Reining in your emotional-life and thought-life

Philippians 4:4-5  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."

Introduction

So many people today will pay untold amounts of money to have peace in their emotional-lives and thought-lives. Some will pursue addictions to secure what they think is lasting peace and control. The problem is that in trying to gain control, they lose control. 

The practical Christian life is lived out daily through two areas of the soul: the thought-life (the mind) and the emotional-life (the emotions or heart). We can liken the man of God's soul to a mighty-conflict. The war being waged is over whether the world or God's word will govern the man. In Philippians 4:4-9 we see the General, the Holy Spirit, giving the orders to the emotional-life and thought-life in Philippians 4:4-5. With the orders given, Philippians 4:6-9 represents the strategy for reining in the emotional-life and thought-life. 

Commands given for reining in the emotional-life and thought-life. Philippians 4:4-5

The Apostle Paul has two banners that function as themes necessary for both the emotional-life (Philippians 4:4) and the thought-life (Philippians 4:5). The Holy Spirit of God through the pen of the apostle is issuing the orders to the emotional-life in Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!" What is joy? The joy being commanded here by the Holy Spirit is the unshakable confidence that God has done, is doing and will continue to do His will in your life. The word "confidence" is the true essence of God-given joy. 

Author Oswald Chambers writes in his daily devotional classic "My Utmost for His Highest", dated for March 7th: "Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them." Chambers then later notes: "The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change." 

Then we see a command issued to the thought-life in 4:5 "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near". The phrase "gentle-spirit" could also be translated "sweet-reasonableness" or "readiness to forgive" and thus our thought-lives ought to be governed by what is most reasonable or ready to forgive. Those are the commands issued forth from the General, God Himself.   So then how do we carryout these two commands?

Practical steps for reining in the emotional-life and thought-life of the Christian. Philippians 4:6-9

Every time God issues forth a command in scripture, there is always at least one provision of grace available to carry out the command. The emotional-life is the first area of practical concern in applying the command from Philippians 4:4 of "rejoicing always". Men are emotional - whether they admit it or not. Dr. Adrian Rogers said it best years ago: "You can tell what is important to a man by what makes him angry, what makes him laugh and what makes him cry". Proverbs 29:11 reminds us - "Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit." Either your emotions will control you or you will control of your emotions. Note the following strategy for reining in the emotional-life:

1. Stop worrying, start praying. Philippians 4:6a 

Philippians 4:6a "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication....".

How many of you reading this right now are worry about something? Anxiousness here speaks of rolling whatever is bothering over and over and over again in your mind. You and I dear friend will often worry first and then pray last. Why not switch up our order? In applying the command to "rejoice", one of things you is realize that because God is in control, the main responsibility is to have confidence (joy) in Him. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds the believer that the "joy of the Lord is their strength". The Holy Spirit who is the General issuing the commands in Philippians 4:4-5 is the same One who indwells every believer. One of the greatest ways to unleash Spirit empowered joy in your emotional life is to sing, or hum or whistle songs of praise or hymns to yourself. (Ephesians 5:19-20) I have found that when I do that, the excesses that can often accompany any emotions are calmed. As Jesus notes in John 7:38, the Holy Spirit acts as a fountain of living water, and He desires to splash up into your emotional life. By doing as suggested above, you will find it easier over time to stop worrying and start praying. But notice also...

2. Stop griping, start thanking. Philippians 4:6b

Philippians 4:6b ...."with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

The best way to rid your emotional-life of bitterness and apply the command of "rejoicing always" is by giving thanks to God in all things. Begin with the smallest things: a warm bed, warm shower, a car that runs and so on. As you literally thank God for the smallest things, you will find so much to be thankful for that before you know it, you are beginning to look at situations from an eternal perspective.  

3. Claim the promise of peace and joy in your emotional life. Philippians 4:7

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

How do you know when you have reined-in your emotional life? When you have the "peace of God" that surpasses all understanding. As you daily rein-in your emotional-life, you must claim the promise of God's unending peace. God's peace ruling the soul of the child of God is inexplicable by human standards. It is oftentimes in the severest trials where the saint of God is distinguished from the mere religious pretender. 

So then what of the thought-life? Being that the emotional and thought-lives are interconnected in these passages and in real-life, we will move on in considering how one can rein-in the thought-life:

4. Look for what God has given you, rather than what you don't have. Philippians 4:8

We begin at the end of Philippians 4:8 and work our way up to the beginning of the verse. We read in the latter part of Philippians 4:8b "if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." The source of the thought-life's discontent often lies in assuming that God has somehow short-changed us. However when we begin to examine and think through what God has given us in regular life and eternal-life, we gain the ability to rein in our thought-lives. Notice how Paul writes: "If there is excellence", that is to say: "what makes you conclude that God is good and has done good in your life?" Then Paul says next: "If there is anything worthy of praise" - that is - what can you think of to praise God for? 

