Zealously Affected #15

Thursday, March 5, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Once, I watched a video of a police officer confronting a woman wielding a knife. Despite the fact he issued repeated warnings, the suspect refused to put it down. She had stabbed another person just prior to his arrival! Advancing toward the deputy, she left him no choice. He fired his revolver, and she fell to the ground at the front door of helpless residents whom she could have also easily wounded. Several neighbors immediately assembled on the scene and began yelling, “Why did you shoot her?! Why did you shoot her?!” Emotions were in charge (“zealously affected, but not well”), so, of course, blame was assigned to the wrong party. It makes no sense that a defiant, armed suspect would be allowed unrestricted access to the general public, especially when law enforcement commands the individual to cease the criminal activity. Obviously, there can be no good outcome. This is the logical conclusion, but mindless emotions do not facilitate a reasonable assessment of the situation.

Another documentary I viewed featured a correspondent conversing with passersby. He would read to them an incendiary quote of a famous politician and then falsely attribute it to someone else. They strongly voiced how they were quite opposed to the opinion expressed in the quotation… until he revealed those words were from another politician (one they adored, to whom they were emotionally attached—“zealously affected, but not well”). Their amended response was, “Oh, ah, uh” (speechlessness). It was a far calmer reaction when they learned these “offensive” words were from an official they blindly followed! Additionally, one woman stated how she was unaware of the positions of the candidate whom she had helped elect. Here are the types of people entering the voting booth, emotionally-manipulated victims of state-run media propaganda!

Whether criminal justice, religion, politics, finances, science, or anything else, Satan’s evil world system preys on us via emotionalism. It would do us well to know our enemy to the point of anticipating his moves….

Zealously Affected #14

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

“Buyer’s remorse” happens when the consumer regrets the purchase of a good or service. Perhaps it was cheaply made or poorly rendered, too expensive, or unnecessary. Emotions obscured the truth; to wit, that which is obvious to a thinking person is less clear to an emotional one. The salesperson made the customer feel happy, sad, or whatever, and, impulsively, the deal was closed. In hindsight, once emotions have subsided and rationality prevails, it is evident the transaction should have never taken place. What initially “felt good” is now a major disappointment, for expectations were not met! Again, emotions and feelings are fickle, and they are a primary reason for financial debt.

Something similar to “buyer’s remorse” is in the realm of religion. Deep down inside, everyone knows they have a sin problem, and each person copes differently with this realization. Some outright ignore it, pretending it is not there and deceiving themselves to the point of asserting they are “without sin.” Others hide behind “intellectualism” and “science,” natural-world phenomena and natural-man thinking—having no regard for anything supernatural and focusing exclusively on what can be seen, touched, heard, tasted, smelled, and reasoned via human intelligence.

The vast majority, however, will join this denomination, or that religion, or this cult, or that sect. Recognizing there is someone or something beyond themselves, they will experiment with a ceremony, ritual, or rite in an attempt to get in touch with the “spiritual realm.” All will learn, sooner or later, that religion is nothing more than man using his own feeble efforts to try to re-connect with God. They had hoped “church” would help them, make them joyful, give them peace, and bring them to Heaven. However, how many hundreds upon hundreds of millions have been sorely dissatisfied because Satan has “slipped them a counterfeit?!” They have religion, but they have no life in Christ. Yes, they are smug in their “goodness,” yet they are dead in their trespasses and sins. They sing about Heaven, but they are on their way to Hell….

Zealously Affected #13

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Emotions are mindless, mere responders to situations and circumstances: as conditions fluctuate, so emotions react. A simple experiment demonstrates this. Watch a comedy video, and notice your amusement and laughter. Switch to a drama or thriller/action film, and you will find yourself feeling tense or excited. Romance and tragedy motion-pictures evoke crying and sniffling from you. Having viewed clips of these assorted genres in one sitting, you rode an emotional roller coaster (up, down, up, down—elation, depression, euphoria, misery). The events depicted in those videos were not real, but your emotions (e-motions) generated your physical motions/responses as though what you saw was genuine!

Consider this now. An everyday misfortune transpires when kind (albeit emotional) citizens pity those appearing sick or destitute and such “disadvantaged” individuals are ultimately revealed to be pretenders. Executing elaborate scams, those who need no help at all are emotionally manipulating and exploiting their victims. The “feeble” homeless man you “felt sorry for” and invited to spend the night in your house, turns out to be your family’s strong-arm robber in disguise. Or, the attractive “stranded” woman with her disabled vehicle on the side of the road that you assist, serves as bait so concealed thugs can assault or murder you. Maybe it is best to call the police to aid them. Of course, we should assist people as much as we are able, but we cannot afford to give to everyone or help everyone. See, we should use our brains before we use our hearts.

Sin has corrupted our spiritual makeup, including our heart (emotional seat). “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). We simply cannot trust our heart or its emotions, though our emotions seek to—and, often do—dominate us….

