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as a person thinks within himself [nephesh – soul], so he is.”
Proverbs 23:7
God gave us our minds and emotions; our minds so that we can think
and our emotions so that we can respond. Emotions were designed by
God to be a source of enjoyment, responding to doctrinal viewpoint
in the mind which controls the soul.
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“…for
where your treasure is, there will your heart [mind] be also.”
Matthew 6:21
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However, the mind, filled with
divine viewpoint, needs to be in charge of the emotions for us to
function or act properly. Emotions contain no doctrine, no
thought, no common sense, and no ability to reason. What a mess if
our emotions are in charge!
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“And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing
of your mind…” Romans 12:2
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When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the mind controls the
emotions, we’re on the right road. We can live and love with good
thinking. What do you think?!
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“The
doctrine of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple [foolish].” Psalm 19:7
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Since emotions can’t think, when they control the mind we’re
headed for a crash! We become arrogant. We can also be fearful,
anxious, jealous, and angry! What a bunch of miserable garbage
that would be!
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“…so
then let us not sleep [spiritual sleep] as others do, but let us
be alert and sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6
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Living the spiritual life is not an emotional feeling. However,
Satan wants us to think that the Holy Spirit is in us because of
some emotional experience, the way we feel. God will test us to
see which way we will go, down the road of thought, or down the
road of emotion. Which road are we going to take?
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“For
the righteous God tests the right lobes [minds] and the emotions.”
Psalm 7:9
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In our day-to-day activities, we may feel emotional, we may not.
As long as we are filled with the Holy Spirit and make decisions
based on divine viewpoint (God’s thinking), we’re on the right
road!
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“It is the same God who brings both feast [plenty] and famine [not
enough].”
Matthew 5:45
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If we let our emotions rule our thinking, we’ll be distracted from
living in the plan of God.
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“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on [be alert to] those
who cause dissentions and hindrances contrary to the teaching
[doctrine] which you learned, and turn away from them. For such
men [believers] are slaves not of our Lord Christ but to their own
emotions; and by smooth and flattering speech they deceive the
hearts [stream of consciousness] of the unsuspecting.”
Romans 16-17-18
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Emotions can even stop the perception (knowledge), metabolization
(understanding and accepting as true), and application of Bible
doctrine!
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“Our
mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart [right
lobe] is opened wide [metabolized doctrine]. You are not
restrained [in momentum] by us, but you are restrained in your own
affections [emotions].” 2 Corinthians 6:11-12
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Normal emotional experience results in the emotions being under
the authority of the mind! Remember, emotions were designed by God
for our enjoyment and expression. They are to respond to doctrinal
viewpoint controlling the soul. We must ask, “What controls our
souls?”
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“The doctrine of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the
testimony [statement] of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple
[foolish].” Psalm 19:7
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Jesus is our best example of using thought to control emotion. He
never let His emotions get in His way or take over His thought. He
certainly was not having positive emotional experiences on the
cross and yet He used thought to rule. He led the spiritual life
by what He thought!
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“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of doctrine,
who for the joy [+H] set before Him endured the cross, despising
[disregarding] the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
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With God controlling our minds, we’ll have a
safe trip. So, let’s put on our seat belts and speed forward with
God at the wheel!
“I
guide you in the way of wisdom [Christ’s thinking] and lead you
along straight paths.” Proverbs 4:11
“The path of the righteous [those having virtue] is like the first
gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”
Proverbs 4:18
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References used:
Robert R.McLaughlin Bible Ministries
www.gbible.org
Lessons: 1-12-01,
1-16-01, 8-22-04, 11-19-04, 11-28-04, 12-01-04
Tree of Life: 11-28-04
Notes from the CA
conference, 11-9-04 to 11-11-04
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