Introduction:
1. Emotions can drive people to do great or terrible deeds (Genesis 4:4-8; 1 Kings 21; Matthew 9:36; Hebrews 4:14-16; Acts 2:37).
2. They are an integral part of what makes us human (Genesis 1:26ff; 6:6; Ephesians 4:30; Deuteronomy 4:24; 30:3; Romans 1:18), needing to be understood and controlled, not suppressed.
Discussion:
I. Avoiding Extremes
A. Religious people tend toward one of two extreme emotional positions.
B. Emotionalism is the tendency to be driven by feelings over truth (cf. Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21).
C. To the opposite extreme, people lacking emotion are cold and disconnected (Revelation 2:1-7; Luke 10:25-37).
II. Anger
A. Due to its volatility, anger must be controlled (Genesis 4:5; Proverbs 14:17, 29).
B. Controlled anger is healthy (Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32; James 1:19-20; Psalms 119:104; Amos 5:15; Romans 12:9).
C. To succeed, we must love those who provoke us (Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 2:21-23).
III. Fear
A. Healthy fear curbs recklessness and prompts wisdom (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-2; Proverbs 1:7).
B. Unhealthy fear stifles service to God (Numbers 13-14; 1 Kings 19; Proverbs 29:25; John 12:42; 19:12-13; Galatians 2:11-13).
C. One key is to fear eternal consequences greater than temporal (Matthew 10:28-33).
D. Another is to commit it all to the One who holds eternity (Philippians 4:6-9; 1 Peter 2:23; 5:6-7).
IV. Happiness
A. Joy is one of the central features of Christianity (Romans 12:12; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 3:1; 4:4).
B. The happiness/joy of the Lord transcends temporary circumstances.
C. We choose joy because of our eternal view (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 1:6-9).
V. Sadness
A. Sadness comes to all (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; John 16:33).
B. The Christian need not face it alone though (Psalms 34:18; 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30).
C. Christians also sustain one another in sad times (Romans 12:15; Hebrews 12:12; 13:3).
VI. Mastering Emotions
A. So often we try to manage our emotions on our own or ignore them altogether.
B. In so doing, we set ourselves up for failure as it is not in us to direct our steps (Jeremiah 10:23).
C. As Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace…” (John 16:33a).
D. As with every spiritual goal, Christ is our source of power to succeed (Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13).
Conclusion:
1. With so much at stake, it is imperative that we master our emotions.
2. Will we make our emotions the engine or the caboose?
3. This choice will impact every aspect of our lives for better or worse.
Further Food for Thought
1. Has lack of emotional control ever come back to bite you?
2. If so, what steps did you take to avoid a similar failure in the future?
3. How important is it that we avoid provoking others to lose emotional control?