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. '