Zealously Affected #12

Monday, March 2, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression” (Proverbs 29:22). “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated” (Proverbs 14:17). “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly” (Proverbs 14:29). “A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both” (Proverbs 27:3).

In legal terms, “crimes of passion” are violent acts lacking premeditation. They are committed impulsively, in a fit of intense emotion (rage, jealousy, despair, and so on). No real thought goes into the deed, so it is considered “senseless.” For example, if someone is assaulted or murdered because of a simple misunderstanding, petty disagreement, or small sum of money, the wrongdoing is illogical because (non-thinking) emotions took precedence. Such irrational behavior is rampant now, particularly in a society of immature people who do not get their way. It was true in Bible days, too.

A fit of wrath or extreme anger led to works-religion Cain killing believing brother Abel in Genesis 4:5-8. Greatly frustrated Moses smote the rock, thus disrespecting the LORD before Israel, which resulted in Moses being prohibited from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-13). Jonah felt no pity for tens of thousands of lost, Hell-bound but repentant sinners in Nineveh who were spared Divine judgment, yet he threw a temper tantrum when “his” shade-tree died (Jonah 4:1-11)! The citizens of Nazareth, so convicted of sin and under the influence of deceitful emotions, nearly stoned Jesus Christ in Luke 4:16-30! At Ephesus (western Turkey), the fanatical worshippers of the mother-goddess Diana screamed mindless chants because their vain religious system was on the verge of collapse, generating citywide riots that had to ultimately be suppressed before the Emperor heard of that civil unrest and meted out punishment (Acts 19:23-41).

It is better to think and act BEFORE feeling and acting….

Zealously Affected #11

Sunday, March 1, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Acts chapter 15 concludes with a rather dreadful exchange: “[35] Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. [36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; [40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. [41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

Doubtless, the Bible tells the truth, even about its heroes. Paul and Barnabas entered into a severe argument about whether to take John Mark along with them on a second apostolic journey. Barnabas was in favor, but Paul was not. From Paul’s perspective, John Mark was a liability to the ministry for abandoning them a few years earlier on their first apostolic journey (Acts 13:13); the reason for his withdrawal is unclear, but seems to be trivial. Barnabas, however, apparently had an emotional attachment clouding his judgment about the matter. John Mark (also known as Marcus) was “sister’s son” (nephew) to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), thus explaining why Barnabas would be inclined to defend John Mark and overlook his past negligence. It was here, one of the saddest and “hottest” passages of the whole Bible, that Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways. Barnabas commenced a voyage with John Mark, whereas Paul took a trip with Silas.

Emotions can create illusions and delusions, so it is again advisable not to let them run our lives….

Zealously Affected #10

Saturday, February 28, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Remember, the Greek term for “zealously affect” twice featured in today’s Scripture is “zeloo,” from “zelos” (“heat”), the derivation of our English “zeal.” “Zeloo” was elsewhere rendered “moved with envy” (Acts 7:9; Acts 17:5), “covet earnestly” (1 Corinthians 12:31), “envieth” (1 Corinthians 13:4), “desire” (1 Corinthians 14:1), “covet” (1 Corinthians 14:39), “jealous over” (2 Corinthians 11:2), “desire to have” (James 4:2), and “zealous” (Revelation 3:19). It is a burning enthusiasm/passion. “Zeo” (“to be hot”) was translated “fervent” in Acts 18:25, descriptive of Apollos’ zeal in ministry. Also, it appears as a general exhortation for all Christians to be “fervent in spirit” (Romans 12:11). Simply put, it is an intense or powerful action that, depending on the context, can be positive or negative.

Minister Apollos was surely as “hot” as boiling water, his fiery sermons rousing audiences who were in great wonderment… but he was preaching an outdated message that Aquila and Priscilla identified and corrected (Acts 18:24-27). See, dear friend, enthusiasm alone, excitement alone, elation alone, ecstasy alone is no guarantee the truth is being proclaimed. How many tens of thousands in ministry right now are so energetic, busy with this and with that, but such liveliness will one day be revealed to be, not God’s power, but merely overactive human emotions?

Christian victory, the Holy Spirit’s might, is in 1 Thessalonians 2:13: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” The Word of God—the King James Bible for us English-speaking people—effectually works in us when we believe it, accomplishing God’s desired effect. Here is something that far exceeds any and all adrenaline rushes, never disappoints, and cannot be faked or counterfeited….

Zealously Affected #9

Friday, February 27, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

In stark contrast to, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9), there is the following: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (verses 10-13).

