Friday, March 17, 2017

Emotional Impulses

Emotions.  Have you ever heard of something called- EQ?   I hadn't until last year or so.  The following is one definition for EQ-

EQ reflects a person's ability to empathize with others: identify, evaluate, control and express emotions ones own emotions; perceive, and assess others' emotions; use emotions to facilitate thinking, understand emotional meanings.

From <https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=eq&*>

We truly are caught up in emotions. Not only our own but others. We set supposed standards that make some people have a Good or High EQ and others to have a Poor or Low EQ.  We say those who can empathize with others and their emotions, and comprehend their own emotions as well are people with a good/high EQ and those who can't empathize with others or recognize their own emotions have bad/low EQ. We stress emotions in so much and hold them up as good things because we CAN'T HELP but have them. We think those who AREN'T ruled by their emotions are lacking somehow, and maybe they are, or maybe it's us who are lacking the ability to control our emotions.  If we let our emotions RULE us isn't it just as bad as having no comprehension of the emotions in others and having very little of our own? 

I think this part of Watchman Nee's book does need thorough study- based on GOD'S WORD.

If we are ruled by our soul and not our spirit- we are most likely ruled by our emotions. NOT everyone, this isn't an absolute but it is easy to comprehend  that our emotions being in control of us is a very bad thing. 

The 'IMPULSES OF EMOTION', surely just that statement says so much.  A person- a complete stranger gives us a dirty, mean look for no reason we can comprehend and instantly we are filled with EMOTIONS.  What emotions? Do we get upset because we don't deserve such treatment? Do we get sad, depressed? Or does it simply not affect us at all? Do we NOT feel any emotions?

I could relate many scenarios about our possible emotional responses to situations, but I won't. I don't know you, and you most likely don't know me. I can tell you though -my emotions rule me way more than they should. Maybe I need this study more than you, if that's true then please skip this.  I need to comprehend more, I need the Holy Spirit guiding me, I need my spirit rued by the Holy Spirit not by my soulish self.

More tomorrow- by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

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'The Believer and Emotion

Although a Christian may have experienced deliverance from sin, he shall continue to be soulish— that is, powerless to overcome his natural life—if he fails to experience additionally the deep work of the cross wrought by the Holy Spirit.

(Rom_6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? )

A limited description of the life and work of soulish Christians has been given earlier. Careful study of the soulish reveals that the conduct and action of such ones stem principally from their emotion.

While the soul possesses three primary functions most soulish or carnal Christians belong to the emotional category. Their whole life appears to revolve largely around the impulses of emotion.

In human affairs it seems to occupy a greater area than mind and will: it apparently plays a bigger role in daily life than do the other parts of the soul. Hence nearly all the practices of the soulish originate with emotion.

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man - by Watchman Nee

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