DO NOT BE LEAD BY EMOTIONS BUT TRUTH
“…There is a way which seemeth (feels)
right unto a man, BUT the end….are the ways of death…..”
(Ephesians 1:6 KJV).
*
Initially feelings, from childhood, originate, develop, and are
made aware of by various experiences with outside stimuli. Feelings eventually become
internalized emotional experiences, reactions, or responses to life. Emotions
are a complex state of MIND that
spring from personal experiences with
certain feelings. Personal experiences with certain feelings can also trigger
or be triggered by physical reactions
and will usually result in some behavioral,
or verbal, or non-verbal response.
Personal experiences with emotions are evoked by various thoughts
or feelings of happiness, sadness, contentment, frustration, peace, anger,
fear, or anxiety. Emotions are multi-faceted and unique to each individual.
People’s feelings can be range from low to mild to high in emotionally
expression. Individuals can experience one or more feelings at a time or have mixed
emotions over different events and circumstances in life.
Physical reactions to emotions can actually cause a rapid
heartbeat, sweaty palms, heavy breathing, and many other physiological responses.
Behavioral, verbal, or non-verbal expressions of emotions are the
communication of one’s feelings. Though emotions are universal their
interpretations and expressions are uniquely individual.
Expressing emotions give other people a hint in understanding or
interpreting how you might be feeling. These hints are gleaned from body
language, facial expressions, or direct expression of your feelings. On the
other hand, the same hints are provided to you when trying to understand those
around you.
Emotions come and go, but can be very intense when experiencing
them in the moment. Emotions are usually short-lived and instigated by some
event or circumstance. Emotions, however, can greatly impact or transform the
way you think. Emotions can also influence or transform your actions and your decisions.
According to the psychological experts, emotional decisions can be
guided by one’s logic and rationale (emotional intelligence) once an individual
learns to understand and manage their own feelings in decision-making
situations.
Emotions are experienced or reacted to in ways that will usually motivate
some kind of response; good or bad; positive or negative. Emotions can be very beneficial
at times, but are often wishy-washy, fleeting, intense, complex, propelling,
demanding, undependable, powerful, and transforming.
Emotions play an important role in leading and guiding your
thoughts or behaviors by motivating you to think or act in certain ways during various
situations and circumstances of life. The majorities of people are driven by
their emotions and often depend on them to make life-altering decisions. They
also depend on them in their interactions with their social environments.
Unless you have gained some aspect of emotional intelligence or
spiritual growth, emotions will usually instruct your thoughts and behaviors
your entire life. There are many theories regarding human emotions, yet
regardless of how emotions are elicited, they may be one of the most powerful
forces for motivating human behavior.
Emotions motivate human behavior and are always an expression of
one’s true nature. Therefore, without Christ, emotions are an expression of the
sinful nature. “The
trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin... I
[am] …a slave to the sin that is … within
me. …Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in
Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
This brief explanation of feelings and emotions in no way touches
the vast information available on the subject. It is only offered as a brief
foundation for helping you spiritually with your own emotions as they relate to
renewing your mind.
In my own experiences, when I personally feel sad about something,
I believe I am having an emotional response to “that” something.
The reason I believe I am having an emotional response to “that”
something is because I may start crying, lay down, think negative thoughts, get
nauseated, or want to be alone.
“That” something which made me feel sad was, most likely, aroused
by something outside of myself called stimuli (situations, events,
circumstances, people, etc.). However, and most important “that” something
which made me feel sad can also come from something inside myself: my own
natural thoughts.
Whether the stimulus comes from the outside or inside it arouses
your emotions. Emotions are always aroused by situations, circumstances,
events, people, or your own natural thoughts.
Emotions, positive, or negative; right or wrong; are what you use
to understand and respond to the world around you. Whether emotions are aroused
by outside or inside stimulus; whenever they are evoked they will end up
influencing the mind. “…Be
transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
I wrote earlier that emotions motivate human behavior and are
always an expression of one’s true nature. “…So I
say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which
is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the
opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These TWO FORCES are constantly fighting each other, so you are not
free to carry out your good intentions.
But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation
to the law of Moses. When you follow the
desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality,
impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish
ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that
sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit
in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against
these things! Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of
their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
Before accepting Christ as Savior, your emotions are highly
committed to the old sinful nature and have been heavily utilized to motivate
your behavior. However, after you receive Christ as your Savior that old sinful
nature is DEAD. “…Now if [you]… died with Christ ….count yourselves dead to sin ….For sin shall no
longer be your master, because you are ….under grace….” (Romans 6:6-14
NIV). “…he that is DEAD is
freed from sin…” (Romans 6:7 KJV).
