In Christ

In Christ

John 14:15-21 (NIV)
¹⁵ "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--
¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
²¹ Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 15:1-10 (NIV)
¹ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
⁸ This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
⁹ "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
¹⁰ If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

CONFUSING STATEMENTS

·        Some favorite expressions of apostle Paul was “Christ in You” and A Man in Christ”

2 Corinthians 12:2 (NIV)
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

John 14:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--

THREE MYSTERIOUS STATEMENTS MADE BY JESUS WERE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANS: (a) Spiritual sight (b) Spiritual life (c) Spiritual union.

SPIRITUAL UNION

·        A little while longer and the world will see me no more, but you will see me vs. 19

·        Because I live, you will live also. Vs 19

·        At the day you will know that i am in my father, and you in me, and i in you vs. 20

SPIRITUAL SIGHT

·        Eyes of Faith

·        Jesus is just as real to us as if we could physically see him.

·        The world says “Seeing is believing – But the Christians Sayus Believing is Seeing.

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

SPIRITUAL LIFE

·        Jesus was often telling of his coming death promising he would rise again, but the disciples were so busy they didn’t get the significance.

·        The eyes of their heart were not seeing therefore they did not understand what he was telling them.

·        Paul prayed for disciples to be enlightened. 

·        Jesus was telling them because of the resurrection He would keep on living and so will you  I’m very sure there were some questions for His followers after that statement

Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)
¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)
¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

SPIRITUAL UNION

·        Jesus went on to explain – You will note it was just after he told about the Holy Spirit would come – He would teach them and they would understand “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I ion you.”

·        They would have the same relationship with the Father s Jesus had which they had admired.

HE EXPLAINED IN THE VINE-BRANCH ILLUSTRATION

John 15:1-5 (NIV)
¹ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Colossians 3:1 (NIV)
¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

·        He is the vine not the trunk.

·        A vine had very little trunk it is nearly all branches

·         Jesus is the whole vine.

·        We are in Jesus and He is in us.

Hebrews 3:14 (NIV)
¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Colossians 1:19 (NIV)
¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)
⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

·         Our one purpose is the bringing forth of fruit.  We are to bring forth the fruit that comes from the vine

John 1:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Colossians 1:6 (NIV)
⁶ that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

Colossians 1:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

·        The one who remains (or abides) in the vine bears much fruit

·        Can you see what union with Christ means?

·        We must have a child-like faith that teaches we by ourselves can do nothing but in Jesus we can do all things.  Paul was enlightened and from his heart understood this.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

John 15:4 (NIV)
⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Facing Our Immaturity

Facing Our Immaturity

IT IS SERIOUS NOT GROWING UP, BUT EVEN MORE SO, WHEN YOU DON’T RECOGNIZE YOU AREN’T’ GROWING AND THAT YOU ARE STILL IMMATURE.

Hebrews 5:11-6:3 (NASB)
¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
¹ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
³ And this we will do, if God permits.

·         It Is Possible To Gain Knowledge About The Bible, To Talk The Language Of The Church Even Have A Prayer Language And Yet Not Be Growing In God.  We Must Not Lay Our Foundation Repeatedly.

 Hebrews 6:1-3 (NASB)
¹ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
³ And this we will do, if God permits.

HAVING TO LAY AGAIN THE FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE.

·        Many people confess Christ and then live in a state of Guilt

·        They listen to the enemy’s lies and believe them.

·        They don’t feel that are good enough, their needs aren’t important enough to talk to God. They don’t want to bother anyone about things that are bothering them.

·        They don’t know for sure that are saved after hearing the lies that satan tells them yet they will continue doing their best to trudge along.

·        The same old temptations are always there; they fail repeatedly and are repenting repeatedly over the same old sins.

Repentance: is to feel remorse, contrition, or self=reproach for that one had done or failed to do; To be contrite [feeling regret and sorrow for one’s sins or Offenses: Penitent.] Excerpted From the American Heritage Talking dictionary.  Copyright ©1997 the learning company, inc. all rights reserved.

·        Repentance is to feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding it; repented of intemperate behavior.

·        Repentance means to make a change for the better because of remorse or contrition for one’s sins.

·         Repentance is a Work of God like Salvation.

