...the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6)
Emotions
Circumstances definitely affect our emotions E.g. Good things make us feel happy, bad things may make us depressed. However, our emotions should not be totally controlled by our circumstances otherwise we’re in fact captives to our emotions. Three divergent approaches are possible:
We can allow our emotions to control us.
We can take control and suppress our emotions.
We can allow the Holy Spirit to control our emotions.
I believe that the third approach is the Biblical way to regulate our emotional responses. So today we are asking the question: What’s involved in bringing our emotions under the control of the Holy Spirit?
To begin with let’s lay a few foundations to our thinking:
Firstly, We Should Know That Jesus Was an Emotional Person
Jesus wasn’t mystical, aloof and detached. The Bible brings out Jesus’ emotions clearly:
Compassion – Jesus was often visibly stirred with compassion both for individuals and the crowds.
Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" (Mar 1:41)
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mar 6:34)
Sorrow and Weeping – He wept over Jerusalem and at Lazarus’ tomb.
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it…(Luk 19:41)
Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" (Joh 11:35-36)
Anger – But you say, “I thought He was ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’”!
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (Mar 3:5)
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (Joh 2:15)
Joy – Prophetic scripture tells us that Jesus was “anointed with the oil of joy above his fellows”.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth… (Luk 10:21) It’s interesting to me that the joy was said to be “through the Holy Spirit”.
So I ask… Was Jesus an emotional person? He was indeed! Were His emotions ever out of control? I don’t believe so!
Then Let’s Realize That It’s Not Wrong for Us to Have Strong Emotions
In fact, many Scriptures encourage the expression of emotions…
Express your sorrow – Pastoral counselors know that there’s something wrong if you don’t mourn when you’re bereaved.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Mat 5:4)
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. (Luk 6:21)
So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. (1Sa 30:4)
But I thought David and his men were these mighty warriors and that “cowboys don’t cry”!
Rejoice in the Lord
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. (Luk 6:22-23)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Php 4:4)
Love – Love has an emotional dimension that needs expression. There has been a healthy emphasis on agapé being a choice, but what about philadelphia or brotherly love, which is warm affectionate love?
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love… (Rom 12:10)
Anger – Is it wrong to be angry? Sometimes yes, at other times no! It depends on your motive. Are you throwing a tantrum because you can’t get your own way? Or Do you have a righteous cause for anger?
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph 4:26-27)
We are not told to never express anger, but to not allow our anger to devolve into sinful behaviour. Remember that God is “slow to anger and abounding in love”! (See Ex 34:6) We should strive to behave like this also.
But Beware, There Are Certain Sinful Emotions
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires… (Gal 5:24)
Passions and desires include strong emotions. These have to be crucified.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious… hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy… (Gal 5:19-21) These seem to me to be strong, sinful emotions that are out of control!
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Eph 4:31)
So How Do You Let the Holy Spirit Control Your Emotions
The fruit of the Spirit is listed in Gal 5:22-23.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)
Many of these are states of mind and heart before they translate into actions.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace… (Rom 8:8)
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Rom 8:6)
Apparently, you can’t please God if you let strong emotions rule you.
Three Steps On How to Have A Spirit Controlled Temperament…
Let the negative out – tell God how you feel. Weep, shout, punch your pillow, but let it out. If the emotions stay there, they could lead to psychosomatic illness.
Let the positive in – the positive is the person of the Holy Spirit. Say, “Holy Spirit, this is how I feel… but I know you as the comforter, the helper. Please take control of my emotions as I yield them to you”.
Express the positive – let the rivers of living water flow. The Holy Spirit sets you free to express emotions. People are scared by it, but secretly attracted to it.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. (Joh 7:38)
In Closing I Make This Appeal, Let Us Be…
• Human, real, expressive, but Spirit controlled!
(I am a three times cancer survivor and in my battles I have had to learn how to allow the Holy Spirit to control my emotions to avoid self pity, hopelessness and despair. I am the author of a book “Going Against Goliath” (How to fight cancer and win) by Philip Robson).
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