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Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:15-18

 

What is your definition of the word "emotion"? Bet you thought it would be easy to define. Do you know the word emotion is not in the kjv of the Bible and not in any earlier translations.

Here is one dictionary definition: "a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others."

The word did not exist in biblical times. The word "emotion" was not even a part of the world vocabulary until 1744. For many centuries, the sorts of mental states to which "emotions" now refer were typically called either passions or affections. The ancient Greek and Roman Stoics were notoriously anti-passion; they taught that man should use reason to battle all feelings, in order to avoid suffering. The Christian theologians Thomas Aquinas and Augustine of Hippo thought that was a bit much, so they carved out a separate category of good, virtuous feelings, which they called affections—things like familial love and compassion for others—and distinguished them from "evil" passions such as lust and rage.

Around the mid-18th century or so these passions and affections were lumped together under the umbrella of "emotion". I find that interesting. Here are some individual responses to ‘What is emotion?"

 

"individual-specific reactions to experiences," "sensitivity to events," "your mind’s reaction to experience," and, "the description of intangible human feelings, the powerful internal sensations that color our every experience."

 

So, in light of scripture, what is emotion? Are there two categories of emotion? More than two? Many subcategories?. Supposedly there are 8 basic emotions, this is a psychcological grouping:

 

Fear: feeling afraid. Other words are terror (strong fear), shock, phobia

Anger:

feeling angry. A stronger word is rage.

 

Sadness:

feeling sad. Other words are sorrow, grief

 

Joy:

feeling happy. Other words are happiness, gladness.

 

Disgust:

feeling something is wrong or dirty

 

Trust:

a positive emotion; admiration is stronger;

 

Anticipation:

in the sense of looking forward positively

 

Surprise:

how one feels when something unexpected happens?

 

 

I find two things strange in this grouping, "love" and "remorse" are not in the top eight. The other thing is that FEAR is number one! Of course no one even agrees what an emotion is, but generally they agree that FEAR is more basic than LOVE.

FEAR has torment! God’s perfect love casts out torment. Fear is perhaps the first emotion expressed by mankind…"I heard you in the garden and I was afraid…" That was Adams response after Adam and Eve had disobeyed God. Fear is the response to failure.

 

In the many years I have ministered in the area of deliverance, without doubt, the number one complaint of the candidate is FEAR. I have collected more than 5,000 names of demons whose function is fear! Hundreds of variations of FEAR, phobias yet to have been named by mental "experts". The FEAR of punishment or torment can easily manifest when God’s love is not understood or not received.

 

Clearly, FEAR is a spirit, and more clearly it is a spirit that God does not give to us. Fear has torment!. Virtually all psychological disorders are rooted in fear. Torment of FEAR is fear itself. It can be fear of failure or fear of success. Fear of what people think...fear of rejection...the list is so long AND so common seems there would an answer. Maybe there is.

God is LOVE! His love in us through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ drives out fear. How is this possible? His Word is absolute truth. Understanding His love for us and applying it by faith, drives out fear! That is a promise. Fear is rooted in the lies of demons.

What do you fear? Why do you fear it? A quick analysis will reveal that you are believing a lie or entertaining a lie. Perhaps you are fearing that which is not in your control to change. Maybe you have failed and are fearful of the consequences. Afraid you will be judged by others, by yourself or by God.

 

Do you know Who forgives?

Do you know who brings accusation and condemnation?

Do you know who you are in Christ? Is His arm too short to save? To forgive? Does He not care about your situation? Does He not say to cast all of your cares upon Him?

 

Is His love not perfect? Sometimes it’s just a matter of hocus-FOCUS. Fear drives people in many bad directions ... perfect love drives out fear!

 

Fear is called an "emotion", understood as an "emotion"...FEAR is a spirit! A spirit that God does not give. The Name of Jesus drives out fear.

 

Thanks for your faithful support.

 

Just for Jesus,

 

Don

 

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