Sermon Tone Analysis

C] DEVOTION— WORSHIP

_Affection_

1Ch 29:3; Ro 1:31; 2Co 7:15; Col 3:2,5; 2Ti 3:3

1 Chronicles 29:3 (KJV 1900)

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

Colossians 3:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

What Is the Difference between Affections and Emotions?

As Gerald McDermott explains, Jonathan Edwards saw affections as “strong inclinations of the soul that are manifested in thinking, feeling and acting” (Seeing God: Jonathan Edwards and Spiritual Discernment, p. 31).

A common confusion is to equate “affections” with “emotions.”

But there are several differences, as summarized in this chart from McDermott (p.

40):

_Affections_

Long-lasting

Deep

Consistent with beliefs

Always result in action

Involve mind, will, feelings

_Emotions_

Fleeting

Sometimes overpowering

Often Fail to produce action

Feelings (often) disconnected from the mind and will

He explains why affections are different than emotions:

Emotions (feelings) are often involved in affections, but the affections are not defined by emotional feeling.

Some emotions are disconnected from our strongest inclinations.

For instance, a student who goes off to college for the first time may feel doubtful and fearful.

She will probably miss her friends and family at home.

A part of her may even try to convince her to go back home.

But she will discount these fleeting emotions as simply that—feelings that are not produced by her basic conviction that now it is time to start a new chapter in life.

The affections are something like that girl’s basic conviction that she should go to college, despite fleeting emotions that would keep her at home.

They are strong inclination that may at times conflict with more fleeting and superficial emotions.

(pp.

32-33)

Here is how Sam Storms explains the difference in Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards’ “Religious Affections:

Certainly there is what may rightly be called an emotional dimension to affections.

Affections, after all, are sensible and intense longings or aversions of the will.

Perhaps it would be best to say that whereas affections are not less than emotions, they are surely more.

Emotions can often be no more than physiologically heightened states of either euphoria or fear that are unrelated to what the mind perceives as true.

Affections, on the other hand, are always the fruit or effect of what the mind understands and knows.

The will or inclination is moved either toward or away from something that is perceived by the mind.

An emotion or mere feeling, on the other hand, can rise or fall independently of and unrelated to anything in the mind.

One can experience an emotion or feeling without it properly being an affection, but one can rarely if ever experience an affection without it being emotional and involving intense feelings that awaken and move and stir the body.

(p.

45)

Set your _affections_

Strong's Greek Dictionary

5426.

φρονέω _phroneo_ (phronéō)

Search for G5426 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.

φρονέω phronéō, fron-eh'-o

from G5424; to _exercise the mind_, i.e.

entertain or have a sentiment or opinion;

by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction);

intensively, _to interest oneself in_ (with concern or obedience)

:—set the affection on, (be) care(-ful), (be like-, + be of one, + be of the same, + let this) mind(-ed), regard, savour, think.

There are _Affections_ that face the Christian.

According to this verse In Col 3:2

Colossians 3:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

1; THINGS _ABOVE_.

2; THINGS _ON EARTH_.

_Heavenly things_ the true object of Christian contemplation.

We must not only seek things above, but think them.

I THE _OBJECT_ OF CHRISTIAN Affection CONTEMPLATION.

1. Not_things upon the earth_, because

1. they are _below_ us; [Php 3:8,19]

2. _unsatisfying_ [Lu 8:18; Pr 23:5; Ho 13:13; Ps 78:39]

3. full of _anxieties_ [Mt 13:22; Job 38:22]

4. _unnecessary_ to our happiness; [Job 28:14]

5. transient and _uncertain_ [Pr 23:5; Lu 12:19-20]

2. "Things there are _above_."

(See hints on previous verse.)

We ought to set our mind upon them, because

1. they are _satisfying_;

2. _suitable_;

3. because our _treasure_ is there—

of _riches_, [Mt 6:19-21]

of _honours_, [1Sa 2:30]

of _pleasures_.

[Ps 16:11]

II THE _DUTY OF SETTING_ THE MIND UPON RIGHT OBJECTS OF THOUGHT AND AFFECTION.

This is the secret of heavenly mindedness.

"Tell me what a man thinks, and I will tell you what he is."

A. It is _our duty not_ to set our mind on things on the earth, because

1. God may give them to you as your _entire portion_; [Ps 17:14]

2. you may_provoke_ him to take them away; [Ps 78:5-7]

3. they will _turn away_ your thoughts from heaven; [Ps 10:3-4]

4. they will _distract_ you in Your duty; [Eze 33:31]

5. they _involve_ the guilt of idolatry (ver.

5).

B. It is our duty to set our mind on _things above_, because

(1) there is _nothing else_ worth our serious thought; [1Jo 2:15]

1 John 2:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

(2) they will _keep you_ from over anxiety about the affairs of this life; [Php 4:11-12]

(3) the thought of them will _increase your fitness_ for duty; [Ac 20:24]

(4) they will make the thought of death _more pleasant_ in anticipation.

[Php 1:23]

III THE _REASON_ FOR OUR SELECTING SUCH OBJECTS OF BELIEVING AFFECTION our CONTEMPLATION.

"For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

The thought is _twofold—_

it refers to a _past act_ and

to a _continuous state._