Bondage to Emotions

If we are in bondage to our emotions we will act badly without rational thinking. If we think with the mind of Christ we will act as God wants us to act.

 
All our actions are generated by our mindset, if by emotions then we are controlled by them. If our actions are dictated by rational Christ-like thinking then we are controlled by Christ.

 
We are controlled by something, either Christ, our fleshly emotions or by the devil.
Romans 8:8-10 "8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.…"

Anyone who tells you to follow your emotions is speaking from the lies of the devil just as the devil told Eve she should ignore God and eat the fruit because it looked good to eat.

 
The devil convinced Eve to follow her feelings and fleshly desires instead of God. This mentality thrives in the modern church systems today.

 
Our feelings lie to us, they say things are good when they are bad and that things are bad when they are good. Satan uses feelings to deceive people every day all day long, to derail the lives of those who have no power over him.

 
Momentary gratification has ruined more lives than anything else. It is the tactic of the devil to tempt people with momentary feelings and personal indulgence. Anyone who has been born again will tell you all their sin before they were changed by Christ was because of the enticements of the devil to follow their feelings.

 
Every sin happens because someone "felt" something that made their actions seem happy momentarily.

 
Luke 8:14
"14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity."

The enticements of the devil are the thorns disguised as pleasure, they appear happy and good until the consequences come to bear later.

 
Matthew 13:22
"The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
This deceitful fruit is worse than unfruitful, it creates a life of dependence on temporary pleasure while bringing unpleasant consequences that are last for a lifetime.

 
God's love and grace in the born-again believer brings great joy for not only a lifetime as they navigate through trials and lessons in life with Christ Who sustains them but also for eternity when they finally go to their eternal home.

 
When Christ is our focus not too much on this earth affects us in a way that is ruinous to us as many things are for those who have not trusted Christ.

 
If only we could explain these things to unbelievers so they will see what we see, but we only share the gospel with them and they have to choose Christ for their eyes to be opened.

 
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

The natural man without Christ will only begin to understand these things when they have chosen to trust in Christ and He changes them into a new creation.

Self Esteem Teaches that one cannot be Loved Unless they are Special

The self-esteem teaching basically teaches children they can only be loved if they are unique and special. God teaches that no one is special but He loved us so much despite our sinful nature, that He died for us paying the price for our sinfulness.

People "say", we need to have unconditional love but act as though we have to earn love by being seen as special. I say "being seen as special" because no one is therefore it is all about appearances on the outside without inner substance and reality.

Telling a child or treating a child as though they are special, above others is creating a false narrative about self that is easily demolished in the real world where they will not always be praised as special.

 
This is the reason many if not most people in our children's generation today cannot love anyone unless they see them as accomplished in a talent or job and outwardly beautiful.

Proverbs 18:1-3 "1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. 2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. 3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.…"

Boasting about oneself is not only common in our day but encouraged, causing superficial relationships based on how special others make them feel.

This is a detriment to relationships, no one can love anyone else who is not seen as special.

 
It is not possible to have close endearing relationships without unconditional love. Our love drives our concern about others in difficult times. It drives concern about sin in their lives to come alongside to help them have the strength to leave sin and to grow in holiness. Love edifies others to walk in the Word of God.

 
Edification is not praise, it is using the Word of God to help, to learn, to encourage in righteousness.

Proverbs 14:7
"Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech."

Many people who say they are Christians are playing a role to be accepted and elevated by onlookers. They have no substance, everything is forced, erratic and based on manipulating the responses of others.

 
When we are our authentic selves we will share the good, the bad, and the failures with our brothers and sisters in Christ who will share in the joy or the pain, whichever is present.

 
In our day we must be careful to discern who is a real brother or sister because many pretenders will gossip and use the events of our lives to disparage us rather than engage in helpful love according to the need.

 
Proverbs 10:8 "A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin."

This world is growing darker and meaner, it is a blessing to know there are still some people in it who love Christ and will operate from His fruit that lives in them.

Galatians 5:22-23 "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.…"

Seek relationships with those who have this fruit and your friendships will be quality and eternal. We can know who is from God and who is a pretender, sometimes it will be unclear but God can show us.

 
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."