sanctification Series Message 4b Emotional Growth

++The Mind and Emotions

A. Proverbs 23:7 – “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Proverbs 23:7 KJV 1900

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

B. Emotions respond to a signal the mind sends them.

1. Illustration:

Wife and mother: “Why do I feel so much resentment toward

Harold every-time he comes into the house?” Her life and marriage were

being destroyed because of the powerful emotion of resentment. Her

emotions were being produced by the thoughts within her mind.

2. Illustration:

Driving down highway when suddenly a glance into the rearview

mirror reveals that a highway patrol car is closing on you with its blue

lights flashing. Your heart leaps into your throat. You feel nervous,

uncertain, and the palms of your hands begin to sweat (perspire).

You begin to pull over, all the time wondering what you did, and contemplating

receiving a ticket. As you begin to pull over, the patrol car pulls on around

you and keeps going. Then you realize that he is not after you and your

emotions return to normal. What has just happened.

a. You thought you were going to be stopped and issued a ticket.

b. Your emotions responded to that thought.

c. You placed a wrong interpretation on one fact, the patrol car coming up

behind you with its blue lights on, and you did not think of other reasons

why it was happening. (Maybe the car ahead of you was his target . . .

maybe he had received a call and was being dispatched to an accident

scene . . . Maybe the Krispy Kreme doughnut sign was flashing . . . etc.)

Your distorted view and interpretation of the fact produced your emotion.

Your emotions responded to the signal your mind sent them.

C. Listen carefully: It is not the actual event but your perception of the event

that result in changes in your moods . . . your emotions.

D. You determine your emotions by the choice of thoughts you hold and believe.

1. Emotions are not external entities which enter our bodies arbitrarily like a

germ.

2. Your emotions, regardless of their nature, are the product of your thoughts.

3. You re in the driver’s seat . . . You select your emotions when you select

your thoughts.

a. You feel the way you do right now because of the thoughts you are

presently thinking.

b. Change your thinking and your will change your emotions.

d. Illustration:

3. The five senses: (Sight, hear, touch, taste, and smell) are the doors to the

mind . . . especially the eyes and the ears.

4. This is why we must be very careful as to what we allow to enter our minds

through our eyes and ears.

a. Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring

Proverbs 4:23 KJV 1900

Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

the issues of life.”

b. Galatians 6:7 – “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a

Galatians 6:7 KJV 1900

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

man sows he will also reap.” Sowing negative thoughts produce

negative emotions.

THINK RIGHT TO FELL RIGHT

A. Proverbs 23:7 – “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

B. “How do you feel?” The answer to this question depends on what you are

thinking at the moment.

1. If you are thinking positive thoughts your response may be, “I feel great!”

2. On the other hand, if your frame of mind is negative you may say:

a. “I don’t feel so hot.”

b. “I feel lousy.”

c. “I’ve felt better.”

3. If you think negative thoughts you will reap a crop of negative emotions.

If you think positive thoughts you will reap a crop of positive emotions.

C. Feelings aren’t facts!

1. In the earlier illustration, the blue lights were not intended for you. You felt

at the moment that they were, but the true fact was that they were not for

you. Feeling they were for you did not make them be for you.

2. Emotions respond to a felling whether the felling is factual or not.

TWISTED THINKING

A. Twisted thinking produces emotions accordingly.

1. Twisted thinking is your mind processing thoughts, not actual facts or

events, and producing emotional responses such as fatigue, nervousness,

anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and a host of others.

a. Twisted thinking can create problems for us.

b. David Crockett: “Be sure you are right, then go ahead.”

2. Failure and negative thoughts, which produce twisted thinking, need to be

promptly ejected from our mind.

B. Saul of Tarsus is a good Biblical example of twisted thinking.

1. In his defense before King Agrippa, he acknowledged the results of his

twisted thinking. Acts 26:9-10 – “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many

Acts 26:9–10 KJV 1900

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison,

having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to

death, I cast my vote against them.”

2. KJV - “I verily though with myself . . .”

3. The prime mover behind Paul’s actions and emotions, according to his own

confession, was his thinking. “I verily thought with myself . . .”

4. He was the product of what he permitted to enter his mind . . . namely,

negative and false teachings about Christ and Christianity.

a. He thought both were wrong and needed to be done away with.

b. Later, through proper instruction which he accepted, he was able to straighten his twisted thinking.

5. Note: Apply this principle to people in denominationalism and you will

better understand that their feelings and emotions are based on what they

think in right, even if it isn’t according to the Bible.

a. When their thinking is changed, their feelings and emotions will be

changed.

b. Their thinking is not changed by dealing with their feelings, but with their

thinking. You are not going to change their feelings until you change the

thinking . . . perceived facts.

c. Show them exactly what the Bible says. This is why the matter of

Biblical authority is so profoundly important.

