Spiritual Emotion.

Please read the following excerpt from the book we are studying, constantly using the Word of God for the guide to ALL truth.

Tomorrow by the will and grace of God we will study this more thoroughly searching for only truth as found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Excerpt from - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

'The Proper Use of Emotion

 If God’s children permit the cross to operate deeply upon their emotion they shall find afterwards that it no longer obstructs, but rather cooperates with, their spirit.

The cross has dealt with the natural life in the emotion, has renewed it, and has made it a channel for the spirit. A spiritual man we have said before is not a spirit, but neither is he a person devoid of emotion; on the contrary, the spiritual man will use his feeling to express the divine life in him.

Before it is touched by God emotion follows its own whim. And hence it habitually fails to be an instrument of the spirit. But once it is purified it can serve as the means of the spirit’s expression.

 The inner man needs emotion to express its life: it needs emotion to declare its love and its sympathy towards man’s suffering: and it also needs emotion to make man sense the movement of its intuition.

Spiritual sensing is usually made known through the feeling of a quiet and pliable emotion. If emotion is pliably subject to the spirit the latter, through the emotion, will love or hate exactly as God wishes.

 Some Christians, upon discerning the truth of not living by feeling, mistake spiritual life as one without it. They accordingly try to destroy it and to render themselves as insensate as wood and stone. Because of their ignorance of the meaning of the death of the cross, they do not understand what is meant by handing over one’s emotion to death and living by the spirit. We do not say that, in order to be spiritual, a Christian must become exceedingly hard and void of affection like inanimate objects—as though the term spiritual man means for him to be emptied of feeling. Quite the contrary. The most tender, merciful, loving, and sympathetic of persons is a spiritual man.

To be entirely spiritual by delivering his emotion to the cross does not denote that henceforth he is stripped of his feeling. We have observed numerous spiritual saints and have noticed that their love is greater than that of others, which demonstrates that a spiritual man is not without emotion and additionally that it differs from that of the ordinary man.

In committing our soul to the cross we must remember that what is lost is the soul life, not its function.

Were its function nailed to the cross we then could no longer think, choose, or feel. We must therefore remember this basic fact: to lose soul life means to doggedly, resolutely, and continuously deny the natural power and to walk exclusively by the power of God; it means to live no longer after self and its desires but to submit unexceptionally to the will of God.

Moreover, the cross and resurrection are two inseparable facts: “for if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6.5 ASV).

The death of the cross does not connote annihilation; hence the emotion, mind and will of the soul are not extinguished upon passing through the cross. They only relinquish their natural life in the death of the Lord and are raised again in His resurrection life. Such death and resurrection cause the various operating organs of the soul to lose their life, to be renewed, and to be used by the Lord.

Consequently a spiritual man is not emotionally deprived; rather, his emotion is the most perfect and the most noble, as though newly created out of God’s hand. In short, if anyone has trouble here, the trouble lies with his theory and not with his experience, for the latter will bear out the truth. Emotion must go through the cross (Matt. 10.38-39) in order to destroy its fiery nature, with its confusion, and to subject it totally to the spirit. The cross aims to accord the spirit authority to rule over every activity of emotion.

Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. '

Emotional Reactions or Spiritually Ruled?

1Co_2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 

Jud 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 

Jud 1:20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Truly the word of God NEVER tells us to rely upon our feelings, to count on our sensations, to use our emotions as a guide. The NATURAL man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. We MUST have the Spirit and the Spirit communes with our spirit.

Rom_8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

The Spirit with our spirit! This is God's word!

We are told by Jesus Himself that we have to be born of the Spirit or else we cannot enter the kingdom of God.  We are NOT told to be born of our emotions, our feelings, our senses, our natural man. A change MUST take place in us. Our spirit MUST be alive in us! Our spirit must RULE over all else in us. Emotions will trip us up at every turn.

I read a thing on facebook recently that pertained to this…

'You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you…'

The truth in this message is so blatant. How many of us truly have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to us?  Think about it before you simply answer.  By the grace of God pay attention throughout the day as you are spoken to by others- is your response emotional?  Are feelings in you roused - happy, sad, angry, disgusted, you name the emotion.  How rare is it for you not to feel anything at all?

I've been called 'over' sensitive throughout my life and it's only now that I am realize just how much emotions rule my life.  May God please help me to understand more and more of His truth. May the Spirit rule in my spirit, not my emotions.

Another excerpt --

The Spiritual man- By Watchman Nee - Excerpt

'What are the servants of the Lord seeking today? Countless ones aspire to spiritual power. But this power is obtained solely by paying a price. Should a Christian die to his emotion he will possess spiritual might.