Then we're told to "think on these things" at the end of the verse. What things? Paul has given us the list of categories to work through as we rein-in the thought-life in Philippians 4:8a  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute....", Where do we find such things? The scriptures. The number one way by which the man of God can execute these instructions is through daily reading, study and application of the scriptures. (2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17) When we do these things, we will be able to conclude in our minds that God has indeed given us more than we deserve. 

5. Claim the promise of peace and reasonableness in your thought-life. Philippians 4:9

We read in Philippians 4:9 "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Notice how the same promise of peace is given for the thought-life in 4:9 as we find for the emotional-life in 4:7. As man who has reined in his thought-life will be governed by the "gentleness of spirit" or "sweet-reasonableness" that we saw in Philippians 4:5. Reining in the thought-life entails reinforcing yourself with the positive spiritual realities spoken of in these verses. Only through such positive spiritual realities can you defeat or defend yourself against the negative realities thrown at you by the world, your flesh and the Devil himself. 

Conclusion:

In Philippians 4:4-9 we saw the only effective way we can rein in the thought-life and emotional-life. Philippians 4:4-5 gave the commands of rejoicing and exhibiting a gentle spirit or sweet reasonableness to all people. We then saw a strategy for practically taking these commands and reining in one's emotional-life and thought-life: 

1. Stop worrying, start praying

2. Stop griping, start thanking

3. Claim the promises of peace and joy in your emotional life

4. Look for what God has given you, rather than what you don't have

5. Claim the promise of peace and reasonableness sin your thought-life

Questions for thought:

1. How do you understand the relationship between your emotions and thoughts?

2. How does reining in your emotions and thoughts in stressful situations demonstrate to a watching world the Person of Jesus Christ in your life?

3. What is at least one take-away that you have gained from today’s lesson?  

Entertaining Angels Unaware - A Poem

Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Entertaining Angels Unaware - A poem

A time may come when you least expect


When the natural and supernatural intersect


God has a way of testing your heart


To see if you're ready for his will to start


A word will come from scripture in disguise


The messenger will appear normal to your eyes


Take heed and listen and follow through


God sends angels to strengthen you


The season may be dry and hope fading fast


The heart of faith asks: will you continue to last?


No comfort is found from the words of friends


The tunnel of your midnight knows no end


Or maybe your season is full to the brim


You've not paused long enough to listen for Him


Monotony and routine are sapping up strength


You must keep going and strive the extra length


Your life has become lifeless and full of  demands


The hourglass of time is emptying the sands


Suddenly a stranger is brought your way


Your mind says to go but your heart says to stay


God's still voice through scripture is prompting you


Listen and wait for the message made just for you


Be mindful of His word and ever be in prayer


So you can show God's love to angels unaware

Some thoughts on meekness

Numbers 12:3 "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." (KJV)




Introductory thoughts on the subject of meekness
Today's post features a quality trait that very few people discuss today - the character quality of meekness.  In the opening text we see the Biblical author (presumably Joshua, Moses successor, inserting a thought by Divine inspiration in the otherwise Mosaic authored text) describing Moses as being "very meek". When we talk about the English meaning of this word, it speaks of "strength under control". Think for example of a horse being restrained by a bit and a bridle or the quality of a man that enables him to restrain the urgings of the self, the flesh and strong emotion. With those opening thoughts on meekness, I would like us to take the remainder of this post and think upon Moses' meekness through particular episodes of his life that evidence this trait. Nave's Topical Bible gives the scripture references for this brief study (a worthwhile resource for the student of scripture to consider). Let us then consider then this subject of meekness:




1. Meekness points to the Glory of God
When you are attacked by false accusation or are facing opposition, what is the tendency? To defend the self at all costs, or to exercise restraint and point the person or conversation in a more God-ward direction? Moses was being accused of leading the people out to the wilderness to die. But notice his response in Exodus 16:7 -  "And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?" The meek individual points away from himself and refuses to take up bitterness. Meekness takes far more strength, which is why it is ultimately a trait wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God. (Galatians 5:23)


2. Meekness puts others ahead of oneself
The idea of meekness and humility are closely akin to one another, in that humility involves voluntary submission for the sake of another, whereas meekness entails voluntary restraint for the sake of another. Humility says "I will for your sake" and meekness says "I won't for your sake". In the Hebrew this word translated "meekness" speaks of humility of one's own agenda in the face of extreme affliction. We see the heart of Moses' meekness in his bold and frightening prayer of Exodus 32:32 - "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." The myth that "meekness is weakness" is shattered once adversity is introduced into life. Meek people will endure and put themselves last, whereas prideful people will wither and panic and push themselves to the front.
  

