four hours five hours seven hours, man
I just start kind of I just need to get out, you know, I want to like pull out a knife and
Pretend I'm a terrorist and see if they'll land the plane or something, you know, and it just starts it starts
Messing with me, you know pastor Anderson was kind of he was kind of laughing
He's like because he was telling you saying oh, you know, he's not no
I mean he he how why would he get anxious on planes?
He travels so much and I'm like, yeah, it's my cross to bear
You know God is playing this joke on me where he's like, oh, you know, you don't like planes
Let's fly you everywhere and make you go preach places, you know, but here's the thing. I don't let it stop me. I
Don't like it I
Dread it. Yes, my wife sometimes. I've got these long plane rides coming up and I get up in the moon
I don't like I can't do it. I'm not gonna I'm just gonna cancel and she's like stop being a wimp, you know
She's like you'll be fine. You'll be fine
We flew to Jordan. I flew to Jordan with pastor Anderson and we were doing a
Film there and and it was like I don't know like 15-hour flight or 16-hour flight or something and and leading up to that
Trip I was just having all these nervousness about that trip just being in this
You know can for 15 hours on if I can do it and you know
I I stayed up for like 24 hours before the flight and then when I got on the flight
I just like took all this melatonin and just you know, try to sleep for as long as possible on that plane
Here's all I'm telling you. It's normal for us to have
Emotions that try to derail I said derail us that's normal. But when you allow them to stop you now, they're in control
Now they're in charge
Now they're the boss. So some things you should know about your emotions. Number one emotions are good indicators. That's it good indicators
They don't give you facts
They don't give you knowledge
They don't say yeah, that was odd how they spoke to you. And here's why you don't know why
Emotions are good indicators, but emotions can be unreliable
also
emotions can be and should be
Controlled go to Proverbs 25
Proverbs 25
look at verse 28
This is why my favorite verse when it comes to emotions. I
Would say this is maybe the key verse similar to the one we just saw
Proverbs 25 28 he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls
Some of you should memorize that verse
He that hath no rule over his own spirit
You have no control over your emotions your emotions get the better of you the emotions say control they they control you
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls
What does that mean in the ancient world you would have these cities and they would build these walls as a defense or as a protective?
Barrier and the walls would were the way that they
Protected themselves in a city without a wall was left defenseless a city without a wall was left
Open like sitting ducks for an attack anyone could walk into that city and begin to
Kill or to steal or to pillage or whatever because there was no defense
mechanism for that city and God says that he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and
Without walls, what does that mean when you can't control your emotions you leave yourself?
Defenseless for anyone to come in and start messing with you
For people to start coming into your city and
doing whatever they want and
You can't stop them
Because you've got no rule over your own city
Because you've got no defense around your own emotions
Because you've got no wall to control your emotions he that hath no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city that is broken down and without wall see when somebody says something like this he made me so mad
She made me so mad
They made me so mad nobody made you mad
Unless you allowed them to make you mad
He that had no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down without walls
They put me in such a bad mood
Well, why do they have so much control over you?
They they got me so they made me so angry
People get upset in their marriages. They want to get divorced. He doesn't make me happy
She doesn't make me happy well when it didn't become when did it become somebody else's responsibility to make you happy
You're supposed to find your joy in Jesus Christ
And as nice as your wife is as nice as your husband is as nice as your children are as nice as your house is
As nice as your job is none of those things are supposed to bring joy into your life. It's Jesus
But he that has no rule over his own spirit
It's like a city that is broken down without wall see you allow anyone and everything a perfect stranger on the road
Can cut you off and ruin your day?
Just piss you off
make you mad and
You're like a city that is broken down without walls. Why are you allowing people to come in and take control?
Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 Proverbs 4 23 why turn let me give you this quote
When your emotions is a byproduct of your circumstances
listen to me when your emotions are a
Byproduct of your circumstances you will only be in control of your emotions as
You are in control of your circumstances
That's why you're trying to control the city
When your emotions are a byproduct of your circumstances
You will only be in control of your emotions as you are able to control your circumstances. Here's the problem
we often cannot control our circumstances and
Because our circumstances are out of control so are our emotions
You cannot allow your emotions to be a byproduct of your circumstances
I'll be happy as long as he I'll be fine as long as she I'll be great as long as they
But when he doesn't she doesn't they don't it fails it goes the wrong way then
You let them take control
But I'm here to tell you that your emotions can be controlled
Proverbs 4 verse 23 keep
The word keep means to guard
to protect
Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life
God says you ought to put a you ought to put a gatekeeper you ought to put a gate up you ought to put a
wall up
Keep your heart
Don't allow people
Don't allow people to control you he made me so mad
She made me so mad. You're a grown person
You ought to control yourself
You ought to be in control of your own emotions
So here's some things to know about your emotions number one emotions can be good indicators, and they often are
That little emotion sense goes off, and you're like something not right here
but but don't let it lead you because your emotions can be unreliable and
Your emotions can be controlled
Those are some things you should know about your emotions
Let's shift gears a little bit and talk about how to control your emotions
How do you control your emotions?
Let me just quickly give you some thoughts Proverbs 22 if you would Proverbs 22 I
Gave you three things to know about your emotions emotions can be good indicators emotions can be unreliable emotions can be
Controlled let me give you three thoughts in regards to controlling your emotions
How do you control your emotions number one control who you spend time with?
You
Say I want to control my emotions
Then you ought to control who you spend time with because the people that you spend time with will influence your emotions
Proverbs 22 verse 24 Proverbs 22 24 make no friendship with an angry man
The Bible says now here look the Bible is telling us here about an angry man
But really you could you could substitute angry man with any other emotion anger is an emotion
Substituted with any other emotion make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man
Thou shalt not go why here's why let's all learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul
See the people you spend time with those people you send those don't begin to influence you
You'll begin to talk like them think like them
Have the same ideas that they have
birds of a feather flock together
Look you start hanging out with somebody they wear all black they paint their fingernails black
They make their hair their hairs jet black their eyes are you know they got all this dark makeup
They're always that you start to spend enough time with that person you're gonna start feeling down, too
Man my your life is terrible and so is mine
Look you say I need to get control over my emotions you got to control who you spend time with
You
You you young people you start feeling this rebellion
You know sometimes young people it seems like out of nowhere
You know you got some good kids
and they're serving the Lord and just out of nowhere just comes come this little attitude of rebellion and
Sometimes parents. They're just kind of like I don't understand. You know everything was going fine, and maybe there's something
I don't know, but I mean it's not like there doesn't seem like they're in any sin
And we've we've we've dug into it and looked at it
We don't you know everything seems fine
I don't know why all of a sudden. They're all angry and upset and what and all that check who they're spending time with
Oftentimes young people they start getting this rebellious attitude, and they got nothing there you ever heard of a rebel without a cause
They got no reason to rebel. It's just their friend has a bad attitude, so now they're gonna have a bad attitude
Their buddy has an issue with their mom or their dad so now they think they should have an issue with their mom and their dad
Look you you say I'm mad at my boss, and I don't know why maybe it's because you're hanging out with co-workers
That are mad at the boss
I'm just saying I'm just letting you know you say I want to control my emotions will control who you spend time with
Don't allow people that have bad attitudes
To spend time with you because if they spend time with you. They'll influence you
The Bible says iron sharpened is iron
Make no friendship with an angry man. Why lest I'll learn his ways, so how do we control our emotions number one?
You got to control who you spend time with number two
You got to control your thoughts
You got to control your thoughts proverbs 23 you're there in Proverbs 22 just flip over to Proverbs 23 look at verse 7
Proverbs 23 verse 7
Notice these words for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he
You know the Bible says that the way you think let me tell you something
You feel the way you feel because you think the way you think
See people think well, you know I'll start thinking better when I feel better no no you start thinking better. You'll feel better
You feel the way you feel because you think the way you think see the Bible says the Bible says
For as he thinketh in his heart
So is he?
