Emotionally Intimate with Christ-Part 2

Welcome Slide

Good Morning Everyone.

I’m Pastor Joe Vivian. The Children’s and Families Pastor here at Eastern Hills.

Welcome to our Family Worship.

I would also like to take time to welcome those who are tuning in Online via either Facebook, YouTube or our EHBC Web Page.

Welcome, we’re so glad you chose to join us today.

As I mentioned last Sunday, Senior Pastor, Bill Connors and his family-Mel and Abbie, are on vacation.

They were at a cabin in Ruidoso last weekend and enjoyed more rest and recharge with a continued “StayCation” this week. They thank each of you for your prayers and love these past two weeks.

Let me share a couple of announcements this morning with everyone.

Baby Shower Slide

We have a “Drive-In” Baby shower for Jamie (Francis) Walton and baby Max!

It will be here under the overhang at the main church entrance on Sunday, August 2 from 2-4pm.

Jamie is registered at Amazon and Buy Buy Baby.

So very exciting!

Hunger Relief Slide

Our July Missions Offering is for

“World Hunger/Disaster Relief”

Our goal for July was $3,500.

As i shared last Sunday...we achieved that Goal

It was $4359.03 last Sunday. i apologize, I’m not certain of the current total…

However, Let’s keep going.

This is the last Sunday for this offering, so, you can continue to donate online or place a donation in the offering plates when you leave today.

Prayer Line Slide

I need to share with our church family that Joy Pittman’s mom, Juanita, went to be home with the Lord last Thursday night/Friday morning. Wayne, Joy and Adam are in Enid, Oklahoma with so much family and friends right now. Let’s keep them lifted up in prayer during this time. Joy’s heart is hurting for the temporary loss; however, she finds comfort knowing that her mother is dancing with Jesus right now.

Here is an update I recieved last night from Pastor Wayne: Juanita’s  visitation is Monday, July 27th from 6PM to 7:30PM. Private family burial will be Tuesday, July 28th at 10am at Memorial Park Cemetery. Her Celebration of Life service is at 2:00PM  on Tuesday the 28th at the First Presbyterian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. Please tell them all how much we appreciate all their prayers and words of encouragement and comfort.

A reminder too, that you can access our prayer line online. It is a secured document, so it is password protected. Please ask any staff member for the password to download the prayer line.

Let’s Pray...

(Pray)

Worship

Morning Message

Title Slide

Last week we began this 2-Part Message on growing our Emotional Intimacy with Christ by asking this question:

"Am I Emotionally Intimate with Christ?"

We established three facets to identify in our hearts, our souls, so we can properly answer that question.

-Are you experiencing emotional inconsistency?

-Are you lacking clarity/questions abound?

-Is there disparity in my character?

We left last Sunday, asking God to speak to each of us personally and intimately, a form of heart surgery, so then, we could begin to answer, “Am I Emotionally Intimate with Jesus Christ?”

Right now, though, most of us have had a long, emotional rollercoaster week.

I personally have also felt the heavy burdens of life, emotionally and spiritually this past week.

Let’s all agree, as a family, that the enemy will NOT distract us from Christ Himself! Agreed?!

Please stand if you are able and join me. Follow along on the screen with me please.

We all must remember these truths:

Psalm 93:1-5

Read Psalm 93:1-5

Psalm 93:1–5 CSB

1 The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. 2 Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity. 3 The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves. 4 Greater than the roar of a huge torrent— the mighty breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is majestic. 5 Lord, your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness adorns your house for all the days to come.

Hebrews 13:1-8

Read Hebrews 13:1-8

Hebrews 13:1–8 CSB

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Title Slide

Friends, let’s pray

(Pray)

Remember this visual from last week?

The Tri-Pod.

A reminder that each leg represents a facet of our Intimacy with Christ: Physically, Spiritually and Emotionally.

Each leg has the ability to adjust in length through our seasons of life according to the foundation we are in.

However, when Christ is centered and strong in our lives, it is because we are focused on maintaining these “legs” of Intimacy with Him…Physical intimacy with Christ, Emotional intimacy with Christ, and Spiritual intimacy with Christ.

