|
Faith has always led its possessor to keep the commandments of God;
and it has inspired human beings with a calm and rational
fearlessness of death, whether it came to them in the form of the
sword or the cross.
We
are to be controlled by faith and not by feelings. We should go in
direct opposition to our feelings when they go contrary to the Word
of God. This is denying ourselves and this is exactly what Jesus
has asked us to do; this is crucifying the old man and crucifying
the flesh with its passions and desires.
The possessor of faith is often
called to pass through many dark hours, many trials, and inward
sorrow and anguish. This lesson will open to us how to carry the
cross by faith, feeling or no feeling.
1. How do we walk with the cross?
2 Corinthians 5:7
___________________________________________________
Note:
Faith and feeling are as far apart as the east is from the west.
Faith does not depend on feelings.
2. What restricts our walk with the
cross?
2 Corinthians 6:12
__________________________________________________
Note:
Our Christian
life does not depend upon our feelings, but upon our having a right
relationship with Christ. Our temptations, our ideas, our feelings,
must all be laid at the foot of the cross. Then the soul is ready
to listen to words of divine instruction.
3. What must be done with our own
affections and desires?
Galatians 5:24
_____________________________________________________
Note:
Human nature is always struggling for expression. If we are to be
made complete in Christ, we must be emptied of pride and
selfishness. Then there is silence in the soul, and God's voice can
be heard. But until self is crucified at the cross we can not reach
God's ideal for us.
4. What did Christ overcome for us in the garden of Gethsemane?
Matthew 26:38-39
__________________________________________________
Note:
Christ was feeling
how terrible the wrath of God is against transgression, when He
exclaimed, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” He
was feeling the offensive character of the sin that He must bear.
Although the terrible feeling of condemnation loomed over Christ, He
clung to His Father in prayer saying “Nevertheless not as I will but
Your will be done.” See also Luke 22:44-45
5. What protects us from our old
desires and emotions?
Ephesians 6:14
____________________________________________________
Note: Those
who are always verbalizing their doubts and demanding additional
evidence to get rid of their unbelief are not building on the Word
of God. Their faith is based on their feelings and circumstances.
There is only one power that can guard and keep us steadfast--the
power of God.
6. What did Paul and Silas do when
they were in physical pain?
Acts 16:25-31
______________________________________________________
Note:
Faith and feeling are distinct, one not being dependent upon the
other. Faith, relying upon the simple promise, takes God at his
word, not because of any special feeling, but because the Lord has
said it, and will fulfill His word.
7. What does Jesus tell us to
rejoice in?
Luke 10:17-20
_____________________________________________________
Note:
We cannot mix faith and feeling together. Our feelings have
nothing to do with faith. When by faith the blessing comes and you
rejoice in the blessing, you are no longer walking by faith but by
feeling.
8. What sanctifies the blessing?
Matthew 23:18-19
__________________________________________________
Note:
The message of the
cross is to be proclaimed with a loud voice through out the land.
Every thread of selfishness is to be swept away by the cross. Let
every altar be thrown down, except the one that sanctifies the gift
and the giver--the cross of Calvary.
9. What must we not be moved away
from?
Colossians 1:23 ____________________________________________________
Note:
It is not to be physically moved away from the ‘hope of the gospel’
that Paul is concerned with but rather having our emotions lead us
away from principle and into unbelief.
10. What must be girded up?
1 Peter 1:13-14
____________________________________________________
Note:
We must recognize how important it is to keep the mind from
wandering to forbidden themes or from spending our energies on petty
subjects. Those who want to have victory over temptation must guard
the avenues to the mind; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing
that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left
to dwell at random upon any subject that the Satan may suggest.
11. What is the result of setting
our minds on earthly things?
Philippians 3:18-19
__________________________________________________
Note:
All should guard the senses or Satan will gain the victory over
them. Satan and his angels are busy creating a paralyzed condition
of the senses so that cautions, warnings, and reproofs will not be
heard; or, if heard, that they will not take effect upon the heart
or change the life.
12. Where will the mind of the
Christian be?
Colossians 3:2-3
____________________________________________________
Note:
As we surrender our lives to Jesus and take up our cross we have
signified that we “are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear then you will also
appear with Him in glory.”
Many know so little of faith that when they have asked God for his
help and blessing, they look to themselves to see if their prayer is
answered; and if they have a happy feeling, they are satisfied.
This is not faith, but unbelief. We should trust God, whether we
experience any change of feeling or not. We cannot expect to be
joyful and hopeful while we look to ourselves; for we must think of
self as sinful. The majority of professed Christians are watching
their feelings; but feeling is an unsafe guide, and those who depend
upon it are in danger of being deceived. Satan can move upon our
feelings, and he can so arrange surrounding circumstances as to make
our feelings changeable. Victory in God is not feeling, but faith.
It is the faith that will not yield although there are seeming
impossibilities to be encountered.
Written by:
Donavon Kack & Jordan Peck Phone: (907) 764-4921
E-mail:
thecrucifiedwalk@gmail.com |
