An Assumption That Is Not True

10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484

A Mini Sermon from Pastor Hutson

An Assumption That Is Not True

2 Timothy 4:3-4

Introduction.
A commonly held belief: If you don't show lots of emotion in church, get real noisy and come "down front" at almost every invitation, you are probably not very spiritual.

I. STRONG EMOTIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY BAD.

A. Too many of us are cold & stoic.

1. No one should take comfort in a deadhead, dry-eyed appearance.

2. Our lack of emotional intensity is often a pity.

B. In the Bible, great and good emotions abound.

1. Psalm 51:17. Psalm 34:18. Isaiah 66:2.

2. Hezekiah & Isaiah. 2 Kings 20:4-5.

3. Psalm 6:6-7. Psalm 56:8. Psalm 126:5-6.

4. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Jer. 9:1. Lam. 2:11,19.

5. Luke 7:37-38. She washed His feet with tears.

6. Paul. Acts 20:31,37.

7. John on Patmos. Rev. 5:4.

8. "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).

II. YET, EMOTIONS ARE NO GAUGE FOR CLOSENESS TO GOD.

A. Emotions can be abused & misused.

1. Malachi 2:11-13. A mockery of tears.

2. 2 Pet. 2:3. Can be a monkey see, monkey do arrangement.

3. Tears void of repentance. Heb. 12:16-17. The case of Esau.

4. The emotions flare, but the life & behavior remains the same.

B. The Bible calls for emotions that reflect a true heart.

1. Tears that reflect repentance & compassion.

2. 2 Corinthians 7:10. "Godly sorry worketh repentance."

III. WHAT REAL SPIRITUALITY & CLOSENESS TO GOD IS:

A. The substance of closeness to God is: *1 Cor. 13:11-13.

1. Faith.

2. Hope.

3. Charity.

B. Five visible characteristics of real closeness to God.

1. True humility.

2. Honesty & objectivity about life.

3. Dealing well & effectively with criticism & reproof.

4. The handling of adversity well.

5. Spiritual reproduction.

Conclusion:
Apart from faith, hope & charity, no one is really close to God regardless of how emotional he or she is. Humility, an objective approach to life, effective response to criticism & reproof, effective response to adversity in life and the consistent bringing of souls to Christ and spiritual mentoring of others are far better indicators of one's spirituality and closeness to God than volumes of loud & passionate talk, buckets of tears, endless trips "down front" and a room full of "Amens" and "Praise the Lords."

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"