When you are baptized you are publicly identifying
with Christ’s death and are saying the sinful nature is dead now that you are
“IN” Christ. “Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: OLD THINGS are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“…We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin
might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For
when we died with Christ we were set
free from the power of sin.
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with
him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from
the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now
that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should
consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God
through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to
sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body
become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely
to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as
an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin
is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the
requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace…”
(Romans 6 NLT).
“…Christ died for [your] sins according to
the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
“…We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin
might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to
sin. For when we died
with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with
Christ, we know we will also live with him. …Sin is no longer
your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the
law. Instead, you
live under the freedom of God’s grace…”
(Romans 6 NLT).
“…he that is dead is FREED from sin…” (Romans
6:7 KJV).
“….if the
Son sets you free, you will be FREE INDEED…” (John 8:36 NIV).
“…Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: ….ALL things are become new…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
However, there is a
battle raging between the old sinful nature and the new nature. “…These
two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions….” (Galatians 5
NLT). “The
trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin... I
[am] …a slave to the sin that is … WITHIN
ME (my flesh). …Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
How does Jesus Christ
free you from the old sinful nature and its emotional influence? First, if “…thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved…” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV). Second, “…. if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW
creature: old things are passed away; behold, ALL things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Third, “…Christ [dwells] in your hearts by faith
…” (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). “…Christ
[is]…in you …”
(Colossians 1:27 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Christ be in
you… (Romans 8:10 KJV). “…Christ liveth in
[you]…” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). Fourth,
“…it is God who works in you to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13
NIV). “… the God of peace… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you
with everything good for doing his will, and
may he work in [you]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “….if
any man be in Christ, he is a New creature: OLD THINGS are passed away;
behold, ALL
things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“…It shall be done to
you according to your faith…" (Matthew 9:29 NASB). God “…dealt to every
man the measure of faith...”
(Romans 12:3 KJV). “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God” (Roman 10:17 KJV). “…thy word is truth” (JOHN
17:17 KJV). “…the truth shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32
KJV).
Therefore, “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…thy word is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV). “…the truth
shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32 KJV). The Word can make you
free by “….Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing
into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ…” (2
Corinthians 10:5 KJV).
“…When you follow the desires
of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity,
lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish
ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. …Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the (OLD) passions and desires of their sinful nature to his
cross and crucified them there…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
Apostle Paul said, “….I am carnal
… [and it is]… sin that dwelleth in me.
… I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not. …I delight in
the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members (flesh),
warring against the law of my mind (spirit),
and bringing
me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh)….”
(Romans 7:14-23 KJV).
In the biblical study
of the word “flesh” is seems to refer to the totality of the human, physical
body. It is the total, human body that is dominated by sin to the degree NOTHING good dwells in it. The human,
physical body did not start out dominated by sin, but became corrupted after
the fall.
God said, “….let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..God
created man in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis
1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life (spirit);
and man became a living soul (soul)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). When “….God saw every thing he had made……and, [said] … it was VERY GOOD…”
(Genesis 1:31 KJV).
How did God’s image become
marred in mankind? “…through one man sin
entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed
to all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).
“….God saw every thing he had made…was VERY GOOD…”
(Genesis 1:31 KJV). However, “…
one sinner
destroy[ed]… MUCH good…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18 NASB).
Two things happened at the fall: “God is Spirit…” (John 4:24 NIV). “… [their]
… iniquities (sin) …separated [them]… from God…
…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). And they became “…DEAD in trespasses and sin…” (Ephesians 2:1
KJV).
“…Through one man sin
entered into the world, and DEATH
through sin, and so DEATH passed to
all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). “…All have
sinned (including you) and
fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). “….For I
was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….”
(Psalms 51:5 NLT). The flesh/sin nature has been passed on from generation to
generation since Adam.
“….I am
carnal … [and it is]… sin
that dwelleth in me. … I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing….” (Romans 7:14-23
KJV). Without Christ, the flesh or sinful nature could never be saved from
condemnation. The only hope for salvation from the eternally corrupted flesh is
a NEW life in Jesus Christ.
You don’t lose the sin
nature/flesh once you receive Christ, but now you have the Holy Spirit dwelling
within. “…These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good
intentions….” (Galatians 5 NLT).
Sin
remains in the flesh/sin nature, which is why there is a struggle between the
flesh and the Spirit. Paul said, “….I am carnal … [and it is]… sin that dwelleth in me. … I know that in me
(that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing….” (Romans 7:14-23 KJV).
However, the saving
grace is this: “…it is God who
works in you to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13
NIV). “… the God of peace… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you
with everything good for doing his will, and
may he work in [you]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
Therefore, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…. if any man be
in Christ, he is
a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, ALL things are
become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…Christ
[dwells] in your hearts by faith …” (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). “…Christ liveth in
[you]…” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
“….OLD THINGS (effects of the Sin nature) are passed…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“…So
now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong
to him, the
power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin
that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because
of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could
not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in
that body God
declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for
our sins. He did this so that the just
requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but
instead follow the Spirit. Those
who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are
controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature
control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did
obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the
control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful
nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living
in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of
Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And
Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the
Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And
just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal
bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have
no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its
dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For
all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God…” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT).
What do the scriptures
says about the flesh? “….They that are IN THE FLESH cannot
please God...” (Romans 8:8 KJV).
“…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the LUST OF THE FLESH…” (Galatians
5:16 KJV). “…Now the WORKS OF THE FLESH are manifest,
which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…”
(Galatians 5:19-21 KJV). “…..For to be carnally minded
[is] DEATH…” (Romans 8:6 KJV). “…For they that are AFTER THE FLESH
do mind the things of the flesh…” (Romans 8:5 KJV). “…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans
6:16 KJV). “…For if ye live AFTER THE FLESH,
ye shall die…” (Romans 8:13 KJV). “… LET NOT SIN
THEREFORE REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof…” (Romans 6:12-13 KJV). “…Now those who belong to Christ Jesus HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its
passions and desires…” (Galatians 5:24 NASB). “…Among them we too all formerly lived in the LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, indulging the DESIRES OF THE
FLESH and OF THE MIND, and were by nature children of wrath, even as
the rest…” (Ephesians 2:3 NASB). “….MAKE NOT PROVISION
FOR THE FLESH IN REGARD TO ITS LUSTS…” (Romans 13:14 NASB). “…THE FLESH SETS ITS DESIRE AGAINST the Spirit…” (Galatians 5:17 NASB). “…those who are ACCORDING TO THE FLESH set their MINDS ON THE THINGS
OF THE FLESH…” (Romans 8:5 NASB).
“…WHOEVER
SOWS TO PLEASE THEIR FLESH,
FROM THE FLESH WILL REAP DESTRUCTION;
…” (Galatians 6:8 NIV).
“…put off
concerning the former CONVERSATION the old man, which
is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind…”
(Ephesians 4:21-23 KJV).
“…Walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (sinful nature)…”
(Galatians 5:16 KJV). “ … the deeds
of the flesh are evident,
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these …”
(Galatians 5:20-22 NASB). "That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.” (John 3:6 KJV).
Evil emotions (passions,
affections, desires, etc.) are in the heart/mind along with evil thoughts. “….For from WITHIN, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness,
deceit, lustful
DESIRES (emotions, passions), envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
All these vile things come from WITHIN; they are what defile you…”
(Mark 7:20-23 NLT).
“... I [am] …a slave to the sin that is … WITHIN me …” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
What are some of the problems
that the sin “…within...” cause emotions?
“…Do not be ANXIOUS
about anything …” (Philippians 4:6 NIV). “….A WRATHFUL man stirreth up strife: …” (Proverbs 15:18 KJV). “…A GLAD HEART makes a cheerful face …” (Proverbs 15:13 KJV). “…Be STRONG and of a GOOD COURAGE; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: ….” (Joshua 1:9 KJV). “….In your ANGER do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”
(Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV). “…A fool uttereth all his mind…” (Proverbs 29:11
KJV). “…be not conformed to this world...”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…”
(Ephesians 6:13 KJV). “…Rejoice
with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep…” (Romans 12:15 KJV).
“… [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good…” (Romans 12:9
KJV). “…fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell…”
(Matthew 10:28 KJV). “…And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
…” (1 John 4:16 KJV). “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…Let us hold fast the
profession of [our] faith without wavering; for he [is] faithful
that promised…” (Hebrews 10:23 KJV). “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
“….There is
a time for everything, and
a season for every [emotional]… activity under the heavens: a time to be BORN
and a time to
DIE, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to HEAL, a time to TEAR DOWN
and a time to build, a time to WEEP and a time to LAUGH, a
time to MOURN
and a time to
DANCE, a time to scatter stones and a time
to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain
from embracing, a time to SEARCH and a time to GIVE UP,
a time to KEEP and
a time to THROW
AWAY, a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be
silent and a time to SPEAK, a time to LOVE
and a time to
HATE, a time for WAR and a time for peace…”
(Ecclesiastes 4:1-8 NIV). “…be
transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
Since human emotions
are known to motivate human behavior and are closely connected and tied to the
flesh; renewal is necessary. God RENEWS. The believer is “… a new
creature [in Christ]… old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV). “… [The
believer]… is joined unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit…
[with him and God]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
However, after God renews, sanctification
is next, which is like taking a bath to get the dirt off. “…the will of God, [is]…your SANCTIFICATION…” (1 THESSALONIANS 4:3 NASB). How
does God sanctify you? “…SANCTIFY them in the truth; Your word is truth…”
(JOHN 17:17 NASB). “…For God has not called us for the purpose of
impurity, but in SANCTIFICATION…” (1 THESSALONIANS 4:7 NASB). “…God has chosen you from the beginning for
salvation through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and faith in the truth…”
(2 THESSALONIANS 2:13 NASB). “…Pursue
…the SANCTIFICATION without which no one will see the Lord…”
(HEBREWS 12:14 NASB). “…Now may the God
of peace Himself SANCTIFY you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and
body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ…” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:23 NASB).
Sanctification is the process of cleaning
the person who has been restored to God and returning them to their original
glory and holiness. What was the original glory and holiness? Back in the
Garden of Eden, God said, “….LET US
MAKE man in our image, after our likeness…”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..GOD CREATED MAN in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27
KJV). This is what the bible says about God: “…THERE ARE
THREE that bear record in
heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN
5:6-8 KJV). “….THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE…” (DEUTERONOMY 6:4 KJV). “…THERE
IS NO GOD, BUT
ONE…” (1 CORINTHIANS 8:4 KJV). Therefore, God said, “….LET US MAKE
man … after our likeness…”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…in his own image…..male
and female created
he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body),
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living
soul (soul)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV). “…I pray God] your whole SPIRIT
and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ…” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:23 KJV). “…the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow
(body)…” (HEBREWS 4:12 KJV). “…the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and THESE THREE
ARE ONE.…” (1
JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
Sanctification
is simply a part of the transformation process. Every time you trust and depend upon God it is sanctifying you as well as transforming you. Transformation is “…the work of God…” which enables you to
do God’s will and behave in a way that fulfills his good pleasure. The
indwelling Holy Spirit DOES the WORK, which enables you to WALK by the SPIRIT. “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the LUST OF THE
FLESH…” (Galatians 5:16 KJV).
Originally
“…the LORD God formed man [of] the dust
of the ground (body),
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living
soul (soul)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV). However, “…through one man sin entered into the world, and
death through sin, and so death passed to all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). Now “…All have sinned
(including you) and fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). Yet
through Jesus Christ “… the God of peace Himself SANCTIFY you ENTIRELY; and
may your spirit
and soul and body be preserved COMPLETE…” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:23
NASB).
Sanctification cleanses you and returns
you to holiness and God’s HOLY image. Therefore God says, “…be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter
1:16 KJV). “… I AM HOLY...” (1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV). And, “There is none holy as
the Lord…”
(1 Samuel 2:2 KJV). “…ye shall be holy
unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you
from other people, that ye should be mine. …”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV). Thus, “…God has not called [YOU]… for the purpose of impurity, but in SANCTIFICATION…”
(1 THESSALONIANS 4:7 NASB).
Emotions motivate human behavior for those
still in the flesh, but those in the Spirit are led by the Spirit. “…For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT of God, they are the sons of God…”
(Romans 8:15 KJV). “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the LUST OF THE
FLESH…” (Galatians 5:16 KJV). “The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he
delighteth in his way” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…I will
instruct thee and teach
thee in the way
which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “…Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways…”
(Psalms 25:8 NIV). “…Thus saith the LORD,
thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am
the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV). “…Whether you turn to the right or to the
left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way;
walk in it…" (Isaiah 30:21 NIV).
“…Be
transformed by the renewing of your mind (which includes emotions)….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). Your behavior is no longer motivated by emotions, but by
truth. “…[God’s]… word is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV). “…the truth
shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32 KJV). Therefore, the Word helps
in “….Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing
into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ…” (2
Corinthians 10:5 KJV).
“…There is a way which SEEMETH right unto a man,
BUT the end….are the ways of DEATH…..”
(Ephesians 1:6 KJV). “…Be
transformed by the renewing of your mind (which includes emotions)….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). As you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and renew your mind
you will say “I believe…” and NOT “I feel…”“…It shall
be done to you according to your [indwelling Spirit of] faith [and not your feelings]…" (Matthew
9:29 NASB). RENEWING YOUR EMOTIONS.
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