Again, all three are vital and necessary; however, for these messages, we will focus on the Emotional Leg, Emotional Intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Turn your bibles please to Psalm 42 and 43. This morning, we will park ourselves in those 2 chapters.

So we took time to do heart surgery…

-Are you experiencing emotional inconsistency?

-Are you lacking clarity/questions abound?

-Is there disparity in my character?

Now the question shifts…

“How do we Recover/Redeem back and build our Emotional Intimacy with Christ?”

This morning I want to share with you Two Building Blocks to strengthen that leg on the "Tri-Pod."

First Block:

“Question Your Heart/Soul!”

-Ask Why?

Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5

Let's read 42:5,11; 43:5 (Just the first 2 sentences)

Psalm 42:5 CSB

5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11 CSB

11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5 CSB

5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

NLT

"5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?" "11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?" "5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?"

NASB

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?" "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?"

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me?"

I need to stop and share this before we go further…

Background Slide

Be so very Cautious when you ask why.

Our culture teaches us that once we "feel" a certain way, we must not question it, but instead allow that feeling to become the new "Norm" of our Soul, our heart.

-"You Hurt My Feelings"

-“You don’t feel the same way as I do”

-“You should feel the same way I do”

This attitude, this approach is a selfish focus

Friends…Your feelings are not your compass!!

Please take time to fully digest what I’m trying to share.

Question your heart, your soul.

Psalm 42:5,11, 43:5

(Read those verses again)

Why?

However, do not allow your feelings to become the new "Norm" of your Soul, your heart.

Your feelings are not your compass…

So, what is your Compass??

Instead of allowing your feelings to be the new compass direction...Question Your Feelings!!

Ask yourself this, "What does God's word say about my feelings?"

Psalm 42:1

(Read 42:1)

Psalm 42:1 CSB

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.

“so I long for you.” To crave for.

Do you crave for God’s Truth or do you seek validation of your feelings?

Psalm 43:3

(Read 43:3)

Psalm 43:3 CSB

3 Send your light and your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place.

“Send your light and your truth; let them lead me.”

Lead me…to guide me in a specific direction.

Background Slide

How beautiful is that truth?!

His Word is our Compass, it will guide us in His direction, His love.

God’s Word is our compass when we question our heart, our soul.

When we ask “Why?”

Psalm 119

Psalm 119:97–105 CSB

97 How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word. 102 I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Background Slide

See the excitement in this verse?

-I love your instructions

-Makes me wiser

-I have more insight

-I understand more

-How sweet Your Word is to my taste

-I gain understanding

-Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path.

Friends, let me share this with you now…

Acknowledging and Verbalizing how you feel is not the problem, it's when we purposely choose to make our feelings our compass, when our feelings become our identifying factor of truth.

The problem is when we abandon the focus on God's Word for our own feelings.

When we choose to “untether” ourselves from Christ Himself and instead, “tether” ourselves to an agenda or group.

John 15:1-5

John 15:1–5 CSB

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Background Slide

Abide, Remain, Stay, Reside, Connect

Abiding in the One, Jesus Christ, maintains that compass necessary for your soul, your heart.

Let me close this point with this?

"When was the last time you questioned your feelings or questioned whether they were valid or not?"

Questioning your feelings and filtering it through God's Word, God's Truth must become a constant in your life!!

The Crossroads of Your Feelings and God's Will.

At that Crossroad, ask yourself, what direction will I choose.

Each time you choose to follow God's Will, you will continue to produce a deeper Emotional Intimacy with Christ!

Second Block:

Inform Your Heart/Soul!

-Be Confident in your Hope in God!

Do you realize that you are daily battling Perception & Truth!!

Everything that scrolls across our eyes is a battle of those two factors…

Perception and Truth

Ask Yourself This:

"What's Informing My Soul?"

What I’m saying is…

-What are you taking in?

Does It Distorts your perception and truth of the Gospel?

-What are you digesting?

What is being taken into your soul that is causing atrophy in your relationship with Christ

-What are you listening to?

