Hedonism tells us that our emotions are our master, but for followers of Jesus, we have dethroned everything else and have exalted Christ to the number one slot. In this session, we will be able to…
- Define emotions.
- Relate your emotions to your values.
- Develop a plan to deal with your emotions.
- Apply the plan of action to an emotional experience.
WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?
- Emotions are essential to the human experience. Even Jesus had emotions: Mark 1:35, John 13:34, 11:35, 17:13.
- Emotions are spontaneous responses to our values and beliefs that have been affirmed or challenged.
- Read Matthew 21:12-13 as an example of the emotions of Jesus and the religious leaders (money changers in the temple).
- Read Matthew 21:14-16 (the blind and lame man at the temple).
- Read Luke 10:30-37, (the Levites versus the Samaritan).
- If you can discern what makes you mad, or sad, or glad, you can know you true values.
- A carnal Christian places their values on a self-centered life.
- A committed Christian places their values on a Christ-centered life.
- Emotions of jealousy and strife in Christians is called what by Paul? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) Spiritual Christians have strong emotions but are under the control of Christ.
A COURSE OF ACTION:
A = Acknowledge the Emotion – denial or suppression of emotion is not helpful. Read Matthew 26:37-38) What is the first think Jesus did about his emotional grief and distress?
C = Consider the Source – why are you experiencing this emotion? Sometimes it is a trigger from a past experience, even if that thought is deep in your subconscious mind.
T = Thank God That He Will Help You Master Your Emotions – Perhaps you cannot identify the cause of your emotion, so talk to a trusted friend and be sure to pray about it.
- David took a series of steps (Psalm 42)
- When are we to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Why can we give thanks? (Romans 8:28)
- How did Paul and Silas prevent their situation from producing negative emotions? (Acts 16:25)
I = Identify the Proper Biblical Response – We are responsible for how we respond to what triggers us.
- Hate (Luke 6:27-28)
- Anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Joy (Philippians 4:4)
- Anger (Ephesians 4:25-26, 31-32)
- Envy (1 Peter 2:1, 1 Corinthians 13:4)
O = Obey the Leading of the Spirit – Do not obey your emotions, but let the Spirit lead you regarding your mind, will, and emotions. People don’t make us behave a certain way, but we choose to react in a positive or negative way. Responding in love is not an emotion but an action (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
N = Nurture the Fruit of the Spirit – Each is a stable trait of character, developed by a close relationship with Christ through the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
How might you apply these steps of action for these extreme emotions?
- Loneliness
- Anger
- Lust
- Anxiety
- Revenge
- Depression
- Grief
- Greed
- Forgiving someone of something like betrayal