Hebrews 12:16-17 (NASB)
¹⁶ that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
¹⁷ For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Acts 8:22 (NASB)
²² "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

·        Peter Found repentance, Judas did not.  With the right attitude, you will find repentance.

Ezekiel 36:31 (NASB)
³¹ "Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.

Psalms 52:9 (NASB)
⁹ I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.

Proverbs 28:13 (NASB)
¹³ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

TRUST GOD’S WORD ABOUT REPENTANCE

Jeremiah 24:7 (NASB)
⁷ ~'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Ezekiel 11:18-20 (NASB)
¹⁸ "When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.
¹⁹ "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.

Acts 2:37 (NASB)
³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

1 John 1:9 (NASB)
⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

·        Now Get That Foundation Built And Get To Work!

SHARING CHRIST

·        Do you lack confidence in your experience that you can’t Share the Gospel with others?

Hebrews 5:12 (NASB)
¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

·        Jesus doesn’t expect you to be able to stand before a congregation and teach line upon line.  He is saying growing up is having confidence in what God has done for and in you.  You should be able to tell others about in on a one on one basis.

Hebrews 3:13 (NASB)
¹³ But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:25 (NASB)
²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
⁹ And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

MANY ARE STILL BABES IN CHRIST

·        A baby is unable to eat on its own, Unable to take Solid food, still dependant on someone else to feed him or her

WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

·        Unable to use the word of righteousness, tools God give us to fight the battles

Hebrews 5:13 (NASB)
¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

WE MUST GROW UP

·        Paul was trying to bring them to another level of understanding, But they were saying wait a minute; we don’t understand what you are saying. 

·        Just give us the basics; they are all we want. 

·        Since salvation, you have learned some simple truths about Christ’ He died for you sins; you have eternal life he has gone to prepare a place for you; he want to build the church.

·         Do you have an appetite only for the basics or are you hungry for more?

·         You will develop an appetite for more solid foods as you go through these studies

THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE TOOL OR WEAPON USED IN THE BATTLE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. EVERY BELIEVER MUST BE TRAINED TO HANDLE THIS WEAPON.  SOME OF THOSE USES ARE:

·        The Word in mediation to feed themselves spiritually.

To meditate [ha-ga-h- hawgaw’; to murmur (in pleasure or anger): by implication to ponder.  Imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter.]

·        The Word to instruct and help others with their problems

·        The Word Bring comfort to the sorrowful 

·        The Word being counsel to the perplexed 

·        the Word Used in intercession

·        The Word drives back the attacks of Satan.

Ephesians 6:17 (NASB)
¹⁷ And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 5:14 (NASB)
¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

·        The Word must be used to distinguish good from evil: such as a Business venture that looks good but isn’t completely honest. 

·        Someone who comes to your door passing out literatures that can mislead a new believer must be recognized as false doctrine.

Ephesians 4:14 (NASB)
¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

He that has Ears to Hear

·        If you lack ears to hear, how can you overcome?

Hebrews 5:11 (NASB)
¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

·        The Spiritual ear enables the heart to hear and understand.

Matthew 13:9 (NASB)
⁹ "He who has ears, let him hear."

Revelation 2:7 (NASB)
⁷ ~'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

·         These Christians had to the correct teaching but were dull of hearing and did not properly assimilated that teaching.

·        It doesn’t mean they lack human intelligence.  Natural wisdom is not the key to spiritual understanding.

Matthew 11:25-26 (NASB)
²⁵ At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
²⁶ "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Luke 8:5-15 (NASB)
⁵ "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.
⁶ "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
⁷ "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
⁸ "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
⁹ His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
¹⁰ And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
¹¹ "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
¹² "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
¹³ "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
¹⁴ "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
¹⁵ "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Verse 10: Comment on the Old Wind vs. New Wine – We personally are the wineskins that are designed to hold the wine.  New wine will burst an old wine skin.  As the new wine ferments and expands the old wine skin will no longer stretch but will burst thus the wine is spilled and no longer useful. You must put new wine in new wine skins only.  When we are asking for additional anointing and revelation from God, or a move of God we must renew our spirits (Old Wineskins) and ask God to again make us pliable or flexible (like new wineskins) in order to hold the new wine we are asking for.  Prayer, Praise and seeking (or waiting) on God can prepare us to receive what he wants for us in the spirit as we work in his vineyard.

