No doubt , this is and always has been a controversial topic. One perspective says we should be led by our hearts and feelings and the other says to trust our brains and logical choices. What I think we tend to miss , is the answer is neither one alone - but the perfect union of the head and the heart together- this is where your soul lives - right in the middle of you. In David’s great psalm of repentance after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, Psalm 51, he continually calls for God to return and awaken emotion within him. He prays, “Let me hear joy and gladness. … Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Part of repentance is returning to a delight in the Lord; it is also mourning the places we have grieved Him. Grieving , mourning and delight are the emotional part of repentance – turning away from sin and doing something else , something better - That is the decision part. For the most part , it's impossible to separate how we “feel” about something and what we “choose “to do about it... But understanding the difference is what the wisdom of God's word provides , because he never intended for us to live life"Numb" . If you've lost your "joy" ,he is the only one who can restore it

1. www.fultondalechurchofchrist.net

2. “ Restore to me , the joy of your Salvation ”
Psalm 51: 12

4. 2 EXTREMES
• EMOTIONALISM
• Better “felt “ than “told” religion
• Depend more on listening to your heart
• Depend less on what is read in the bible
• Unrestrained outbreaks of emotion
• Rolling in the isles
• Unintelligible words
• Opposes God’s instructions
• 1 Corinthians 14:40 - “All things decent and in order”
• Proverbs28:26 – “ Whoever trusts his own heart , is a fool…”

5. 2 EXTREMES
• FORMALISM
• Complete lack of emotion in worship
• Fear of expressing emotions due to poor teaching
• Songs sung without the heart (direct conflict with scripture)
• No reaction … no thought... no growth...
• Contrary to scripture
• Jesus condemned a religion in which “one’s heart is far from me” –
Mathew 15:7-8
• Jesus commended a love for God that involved the “Whole heart”-
Mathew 22:37-38

6. Emotion’s Proper Place
• Emotion is NECISARY!
• There is to be the emotion of LOVE – 1 Peter 4:8
• There is to be the emotion of HOPE- Romans 12:12
• There is to be the emotion of JOY – Philippians 4:4
• There is to be the emotion of SORROW – 2 Corinthians 7:10
• There is to be the emotion of HATE – Proverbs 8:13
• There is to be the emotion of FEAR – Matthew 10:28

7. Emotion’s Proper Place
• Emotion is to be ROOTED in Scripture!
• We read God’s word to find the basis for –
• Love – 1 John 4:9 -11
• Hope - 1 Peter 1:3
• Joy - Romans 5:10 – 11
• Sorrow – 2 Corinthians 7:8
• Hating sin – Proverbs 1:7
• Fearing the Lord – Hebrews 10:25 - 27

8. Emotion’s Proper Place
• Emotion must produce good fruit!
• Scriptural emotions = Scriptural fruit
• Love = OBEDIENCE - 1 John 5:3
• Hope = PATIENCE - Romans 8:24-25
• Joy = SACRIFICE - 2 Corinthians 8:2-5
• Sorrow = REPENTANCE - 2 Corinthians 7:10
• Hating sin = REJECTING ERROR - Psalm 119: 127 - 128
• Fearing the Lord = DEPARTING EVIL – Proverbs 16:6

9. Emotion vs. Emotionalism
• When emotion becomes an end to itself!
• Emotion for emotions sake
• Forgetting emotions purpose
• They support ,never lead
• When emotion is not based in God’s word!
• Warnings in Jeremiah 17:9
• When emotion is the basis of your Faith
• Refusing to obey because you don’t agree
• Trying to change the scripture’s meaning to suit your desire

11. “ Restore to me , the joy of your Salvation ”
Psalm 51: 12