-What is weakening your soul?

-Gossip/Drama

What are you allowing your eyes, mouth and ears take into your heart, your soul?

So again,

“What is informing Your Soul?”

Look at it this way, if allowed to be, your Soul will become a Bottom Feeder!

See, a Bottom Feeder is one that feeds low on the food chain; a scavenger. It is used to describe one that feeds on the waste of others.

When you bottom feed your Emotional Intimacy with Christ will atrophy, dwindle and weaken.

Let's continue with verses 5, 11, and 5 again, but this time finish them.

Psalm 42:5,11;43:5

CSB Translation

Psalm 42:5 CSB

5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11 CSB

11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5 CSB

5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Inform Your Heart, Your Soul on TRUTH!!

-Hope in God

-Praise Him Again

-My God

-My Savior

Jesus Christ is: Real & Intimate-He is Involved in Your Life!

Jesus Christ is: Truth-He is Not feelings or emotions

-Truth is based solely on God's Word

Hope in nothing else but God!

In Closing:

To have an Emotional Intimacy with Jesus Christ...

-Be Consistent: Don't waiver, Don't Flop Around

-Seek Clarity: God is not a god of confusion

-Do Not Despair: Know Your Identity in Christ

-Question Your Feelings: What Does God's Word Say about Your Emotions/Feelings

-Inform Your Heart/Soul: Have Hope in God and Continually Praise Him

Friends, remember the verses we read at the beginning this morning?

Psalm 93:1-5

Psalm 93:1–5 CSB

1 The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. 2 Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity. 3 The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves. 4 Greater than the roar of a huge torrent— the mighty breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is majestic. 5 Lord, your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness adorns your house for all the days to come.

All this points to fully relying on God's Word and journeying with Christ Daily!

Title Slide

My hope is in Jesus Christ.

Nothing Else.

The Lord Reigns!

This morning, we acknowledged our emotional weight we all are carrying.

Today, we can choose to lean into Jesus Christ and inform our Souls of Who He is and Who we will trust from this day forward.

Grow in our relationship, strengthen this “leg” of the Tri-Pod and thus begin to have it overflow into our marriages, our families, our friendships.

There may be some this morning that are longing, craving to have that tryp of intimacy, that deep of a relationship with Jesus…but you’re not sure how.

Right where you are, surrender your life to the Him today.

Turn your life over to Him.

Ask for forgiveness of your sins-your selfishness.

He loves you so very much, you are not out of His love.

Turn to Him.

Trust in Him, Believe in Him.

There is not a magic place to stand or be, it happens right where you are…Is a matter of the Heart, the Soul.

For some of us, we have allowed ourselves to be bottom feeders, we have forgotten to crave truth and remain connected to Jesus Christ Himself.

Now’s the time for just that…

Allow His Truth to be your compass of your heart, your soul

Then inform your heart, your soul on that Truth.

Apply it and strengthen your relationship with Christ, thus it will; overflow into your relationships with others.

We are not able to do one on one, in person, right now; however, take this time as Donna plays for us, take time to do some heart surgery with Christ, right where you are.

Whether in the building with us this morning or at your home. Now’s the time.

You can also take this time to worship Him by online offering or as we leave today, the offering plates are located at each exit to place your offering in as you leave.

Let’s Pray

(Pray)

Thank you for joining us this morning.

For those those visiting online, we’re so glad you joined us.

We are going to dismiss by rows, starting in the back.

Rebecca, Pastor Trevor and Shanna will direct your rows this morning.

We are doing this so as to practice safe COVID distancing and to help exit the sanctuary quickly so our custodial team can come in to sanitize the sanctuary.

So, if you are this side of Pastor Trevor, you will exit out thru the back foyer doors into the courtyard.

If you are on this side of Pastor Trevor, then you will exit out the main entrance towards the courtyard/parking lot.

If you parked in the North Parking Lot, then as your row is dismissed, you can exit through those doors.

Thank you all again and please follow the lead of Shanna, Rebecca and Pastor Trevor as they dismiss your rows.

Have a blessed and beautiful day!