It is because he leans too much on his emotion and is bound too strongly to his desire, affection and feeling that the Christian forfeits real power.

Only a deeper operation of the cross can fill us with spiritual dynamite; other than that there is no way to it. When the cross works upon our desire enabling us to live completely for God, spiritual power will naturally be evidenced in us. A believer’s emotion, if not overcome, will additionally hamper him in spiritual work.

As long as its influence obtains, his spirit is impotent to control it and consequently unqualified to fulfill the highest will of God. '

Our rejoicing is in the LORD, not in ourselves.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 

We are studying excerpts on 'emotion' in Watchman Nee's book- The Spiritual Man and truly he gives us a lot to consider.

Searching the scriptures- once again we are brought back to these verses that have been laid upon my heart for the last few months.

We are to rejoice IN THE LORD always.  We aren't told to rejoice in our life's circumstances be they wonderful or wretched, we aren't told to rejoice in ourselves at all! Our rejoicing must be outside of our self and focused on the LORD. Always we can rejoice in the LORD for all He's accomplished and continues to accomplish in us and our lives. If our circumstances are so horrific we can't rejoice in anything about them at all, we can still CHOOSE to rejoice in the victory that is CHRIST'S.  I know, easy for me to say, but truly it isn't easy to say. I know firsthand the temptation to give in to despair as things all around me seem to crumble apart. I can't even say I haven't given  into that despair at all, I'd be lying. I can only PRAISE and THANK God that the despair didn't lead me away from Him and all there is to rejoice in Him.  We are to rejoice IN THE LORD, we can't forget that, not ever! Our rejoicing as our heart longs to break in a million pieces for the tragedies in our lives, must be a rejoicing in the LORD.

Truly we are NOT to worry. We need to NOT worry, but to trust in the LORD. It is SO easy to get caught up in the CARES OF THIS LIFE!

Luk_21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 

Luk 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 

Luk 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

As we read the following excerpt let's keep all the above verses in mind. All by the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen!

'Two reasons can be offered why many walk according to their emotion. First, since they do not understand what walking according to the spirit is nor have ever sought to so walk, they will naturally walk according to the movement of emotion. Because they have never learned how to deny the agitation of their emotion, they are simply swept along by it and do those deeds which they ought not do. Their spiritual sense verily raises its objection, but these individuals so lack spiritual power that they completely disregard its objection and heed their feeling instead. The latter beats stronger and stronger in them until they are completely carried away. They do what they should not; and after having done it they repent for having so done. Second, even those who have experienced the dividing of spirit and soul and who recognize the stirrings of emotion as being soulish and instantly resist can nonetheless walk after emotion. This is due to the success of “spiritual” counterfeit. Before anyone becomes spiritual he is overwhelmed by his powerful emotional feelings; but after he becomes spiritual his emotion often pretends to be his spiritual sense. Outwardly these two are difficult to differentiate, because they appear to be nearly identical. For lack of knowledge, the saints can be deceived. And as a consequence they exhibit many carnal actions. We should remember that in walking after the spirit all our actions must be governed by principles, since the spirit has its own laws and principles. To walk by the spirit is to walk according to its laws. With spiritual principles everything becomes sharply defined. There is a precise standard of right and wrong. If it is “yes” it is “yes” whether the day is clear or cloudy; if it is “no” then it is “no” whether exciting or depressive. The Christian’s walk should follow a distinct standard. But if his emotion is not handed over to death, he cannot abide a permanent standard. He will live by the whim of his vacillating feelings and not according to a definite principle. A principled life differs enormously from an emotional life. Anyone who acts from emotion cares neither for principle nor for reason but only for his feeling. Should he be happy or thrilled he may be tempted to undertake what he ordinarily knows is unreasonable. But when he feels cold, melancholy or despondent he will not so much as fulfill his duty, for his feeling fails to go along. If God’s children would pay a little attention to their emotion, they would note how changeable it actually can be and how dangerous it therefore is to walk by it. So often their attitude is: if the Word of God (spiritual principle) agrees with their feeling, they observe it; if the Word does not, they simply reject it. What an enemy emotion can be to spiritual life!

