Affections
Introduction:
All of us have affections.
We are all people of the heart with emotions and feelings.
That is how God made everyone of us.
The question is = Where do we set our affections on?
Col 3:1-2
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
- Affections can be Set.
We have a will to set it.
- We can choose what to do with our affections, to love somebody and not to love some others.
- There are some we want to love, and some which are hard to love (short of a miracle).
Illustration:
During our Student days, we chose not to set our affections on Any One but to set it on our Books.
We refuse to allow other distractions divert us away from our purposes and goals.
Some people think that youths are people of uncontrollable hormones, but I chose to differ.
We are all people of choices. We have to make choices everyday because we are human beings and not animals.
Question: As a Child of God, Where are we to Set Our Affections?
May I suggest the following:
1. Set Your Affections on GOD
Deut 6:5
"And you SHALL love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might"
In Mark 12:28 the scribe came to ask Jesus,
"Which is the First (and the Most important) Commandment of all?
v:29 "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is ... and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."
Some of us want to experience first, and then follow.
Some want to experience His Affections First, His Love First, and then we respond.
This is not the right way.
We need to turn around and respond in faith to His Love and Affection, then we will Receive that which we desire.
The LORD Jesus said in Matt 10:37, that our Love/Affection for Him - must be more than for our father, mother, son or daughter - if not we are not worthy of the LORD.
In Luke 14:26, our love for The Lord Jesus must be so great, that our love for our Family and even ourselves - seems like Hate!
2. Set your affections on the Commandments of GOD
Ps 19:8-10
"the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandments of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."
The Results of setting our affections on God’s Word/Commandment is:
- rejoicing the heart
- enlightening the eyes
- create fear/reverence of GOD - cleans our heart & mind
- then we can endure
- brings truth & righteousness into our lives
- keep us abiding in His truth & living Righteously
Ps 19:11
"Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is Great Reward."
The Results of setting our affections on God’s Word/Commandment is:
Warning from all dangers and calamities comes from the WORD & the Holy Spirit of the WORD.
When we keep the WORD within us there is GREAT Reward
Ps 119:11
"I have laid up thy Word in my Heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
The Results of setting our affections on God’s Word/Commandment is:
We are protected from sinning against the Lord.
3. Set your affections on House of GOD & Worship of GOD
1 Chr 29:2-3
David was preparing for the House of GOD - even though his son Solomon was the one who is going to build it.
"So I have provided for the house of my GOD, so far as I was able,...
Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the Holy House, I have a treasure of my own of gold & silver, and because of my devotion (KJV = affection) to the House of my GOD I give it to the House of GOD."
Question: Where is your Treasure?
Matt 6:19-21 Jesus said,
"..for where your Treasure is, there will your Heart be also."
(In order to know the heart, look for where is his/her treasure).
DAVID sings songs on the House of GOD
Ps 26:8
"O LORD, I love (set my affection on) the habitation of thy House and the place where Thy Glory dwells"
Ps 27:4
"One thing have I asked (desire, aspire, crave, long for) of the LORD,
that will I seek after;...
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my Life."
Ps 84:1-2
"How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of Host,
My Soul Longs (Yearns) yea faints for the courts of the LORD.
Question: Why did the LORD Jesus cleanse the temple of all those doing business
- those selling oxen, sheep, pigeons, money changers - in John 2:14
- Because "The Zeal for Thy House has consumed me."
Ask ourselves this question: Do we serve out of the Zeal for God’s House OR because there is no one else to do it?
Illustration:
It is very easy to see whether Christians set their affections on the House of God. Do they honor God by coming to church on time? Do they love God’s house by picking up all the rubbish or dirt found in God’s house? Do they fold their hands and close their mouth during the Praise and Worship? Do they come prepared to meet with the Lord God or do they read the newspapers while waiting for the service to start?
4. Set your affections on God’s People
Set your affections on people who walk with God.
Rom 12:10
"love one another with brotherly affection/love (as members of one family), giving precedence and showing honor to one another."
We can be Friends with Unbelievers BUT we set our Affections with Believers
Does Paul practice this? YES.
