Trust God or Trust Our Emotions - 1

                                                     Trust God or Trust Our Emotions - 1

Subject: Battling Our Emotions When a Test Comes

By Rick Welborne

Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)
¹  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
³  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
⁴  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
⁶  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Fear (Noun) - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Synonyms: terror · fright · fearfulness · horror · alarm · panic · agitation. 

Fear (Verb) - be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.

Synonyms: be afraid of · be fearful of · be scared of · be apprehensive of · dread.

--The Bible Program that I use for study and sermon preparation shows that there are over 360 times in the Bible where the word “fear” is used. Fear of the Lord and fear that causes us negative emotions.

--One of my best friends’ years ago and I would have a regular argument. He said God gave us all these verses about fear so that we would absolutely not have fear at all.

--I told him that I believed the reason God gave us so many verses about fear was because He knew we would have so many opportunities to be afraid.

--I truly believe that anyone who will tell you that they absolutely have no fear of anything are afraid of telling the truth. Of course, there is healthy fear and unhealthy fear.

--My friend viewed fear as weakness, and because he wanted to be a manly man. Fears with his business, his family, his finances, and his health. Lived in guilt and condemnation.

--Adam was afraid, so he hid from God, Jeremiah was afraid to speak to the people and look at their faces (I know that fear), Joseph was afraid to take Mary as his wife, Peter was afraid of the wind and waves.

--The disciples were afraid of Saul when he was converted, God told Paul not to be afraid but to speak, Paul was afraid for the believers in Galatia that they would fall away, we are afraid for our kids.

--At some point all of us will have to deal with fear, we may have to walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, we may have to deal with things out of our control. 

--Years ago before I left to go on vacation, our staff became very concerned about my health, especially with the nerve damage in my feet. They had public prayer for me…It was very much appreciated.

--In the middle of that, one day while I was shaving, I found a lump under the ear where I had the two melanomas…I truly believe God was having them pray for me because of that situation.

--I went to my dermatologist, and then a specialist. They knew my history and both were very concerned. Sent me for a cat scan and they found a mass. More concern.  

--Just days before we leave for vacation (not knowing the results of the biopsy) I do a memorial service for people in the community who needed a pastor. Many raised their hands for salvation. 

--Things begin to stack up against you when you are trying to have faith in God. I am waiting to hear the results of my tests. Obviously when the C word is mentioned you are concerned.

--I asked the husband of the young lady (fifties) who passed away what kind of cancer did she die from. He immediately points to the area on his face where I have the mass and said her cancer started there. 

Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹  So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. 

Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

--You might have cancer, my wife had cancer in that same exact place, then, we lose a pearl of great price (Margaret Belew) a lady we loved so much…it is piling up…You tired and you are concerned…afraid.

--I want to apologize to anyone and everyone who has ever told me you were waiting for the results of a test or biopsy. Not because I didn’t pray…I did. Forgive me because I did not take to heart. 

--The battle is so much in your mind as well as in your spirit. You need prayer and lots of it. You need words of comfort and encouragement. You need the body of Christ to hold you up…not put you down! 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) 
³  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
⁴  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
⁵  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

--These verses are easier to quote than to live especially when the thoughts are coming in like missiles raining in from the sky one after another. 

--During this time I sincerely talked to God and asked Him to help me through this valley of the shadow of death. This is what I felt God spoke to me.

1. When fear comes in like a flood…change the way you worship.

--I consider myself to be a worshiper so when God spoke this to me, it kind of took me back. I said, Lord, You have to lead me into the worship you want from me. Jesus said to the woman at the well…

John 4:23-24 (NKJV)
²³  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
²⁴  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

--God spoke to me and said, your worship to me must be anointed. I knew immediately what God was asking me to do. The worship music I listened to was good and was very popular.

--I have Pandora Radio on my phone, computer, and IPad and I listen to hours of worship music when I pray and prepare sermons…God said change your music. Why? So the enemy is defeated.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
²²  Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 

--They put the musicians out front: When fear comes in, your worship has to get ahead of the emotions attacking you. Don’t let fear overtake you…let your worship overtake your fear!

2. When fear comes in like a flood…be filled or re-filled with Holy Spirit power!

Ephesians 5:17-18 (NLT2)
¹⁷  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
¹⁸  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--Verse 18 has always been one of my favorite scriptures…Do not be drunk with wine…God spoke to me one time about this verse. He said, don’t be intoxicated by anything in this world…be filled with Holy Spirit!

--You can be intoxicated by emotions…emotions of fear can be intoxicating. Like strong drink, fear can make you unstable, it can blur your vision, and it can cause you to see things that are not there.

--You can un-expectantly have an anxiety attack…You feel like you can’t breathe and your heart begins to race! Your blood pressure can go through the roof. When you face fear; it can be overwhelming. What are you to do?

--How many have noticed Satan likes the darkness…he attacks in the night. He loves when you are half way between sleep and being awake. Don’t lie there and take it! Get up and be re-filled with Holy Spirit.

3. When fear comes in like a flood…be tranquil (peaceful) and hear His still small voice.

--Elijah had seen many great miracles in his life…rivers parting, false prophets defeated, a dead boy raised. Now he finds himself depressed, fearful, and suicidal. God wanted to get him alone. Why?

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
¹³  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!