Emotions cannot see, hear or think; only truth can set us free.

Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tree of Life
Weekly Review
120119

1PE 3:15 which dogmatically teaches us that one of the most important doctrines that a believer must learn and apply. This is a subject that basically deals with all believers who must perceive and apply the appropriate doctrine to the details of life.

Believe it or not, the main reason that I would like to bring out this evening has to do with being prepared in time with the result that you can also be prepared in eternity.

Under the principle of equal privilege and equal opportunity, every believer has been given an inheritance which was created perfectly just for them personally; EPH 1:3-4; 1PE 1:3-5.

EPH 1:3-4, ….He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {places} in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

1PE 1:4-5, we are to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven just for you (and me), who are protected by the power of GOD through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Let’s continue with the believers fulfilling the calling of GOD upon their life. My hope is that those of us who have been faithful students of the Word of GOD throughout the years finally realize the seriousness of the disobedience that is before them. Be careful of the emotions of the soul because they have been created by our LORD Jesus Christ to respond to GOD the Father and to be thankful for His plan.

When your emotions are in charge, there is always the danger of making decisions based upon “how” one feels rather than “what one knows.”  Be careful of the emotions of the soul making decisions because the old sin nature will seek for dominance of the flesh rather than fellowship with the Spirit. Here in GAL 5, the Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Galatia concerning this battle going on within every single one of us, as GOD’s children.

Let’s note the passage first;

GAL 5:13-18, For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the {statement}, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

The churches of Galatia were known for a particular game in the ancient world that was called or known as a “Debater’s Technique” which was a popular game in the ancient world. In fact, you would bet a certain wager on who could win a debate or an argument.

Now, it’s interesting, that the Galatians were known as a Celtic people who were part Irish and loved to argue; GAL 5:13-18.

GAL 5:13-18, For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the {statement}, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Never make an important decision in life that you cannot see.
Emotions cannot see; Emotions cannot hear; Emotions cannot function, especially; only truth can set us free.

Now, this principle concerning the emotions is really a doctrine that causes many, both believers and unbelievers, to realize their place and their responsibilities both in the natural realm and the spiritual realm.

When the emotions start to overpower us, it may be something so simple that the wisdom of man is even fooled because man thinks he knows something when he really knows NOTHING!

When the emotions start to overpower us, it may be something so simple that the wisdom of man is even fooled because man thinks he knows something when he really knows NOTHING!

Under Divine Inspiration, and using the principle of I.C.E., we are able to come to the wisdom bestowed upon us by our Mentor, GOD the Holy Spirit.

Remember that in PHI 3:1, the apostle Paul writes to us and says the following; “to be writing the same doctrines to you is not troublesome to me, while on the other hand, it is a safeguard or a basis of security for you.”

Now, like a lot of the passages in the Bible, there’s usually a pro and a con, something for, or something against - it all depends upon the means of interpretation, especially what most of you have and know about the acronym I.C.E..

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Bible doctrine must be taught based on three principles:
1. Isagogics – refers to the historical setting behind the passage.
2. Categories - systematic theology developed from comparing  Scripture with Scripture.
3. Exegesis - is the grammatical and syntactical analysis of the passage from the original languages.

Thinking you have something, when in reality you have nothing, is a manifestation of arrogance especially, the type of arrogance that the apostle John warns us about in the lukewarm passage on the Laodicean church. This same attitude that says “I am in need of NOTHING” is the very same attitude that the Bible says will be prevalent in the last generation, just before the Rapture. And, you can mark it down, and get prepared for the Lukewarm Churches and the Lukewarm believers, and lukewarm Pastors, all of which live for themselves in these last days.

Let’s look at the passage on the Lukewarm Churches or the lukewarm believers before our LORD vomits them all out of His mouth. If you don’t believe me – then believe the apostle John who also wrote the book of Revelation and he also warns the believers in Laodicea who had become “lukewarm.”

However, I want you to note a principle that we are about to study which has to do with the policy of our GOD and that is the fact that before judgment, Grace is always given. Now, here’s where it really gets interesting for any believer whose desire is to worship Jehovah, Jehovah the Father, Jehovah the Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, and Jehovah the Holy Spirit.

This is according to what the Word of GOD has to say because there are some passages especially in the book of Isaiah where all three Jehovah’s are mentioned together. In fact, this is a great passage from the OT where Jehovah issued for all the members of the Trinity as brought out in ISA 48:16 “Come near to Me; listen to this.  From the first, I have not spoken in secret.  From the time it took place, I was there.  And now the LORD GOD [GOD the Father] has sent Me [GOD the Son], and His Spirit [GOD the Holy Spirit].”

The word “trinity” is not found in the Bible. It is a technical theological word coined in the fourth century A.D. to describe a theological concept. Distinctions are made between the members of the Trinity, as described in 2CO 13:14, The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ, and the love of GOD, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. The doctrine of the trinity was confirmed by the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325.