Spirit-Controlled Emotions
Good Morning,
Feelings are of God; He created emotions. God provided emotions of love and compassion, as well as anger, but these feelings are to be guarded throughout life.
Paul said these emotions and desires of the flesh are to be kept in check at all times.
1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
We may have a high standard of ethics in our own lives, and someone without those same strong morals can make us angry. I have seen adults frustrated and ugly toward teens who had absolutely no training — and it is not right. We ought to desire to help the untrained teen; ugly treatment will not help. We may be frustrated, but those feelings need to be guarded and controlled.
Proverbs 14:17 “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”
Proverbs 21:19 “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”
Proverbs 22:24 “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:”
When Obama was elected, I was very unhappy. I was also angry when Clinton won, especially for the second time. It was not a race issue, it was a liberal issue. I hate the fact that babies may be legally killed. I hate that some idiot in government is trying to make it wrong for a business or church to have religious convictions. (Like those who feel strongly against abortion or homosexual marriage.) I am angry about the lack of respect we see toward morality, decency, patriotism, and respect for our military and law enforcement; but my anger or frustration is not exhibited by burning down my neighbor’s home! On my little street, there are three black families, three Latin families, and a single white lady (and, of course, our family). I did not direct hate toward my neighbor when a liberal won an election. My home was not burned down by my neighbors when Trump won. We are civilized. We are friendly because we respect humanity and the freedom of others. That is an American value!
I can say that I have some serious passion against Islam (before and after 9/11). Islamic followers’ hate for freedom, hate for America, and violence towards those who differ from them shows their religion is wrong and their actions are satanic. I do not like the religion of Islam at all, but I have never hurt Islamic followers or attacked them. They, on the other hand, are willing to kill Americans in a heartbeat and cheer for the death of Israeli children. Satan hates Israel. Satan does not allow freedom, and as such, encourages violence and hatred. God allows people to differ. God encourages freedom, as is seen in the garden of Eden where He placed the forbidden fruit. It could have been removed, but God wanted mankind to choose to obey. Their actions were not compulsory; they were free.
God urges us to control our passions.
There is a time for our anger if it is controlled, patient, and appropriately exhibited.
Proverbs 25:23 “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”
Titus 1:7 “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry…”
Notice, the words NOT SOON ANGRY; anger can be appropriate.
Uncontrolled anger brings about much hurt:
Proverbs 29:22 “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
This behavior may be a reaction to such occurrences as a child crying, and argument about politics, or a disagreement about how to handle various household matters. A wrong reaction is a work of Satan and evil men. One of the evils of liquor and drugs is the breaking down of inhibitions and restraint, and causing the person to feel free to act out of control — these actions are godless.
When we raise children, we need to constantly train them to control their feelings and to act on purpose, not out of an emotional response. Proverbs 29:15 tells us that “…a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” We are not to allow our children to explode in anger or respond to passion without control. Whether in response to injustice on the playground or in the classroom, a selfish friend or unfair law, we are to train our children to control themselves and to rely on the Holy Spirit to help them be in control.
Paul explained that the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives was focused much on controlling emotions and feelings. Closeness to God is evidenced by control of the spirit of man by the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
vs. 23 “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
vs. 24 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
vs. 25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
vs. 26 “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
The maniac in the tombs was angry, violent, and lived with unrestrained and satanic passion. He was out of control! That is evidence of satanic power; whether it be it in the church or the White House.
Luke 8:27 “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”
vs. 29 “…For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.”
One of the characteristics of men before the flood was their violence.
Genesis 6:11 “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
vs. 13 “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
While watching sports, I find it funny that coaches say, “Put your heart into it!” or “Get excited!” about the game. Coaches will try many different methods to get players to become passionate about the game, but then the poor guys get penalized for taunting or being excessively rough — it is hard to exhibit both of these extremes at the same time.
Men want a passionate wife, but only in a romantic manner. Passion about the car out of gas, bills unpaid, or the garbage running over is not on the man’s wish list. A man may say that these emotional situations are not the same, but it is the same woman’s heart out of which they flow. If she is passionate, she will be passionate about many things!
To control our response to our emotions is right; to be in control of our anger and not let our anger cause us to sin is also right.
Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Doing RIGHT is not always easy. We need much Bible, much prayer, and much good training in our homes to keep the Lord in control of our emotions and actions.
Pastor