1 Thes 2:8
"So being affectionately/tenderly desirous of you, we continue to share with you not only God’s good news (the gospel) but also our own lives as well, for you had become so very dear to us."
(This affection that is to be shared between church members is Brotherly & sisterly affection ONLY! That means we treat each other as part of the family – just as we would treat our own family members.
I am not suggesting that we live like the cult "Children of God" style.)
We are suggesting that we share our lives in very practical ways like helping one another, encouraging one another, praising one another, putting each other first, comforting one another in times of difficulties, rejoicing with one another in times of happiness.
5. Set your affections on Heavenly Things
What are the heavenly things?
They are:
a. Gifts of the Spirit
(1 Cor 14:1 Earnestly desire spiritual gifts)
b. The 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
1Thes 5:6 "let us not sleep, let us keep awake and be sober."
- because we are setting our Heart and our desire towards Him coming again.)
Lk 12:40 Jesus commanded,
"you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
c. Kingdom living
Living clean, wholesome lives that are fun and happy.
set your lives on living right - because there is liberty, freedom and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Walk in the Spirit of God and His fruits will be manifesting
Gal 5:22 "but the fruit of the Spirit is:
- Love, Joy (Gladness), Peace, Patience (an Even temper, Forbearance),
Kindness, Goodness (Benevolence - Favor of God & Gifts of God),
Faithfulness, Gentleness (Meekness, Humility), Self-Control (Self-Restraint).
Illustration:
The latest issue of Time magazine concludes that happiness is not found in material things such as wealth or money. (At last they have decided the the Word of God is right). These things will not bring contentment into our lives. Praise God, Jesus is the One who brings contentment in our lives. As a result, Christians are supposed to be the Happiest People On the Earth.
d. Calling of God
There is a heavenly calling on your life.
Rom 8:28 - we are not drifters driven by circumstances, or of selfish reasons.
"Everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to His Purpose"
Eph 4:1 The Holy Spirit wrote through Paul,
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called."
There is a Heavenly Calling on us to be witness unto the LORD Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and unto the ends of the earth.
The Right Affections Can Be NURTURED
HOW DO WE NURTURE THE RIGHT AFFECTIONS?
1. Continuously Kindled by Communion with GOD
Lk 24:32 On the Road to Emmaus, the disciples said:
".. were not our hearts GREATLY MOVED & Burning within us while HE was talking with us on the Road."
When GOD speaks - our Hearts move & burn with Affection for Him.
We need to develop a constant communion with God.
Ps 42:1,2
"As the Hart pants & longs for the water brooks,
so I pant & long for YOU, O GOD.
My Soul thirsts for GOD, for the living GOD."
2. Don’t Let It Grow Cold
Take steps to arrest the coldness. Rekindle the fire.
(This applies Even in marriages - after many years spouses tend to take each other for granted. We need to rekindle the fire).
Mt 24:12,13
"And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s Love will grow Cold But He who endures to the end will be saved."
- Continue to keep it Warm - Don’t let sin/wickedness into our lives.
- Don’t abandon the 1st Love
Rev 2:4-5
"But I have this (one charge to make) against you; that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first (you have deserted ME, your first love). Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously (when first you knew the LORD), or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent."
Conclusion:
We need to Guide the Direction of Our Affections.
Illustration:
A child does not necessary show affection to his/her own parents, if there is no guidance.
In fact, he/she can even be taught to hate. We have seen this in many revolutionary programs including the Communist Red Guards Army that was taught to even hate their own parents.
So to guide the direction of the affections of our children, the parents provide the atmosphere of Love and Affection – through French Kisses, Hugs, Love, Parental Kisses, Lots of Contacts, and Lots of Practical ways of nurturing and showing affections.
In these last days, false teachers are seeking to captivate your affections.
2 Tim 3:6
"For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with (the burden of their) sins (and easily) swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses."
Rev 2:20 The Holy Spirit to the church at Thyatira:
"But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols."
2 greatest pull on our affections used by false teachings today are:
- immorality
- idolatrous practices
