Reclaiming Kingdom Emotions Through Action and Service
Summary
Emotions are a profound gift from God, reflecting His own nature and intended to enrich our lives. Yet, in a world marred by evil, our emotional landscape has become distorted, filled with feelings that were never meant to exist—guilt, shame, fear, jealousy, and more. These emotions have become so normalized that we rarely recognize how abnormal they truly are. God’s original design, and His future promise, is for us to live in a state where love, joy, and peace are the dominant emotions, with all other positive feelings flowing from them. However, the presence of evil—beginning with the rebellion of Lucifer and continuing through human history—has introduced a host of toxic emotions that we now accept as normal.
The path to reclaiming kingdom emotions begins not with passively waiting for God to change our feelings, but by actively aligning our actions with His character. God’s emotions flow naturally from His being; He is good, so He does good. For us, the process is reversed: we become by doing. As we intentionally practice compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness—even when these actions feel unnatural or uncomfortable—we gradually become people who genuinely embody these traits. This is not hypocrisy; it is the process of transformation God has designed for us.
A key faculty in this journey is the conscience, which, when calibrated to God’s Word and the example of Christ, can guide us toward kingdom emotions. However, conscience alone is not enough; it must be governed by God-enlightened reasoning and continually recalibrated to truth. Our intentions, no matter how noble, are insufficient unless they are translated into action. Good intentions without action are ultimately fruitless.
Serving others, using our God-given gifts and abilities, is a powerful way to experience kingdom emotions. When we serve, we not only bless others but also experience physiological and spiritual benefits—God has wired us to feel good when we do good. Yet, it is crucial to examine our motives: doing the right things for the right reasons—out of love for God and admiration for His character—produces the true kingdom emotions of love, joy, and peace. This process requires intentional self-awareness, vigilance against ungodly motives, and a continual willingness to replace them with godly ones. As we do what God does, for the reasons He does, we will increasingly feel as God feels, regardless of our circumstances.
Key Takeaways
- The presence of evil has normalized toxic emotions in our lives, making us largely unaware of how far we have drifted from God’s original emotional design. Emotions like guilt, shame, and fear were never meant to exist and will one day be abolished, but for now, we must recognize their abnormality and seek God’s restoration. [07:35]
- Transformation into Christlikeness does not begin with feelings but with actions. By intentionally practicing compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness—even when we don’t feel like it—we gradually become people who naturally embody these traits. Authentic change comes from persistent action, not from waiting for feelings to change first. [24:56]
- Our conscience is a powerful tool for emotional and spiritual growth, but it must be recalibrated to God’s Word and governed by God-enlightened reasoning. A miscalibrated conscience can lead to destructive actions, so continual alignment with Christ’s example is essential for experiencing kingdom emotions. [19:23]
- Serving others with our God-given gifts and abilities is both a spiritual and physiological pathway to joy, peace, and love. God has designed us so that doing good for others not only blesses them but also transforms us, releasing “happy hormones” and deepening our sense of well-being and purpose. [33:54]
- Motives matter as much as actions. Doing the right things for the wrong reasons—out of fear, legalism, or self-interest—will not produce kingdom emotions. True transformation comes when we are captivated by God’s character and do good out of genuine love and admiration for Him, seeking to reflect His beauty in our lives. [39:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:19] - The Origin of Abnormal Emotions
[07:35] - The Emotional Impact of Evil
[09:31] - The Process of Emotional Transformation
[11:21] - God’s Actions and Our Model
[18:19] - The Role of Conscience
[19:23] - Calibrating Conscience to God’s Word
[21:44] - Spiritual Clothing: Putting On Christlike Traits
[22:34] - Becoming by Doing
[24:56] - Practicing Compassion and Forgiveness
[26:54] - The Power of Love and Forgiveness
[27:46] - Doing Good and Reaping the Harvest
[29:24] - From Intention to Transformation
[33:54] - Serving Others and Experiencing Kingdom Emotions
[37:57] - Motives Behind Our Actions
[39:35] - Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons
[41:10] - Intentional Spiritual Development
[45:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kingdom Emotions
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### Bible Reading
- Colossians 3:12-14
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
- Galatians 6:9-10
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
- Romans 2:14-15
"(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)"
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### Observation Questions
1. In Colossians 3:12-14, what specific qualities does Paul tell believers to "clothe" themselves with? How does he say these qualities relate to each other?
2. According to Galatians 6:9-10, what is the result of not giving up in doing good? Who are we especially encouraged to do good to?
3. In Romans 2:14-15, what role does the conscience play in people’s lives, even for those who don’t have God’s written law?