The Seed is the word, hearing of the word determines the condition of the heart (or ground) in which the word will grow and produce.

·        Path (hard ground not tilled but beat down)

·        Rocky Ground (lack of soil for the seed to take root)

·        Among thorns (lots of soil but the seed must compete with other plants to grow)

·        Good ground (the seed can grow uninhibited and produce).

Hebrews 6:1 (NASB)
¹ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Emotions are Mental Feelings

Emotions are Mental Feelings

GOD HAS EMOTIONS; SINCE WE ARE MADE IN HIS LIKENESS SO DO WE

·        God Is Love

1 John 4:16 (NASB)
¹⁶ We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

·        The Lord Hates

Proverbs 6:16 (NASB)
¹⁶ There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

·        He Will Rejoice Over You With Shouts Of Joy

Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)
¹⁷ "The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

·        Lord, Whose Name Is Jealous, Is A Jealous God

Exodus 34:14 (NASB)
¹⁴ —for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—

·        The Lord Was Angry

Deuteronomy 1:37 (NASB)
³⁷ "The Lord was angry with me also on your account, saying, 'Not even you shall enter there.

·        God Created Man In His Own Image

Genesis 1:27 (NASB)
²⁷ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

WE ALL EXPERIENCE THE SAME BASIC EMOTIONS BUT:

·        The Extent With Which We Express Them Vary Greatly.  How Emotional We Are In Our Christian Walk Will Vary. 

·        The Way We Show Emotions Will   Vary When Convictions Disturbs Our Peace

Acts 26:14 (NASB)
¹⁴ "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

·        How We Act When The New Birth Floods Our Hearts With Love

Romans 5:5 (NASB)
⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Peter 1:8 (NASB)
⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

THE EFFECT OF EMOTIONS ON THE BODY

·        Stress Can Bring Sickness Or Exhaustion

·        Bitterness Can Cause Arthritis

·        Tension Can Cause Ulcers And Back Problems

THE BODY CAN AFFECT OUR EMOTIONS

·        Mental And Physical Exhaustions

·        Elijah After Spectacular Victory On Mount Carmel Sank Into A Deep Depression

1 Kings 19:4 (NASB)
⁴ But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

EXAMPLES IN SCRIPTURE OF EMOTIONS

Acts 20:36-38 (NASB)
³⁶ When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
³⁷ And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,
³⁸ grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 (NASB)
²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 2:4 (NASB)
⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

Philippians 4:10 (NASB)
¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

EMOTIONS ARE NATURAL

·        Emotions That Have Been Bottled Up Can Hinder A Natural Response Such As Joy When The Spirit Of God Is Moving In Our Lives

·        Sorrow For The Loss If A Loved One, Needs To Find Free Expression. Tears Are Healing

·        A Response, To Being Born Again Is Often The Release Of A Feeling Of Being Set Free Inside 

·        A Release From A Feeling Of All Bound Up Is Often An Emotion After One Receives The Baptism With The Holy Spirit

Romans 5:5 (NASB)
⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

IF ALLOWED, THE DEVIL WILL TAKE FREE REIGN OF OUR EMOTIONS. WHAT SHOULD BE A CORRECT EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS WILL BECOME A DOORWAY FOR DEMON ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES.

·        Temper, Lust Hate Jealousy

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)
²⁶ BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
²⁷ and do not give the devil an opportunity.

SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES 

·        Saul’s Response To David Killing Goliath 

1 Samuel 18:6-9 (NASB)
⁶ It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
⁷ The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
⁸ Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"
⁹ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

·        Saul’s Wrong Response Turned Into Demon Activity

1 Samuel 18:10-11 (NASB)
¹⁰ Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand.
¹¹ Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.

·        Amnon’s Response, Which Was David’s Son, Toward His Sister.

2 Samuel 13:8-15 (NASB)
⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
⁹ She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." So everyone went out from him.
¹⁰ Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon.
¹¹ When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
¹² But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!
¹³ "As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you."
¹⁴ However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, go away!"

James 3:15 (NASB)
¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

RADICAL ACTION IS CALLED FOR.