We must take control over our thoughts
We must take control over our mind if you want to control your emotions
You must control your thoughts go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 if you would New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1st 2nd Corinthians
2nd Corinthians chapter 10
2nd Corinthians chapter 10 look at verse 5 2nd Corinthians chapter number 10 and verse number 5 you know this verse
I'm sure you know it, but let's look at it together 2nd Corinthians 10 5 casting down
Imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God notice these words and bring into captivity
every thought
To the obedience of Christ
You need to bring your thoughts in control
How do I control my emotions you control?
Who you spend time with how do you control your emotions you control your thoughts because you feel the way you feel look you feel
The way you feel because you think the way you think for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he?
Go to Philippians chapter 4 you're there in 2nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Philippians chapter 4
Philippians chapter 4 look at verse 7 and
The peace of God
Peace would be the biblical term for emotional stability
Emotional balance and
the peace of God
Which passeth all understanding when you got it people don't understand it
How can you be at peace when this is happening? How can you be at peace when you're going through this?
How can you be they don't understand it because look it comes from God
It's found in Jesus
In me Jesus said you shall have peace in the world you shall have tribulation be of good cheer
I've overcome the world and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep look shall keep your
Hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, then he says he said well. How do I do that Paul?
How do I have the peace of God? How do I keep my heart?
How do I keep my mind verse 8 finally my brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever
Things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue if there
Be any place think on these things
You got to control your mind. Why because for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he?
Pastor I'm going through a hard time
How's your thought life? I?
Don't feel good look you feel the way you feel because you think the way you think
You start thinking of good things
You start thinking of whatsoever things are true and honest and just and pure and lovely good report virtue praise
Look you can't you can't praise God and and and be down
You start feeling you know and sometimes I start feeling down
And I like that little fray that little phrase in that song we sing you know when life seems worse than useless
And I were better dead
Sometimes you sing that part. You're like. I'm just feeling so down
But then you get to that chorus, it's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away
It's just like Jesus to keep me day by day look you can't sing that you can't sing that and stay down
You start thinking about Jesus you start thinking about Christ you start thinking about the things that God has done for you look you say
I want to control my emotions you need to control your thoughts
You need to control the people you spend time with
You need to think on these things
Isaiah chapter 26 if you would if you kept your place in Proverbs from Proverbs you have Proverbs
Ecclesiastes song of Solomon Isaiah Isaiah chapter 26 verse 3 Isaiah 26 verse 3
I love this verse notice what he says he says thou will keep him in
perfect peace
Emotional stability
That will keep him in perfect peace don't miss it whose mind is stayed on me
Because he trusteth in me
Put your mind on Christ keep your mind on Christ. He'll keep you in perfect peace
Psalm 42 Psalm 42 if you would you're there in Proverbs just flip back to Psalm 42
Sometimes in the world they'll tell you they'll talk to you about self-talk
And I'm not you know. I'm not necessarily against against these things
I mean, I think the people who promote these things their hearts in the right place, and I think to an extent
They're they're correct. You know because as a man think it so is he
So they'll say hey, you know you got to think positively you got to think confidently
Don't you know don't tell yourself that you're a loser, and you're never going to succeed
You know they talk about self-talk and like I said I realize there's a lot of baggage that goes with that
I don't necessarily think all of that is is negative
I you should think positively and you should think on these things and we understand that but you know what's more powerful than self-talk is
spiritual talk
You ought to have some spiritual self-talk
Psalm 42 I want you to notice
Our psalmist here David if you're if you if you know anything about David look the Bible says that David was a man after God's
own heart and
David was an emotional man I
Mean if David was alive today. I don't they put him on some some medication
They diagnosed him with something you say what are you talking about? Have you ever read the book of Psalms?
I mean you start off with one psalm
You're just like you know blessed is the man that walketh out of the council of the ungodly and
Rejoice and God is great and the Lord is my share
I mean he sometimes you get these songs
He's praising God let everything that had breath praise the Lord praise you or then you get to other psalms
And he's just like I just want to die
And then sometimes he's just like God will you kill them will you just bash their skulls across the rocks?
Well, you just kill their widows. I mean the guy is just everywhere
You ever read the other read the book of Psalms
Sometimes he's like everything's great. I was like everything's terrible
You say why did God put down the Bible because that's how you are that's how I am
Sometimes everything's good and sometimes things aren't good
Why don't you notice Psalm 42 look at this spiritual self-talk notice?
