Feelings: More on Depression

Thank you for the comments and questions I received via email.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is not sin. If however, she loses her temper because of the hormones, that is sin and must be confessed.

I lost a classmate from suicide due to depression when he was a student at the Naval War College. There is no question in my mind that he was under the influence of the Enemy.

The Holy Spirit has fruit in the Christian’s life. The fruit of the Spirit is given to all Christians when we receive Christ. At that moment, all of our sins were forgiven.

When, as a new Christian, a person sins, he is chastened by the Lord (Heb. 12:5-11). No chastening is joyous. He loses his joy in the Lord. When he is chastened for his sin, he confesses it, and his joy returns.

God gives us the fruit of the Spirit. They are all emotions: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each of these things is also commanded. We are not commanded to do these things in order to receive them, but because we already have them.

None of the commands in the New Testament are moderate. Many contain superlatives. A few examples:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! …. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:4, 6-7)

Do everything without grumbling or arguing. (Phil. 2:14)

Not giving thanks in everything is sin. It is disobedience. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). This is the way to obedience.

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Getting Old

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Roots by the River

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