All who desire to be spiritual must conduct themselves daily according to principle. One quality which characterizes a spiritual person is the great calm he maintains under every circumstance. Whatever may happen around him or however much he may be provoked, he accepts it all calmly and exhibits an unmovable nature. He is one who is able to regulate his every feeling, because his emotion has been yielded to the cross and his will and spirit are permeated with the power of the Holy Spirit. No extreme provocation has the strength to unsettle him. But if one has not accepted the dealing of the cross upon his emotion, then he will be easily influenced, stimulated, disturbed, and even governed by the external world. He will undergo constant change, for emotion shifts often. The slightest threat from outside or the smallest increase in work shall upset him and render him helpless. Whoever genuinely desires to be perfect must let the cross cut deeper into his emotion. If the Christian would simply bear in mind that God does not lead anyone who is in turmoil, he might be spared many errors. Never decide on anything or start to do anything while emotion is agitating like a roaring sea; it is in times of great emotional upheaval that mistakes are readily made. Our mind too becomes undependable in such periods because it is easily affected by feeling. And with a powerless mind, how can we ever distinguish right from wrong? Again, during that time even our conscience is rendered unreliable. As emotion pulsates, the mind becomes deceived and conscience is denied its standard of judgment. Whatever is decided and performed in such circumstances is bound to be improper and will be something to be regretted afterwards. A believer should exercise his will to resist and to terminate such fomented feeling; solely when his emotion is no longer boiling but returns to perfect calm can he decide what he should do. '

Some emotions of our Savior.

The Emotions of Jesus -

Mar 1:41  And Jesus, moved with COMPASSION, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 

Jesus- MOVED with compassion.   (Compassion Definition- sympathy for the suffering of others, often including a desire to help)  (Sympathy Definition- the ability to enter into, understand, or share somebody else's feelings)

Luk 7:13  And when the Lord saw her, he had COMPASSION on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 

Mat 20:34  So Jesus had COMPASSION on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. 

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with COMPASSION on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Mar 1:41  And Jesus, moved with COMPASSION, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 

Mat 14:14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with COMPASSION toward them, and he healed their sick. 

Mar 3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with ANGER, being GRIEVED for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 

Anger (Definition - a strong feeling of grievance and displeasure)

Mar 10:14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much DISPLEASED, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 

Joh 11:33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was TROUBLED

Joh 13:21  When Jesus had thus said, he was TROUBLED in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 

Mat 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding SORROWFUL, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 

Emotions have their rightful place, without them we couldn't claim such a things as happiness, pleasure, joy, etc. 

Without emotion does the following verse make sense?

Rev_21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

What about these verses?

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Jud_1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy

Emotions are not something that will ever be done away with, not ever.

I don't know if any of you have ever watched the tv show Star Trek, but on this show there is portrayed an alien race called- Vulcans. These Vulcans are a people that have learned to CONTROL their emotions. Throughout the various movies and shows in this Star Trek franchise there has come up time and again people who mistake the Vulcans control of emotion for having no emotions, and time and again people are reminded that they do have them, they've just learned to control them because their distant ancestors were so violent they almost destroyed themselves. The reason I bring this up is because we are not to rid ourselves of emotions, the Bible doesn't tell us to never feel joy again. Jesus does not tell us to get rid of all our anger, but rather to have it controlled.

Eph_4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Mat_5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…

Yes, we are to put away anger and malice and such and all that would harm others or us, but we aren't to deny we have emotions.

The Vulcans on the show do come across as cold and emotionless, but that isn't what our Savior would have us be. Yes, we need to have control over our emotions having them all in moderation, and in subjection to the will of God. But we are not to do away with our emotions.  Let's read what Watchman Nee says about the 'Function of Emotion.'

'The Function of Emotion

Our emotion emits joy, happiness, cheerfulness , excitement, elation, stimulation, despondency, sorrow, grief, melancholy, misery, moaning, dejection, confusion, anxiety, zeal, coldness, affection, aspiration, covetousness, compassion, kindness, preference, interest, expectation, pride, fear, remorse, hate, et al. The mind is the organ of our thinking and reasoning and the will, of our choices and decisions. Aside from our thought and intent and their related works, all other operations issue from emotion.

Our thousand and one diverse feelings manifest its function. Feeling comprises such a vast area of our existence that most carnal Christians belong to the emotional type. Man’s sensational life is most comprehensive, hence highly complicated; to help believers understand it, we can gather all its various expressions into the three groups of

(1) affection,

(2) desire, and

(3) feeling.

These groups cover the three aspects of the function of emotion. Should a saint overcome all three, he is well on the way to entering upon a pure spiritual path. To be sure, man’s emotion is nothing but the manifold feelings he naturally has. He may be loving or hateful, joyful or sorrowful, excited or dejected, interested or uninterested, yet all are but the ways he feels. Should we take the trouble to observe ourselves we will easily perceive how changeful are our feelings.