4. The sermon says, “We become by doing. As we intentionally practice compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness—even when these actions feel unnatural or uncomfortable—we gradually become people who genuinely embody these traits.” ([24:56]) What does this suggest about the relationship between our actions and our emotions?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon teaches that emotions like guilt, shame, and fear were never meant to exist and will one day be abolished. Why do you think these emotions have become so normalized in our lives? ([07:35])
2. The pastor said, “God’s doing flows from his being. For us, the process is reversed: we become by doing.” What does this mean for how we approach spiritual growth and emotional change? ([22:34])
3. According to the sermon, why is it not enough to simply have good intentions or feelings about doing good? What is the danger of stopping at intention? ([29:24])
4. The sermon emphasizes that motives matter as much as actions. What are some examples of “doing the right things for the wrong reasons,” and why do these not produce kingdom emotions? ([39:35])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that “serving others, using our God-given gifts and abilities, is a powerful way to experience kingdom emotions.” ([33:54]) Can you think of a time when serving someone else changed your emotional state? What specific gifts or abilities do you have that you could use to serve others this week?
2. “Transformation into Christlikeness does not begin with feelings but with actions.” ([24:56]) Is there a Christlike trait (compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness) that feels unnatural for you? What is one small action you could take this week to practice that trait, even if you don’t feel it yet?
3. The sermon warns that our conscience can be miscalibrated and must be aligned with God’s Word and Christ’s example. ([19:23]) Are there areas in your life where your conscience might be leading you astray? How can you recalibrate your conscience to God’s truth?
4. The pastor said, “Good intentions without action are ultimately fruitless.” ([29:24]) Is there something good you’ve been intending to do for a while but haven’t acted on? What is stopping you, and what step could you take this week to move from intention to action?
5. The sermon challenges us to examine our motives: “Doing the right things for the wrong reasons—out of fear, legalism, or self-interest—will not produce kingdom emotions.” ([39:35]) Think of a recent time you did something good. What was your real motive? How can you shift your motives to be more about love for God and others?
6. The pastor described a process of “intentional self-awareness, vigilance against ungodly motives, and a continual willingness to replace them with godly ones.” ([41:10]) What is one practical way you can become more aware of your motives and emotions this week?
7. The sermon says, “If we do as God does for the reasons God does, we will feel as God feels, regardless of our circumstances.” ([41:10]) What is one area of your life where you want to feel more of God’s love, joy, or peace? What action could you take to move in that direction?
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Devotional
Day 1: God’s Image Sets the Standard for Healthy Emotions
Human beings were created in the image and likeness of God, which means that our emotional “normal” is not defined by the world around us, but by the character and emotional life of God Himself. In the beginning, only emotions that stemmed from love, joy, and peace were present, and these are the emotions that God intends to restore as the norm for all His people. The presence of evil has introduced abnormal and toxic emotions—such as guilt, shame, fear, and anger—that were never meant to exist, but God promises that one day these will be abolished forever. Until then, we are called to look to God, not to our culture or our own experience, as the model for what healthy emotions should be, and to trust that as we align ourselves with His image, we will progressively experience the kingdom emotions He desires for us. [07:35]
Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Reflection: In what ways have you let the world or your own experiences define what is “normal” for your emotions, and how can you begin today to look to God’s character as your standard instead?
Day 2: Doing as God Does Leads to Kingdom Emotions
God’s actions are always good, loving, righteous, just, and faithful, and He calls us to mirror these actions in our own lives. While God’s doing flows naturally from His being, for us, transformation happens as we intentionally choose to do what is good, compassionate, and faithful—even before we feel it. As we persist in doing what God does, we progressively begin to feel as God feels, experiencing more of His love, joy, and peace regardless of our circumstances. This is not about trying to trick ourselves into feeling better, but about engaging in the process God has designed: as we act in alignment with His character, our emotions are transformed to reflect His kingdom. [11:21]
Psalm 145:8-9, 17 (ESV)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to mirror God’s goodness or compassion, even if you don’t feel like it, trusting that your emotions will follow in time?
Day 3: Recalibrating Conscience to God’s Word
Our conscience is a powerful God-given faculty that can create emotions of guilt, peace, or joy depending on whether we are living in alignment with God’s ways. However, conscience alone is not always trustworthy, as it can be miscalibrated by culture, upbringing, or misinformation. Only when our conscience is recalibrated to God’s Word and the person of Christ, and governed by God-enlightened reasoning, can it reliably guide us toward kingdom emotions. As we strengthen and align our conscience with God’s truth, we experience greater freedom from toxic emotions and a deeper sense of love, joy, and peace. [19:23]
Romans 2:14-15 (ESV)
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.
Reflection: Is there an area where your conscience is uneasy or conflicted? How can you bring this area under the light of God’s Word and allow Him to recalibrate your inner guide?