·         The Type Of Emotion Is A Part Of Our Old Life

Ephesians 4:31 (NASB)
³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Colossians 3:5 (NASB)
⁵ Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

·        Confess The Source From Which Any Ungodly Emotion Comes From Your Earthly Sinful Nature

·        Renounce It Before God. Do It Audibly

·        Then Acknowledge That Jesus Dealt With This At The Cross

·        Confess By Faith That You Have Now Crucified The Sinful Nature With All Its Passions And Desires.

Galatians 5:24 (NASB)
²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

·        Since The Holy Spirit Abhors Such Actions—Seal This Transaction By Putting On By Faith Those Responses That Are Right And Pleasing To God

Colossians 3:12 (NASB)
¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

·        Expressing Our Natural Emotions Is A Normal Outlet Is Good And Healthy But We Must Not Allow Them To Take Over. 

·        To Be Downcast Is Ok For A Season When It Becomes A Spiritual Hindrance But We Must Snap Out Of It. 

·        An Emotional High Is Almost Always Followed By An Emotional Low. 

·        If That Happens We Must Be Like David And Take Control Of Emotions.

Psalms 42:5 (NASB)
⁵ Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

·        Sorrow Unless Controlled Can Overcome Us. 

·        We Are In God And We Have Hope.

2 Corinthians 2:7 (NASB)
⁷ so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NASB)
¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

NOT ALL SORROW IS BAD; THE SORROW OF THE WORLD LEADS TO DEATH BUT GODLY SORROW IS HOPE FILLED.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NASB)
¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

·        We Are No Longer Natural People We Are Spiritual People With Resources That Allow Overcoming

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

·        When We Yield Our Whole Being Body Soul And Spirit, To God It Also Includes Our Emotions.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

AS WE STUDY THE LIFE OF JESUS WE FIND HE HAD EMOTION JUST AS WE DO YET HE WAS ALWAYS IN CONTROL. 

·        He Was A Man Of Sorrow

Isaiah 53:3 (NASB)
³ He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

·        Two Occasions Where He Wept In Public

Luke 19:41 (NASB)
⁴¹ When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,

John 11:34 (NASB)
³⁴ and said, "Where have you laid him?" They *said to Him, "Lord, come and see."

·        Tears And Loud Cries Characterized His Private Life

Hebrews 5:7 (NASB)
⁷ In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

·        Yet He Never Allowed His Sorrows To Bring Heaviness To His Company

·        Joy Always Seems To Characterize Jesus Even When Facing The Cross.

Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)
² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

·        Paul Spoke Of Being “Sorrowful”, Yet Always Rejoicing.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (NASB)
¹⁰ as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

·        Jesus Demonstrated This Perfectly He Said God Had Anointed Him With The Oil Of Joy Above His Companions

Hebrews 1:9 (NASB)
⁹ "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."

·        When Jesus Promised, “My Joy Will Be In You” They Knew It Was Something Very Wonderful

John 15:11 (NASB)
¹¹ "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

HE WAS MOVED BY COMPASSION

·        He Had Love And Compassion For Both His Own And His Enemies.

John 13:1 (NASB)
¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Luke 23:34 (NASB)
³⁴ But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

Matthew 9:36 (NASB)
³⁶ Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 20:34 (NASB)
³⁴ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

THERE IS ALWAYS AN ABSENCE OF NEGATIVE EMOTIONS.

·        He Had Righteous Anger When Confronted With Stubbornness Unbelief, Or Hypocrisy 

·        You Never Read Of An Outburst Of Temper.

·        He Was Without Bitterness Or Jealousy. 

·        He Never Gave Way To Self-Pity Or Discouragement Moodiness Or Irritability.

THE ONLY FEAR HE KNEW WAS THE FEAR THE LORD.

·         He Has Sent The Holy Spirit To Make Us Like Him.

·         He Did Not Leave Us With An Unattainable Standard To Follow. 

·         But He Will Touch Our Emotions And Make Us Whole. 

·         He Understand What We Go Through, He Has Already Experienced It.

Proverbs 17:22 (NASB)
²² A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Isaiah 61:1 (NASB)
¹ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

Psalms 34:18 (NASB)
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.