 Few matters in the world are as changeable as emotion.

We can be one way one minute and feel quite opposite the next.

Emotion changes as feeling changes, and how rapidly the latter can change. He therefore who lives by emotion lives without principle.

The emotion of man often displays a reactionary motion: a time of activity in one direction will sometimes produce an opposite reaction. For example, unspeakable sorrow usually follows upon hilarious joy, great depression after high excitement, deep withdrawal after burning fervor. Even  in the matter of love, it may commence as such but due to some emotional alteration it may end up with a hatred whose intensity far exceeds the earlier love'

More tomorrow by the grace and will of our Lord, Jesus Christ!  Amen.

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.

*******

'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

Emotion

Before we delve further into the book-  'The Spiritual Man' and what Watchman Nee has to say about emotions and the believers and the function of emotions read this-

Heb_4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We need to remember that our Savior had FEELINGS like we have FEELINGS. Our Savior experienced EMOTIONS like we experience EMOTIONS. Our Savior was never consumed by his emotions, his feelings, he never let them rule over him.  Truly if we read the following about emotion and disagree I can't comprehend why. 

Go ahead and read the excerpt and by the grace of God we will study it tomorrow. All through the love of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ now and forever!

*******

'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.

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.

The Function of Emotion

Our emotion emits joy, happiness, cheerfulness , excitement, elation, stimulation, despondency, sorrow, grief, melancholy, misery, moaning, dejection, confusion, anxiety, zeal, coldness, affection, aspiration, covetousness, compassion, kindness, preference, interest, expectation, pride, fear, remorse, hate, et al. The mind is the organ of our thinking and reasoning and the will, of our choices and decisions. Aside from our thought and intent and their related works, all other operations issue from emotion.

Our thousand and one diverse feelings manifest its function. Feeling comprises such a vast area of our existence that most carnal Christians belong to the emotional type. Man’s sensational life is most comprehensive, hence highly complicated; to help believers understand it, we can gather all its various expressions into the three groups of (1) affection, (2) desire, and (3) feeling.

These groups cover the three aspects of the function of emotion. Should a saint overcome all three, he is well on the way to entering upon a pure spiritual path. To be sure, man’s emotion is nothing but the manifold feelings he naturally has. He may be loving or hateful, joyful or sorrowful, excited or dejected, interested or uninterested, yet all are but the ways he feels. Should we take the trouble to observe ourselves we will easily perceive how changeful are our feelings.

 Few matters in the world are as changeable as emotion.

We can be one way one minute and feel quite opposite the next.

Emotion changes as feeling changes, and how rapidly the latter can change. He therefore who lives by emotion lives without principle. The emotion of man often displays a reactionary motion: a time of activity in one direction will sometimes produce an opposite reaction. For example, unspeakable sorrow usually follows upon hilarious joy, great depression after high excitement, deep withdrawal after burning fervor. Even  in the matter of love, it may commence as such but due to some emotional alteration it may end up with a hatred whose intensity far exceeds the earlier love'

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man - by Watchman Nee

Distracted Hearts

Mat_6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mat_19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Where is your treasure? I've asked this before in other studies, but it bears asking again- constantly. Most people know their net worth- they know how much money they have, how much property they possess, what their assets are and they can tell you all about it. People generally know the things they possess and could list them. Here in the United States we are required to file income tax and that right there allows us yearly to know what we are worth in monetary terms.  If we know what treasures we possess here on earth, we know whether or not we've committed them all to heaven for God's use, or if we've selfishly left God out of that part of our life altogether choosing to keep our financial business and religious business separate.  If we keep them separate though- doesn't that mean our financial treasures/assets are all kept here on earth and not in heaven? We aren't to lay treasures up here on earth but we do so all the time, forgetting they can be stripped from us at any moment. 

Are we truly laying our treasures up in heaven?

*Excerpt-

'In both his walk and work, heavenly attraction should always be greater than earthly gravitation.

The child of God should learn to live for the Lord’s service, but even more so for the Lord’s receiving him.

 May our spirit be uplifted daily, looking for the return of the Lord. May the things of this world so lose their power over us that we do not in the slightest wish to be “worldly”; nay, we even delight in not remaining “in the world.”

May our spirit daily ascend… May we so seek the things above that not even the best work on earth can distract our hearts. May we henceforth pray in spirit and with understanding, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22.20) '  The Spiritual Man- By Watchman Nee