\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: Philippians 4:4-9<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. It is a simple idea; so simple, you probably think it is obvious. Yet, the ramifications are\nfar reaching.\n
A. How we think influences our emotions<\/p>\n
1. It is profound because the world sees it the other way around. <\/p>\n
2. In the world emotions dictates behavior and thought.<\/p>\n
B. Anxiety causes depression. Encouragement causes happiness – Proverbs 12:25<\/p>\n
C. Joy inside shines without. Heartache causes discouragement – Proverbs 15:13<\/p>\n
D. The disciples fears arose from the doubts within them – Luke 24:36-38<\/p>\n
E. When Peter remembered Jesus’ words, it caused him grief – Mark 14:72<\/p>\n F. The Bible teaches that what we think about, what we focus our minds upon,\ninfluences the emotions with which we react.\n 1. This is not to discount that some have medical problems which causes\ntheir minds to overreact to situations.\n 2. However, for the majority it is the way we think that influences our\nemotions.\n
II. It is an important point because God teaches us that we have control over our thoughts.<\/p>\n A. Ephesians 4:17-24 – The Gentiles walk about with useless thoughts and so pursue\nan ungodly course of living. We must put that way aside. We have a choice as to\nwhere our minds dwells.\n
B. We do not need to keep wicked thoughts – Jeremiah 4:14<\/p>\n
C. We need to leave unrighteous thoughts behind and seek God – Isaiah 55:7<\/p>\n
D. I Peter 1:13 – Prepare your minds<\/p>\n
E. Love the Lord with all your mind – Matthew 22:37-38<\/p>\nIII. This means that many of the emotional problems for which people seek help can be dealt\nwith by changing their thought patterns\n
A. Take depression. Solomon told us it comes from anxiety (Proverbs 12:25)<\/p>\n
B. Jesus encourages us not to be anxious – Matthew 6:25-34<\/p>\n
1. Anxiety is a useless way of thinking. <\/p>\n
a. God will take care of us.<\/p>\n
b. Worry will not change outcomes<\/p>\n
2. The solution is within the church – proper priorities.<\/p>\n
IV. Paul tells us how to overcome anxiety – Philippians 4:4-8<\/p>\n A. Recall that Paul wrote these words while in prison. If one had a cause for concern,\nit would be Paul, but he encourages Christians to let go of anxiety.\n
B. By choosing to rejoice – Philippians 4:4<\/p>\n 1. One study by Loma Linda University found that even anticipating laughing\nreduces stress hormones.\n
2. Notice how the apostles dealt with their beating – Acts 5:40-41<\/p>\n
a. They were handed a lemon, but they choose to make lemonade. <\/p>\n
b. They choose to think about the benefits.<\/p>\n
3. It is how all Christians are encouraged to deal with suffering – I Peter 4:12-14<\/p>\n
4. Matthew 5:10-12 – Realize you are in good company<\/p>\n
C. Demonstrate gentleness – Philippians 4:5<\/p>\n 1. The Greek word epiekes<\/i> means restraint on passions, moderation, without\nexcess\n 2. Extremes in moods leads to a loss of self-control. There is a tendency to\nover-correct\n
3. Godly wisdom is shown in gentleness – James 3:17<\/p>\n
D. Pray – Philippians 4:6<\/p>\n
1. Tell God about your needs.<\/p>\n
2. God will support you – Psalm 55:22<\/p>\n 3. I Peter 5:6-7 – Man cannot change matters by worrying, so take your\nconcerns to the one who can alter the future.\n
4. This is not to say that our problems will go away. <\/p>\n a. As we have learned in other lessons, difficulties and trials are there\nto strengthen us.\n
b. But it does not mean we need to be overwhelmed by our trials.<\/p>\n
E. Thanksgiving – Philippians 4:6<\/p>\n
1. Be appreciative what you have – Philippians 4:11-12<\/p>\n
2. God will take care of us – Hebrews 13:5<\/p>\n
F. Change our thoughts<\/p>\n
1. Truth – make your thoughts conform to reality<\/p>\n
a. There are more things that might happen than what really happens.<\/p>\n
b. I dealt with one man who had a number of problems in his life.<\/p>\n (1) As each came to a resolution, he was surprised that it was\nnever as bad as he feared it might be.\n (2) All that time wasted worrying about something that never\ncame to past.\n c. This is not to say that preparation should not be made, but rather\nkeep yourself rooted in reality and not imagination\n
2. Honest – don’t pretend<\/p>\n a. Some people ignore problems. They can’t deal with them so they\npretend they are not there.\n b. But they don’t go away. Since they are never faced, they\ncontinually eat away. When they can no longer be ignored, they\nlose themselves in depression never realizing that a little honesty\nwith themselves in advance would have allowed them to deal with\nmatters and minimize problems.\n c. It is actually the idea of being dignified. A person who does not fall\napart at the seams when trouble appears, but takes reality in stride –\nTitus 2:2, 7\n
3. Just – weighing matters without prejudice<\/p>\n a. Some people decide the outcome in advance. “Oh, it will never\nwork. I can’t do it. I’ll fail anyway.”\n b. You fail at your first attempt at golf, so you decide you will never\nbe a golfer\n c. A person who applies for a job, but doesn’t land it and decides no\none wants him and he’ll never work again is not being just.\n
d. Some people are unjust with others when they take an all-or-nothing view of people. <\/p>\n (1) That person drinks, they wouldn’t be interested in the\ngospel.\n (2) That person didn’t say “Hi” when I went by, so he must be\nmad at me.\n
e. We are to operate impartially – I Timothy 5:21<\/p>\n
4. Pure – don’t allow your thoughts to be corrupted by sin<\/p>\n
a. I John 3:3 – we purify ourselves<\/p>\n
b. Wisdom is first pure – James 3:17<\/p>\n
