Unhinged People

Some times the difficulties of life can consume us. Sometimes when we are not thinking or processing events the right way, we become paranoid, insecure, and “unhinged.”

In his pride as king and rejecting God’s clear revealed will and plan, King Saul is one of those people whose mental capacity is breaking at the seams.

Unhinged. Insecure. Paranoid. These are breaking points in a person’s life that must be avoided if possible.

Notice the progression of Saul becoming “Unhinged” from reality...

1 Samuel 22:6–19 (KJV 1900)

Unhinging People.... Appeal to Sinful Thinking, Accept Self-Pity, and Advance Sinful Actions...

Emotions are not sinful. God created us to be emotional beings.

Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Emotions)

Emotions should be servants, not masters—or at least not tyrants. -Robert H. Benson (1871–1914)

When we allow emotions to dominate our spirit and body - watch out. Bad decisions, wrong thinking, and an emotional roller coaster with devastating affects has left the tracks.

Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Emotions)

The experience of the whole gamut of emotions is a part of the human condition, the inheritance of every man. -John Powell

Thoughts too deep to be expressed,And too strong to be suppressed. -George Wither (1588–1667)

This is one reason why a Quiet Time with God, reading the Bible and praying is so important in the Christian life. It can keep your heart and mind grounded in truth and reality.

Keep Your Emotions “IN Check” with TRUTH everyday.

We become Unhinged from Reality When we are No Longer United with Truth.

Realize 3 Warnings to Unhinging From Reality… Three things to watch out for...

Appeal to Sinful Thinking. 7

Pride.

Coveting.

Division Among the brethren.

David is from the Tribe of Judah where Saul is from the Tribe of Benjamin.

Psalm 133:1 KJV 1900

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Matthew 5:9 KJV 1900

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Appeal to Sinful Thinking. 7

Accept Self-Pity. 8

“People Are Against Me.”

“Family is Against Me.”

“Life is Against Me.”

“God is Against Me.”

“YOU SHOULD FEEL SORRY FOR ME.”

Sorry = חָלָה chalah (317c); a prim. root; to be weak or sick: Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

Saul expected the others to have emotional episodes and have emotional attachments to his situation. This is an unhealthy expectation. We cannot demand that other people have “Sick feelings” or feelings f pity for us.

We cannot control the emotions of others.

We can offer comfort, show compassion, and lend a crying shoulder to those in need.

We cannot manipulate others to be emotional on our behalf.

People have their “SAD LUCK” Stories.

Some people need more attention than others.

Some have real needs.

Some have “felt” needs that are similar to Saul.

His GUILT TRIP LEADERSHIP is Unhealthy.

Something all of us should avoid is putting “Guilt onto people.”

True Guilt.

False Guilt.

“Guilt Tripping” other people is not a good practice. These men were wandering around with SAUL on his emotional wild chase of David in the wilderness!

These soldiers had invested in the Kingdom, but Saul wanted them to have more self-interest, based off his own selfish ambition.

Sometimes in relationships we have to talk about unpleasant things, but you can still avoid making people feel like you are casting guilt onto them.

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 Whose Problem?

A minister took a guilt trip in a sermon: “I let the congregation really have it. Their stewardship was dismal, their participation was weak; and they were wallowing around in their own shortsighted pursuits. After my sermon, in which I really let it all hang out, a little old lady said to me with a smile, ‘Pastor, I hope you’ll feel better soon.’ ”

Appeal to Sinful Thinking. 7

Accept Self-Pity. 8

Advance Sinful Actions. 17-19

Promoted a Lie.

Pushed People to Do Wrong.

Punished innocent People. v. 16 85 priests plus the entire town of NOB. What did the kids, women, and old people have to do with this? Nothing.

Saul is totally unhinged from reality in this moment.

Promoted a Greedy Man to Action.

We become Unhinged from Reality When we are No Longer United with Truth.

Keep Your Emotions “IN Check” with TRUTH everyday.

John 8:32 KJV 1900

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

Saul had pridefully rebelled against God’s truth for His life and for Isreal. His emotions are starting to show.

Keep Your Emotions “IN Check” with TRUTH everyday.

I will share an example of healthy thinking, finding truth and being grounded in reality...

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Emotions, Intellect, and Will

Three elements of personality are involved in making a decision to become a Christian, or in making any significant decision for that matter. They are the emotions, the intellect, and the will.

For example, a young man meets a young woman. They are immediately attracted to one another. They both say to themselves, “Now there is someone I’d like to marry.” At that point, if the emotions had their way, there would be a wedding. But the intellect intervenes, questioning the impulsive emotional response. Would we be compatible? What is she really like? Can I afford to support her? Both conclude it would be better to take some more time and answer a few questions before they proceed. So the two begin spending more time with each other. He eventually concludes that she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Now his intellect has sided with the emotions on the idea of marriage.

But the final and heaviest vote remains to be cast—that of the will. It stops the march toward the altar with the questions, “Am I willing to give up this lifestyle for another? What about my freedom—is it worth the trade? Am I willing to assume the added responsibility?” The marriage will occur only when the will finally agrees with the emotions and the intellect. And so it is in coming to Christ.

There is more to “Truth than just the way one feels.

Keep Your Emotions IN CHECK with Truth Every Day...

D and A:

Why is it easy to become “self absorbed?”

Describe ways the Bible helps a person keep their emotions “In Check.”

What is it about truth that helps clarify a situation?

Share examples of people who recovered from overly-emotional moments.

Discuss “Guilt Trips.” Are they helpful in the long run? What are better motivations for change?

How would you describe “Doeg?”

Appeal to Sinful Thinking. 7

Accept Self-Pity. 8

Advance Sinful Actions. 17-19