But he says some 42 verse 11 why art thou cast down oh my soul
He's like himself. He says why are you so down?
Why are that counts down cast down oh my soul, and why are they'll just quieted within me
He's talking to himself. He's saying why are you so down? Why are you just quieted?
Why are thou cast down oh my soul, and why are they'll just quieted within me, then he says this hope thou in God
For I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God here you have the psalmist telling himself
Why are you so down hope thou in God?
You say what is that spiritual self-talk?
He's telling himself. Hey your hope is God
Your hope is in God
God is your hope you don't need to be down
Sometimes things aren't going well, but you know what my hope is in God not in this world
My hope is in God not in whatever's going on in my life
So you gotta take control of who you spend time with and you gotta take control of your thoughts
Let me give you a third one
We'll finish up go go to the book of Job if you would you're there in Proverbs. Just go backwards past Psalms in the book of Job
How to control your emotions number one control you spend time with number two control your thoughts number three control your actions
control your actions
see conventional wisdom says
That you have to get a hold of your feelings
but
We talked about it
The way you feel is a result of the way you think you feel the way you feel because you think the way you think
Here's another thing that conventional wisdom teaches that is wrong conventional wisdom says that actions follow feelings
that
You're not
Getting done in life what you need to get done in life because your feelings are not good if you go out today
And talk to a modern or clinical
psychologists psychiatrists
psychotherapists
their
assumption their
preconceived idea is that
your
Feelings precede
Your your your feelings follow your actions
See they say the problem is the feeling
Let's fix the emotion and then the actions will get fixed
That's why they'll prescribe people all sorts of medications
You're not you know if you're not feeling good. They'll give you something to pick you up
and when you're picking your tooth picked up, then they'll give you something to put you down and
They'll they'll give you all sorts of
Prescriptions and medications and things to help your feelings and look here's all I'm saying is the Bible teaches that your feelings
Follow your actions
See we think oh, no if I get my feelings right then my action then my life will get in order
But no no when you do what you're supposed to do your feelings will follow see you're supposed to do
What you're supposed to do whether you feel like it or not?
And when you do what you're supposed to do your feelings
fall in line
Remember Asa in the book of Psalms
He's all discouraged and upset he started looking at the world started feeling bad
So I feel like he got ripped off in life started feeling like all the wicked people are
prospering and I've sat here giving my life to the things of God
But what did he do see how did he get out of that he he went into the house of the Lord he did
What he was supposed to do and when he went to the house of the Lord?
His feelings followed his actions
He went to the house of God and his feelings got right with God
his emotions got right with God why because
It's not true that your actions follow your feelings. What's true. Is that your feelings follow your actions?
So you do right?
You do what you're supposed to do
don't
Don't quit doing what you're supposed to do
Say yeah, but I don't feel like it sometimes. We don't feel like it
Well, how do I keep doing the right thing when I don't feel like it? It's called duty
It's called integrity
It's called responsibility
You just do what you're supposed to do whether you want to or not and your feelings will line up
Job 13 remember job. He was going through a difficult time
Remember job. He was an emotional mess
He was up and down and all around and we could would understand if we went through what job went through
We'd be worse way worse
Job 13 15 notice what job said he said though he slay me yet. Well, I trust in him here
He was on an up he was good
But then he said this and this is I think usually when we go to this verse we we focus on the first part though
He slay me yet. Well, I trust in him and that's great
But notice the second part of the verse he says but I will maintain mine own ways before him
Here's what job said
I'm not doing well
But I'm not gonna stop doing what I know I should be doing I
Will maintain mine own ways before him. He said what I was doing when I was feeling well
I'm gonna keep doing though. I'm not feeling well
You say why because your feelings follow your actions you just do the right thing and your feelings will catch don't catch up
Don't come along
Go to Romans if you would we're gonna look Romans first Corinthians
We'll finish up in the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans Romans, and we're gonna go to first Corinthians
We talked about things to know about your emotions, what are they?
