In a thought-provoking discussion, we examine the power and pitfalls of relying on feelings as a guide for our lives. With references to teachings from the Bible, such as Proverbs and Acts, we underscore the importance of grounding our emotions in divine wisdom. The episode encourages listeners to consider a more faith-driven approach to understanding their emotions in the context of worship and salvation.
thoughts and feelings. You know, as humans, we can think the wrong thing, and feelings are not a safe guide. Let’s see what God says about thoughts and feelings today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
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In Jordan’s stormy veins I stand. I am bound for the promised land.
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Well, thank you always to our J-Web for his kind words, and you’ll hear from Jay throughout our broadcast. And greetings to all of you. We are honored you’ve joined us for our broadcast today from the International Gospel Hour. Whether you’re listening to us through radio, podcast, wherever you tune in, we are grateful to have you with us today. I’d like to mention quickly the way that you can contact us. Actually, we have a number of ways. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. That’s P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. You can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, peruse our website, and click on the Contact tab and send us a message. And also, our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. And I’ll tell you what, if it’s convenient, give us a quick call and just let us know, if nothing else, just where you are listening to our broadcast from, and we would appreciate it. Just other ways you can get in touch with us, if there’s something of which we can be of help to you in a spiritual nature. In Proverbs 23 and verse 7, the Bible says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink, he says to you, but his heart is not with you. As a man thinks in his heart, well, that’s the man that he is. You know, Jesus taught in Matthew 15, verses 17 through 20, Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. Now, friends, we would all agree that we need to be careful what enters our hearts, what we think. and therefore how we feel. So, we’re going to consider this study so that our thoughts and our feelings are from God and based upon God and not ourselves. With that being said, we’ll be back in a moment to begin our study.
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In a world of division and even confusion in the religious world, friends, please know this, the Bible is always right. The free booklet, Something is Wrong, But the Bible is Right, is available from International Gospel Hour. Please call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, your address, and just say, Bible Tract. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com
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tab and leave us the same information name address and type bible tract in the message box we will get it to you right away friends from the very outset allow our thinking and feelings to be based upon god’s word less of self and more of the savior less our will and more god’s will You know, recently I read the following from a kind brother and fellow laborer, David Sproul, of the Palm Beach Lakes, Florida, Church of Christ, titled, I Just Feel. David writes, feelings are wonderful things. They are able to get down inside of us and touch us in ways that we cannot explain. Falling in love involves your feelings. Witnessing the birth of your child involves your feelings. Cheering your favorite team to victory involves your feelings. Feelings can be good and feelings can be bad. What we like most is when our feelings make us feel good. The trouble with our feelings is, or at least one major trouble with our feelings, is that they cannot be trusted as a reliable authority. How often have feelings for a person led someone in the wrong direction? How often have feelings for a stock or investment led someone in the wrong direction? Feelings are wonderful, but they cannot be used as our authoritative guide toward truth and pleasing God. Now, don’t misunderstand, friends. While some have tried to divorce feelings from Christianity, such would be a catastrophic mistake. Our feelings, or call it emotions, are involved in our worship. For John 4, 24 says we must worship in spirit. Our feelings are involved in our salvation. The removal of sins brings rejoicing, Acts 8.39. Our feelings are involved in our study of God’s Word. It is sweet to the soul, Psalm 119.103. But feelings are not a trusted guide in these arenas. From Leviticus 10, 1 and 2, can you hear Nadab and Abihu saying when they learned that their efforts to worship God were not acceptable to Him? But we just feel in our hearts that this is the way that God wanted us to worship Him. Could their feelings have superseded the divine will regarding acceptable worship? Of course not. They were punished regardless of their feelings. From Acts 26, can you hear Agrippa saying when he was pressed by Paul to obey the gospel, but I just feel in my heart that I’m okay. I believe in God. I believe his word. I just don’t feel that becoming a Christian is necessary for me. Could his feelings have overridden the divine will regarding God’s plan of salvation? Of course not. He left Paul and turned his back on God’s salvation. Can you hear the Pharisees saying when Jesus told them that they rejected the commandment of God by holding to their traditions, well, but we feel in our hearts that’s the way we’ve always done things. It’s been good enough for us and so many lives have been changed for the better. Could their feelings have overruled the divine will for their lives? Well, of course not. They would be uprooted by God for causing others to fall into the ditch. To let our feelings dictate what we believe and what we consider truth is dangerous in any field of life, but most especially when it comes to our souls. Friends, from Proverbs 23, 23, let us buy the truth and not sell it out to our feelings. My friends, some great writing by David, and we appreciate such a good and biblically based article to make certain we are not following our thoughts and feelings as authority for our lives. You know, as I read that and thinking on this broadcast today, it brings to mind Isaiah 55, verses 6 through 9, that was penned to rebellious Israel. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. You know, friends, if such was pinned to a rebellious and sinful Israel who had left the Lord, God’s same desire is for us to know God’s will and His way and not depend on ours. Let me back up. Did you catch Isaiah 55, verse 7? Let the wicked forsake his way, his feelings, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, because the thoughts of the Lord are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. But through his word we can know his thoughts, his will, and we certainly can know the way. For Jesus said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. So friends, let us grow in our knowledge and to know what God says, His thoughts, and make sure our feelings are felt by God and we feel His and apply them in our lives. And we can only do so through a study of the Word of God. We appreciate our broadcast helping you. We appreciate the kind words we receive from so many. One advantage of our broadcast is you can tune in and you know you can rest assured we’re never going to ask you for your money. To keep us on the air, we’re not going to ask you for your money for anything that we offer or send. That’s why we’re able to offer everything from International Gospel Hour free Would you like to receive your free gift, your first free gift from International Gospel Hour? We have a Bible study course available by mail. And here is our J-Web with the details of how you can receive that study.
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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
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Well friends, what a joy to discuss today something that is vitally important. I mean, after all, I have come across a number of people who say, you know, I feel it in my heart, or I wouldn’t trade how I feel for a stack of Bibles or something along that line. And relying back on our thoughts and our feelings for our salvation. Friends, we hope we have shared with you that’s a dangerous direction to go. While thoughts and feelings are important, God in His Word directs us of how they can be used the very best. Let us help you in your studies of the Word of God. Let us share with you the free material we have offered, and we will continue these studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
