The Christian can no longer afford the luxury of living by his feelings. In this day and age, we have been walking more in the old man than in the new man. As time draws closer to the coming of the Lord, things are changing very fast. There was a time when just the basic morality that was in the land and in the people was a place where you could walk safely. Those days are no more.
When I was a teenager and even when I was a young man, you didn't have much to be concerned about as you grew up. "Happy Days" on t.v. was the way of life. It was a pretty carefree time in America. Kids played kick-the-can under street lights, young girls could walk to the movies without fear, and parents could allow their children to play in the parks without fear.
In these last days before Jesus is to return, this nation has changed dramatically. Now things have changed for the worse. Jesus is still Lord, the Word still works and you can still live without fear for yourself and your family. But, now you must be more vigilant than ever before. Things that used to come easy for believers aren't without fierce opposition as in times past.
The great dangers that we face in our lives today have much to do with the Church being slack in what and who we set in office of government. We, the Church, are the ones who held the nation on the right path in morality and faith. We dropped the ball several generations back and now what we sowed has become a bumper crop.
We moved by our feelings instead of by faith and we voted democratic or republican instead of by prayer and guidance. Now our lack of responsibility has come home to roost. We, the Church (not just you and me, but the whole Body of Christ), was given the responsibility to hold fast the faith of our fathers. We forgot about praying for our leaders (or praying about who they want to be) and let ourselves be drawn into the flesh more than in the spirit. We became like those who wanted a King Saul instead of a King Jesus.
Feelings about things without the Word to back them is a dangerous place for the Church to walk. Feelings aren't a thing that is wrong because God gave them, but feelings left unchecked are a dangerous thing. In Ephesians 4:23-27 (Amplified) says to, "Be constantly renewed in the Spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude)." Verse 24, "And put on the new nature (the regenerated self) created in God's Image (God like) in true righteousness and holiness." Verse 25 continues, "Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being now done with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another." Verse 26 says, "When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down." Verse 27 says, "Leave no (such) room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him)."
Here we see that feelings can enter in because anger is a feeling. The anger itself isn't wrong only when it goes unchecked. If you allow the anger to go unchecked, then it will become unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment. All of these things give place to the enemy to bring depression and separation into not just one person, but many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will (ever) see the Lord." Verse 15 continues, "Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look (after one another) to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing) in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it."
A root of bitterness if it is left unchecked can come from anger. From the root come the branches and the fruit. So, feelings of anger may come, but it's our responsibility to make sure they don't take root. Watch what you say and do when anger rises up in you. This same principal is true for any feeling that rises in you.
We've had splits in our churches, in our families, and in our hearts before God because of unchecked feelings. In these last days, these things will not be tolerated by the Father. The time has come to walk in 1 Corinthians 13:11 (Amplified) that says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I talked like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have beecome a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside."
In two thousand years of childhood, the Church must be grown up and take responsibility for its actions. Does this means you're not saved? God forbid. You're still God's children, but now it's time to become men. It's time for the sons of God to begin taking their place in faith and grow up into those who walk after the Spirit. Romans 8:13-14 (Amplified) we read, "For if you live according to (the dictates of) the flesh; you will surely die. But if through the power of the (Holy) Spirit you are (habitually) putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the evil deeds prompted by the body, you shall (really and genuinely) live forever." Verse 14 goes on, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Feelings have a place in the Christian person and everyone has them. It's not wrong to have feelings, but it's wrong for feelings to have you.
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