Only the new birth gives us the right to a new heart (Ezekiel 11.9 and 36.26).

Spiritual failure is related to the practice of emotional faith.

Do you know what? Emotional faith stimulates cowardice and shyness, impeding us to practise the Word of God. Rational or intelligent faith, on the other hand, encourages us to sacrifice in order to do the will of God.

The inability to distinguish between what is emotional and what is spiritual has disastrous effects on Christian life. And, because God is spirit, we cannot mix emotional worship with spiritual worship.

Emotional worship is based on emotions, nothing else. People cry, make promises of love and give in to emotional faith moved by appealing songs. It’s so strong that people have created what they call “ministry of praise”. The name itself is already an aberration.

In the adoration in spirit, our intellect works in accordance with the Word of God. See the book of Psalms, for example.

Paul didn’t say, “I feel whom I have believed.” But he said, “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1.12). Two small words that make a clear difference between emotional worship and spiritual or intelligent worship.

The use of rational faith involves two things: sincere recognition of God’s greatness and the demand of His promises. This is to worship in spirit and in truth.

Those who are born of the flesh do not have this discernment because they allow themselves to be led by emotions.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrew 4.12)