Day 4: Transformation Through Persistent Doing
We are called to “clothe ourselves” with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness—not by waiting to feel these virtues, but by practicing them intentionally and persistently. Just as we put on clothes each day, we are to put on these Christlike qualities, even when they feel uncomfortable or unnatural at first. Over time, as we continue to act in these ways, real transformation occurs: our character and emotions are changed, and we become more like Christ, experiencing the harvest of kingdom emotions that God promises. [24:56]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Reflection: Which of these “spiritual clothes” feels most uncomfortable for you to put on right now, and what is one way you can practice it today, trusting God for transformation?
Day 5: Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons
It is possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons—out of fear, legalism, or a desire to get something from God—but true kingdom emotions are produced only when we do the right things for the right reasons: because we genuinely admire and love God, and want to become like Him. This requires intentional self-awareness, honest examination of our motives, and a willingness to let God’s Spirit transform not just our actions, but our hearts. As we pursue God’s will out of authentic love and admiration for Him, we experience the fullness of love, joy, and peace that He desires for us. [39:35]
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Reflection: What is one area where you are tempted to do the right thing for the wrong reason, and how can you invite God to purify your motives so that your actions flow from genuine love for Him?
Quotes
We don't even know how abnormal they are. They were never meant to exist. And by the way, God promises they will be abolished forever, eventually. But we live with them now, unaware of how abnormal these emotions are in the emotional states that we live in. [00:07:59] (16 seconds)
Why not choose to put your trust in the Creator of the universe and the One that demonstrated His love for us by going to a cross to say, this is how much I love you. Put nails in my hand and my feet. If that's what it takes to let you know, I love you. You can trust me. I want you. I want so much for you to return to your original purpose by trusting in me. And I'll give you the life that you've always wanted that you can't find on your own. [00:15:34] (27 seconds)
Our consciences can create emotions. If our conscience accuses us that we have done wrong, we have sad emotional feelings. We have guilty feelings. We have perhaps shameful feelings. We are more insecure. We have forebodance. We feel like something bad should happen to us. The conscience, when violated, will do this. [00:18:35] (22 seconds)
We have to do it before we have it. If I do it trusting in God, and I do it consistently, I will eventually become it. Let me explain what I'm saying. Okay, so. Maybe I'm lacking in compassion. God says, just put them clothes on, man. Get your clothes on. So what does that mean? It means I do the compassionate things whenever I'm exposed to an opportunity, whether I feel the compassion or not. And that's where we get tripped up. We feel like, man, if I'm not feeling it, it's inauthentic. I'm being hypocritical. I'm being phony. No, no, no, no, no. It's not the way it works. [00:24:56] (37 seconds)
If you and I want to become more compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forbearing, forgiving, we have to start practicing those things and we have to persist in them. And as we persist in them, new neural pathways get built in our brains and we literally are experiencing authentic transformation. You're not being hypocritical if you're doing these things before you feel them. You do them and then the feeling will come in time as real transformation occurs in these brains of ours. [00:26:00] (30 seconds)
As I consistently, intentionally do good and I persist at it, it changes me emotionally when I do good. I'm going to kind of simplify this. When I do good, I'm going to add to this later on the message. When I do good, I will start to feel good because God himself is good and I am mirroring his image, which is the way I was created to be. [00:28:32] (23 seconds)
You know what they tell depressed people, despondent people? Anybody know? You think you know? Go ahead. Just yell it out. Yes. Serve someone else. And it works. You know what happens when we serve someone else? You know what happens? They now know when you and I do what is good, do what is right, serve somebody else, give generously in various ways. We have these things in our brain. They call them the happy hormones, oxytocin and endorphins. When we do good, God has so wired us in his image that when we physiologically, when we do good, we feel good. [00:33:39] (36 seconds)
Ability and opportunity plus fidelity or faithfulness equals kingdom emotions you and i can change our emotional climate progressively continuously when we're willing to take the abilities let's aside from spiritual giftings just abilities life learnings and experiences and things and we seize opportunities to serve others faithfully by these life learnings experiences and spiritual giftings when we do that but it's got to be active because until it gets active it's not dynamic and we won't experience the um the the kingdom emotions that god wants us to experience. [00:34:42] (40 seconds)
Has the sacrificial death of the creator of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, has that or is that influencing each and every one of us in that way? Is it making me cleanse my life of wickedness and sin, active sin? Is it making me purify my motives and my inner secretive thoughts? Because that is what the sacrificial death of Jesus was meant to do. [00:37:01] (28 seconds)
If we do as god does for the reasons god does we will feel as god feels it's it's It's just simple math. It's God's divine process. He has a lot of divine processes, like get eight hours of sleep, drink a bunch of water, eat some food, you know, move around a little bit. There's all divine processes. It's all part of his plan for us. [00:43:30] (21 seconds)
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