3. Meekness prioritizes prayer. Numbers 16:4-50
We won't quote this entire section of scripture, but only note that in this dramatic encounter between Moses and the rebel Korah, Moses is seen praying and crying out to God. A meek person learns dependence and forsakes self-sufficiency. They learn that the battle is not theirs, but the Lord's.


4. Meekness finds pleasure in God. Exodus 33:17-18
Isaiah 29:19 states - "The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." As you watch Moses grow as a leader throughout the 40 years he led the grumbling congregation of Israel, you see an ever increasing desire on his part for God's glory. Meek people care less and less about their own promotion, and rather desire the elevation of God's name in their lives and the people around them. I would like to close this brief study today with the following observation from Dr. John MacArthur: "Meekness is a path worth following. It may not lead you to a spot on “American Idol” or “Survivor,” you may not win a political campaign, but you’ll find the reward of God is yours in abundance. Jesus promised, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).1


Endnotes:
1.http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A239/restoring-the-virtue-of-meekness?term=meekness

Further thoughts on connecting the rapture and the judgment seat of Christ

Romans 14:12 "So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God."


Yesterday we did an overview of what the scripture teaches on the subject of saints appearing before Christ to "give an account". We observed yesterday that this event, described in more detail in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 and Corinthians 5:10, will occur between the rapture of the church and the second advent or coming of Christ to this earth at the end of the tribulation period.  Today I would like to expound further on this subject by considering how exactly the following events relate together:
1. The rapture
2. The judgment seat of Christ or what is also called "the Bema seat"


1. The rapture will begin the sequence leading believers to appear before the judgment seat of Christ
As we had mainly noted yesterday, when harmonizing the rapture event (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) with the judgment seat of Christ in heaven (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Corinthians 5:10), many Bible scholars connect the two events: with the rapture being the starting point and the judgment seat being the destination for Christians to occupy during the tribulation period.


Dr. Tom Lahaye writes: "We will be caught up (raptured) together (1 Thessalonians 4:17). We will bee caught up in the clouds (where dead and living believers will have a monumental reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:17). We will meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Christ will receive us unto Himself and take us to the Father's house 'that where I am, there you may be also' (John 14:3). And so shall we always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17). 1


2. The purpose of the judgment seat of Christ
Dr. Lahaye explains next what will occur once Christians have been raptured at the beginning of the tribulation period: "At the call of Christ for believers, He  will judge all things. Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10), described in detail in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)." 2


Dr. Lahaye's thoughts aid us greatly in gathering our thoughts around the judgment seat of Christ. In thinking about why Christians would be taken up by Jesus into heaven to be examined by Him, we can note two main reward:


1. Reward.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 states: "If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." What will be entailed in these rewards? Scripture describes the rewards in various ways. One way is through the notion of various "ornaments" or "crowns" that Christians will be given to cast at the Saviors feet as represented by the actions of the 24 elders in Revelation 4:10. Five such crowns are mentioned throughout the New Testament: imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25); crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4-5); crown of life (Revelation 2:10); crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) and a soul-winners crown (1 Thessalonians 2:19). These "good works" are those deeds done by believer's post-conversion up until the time of death. According to Dr. Tim Lahaye, examples of the kinds of works to be evaluated at the judgment seat would be witness (Matthew 5:16); worship (Matt 26:10) and generosity (1 Tim 6:18).3


2. Preparation


As we mentioned a moment ago, one of the terms used to describe the reward system at the judgment seat of Christ is that of "crowns" or "ornaments". Quite interestingly enough the word for "crown" in the passage listed above can refer either to an award received at an athletic competition or ornaments worn by a bride and groom in a Jewish wedding.4 As the church is brought up to heaven in the rapture to the Father's house (John 14:1-3), she appears before the judgment seat of Christ to be prepared and "decked out" in wedding garments befitting her completion of redemption won for her by her Bridegroom.


As Revelation 19:7-8 notes: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."  It would seem then that the church is raptured for the purpose of not only rewards, but also preparation for what will ultimately be the final wedding between Christ and His people at the end of the ages.5


Dr. John MacArthur explains what we have been discussing in striking detail: "Saints (are) raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation, with the Lord. For that period of time, (they) come back, reign with Him on the earth and at that time they're not only presented to those who are in heaven as they are in the time of the Tribulation but they're presented to the population of the world because the raptured and redeemed saints will come back with Christ and that presentation, in a sense, will continue through the Kingdom." 6  Dr. Dwight Pentecost in his book "Things to Come" explains the sequence of events as being in short: rapture, judgment seat/marriage supper, end of tribulation, Christ's return and 1,000 year reign.