Number one emotions can be good indicators number two emotions can be unreliable number three emotions can be controlled
We talked about how to control your emotions
How do you do it number one control you spend time with number two control your thoughts number three control your actions?
Why because you feel the way you feel because you think the way you think and your
Feelings follow your actions not vice-versa so stop trying to fix your feelings
Hoping that you'll get your actions in line and just get your actions in line and your feelings will follow
Let me finish with this thought
You and I will experience different emotions through life
we start in Ecclesiastes right a
Time to weep time to laugh
Time to mourn time to laugh
to dance a time to love a time to hate
You're going to go through different parts of your life, and you're going to experience different emotional
upheavals and emotional roller coasters and
look
Embrace it
Let it be an indicator. Don't let it take control
Realize that God gave it to you for a reason, but don't let it control you and move on in life
Let me just say this about your emotions
You will experience emotions through life, and you should experience emotions with others
See we were created for community
We were created to live the Christian life within a group
with a team
Striving together for the faith of the gospel. It's the cold local New Testament church
You were not created to live your life in isolation
Romans chapter 12 look at verse 15 notice what the Bible says
here this is a
command to the church to the local New Testament body of believers rejoice with them that do rejoice and
weep with them that we
See look we're supposed to rejoice when people when when somebody gets a job. We're supposed to rejoice as I praise the Lord
They may maybe they bought that house or they they got that promotion or they got that prayer request answered or whatever it might be
And we rejoice
But then we also weep with them that we
They're going through a difficult time we bring meals
We pray for them
We love them. It's called church
It's called church life
We're a community
Now here's what's interesting go to first Corinthians chapter 12
God says rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep
This is not the only place the Bible tells us this the Bible also tells us in 1st Corinthians chapter 12
Which also has to do with the body of Christ 1st Corinthians 12 verse 26 notice what he says and whether one member suffer
All the members suffer with it or one member be honored all the members rejoice with it
We're supposed to live as a community and we're supposed to live and experience these emotions with others now
Here's what's interesting oftentimes what I've noticed over the last 11 years of ministry
What I've noticed is that oftentimes when people are struggling with their emotions when they need church most when they need
People most they tend to isolate themselves
When they're not feeling well
They decide I'm not gonna go to church
I'm not gonna go to that activity. I'm not gonna show up for soul-willing. I'm not gonna do this
I'm not gonna do that and let me tell you something
You were not meant to live in isolation
God gave you a church why
So that when one member suffer all the members suffer with it
Or one member be honored all the members rejoice with it
So that we can rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Let me tell you something
The worst thing you could do
When things aren't going well in life
And your emotions are not doing well. It's to isolate yourself
You need to be around people
You said but my emotions
Why don't you seek counseling?
You know you need to talk to somebody
You you know that that sin you're dealing with is not going away. You know that your marriage is struggling
You know that you're having this issue or that issue and you know that you should talk to pastor or talk to miss Joanne
Go to one of the leaders in the church and and and and get the help
Why don't you do it because your emotions tell you not to?
Because your emotions say no you're gonna be embarrassed no you're gonna be they're gonna think this of you
They're gonna think that of you. Let me tell you something don't allow your emotions to lead you
Your emotions say don't show up to church you show up to church
Why because we want to rejoice with you when you're rejoicing and we want to weep with you when you're weeping
Don't let your emotions take control
Because we were meant to live as a community of believers a body of believers
and
It's a beautiful picture when one member suffer all the members suffer with it
Or one member be honored all the members rejoice with it rejoice with them that do rejoice weep with them that week
Two are better than one
This idea is fun all throughout the Bible
So when you need it the most even when we don't need the group
Everything's happy everything great want to show up to church and talk great everything great
praise the Lord
But when you need it the most don't isolate
What look when you don't feel like going to church, that's when you need to go to church the most
So get in there
In fact show up early stay late fellowship with someone talk to somebody
Pray with somebody
Say I I just need some help
And let us rejoice with you. Let us weep with you. Let us suffer with you. Let us help
Let's bow our heads in our world of prayer. Heavenly Father
Lord thank you for these