1. John 8:32 – “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 KJV 1900

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

2. John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

John 17:17 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

3. What about the truth?

a. Romans 1:28 – Suppressed the truth.

Romans 1:28 KJV 1900

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

b. Romans 1:25 – Exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

Romans 1:25 KJV 1900

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

c. Romans 2:8 – Did not obey truth but unrighteousness instead.

Romans 2:8 KJV 1900

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

d. Romans 9:1 – Truth can be told and taught to others.

Romans 9:1 KJV 1900

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

e. 1 Corinthians 13:6 – Truth can be rejoiced in.

1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV 1900

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

f. Galatians 2:5 – The truth continues.

Galatians 2:5 KJV 1900

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

g. Galatians 3:1 – Will not be obeyed by some.

Galatians 3:1 KJV 1900

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

i. Colossians 1:5 – The truth is the gospel.

Colossians 1:5 KJV 1900

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

j. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 – Condemnation comes where the truth is not believed.

2 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV 1900

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

k. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – Salvation is involved in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV 1900

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

l. 2 Timothy 2:8 – The truth can be resisted.

2 Timothy 2:8 KJV 1900

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

m. James 3:14 – People lie against the truth.

James 3:14 KJV 1900

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

n. 1 John 2:21 – The truth contains no lies.

1 John 2:21 KJV 1900

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

o. 3 John 3 – The truth can be confirmed to others.

3 John 3 KJV 1900

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

p. 3 John 4 – The truth can be walked in . . . lived.

3 John 4 KJV 1900

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

C. It has been proven over and over again that the emotions do not know the difference between an established fact and an erroneous fact.

Illustration: Man received a phone call and thought the caller said his father was dying with a heart attack. He got into his car and drove as fast as he could to his father’s house, only to be greeted by his father at the door. The son almost had a heart attack himself. His emotions were responding to thoughts the mind were holding as true, but were not actually true. In his mind he believed his father was dying, thus his body acted accordingly. Later he learned the caller had said “John,” instead of “Don.” John was a friend of the family.

KEYS TO WINNING OVER TWISTED THINKING.

We need to recognize that our thought patterns and habits can be changed constructively and we can experience release from twisted thinking, reactions and responses that eventually will defeat us

A. Recognize that YOU are in control of your thoughts. God created you with this wonderful ability.

B. Don’t try to suppress your thoughts.

1. Burying them only reinforces the negative response demonstrated by your emotions.

2. We must be alert to these thoughts as they come into our minds and say “NO” to them, and saying “YES” to a positive replacement.

C. When you are challenged by a twisted thought, ask yourself, “Why am I thinking this way? What has triggered this negative thought?” Determining the stimulus or root of the thought is a must.

D. At the very suggestion of a defeating thought, eject it from your mind with a positive Bible verse. The Living Bible translation of Philippians 4:8 reads: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good, and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.” Isn’t that a wonderful piece of advice . . . It came from God through the Holy Spirit as penned by Paul.

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

Finally, 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, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

E. Changing your thinking takes place as an act of the will.

1. Colossians 3:2 – “Set you mind on things above.”

Colossians 3:2 KJV 1900

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

a. Now are you beginning to see why the Bible teaches this?

b. This declarative statement involves an act of the will . . .

c. Who sets your mind . . . You set your mind.

2. Colossians 3:5 – “Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.”

Colossians 3:5 KJV 1900

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

3. Colossians 3:8 – “You must rid yourselves . . . “

Colossians 3:8 KJV 1900

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

4. Colossians 3:12 – “Put on . . .”

Colossians 3:12 KJV 1900

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

F. You cannot control what others say about you or think about you, but you can control how you react to it.

1. Proverbs 25:28 – “A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.” Question: What can happen to a city whose wall is broken down?

Proverbs 25:28 KJV 1900

He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

2. Our desire is not to rid ourselves of our emotions, but rather, learn how to control them with God’s help.

G. Pray to God for wisdom and strength.

CONCLUSION:

A. Illustration:

We need to face life in the spirit of a man who lost his eyesight. He rushed to the doctor. The treatment by the physician made it possible for him to see again, but the return of his sight caused him to lose his memory. He returned to the doctor. This time he was treated for a loss of memory. The man regained his memory but lost his eyesight again. “Well,” said the physician, “we can’t cure both of them together, so you’ll have to choose between sight and memory. Which will it be?” The man answered, “Eyesight! I’d rather see where I’m going than to know where I’ve been.”

B. It doesn’t matter that you have been plagued in the past with twisted thinking or warped emotions, the next step you take to handle it is what counts.

C. God’s Plan for Man’s Salvation