c. Titus 1:15 – The purity of our thoughts affect our outlook.<\/p>\n
5. Lovely – thoughts that are acceptable, agreeable, and pleasing<\/p>\n
a. These are thoughts which promote brotherly love – II Peter 1:2-8<\/p>\n
6. Good report – thoughts that are well spoken of, that have a good reputation<\/p>\n
7. Excellence – virtuous, morally superior<\/p>\n
8. Praiseworthy – commendable thoughts<\/p>\n
a. Our praise should come from God – Romans 2:29<\/p>\n
b. God will judge our thoughts – I Corinthians 4:5<\/p>\n
G. Practice these things – Philippians 4:9<\/p>\n
1. Must do to become a part of you – James 1:21-25<\/p>\n 2. A study by the University of British Columbia, published in Motivation\nand Emotion<\/i>, showed that people who did random acts of kindness, such\nas washing a roommate’s dishes, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, etc. reduced\npeople’s anxiety because it caused people to look outwardly toward others\nneeds. People with anxiety focus inwardly.\n
3. Careful to continue good works – Titus 3:8<\/p>\n
V. Too often we get stuck in a self-defeating cycle of thoughts which we label “depression.”<\/p>\n
A. The way out of depression is to change our views and thoughts<\/p>\n
B. Psalms 94:19 – When anxieties multiply, God brings comfort<\/p>\n
C. Isaiah 26:3-4 – A mind set steadfast on God gains peace<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Philippians 4:4-9 I. It is a simple idea; so simple, you probably think it is obvious. Yet, the ramifications are far reaching. A. How we think influences our emotions 1. It is profound because the world sees it the other way around. 2. In the world emotions dictates behavior and thought.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[507,397,506,508,97],"class_list":["post-2233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-anxiety","tag-depression","tag-emotions","tag-mental-illness","tag-thoughts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":59484,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-contagion-of-emotions\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":0},"title":"The Contagion of Emotions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 24, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton At Ephesus, there was a stirring of emotions causing the idolatrous people to start a long series of chants and emotional outbursts of \"Great is Diana of the Ephesians\" (Acts 19:34). This constant chant went on for two hours. There was a contagion of emotions, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/revival-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":33466,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/emotional-worship-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":1},"title":"Emotional Worship of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Raymond Warfel","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6619,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/emotionalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":2},"title":"Emotionalism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 21, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 20:18-38 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When we look at the various denominations around us, it is hard to miss their enthusiasm and the emotional quality to the things that they do. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They really get involved in their worship. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bigger churches services are large productions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A friend once\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62156,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/controlling-our-emotions\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":3},"title":"Controlling Our Emotions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 7:18-23 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From the heart comes the emotions which affect all aspects of our life - Proverbs 4:23 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We can poison the well with evil thoughts - Mark 7:20-23 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We can sweeten it with righteous ideals - Philippians 4:4-9 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It affects our outlook on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61203,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/worship-the-emotional-component\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":4},"title":"Worship: The Emotional Component","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Warren E. Berkley \"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,\"\u00a0(John 4:24). Every element of true worship involves some emotional component. The emotional component is not driven by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (as in Calvinism) or \"getting the Holy Spirit\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35852,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-for-the-article-overcoming-bitterness\/","url_meta":{"origin":2233,"position":5},"title":"Thank you for the article “Overcoming Bitterness”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good Morning Sir, I read the article by Lawrence Kelley on Overcoming Bitterness and I read the 3 points on identifying the characteristics of bitterness to our Wednesday Night Bible study class. Our minister was so touched by this that he wants to post a copy on our bulletin\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2233\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}