Controlling Our Emotions
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Mark 7:18-23
I. From the heart comes the emotions which affect all aspects of our life - Proverbs 4:23
A. We can poison the well with evil thoughts - Mark 7:20-23
B. We can sweeten it with righteous ideals - Philippians 4:4-9
C. It affects our outlook on life - Proverbs 15:13
D. Our emotions have to be controlled, else they will control our lives
1. Control gives us added strength - Proverbs 16:32
E. Trust that God can teach us how - Proverbs 3:5-8
II. When emotions are out of control
A. You are left vulnerable to attack by others - Proverbs 25:28
B. It can misguide us - Proverbs 28:26
1. That is why everything isn’t as it may appear - Proverbs 14:12
2. It twists us up, even to the point of leading us away from God - Proverbs 19:3
3. A classic example are the Jews - Acts 13:45-46
a. Their emotional response lead them away from the truth
C. It is foolish to vent your feelings - Proverbs 29:11
III. Dangerous emotions
A. Anger - “a fiery resentment over mistreatment, whether real, exaggerated, or imagined”
1. The problem
a. It doesn’t lead to righteousness - James 1:19-20
b. A fool exercises no control over his anger - Proverbs 12:16
c. You end up making dumb mistakes - Proverbs 14:29
d. It leads to fights - Proverbs 30:33
(1) There is no control over what is said
(2) Soon there is no control over what is done
e. It gets us into trouble, repeatedly - Proverbs 19:19
2. The solution
a. Stay away from angry people. It is a learned trait - Proverbs 22:24-25
b. Distinguish between important matters and small annoyances - Proverbs 19:11
c. Slow down your response and look for solutions to the problem - Proverbs 15:18
B. Envy - “displeasure at another’s good fortune, thinking it should belong to you and not them”
1. The problem
a. It destroys the person from the inside - Proverbs 14:30
b. It causes harm to others - Galatians 5:15
c. It promotes evil - James 3:14-16
d. The classic example: Cain - I John 3:12
2. The solution
a. Focus on serving God - Proverbs 23:17-18
b. If someone, because of their evil, doesn’t deserve something know that God will handle the problem - Psalms 37:1-3
c. Esteem others above yourself - Philippians 2:3-4
C. Arrogance - “an inflated feeling of self-importance”
1. The problem
a. You don’t listen to others and you get conflicts - Proverbs 13:10
b. It is destructive - Proverbs 16:18
c. It is sinful - Proverbs 21:4
2. The solution
a. Humility - Proverbs 18:12
b. The humble learn - Proverbs 11:2
c. When we see ourselves as God does, we lose our pride - Romans 12:3
D. Impulsiveness - “rashness, recklessness, acting without advance thought”
1. The problem
a. Without thought we lose what we have - Proverbs 21:5
b. We say things we later regret - Proverbs 29:20
c. It can be destructive - Proverbs 13:3
2. The solution
a. Think about where you are going - Proverbs 4:26, Proverbs 14:15
b. Understand what you are doing - Proverbs 14:8
c. Look where it leads - Proverbs 22:3
d. Guard your thoughts and words - Proverbs 21:23
e. Think before you speak - Proverbs 15:28
E. Anxiety - “uneasiness caused by fear of misfortune”
1. The problem
a. Causes depression - Proverbs 12:25
b. It destroys health - Proverbs 17:22; 18:14
2. The solution
a. Choose to be happy - Proverbs 15:15
b. Cultivate pleasant friends who give good advice - Proverbs 16:24; 27:9
c. Trust in God - Proverbs 16:20; 29:25
d. Hope in God - Psalms 42:11
IV. The solution to uncontrolled emotions
A. Respect God - Proverbs 14:26-27; 19:23
B. Listen to correction - Proverbs 17:10
C. Cultivate godly wisdom - Proverbs 3:1-26
Based on a lesson by Frank Walton
