Faith or Feelings

The Christian Life Is One of Faith.

We like the bumper sticker that says, “God said it; I believe it; that settles it.” See Ps 119:128.
To please God we believe (1) He is and (2) He is a Rewarder of diligent seekers (Heb 11:6).
Faith is strong confidence in God’s words that gives them substance and evidence (Heb 11:1).
The elders lived by faith (Heb 11:2). Abraham’s great faith ignored obstacles (Rom 4:19-21).
Hebrews 11 is very silent about feelings. In fact, I cannot find the word positively in the Bible.
God gives faith in regeneration, but we use it; it grows by hearing God’s Word (Rom 10:17).
We receive the Spirit’s blessing of joy upon believing and obeying (John 7:38; Acts 5:32).
The jailor’s faith and obedience preceeded rejoicing as with the eunuch (Acts 16:27-34; 8:39).
Did Abraham feel good offering Isaac? Did Israel rejoice before or after crossing the Red Sea?
Did Paul feel good about his thorn (II Cor 12:7-10)? The apostles being beaten (Acts 5:41)?
Jesus was very troubled in Gethsemane, but He looked by faith at great future joy (Heb 12:2).
Should feelings lead prayer? Or should I pray by faith? If you pray by faith, feelings will come.
True faith is contrary to feelings, for (1) you have nothing good inside and (2) it is for God.

The Modern Life Is One of Feelings

Feelings are created by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (I John 2:16).
Our generation is sensual – touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell – the source of our feelings.
Forbidden fruit has enormous feelings (Pro 9:17); such feelings vexed Amnon (II Sam 13:1-2).
You don’t need an Epicurean to teach you to do what feels good – you choose it automatically.
What feelings do you have about getting out of bed in the morning? Helpful? Tempting?
Bowels (feelings) exist (I Kgs 3:26); but we put them on or off (Col 3:12; I Jn 3:17; Lu 14:26).
In two ways they defeat godliness: (1) I don’t feel that is right, and (2) I don’t feel like doing it.
Feelings are valued so highly by this generation, temperance is not understood. Consider debt.
An athlete must accept and commit to a tyrannical coach’s plan by faith: he sees the joy far off!

A Christian’s Faith Must Rule His Feelings

How do you wash dishes? Attack and finish them with joy? Or dread them with complaints?
How do you approach a high dive? Think about how high it is? Or just jump off by faith?
Baptism feels “wet,” confession may have “guilt” feelings, and rebuking others feels “hasty.”
A merry heart is a medicine giving a continual feast is a choice by faith (Prov 15:15; 17:22).
Joy is a choice by faith (Phil 4:4), and joy follows spiritual obedience (Gal 5:22; Eph 5:18-19).
For your understanding and profit, apply this sermon to exercising unto godliness and marriage.
Enduring grief wrongfully is our Christians duty (I Pet 2:18-20). Froward masters require faith.
Don’t look at the waves. Look at Jesus, Who bids you walk on the water (Matthew 14:28-31).
Where is your treasure? Where have you been laying up? That is where your heart will be.
Invest in your spouse, be happily married; invest in the Lord, be filled with joy and godliness.
You must lose your life to gain it. Losing it must mean going against feelings (Matt 10:39).
If you do something nice for someone from love for God, you will build bowels for them.
Marooned on an island: incompatible persons would learn to appreciate each other by giving.
It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). But you don’t feel it before the giving.
In marriage, God does not consider the result you get (kindness returned). You must obey Him.
Contentment is learned conduct (Phil 4:11; Heb 13:5). It is obtained by faith, not feelings.
How do we count temptations a source of joy (James 1:2)? By faith! Do you believe God?
First love is restored by doing first works (Rev 2:5), but we stubbornly wait for first feelings.