How do we learn God’s will, His purpose and plan for us? Such revelation or “unveiling” is not by “eye” (empiricism), not by “ear” (church tradition), and not by “heart” (intuition)—these correspond to spiritual “wood, hay, stubble” (1 Corinthians 3:12). Rather, we aim for spiritual “gold, silver, precious stones” (1 Corinthians 3:12), “the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth,” as in the Bible “rightly divided” or dispensationally delivered (2 Timothy 2:15). The Holy Ghost teaches us by using “words”—not hunches, guesses, man’s opinions, feelings, and so on. Incidentally, He does not utilize “thoughts” either (so, it is incorrect to argue Bible words can be changed so long as “thoughts” are conveyed)!

To “recover themselves out of the snare [trap] of the Devil” (2 Timothy 2:24-26), the Galatians have to read and believe in their heart the epistle of Galatians written to them. It only makes sense for us to do likewise, that we also forsake our denominational doctrine that our false teachers have “zealously affected” us to seek and uphold….

Zealously Affected #8

Thursday, February 26, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Unfortunately, our culture runs on emotions. Mass communication has aggravated the situation. Social media, “news” networks, and other platforms prominently feature people who are “angry” about this and “outraged” about that. They march, hold signs, scream, loot buildings, attack and injure and kill others, utter filth and nonsense, and burn down whole city blocks. These struggle to articulate intelligent reasons for what they do and say. Frankly, they are but pawns in a political system that is designed to instill and promote fear, guilt, discord, hysteria, and, above all, anarchy. Young people, who are emotionally immature, are particularly victims here. In fact, we will find among them—and even leading them—a great many “senior citizens” who never grew up either!

It is a real shame that the professing church cannot survive the above society or point its confused individuals in the right direction. These alleged “believers” have nothing meaningful to offer the world either, often joining in with it. What they are are prisoners to and defenders of denominational systems, futile manmade attempts to explain the Bible. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The “eye” is empiricism, as in, “I must be able to see it with my physical eye and test it in a scientific lab before I believe it!” Such a man will never learn anything from God or about God’s will. The “ear” is church tradition, such as, “I have to hear it from my church leaders before I believe it!” Again, such a man will never learn a thing from God or about God’s will. The “heart” is intuition, as in, “I must be able to feel it with my emotions, or find it confirmed in my inner being, before I believe it!” Such a man will never learn anything from God or about God’s will, either….

Zealously Affected #7

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

In the early days of my ministry—which was almost two decades ago now (!)—a much older Christian became my mentor. This family friend, who was also a Bible teacher, played a significant role in my edification in sound doctrine. I eventually had the pleasure of imparting to him a little knowledge while I grew in the rightly divided Word. Nevertheless, as the years passed, he began to renew his mind less and less. His spiritual downfall came after a certain emotionally traumatic life-event—a death in his family. Henceforth, I found him to be more and more irrational, his emotions eventually becoming his authority. How shocking to find myself having bizarre conversations with him. I never thought I would have these with him, of all people! Doubtless a member of the Church of the Body of Christ, his words and actions nevertheless appeared to be those of a lost man, a skeptic, a heretic!

The Apostle Paul had a similar unpleasant time dealing with the Galatian believers. He did not fear they were going to Hell; he was alarmed how they were divorced from God’s current dealings with man, and were now “useful idiots” to the Devil’s work! “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain” (Galatians 4:8-11, the context of today’s Scripture). How fixated on Israel’s religious calendar were these discombobulated Christians of Galatia! Had Paul wasted his energy, time, and breath preaching grace to them?! Indeed, like Christendom now, they had been “zealously affected, but not well….”

Zealously Affected #6

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Muslims have designated Jews and Christians as “People of the Book,” with “the Book” being the Holy Bible. Even they understand what sets us apart. The members of the world religions all entertain hunches, feelings, and experiences, so such subjective reasons alone are not sufficient proof that these belief systems are correct. Yea, what we Christians have is a Book—what we believe to be God’s Book, what is indeed God’s Book. Far better off we would be if we took our stand on that Book (the source of our identity), acquainted ourselves with it rightly divided, and not be tossed to and fro with shifting emotions and questionable experiences. The Biblical record is firm and immutable, so we would be unequivocally reckless to rely on personal opinions and feelings… and yet, denominations have been founded on various weak, subjective excuses based on a handful of distorted verses.

Recall how the Corinthians, like the Galatians, also had emotional issues interfering with their Christian growth and development. “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened [limited, restricted] in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels [emotions]. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13). Frankly, Paul and his ministry coworkers truly did care about the Corinthians’ spiritual welfare. Whereas those godly ministers loved the Corinthians, the Corinthians had no room for them in their heart because they (like the Galatians of today’s Scripture) had filled their heart with boundless affection for false teachers!

Again (!), the modern church finds itself in the same dilemma. They have practically no use for Paul their Apostle, and almost completely ignore Romans to Philemon… but (!) they have memorized shallow patristic (“church fathers’”) writings, quoted their favorite seminary professors and philosophers, and believed their beloved critical commentaries to the point of Bible correction and doubt. It really is a sad state of affairs, and we need not wonder how Christendom went wrong so long ago with its rampant unbelief….