THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 30 Feelings Can Deceive
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool…" (Proverbs 28:26). KJV
Loved ones, in our Spiritual Battle some are relying on their feelings to try and defeat the devil. However, along with our above text, the following passages in the Holy Bible tell us that man's feeling are often deceitful:
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself— it is not in man that walketh to direct His steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).
"The heart is deceitful above all things…" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Dear friends, when a man trusts his feelings for his knowledge of pardon, without properly weighing the testimony of God's Spirit in God's Word, there is no telling to what he will drift. The religion of “feeling” leads to all sorts of fanaticism and folly, to every degree of cruelty and crime.
Your feelings depend upon your faith, and the stronger the faith the more intense the feeling, and that, too, whether your faith be well founded or not. The belief of a lie will affect your feelings just as much as the belief of the truth, as many of you know well.
By the Bible, the Book of God, we are made wise unto salvation (John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:15-17). The 66 books of the Bible (the Scriptures) are inspired by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21). When we, from the heart, do the will of God revealed in the Bible by the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:17), we are placed into Christ and thus, saved (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:10). Then by faith in His word (NOT our feelings) we can KNOW that we are children of God (Galatians 3:26-27).
In no other way can we know that we know God, except by obedience to His word: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep His commandments" (1 John 2:3).
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
Our feelings are competent to testify as to things which take place in us, but they cannot testify as to what takes place in the mind of God. All we know about the mind of God is what the Holy Spirit has revealed:
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11).
Pardon takes place, not in man, but in the mind of God. The Holy Spirit in the New Testament tells us what God requires us to do to become His children. When our spirits are conscious (aware) of the fact that we have done what God has revealed in His Word through the Holy Spirit - we KNOW (not feel) we have become His children. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).
Our Lord Jesus Christ, "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8-9), unequivocally says: "Not every one that sayest unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Your feelings are not enough!
Some Things To Think About…
IF Christ stood before you right now and said, "He that believeth and baptized shall be saved," what would you be guided by - your feeling or what God commands? (cf. Mark 16:16).
IF the Lord promises us salvation without water baptism, why did the Apostle Peter say it “saves” (1 Peter 3:20-21)?
IF (1) sprinkling and (2) pouring are scriptural modes for water baptism, why did the Apostle Paul say there is only ONE baptism (Ephesians 4:5) – a burial (Colossians 2:12)?
IF we can “have remission without water baptism,” why did Peter say baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; cf. 22:16)?
IF we can get into Christ without water baptism, why did Paul say we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; cf. Romans 6:3-4)?
IF we can get into the body of Christ without water baptism, why did Paul say we are baptized into the body (1 Corinthians 12:13)? The body and the church are the same (Colossians 1:18, 24).
IF Jesus Christ grasped your hand and said, “If you love me, ye will keep my commandments" would you love and obey Him even if your feelings caused you to resist? (cf. John 14:15-24).
Jesus and His half-brother James agree: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22; cf. Matthew 7:24-27). REMEMBER: Feelings Can Deceive!
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).