ARE YOU ZEALOUSLY AFFECTED AS A SON?
Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
Gal 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
The words “affect” and “effect” sound very similar, but each have different meanings; the word “affect” means to change, or make an impact upon someone or something. The word “effect” is the product of an “affect,” meaning when something has an “affect” (something that is introduced to something or someone that is different from the norm) upon someone or something, there usually brings forth a result, whether positive, or negative. When we begin to be educated by our Father in the doctrine of His will for us, God the Father has designed His doctrine to take a positive result; and “effectually” work within the son. However, this too often is not the case among most Christians, sad to say but, they continue to allow themselves to be ‘affected’ by the course of this world and not only do they follow its evil ways; but in turn because they are a product of it; they end up promoting, and even glorifying it to a greater degree, whether they are aware of it or not.
1Th 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1Th 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.
Therefore, the only way God’s word can positively affect the son is by his wanting to “accept” the doctrine for his education found in God’s word of truth. You see, it’s all about the son “receiving” the doctrine, and how it affects him, whether it be in a positive way or a negative way; God the Father designed for His word to take a positive effect upon the son, just as Satan and this world has a designed way to cater to the flesh of man and have mankind to “accept” what this world has to offer. Now we will take a look at the “acceptable” manner in which God the Father would have the son to respond unto His word, and the “acceptable” doctrines whereas the son can get his education underway correctly as designed by the Father in His word unto him, so that it can take a positive “effect,” and begin to work “effectually” within him as designed.
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
God would have the son to walk with godly love and charity with not only the members of the body of Christ, but with all mankind, because we all know that it is God’s will, and hope (it ought to be ours as well), that all men will be “saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth.” And the son ought to have that same type of love and compassion for all mankind, with the same type of care and hope for their souls; that they may one day “accept” the word of salvation, and love of God the Father unto them, this ought to be within our prayers, supplications, and intercessions as sons that have grown within the doctrine of sonship. Furthermore, this type of thinking within the son is “acceptable” in “the sight of God,” because it is molded after His way of thinking about this issue concerning all mankind.
1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
God the Father would have the son to walk in the doctrine “according to godliness,” and “refuse” the doctrine of men, and as we can plainly see; the “profane and old wives’ fables” are in complete contrast to “godliness.” In other words, “ungodliness” is caused by ‘accepting’ the wisdom of this world, and ‘refusing’ the doctrine which is according to godliness. And as we can also see, the things of this world has no profit unto our sonship edification neither in “the life that is now, and of that which is to come.” But it is the “words of faith and of good doctrine” that are to “affect” the son, it ought to be received with “all acceptation,” just as Paul knew it had an “effect” upon Timothy insomuch he had “attained” (meaning he accepted the doctrine, and succeeded in achieving its designed goal) unto the doctrine whereas he is now able to teach the other saints to also not only receive the doctrine with “all acceptation,” but to also become “attained” unto having “the mind of Christ” by what they are taught through the doctrine.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Finally again, as we can see here also it is the “vain words” of man that are in complete contrast to what the son ought to hear, and we can also see how God views these men that preach and teach the doctrine of this world; He will pour out His wrath upon them for their “disobedience.” And just as we saw earlier in the book of Timothy, the doctrine for your sonship edification is “profitable” for the son in “the life that is now, and of that which is to come.” And here in the verses above, we see this to be the case when showing the “fruits” of the Spirit, in other words; the ‘benefits’ of the Spirit that the son will be a partaker of once he has let the word positively “affect” him, and once it does he will see the ‘effects’ of the “fruits” that the word of God provides for him so that he can be a son that is able to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Rod Jones