Emotions or Trust - 1

Emotions or Trust - 1

Subject: Battling Our Emotions When a Test Comes

By Rick Welborne

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
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.

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. The 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 and He wanted to help us through each of those.

--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 man with the one talent was afraid so he went and buried it in the ground because he thought his master was hard, the disciples were afraid when they were confronted with the demon possessed man. 

--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. Let’s get real:

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

--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. He knew my history and was very concerned. Sent me for a cat scan and they found a mass. More concern…they sent me for an ultra-sound and biopsy. 

--Just days before we leave I do a memorial service for people in the community who needed a pastor. Many raised their hands for salvation. We go on vacation still not know the results of the biopsy.

--Things 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. Ouch!

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. 

--You might have cancer, my wife had cancer, 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.

--Then you hear a couple concerned about you not preaching the Word of God and have to deal with that. Family issues and remodeling. All of this is hitting right before you leave to rest.

--I want to apologize to anyone 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! 

--Before you go after a brother or sister in the Lord for whatever reason you may want to prayerfully consider what they are going through. Example: Man telling me he and his wife were leaving the church

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 I listen to hours of worship music when I pray and prepare sermons…I said yes!

--What makes the difference? I truly believe that music that is written, played, and sang with the anointing of the Holy Spirit can totally set a person free…the enemy can be defeated. Jehoshaphat: 

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. Nothing will destroy fear like worshiping the King of kings and the Lord of Lords!

2. When Fear Comes in Like a Flood…Be Filled or Re-filled with Holy Spirit Power!

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

--Verse 18 has always been one of my favorite scriptures…Do not be drunk with wine…Don’t be intoxicated by anything in this world…be filled with Holy Spirit!

--In this world we can be intoxicated by relationships, you can be intoxicated by bad habits. By emotions Like strong drink, fear can make you unstable.

--You can 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. 

--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.

Isaiah 59:19 (NLT2) ¹⁹ In the west, people will respect the name of the LORD; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the LORD. 

3. When Fear Comes in Like a Flood…Be Peaceful and Find 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 46:10-11 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah