Number 24									  

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."   James 1:22

                              SPREAD  THE  WORD

  Our primary purpose for this letter is to spur you on to read your Bible.
Whether due to interest, guilt, or trying to prove us wrong, please check out
God's Word for you! Are you willing to gamble your life on feelings, other
people's opinions, or do you want to make eternal decisions based on the Rock
foundation of truth? We send this newsletter to about 65 homes. Let us know if
you have questions, corrections, or disagreements.  Let us know how you feel.

            EMOTIONS - BECOMING AWARE OF THEIR INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE

  Why do we have emotions?  Does God have emotions?  Did Jesus?  Why is it
important to understand them? The Bible doesn't directly mention emotions, yet
as you search your conscience and God's Word there is a lot about emotions that
we should take time to reflect on. Until you analyze yourself, you will not
realize how much of your life is ruled by your emotions! Men, you may never show
much emotion, but you may be more controlled by feelings than women. Bottled up
emotions can cause ulcers, heart problems, blood pressure, etc. and drain you of
your strength. Couch potatoes, over-eaters, heavy drinkers, etc. aren't in
control of their emotions. Note: Emotions aren't always expressed outwardly.

EMOTIONS =  1) strong feelings of pleasure, joy, pain, anger, fear, sorrow, love
               hate, excitement, grief, rage, compassion, guilt ...
            2) feeling, passion, sensation, sentiment, mood, desire ...

God designed good desires and feelings in us. Both good and bad desires can
influence our thinking.  Since our mind is the main gateway to our emotions we
need to guard our minds against the powerful evil effects of the world which can
come through music, media, unbelievers, etc.  "For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against ..." powers of darkness and spiritual forces (Eph 6:12).

NO EMOTION:  What if we had no emotion?  Could you have faith, hope, and love?
Can you imagine no smiling, no laughter, behaving like robots, a world of logic
and facts only?  Thank God, He who knows all, grants mercy and doesn't quickly
judge us for our sins. He will judge those who are not covered by the blood of
the Lamb, Jesus Christ. With God there is perfect balance between facts and
feelings. We need to find that balance between feelings/emotion and truth.

GOOD & BAD:  Moods, desires, imagination can be both bad and good. We can stir
up both good and bad desires. Music has an especially powerful affect on our
mind and emotions. While God gave us the desire to know Him, evil desires are
the result of man's fallen nature.  God says in His Word that since men choose
their ways their hearts (Jer 17:9) became bent towards evil.  Sometimes the
feelings (hate, hurt, anger) can become more powerful than us.  Only with God's
help can we overcome these emotions.  Of the person not led by the Holy Spirit:
  Mark 7:20  "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from
  within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries ..."

Tears are important to God, He counts them. (Psa 56:8) Some have said there can
be no true repentance and turning to God without the shedding of tears. Perhaps
women are more sensitive to the moving of God's Spirit because their spiritual
nervous system (emotions) are more tuned in to God's frequency (heartbeat).

                                      - 2 -

RULING OVER THEM:  We can choose to let feelings rule us or we can learn to rule
over them. All men including apostles have passions like you and I (Acts 14:15 &
James 5:17). Our senses (eyes, ears...) and physical being as well as our mind
affect our emotions. They can be instantly aroused or worked up.  Anger can be
an almost instantaneous (reaction) or slowly provoked by dwelling on memories.
Dwelling on a situation or fantasizing can generate strong emotional responses
within us.  We can get happy, fearful, mad by combining our memories with our
imaginations.  We need to learn to master our emotions, not stifle them.  Too
many men and some women have become brick walls by denying their emotions, on
the other extreme some people can be like jello (emotional wrecks).

Emotions seem to be the spiritual equivalent of nerve cells in our physical
bodies. Our mind and bodies communicate via our nervous system. Likewise
our souls and our bodies are linked together in part by emotion. Our emotions
give us valuable information, but our soul should make the decisions.

  Rom 12:2  "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
  approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will."

  1 Cor 10:4  "Casting down (false) imaginations, and every high thing that
  exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
  thought to the obedience of Christ;"

  Heb 4:15  "For we have a High Priest Who can be touched with the feeling of
  our infirmities; Who was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

  1 Cor 10:13  God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, He
  will provide a way of escape.

  Phil 4:7-8  "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep
  your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever
  things are true, ... honest, just, pure, lovely, things of good report; if
  there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

How much of your life is based on feelings? Do you miss church, reading the
Bible, or serving God because you're too busy, tired, etc? Do you slack off at
work because you feel you're being undercompensated by your employer?  Do you
disobey authorities because you dislike them and think they're wrong (Rom 13:1)?
This rut of laziness/sin only gets worse. Guilt mounts and our strength gets
sapped. These are areas where men may be more emotionally driven than women!

Are you enjoying serving the Lord? Do you have peace even when you've been
wronged. Did you realize how much your smile means to someone and that smiles
are contagious? Aren't you blessed when you encourage or praise someone?

Acknowledge and yield our emotions before God. Guilt and fear are crippling
emotions at epidemic levels. They can be covered up, but only Jesus Christ can
remove them. Right thinking and right behavior will lead to right feelings.
Turn to Him: "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh 8:10

ULTIMATE JOY: We should worship God not only in thought, but with our bodies and
emotions! (Psa 149). Praising God edifies us and delivers us from the weight of
heavy circumstances (Psalms). To have this joy, we need Christ to transform our
lives and set our emotions free again.  Feelings follow faith not vice versa.
Jesus and His Words will set you free!  Jesus came to set our whole being free!