Application and conclusion:
Dr. Wayne Grudem in His Systematic Theology gives us the following wonderful application of everything we have considered today: "It would be morally and spiritually beneficial for us to have a greater consciousness of this clear New Testament teaching on degrees of heavenly reward. Rather than making us competitive with one another, it would cause us to help and encourage one another that we all may increase in our heavenly reward, for God has an infinite capacity to bring blessing to us all, and we are all members of one another. (1 Cor. 12:26-27).7
Endnotes:
1. Dr. Tim Lahaye. Charting the Endtimes. Harvest House Publishers. Page 51


2. Dr. Tim Lahaye. Charting the Endtimes. Harvest House Publishers. Page 51


3. Dr. Tim Lahaye. Charting the Endtimes. Harvest House Publishers. Page 53


4. Some digging around in the Greek version of Solomon's recollection of his wedding day in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, confirms the use of the same Greek word described and translated throughout the New Testament by the word "crowns". Song of Solomon 3:11 states “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart.”


5. We know from the background of Jewish weddings that an espoused or engaged bride was deemed "the wife" of the groom. Therefore what begins the process of getting ready for the wedding entails presenting the bride in heaven to Christ, and then at the end of the tribulation period, bringing the bride to earth, whereby in the wedding feast that will continue on following Christ's return, Israel may join in on the festivities, with the wedding proper taking place following Christ's 1,000 year reign here on earth.


6.http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/66-67/heavenly-hallelujahs-part-2


7. Dr. Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology. Page 1145

When Christians will stand to give an account to the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."


The Bible speaks of a time when every believer will appear before the Lord to "give an account". This event, its timing and it explanation are depicted in the Bible.  A thumbnail sketch and explanation of this event is given below.


The event of believers having to stand before the Lord to give an account
The Apostle Paul gives a fly-over of the Christian life that is lived in the "nasty here and now" (2 Corinthians 5:1-8) and the "sweet by and by" (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Concerning the statements made in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, we see the fuller explanation of what Paul means in his earlier letter of 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.


Let the reader note 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."


We see then in these two passages that every Christian will stand as it were before the Lord to have the works they have done, post-conversion. The reader may had noticed that I underlined the little phrase "for the day". In the Greek and English texts the phrase specifies a particular period of time.  The question is: which day? Its not referring to the day of the believer's death, otherwise this event would be an ongoing event in heaven right now. Clearly Paul is thinking of a particular timeframe in which all Christians will stand before the Lord to have their post-conversion lives evaluated. The question of course is: When?


When believers will stand before the Lord to give an account
Romans 14:8-12 gives the reader a clue about when this particular event may occur:
"for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God."


The late prophecy Bible scholar Dr. John Walvoord notes about this text: "Paul gives further explanation of the Judgment Seat of Christ in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 5:10. The matter of judgment or evaluation of a brother's ministry is committed to Christ. Inasmuch as all Christians will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be evaluated, believers should concentrate on their own problems instead of on the problems of others." Walvoord writes on: "Scriptures are clear in both the Old and New Testaments that every individual will stand before God as his Judge, not necessarily at the same time or for the same reason. The judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ is for those who have been saved who will be evaluated then as to their contribution to the Lord's work."1

As we explore the New Testament even further, we come to Revelation 19:7-10, wherein we read: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Commentator Steve Gregg gives this observation in his helpful commentary, quoting some other Bible scholars: "The 'marriage of the Lamb' is certainly figurative of the ultimate union of Christ with His people." Gregg later writes: "Dispensationalists take the timing of the marriage to be immediately after the rapture of the church....".2 Prophecy Scholar Dr. Tim Lahaye aids us in tying together the timing of this event to the rapture of the church and Revelation 19 - "Immediately after the rapture, every Christian will stand before Christ to be judged by Him. This judgment has nothing to do with salvation, for only the saved will be there."3

More tomorrow....
Endnotes:
1. John Walvoord. Prophecy Knowledge Handbook. Victory Books. Page 456.


2. Steve Gregg. Revelation - Four Views - A Parallel Commentary. Nelson 1997. Page 445.


3. Dr. Tim Lahaye. Charting the End Times. Page 55.
Dr. LaHaye lists Revelation 19:7-9 in his chart, noting that the passage represents the judgment seat of Christ event concluding in that passage.