AUGUST 2004

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The doctrine of Election, Part 18. Servanthood.

Sunday, August 1, 2004

Point 9. The Blessings and Rewards Given to the Believer Who Fulfills His Election.

The sovereignty of God willed for you to be a winner but you can reject His will.

There is no excuse for being a loser, because you have equal privileges and equal opportunities under election and predestination.

Time provides the opportunity for the believer to attain God’s highest and best under election.

Under election, God wills the highest and best for you, but …you can refuse it.

1) The crown of righteousness.
2) The crown of life.
3) The incorruptible crown.
4) The crown of rejoicing.
5) The crown of glory.

Some will have the crown of righteousness for loving His appearing or being totally occupied with TLJC and producing divine good, 2TI 4:8.

Some will have the crown of life for enduring trials, heartaches, disasters and coming out glorifying the Lord,JAM 1:12, REV 2:10.

JAM 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

REV 2:10 [Smynra] Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Some will have the incorruptible crown for mastering their O.S.N., 1CO 9:24-27.

Some will have the crown of rejoicing or exultation for being soul winners –
1TH 2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Some will have the crown of glory for being willing to feed the flock of God –
1PE 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

REV 3:11 “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.”

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
at all the times you can, to all the people you can,
as long as you ever can.”

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position.
TLJC measured greatness in terms of service, not status.

God determines greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.

Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders” – not just plain servants.

Aspiring has to do with proper motivation whereas many times desire is motivated by the lust of the flesh, like approbation lust or power lust.

MAT 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes,} nor figs from thistles, are they?

1. Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants do not fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability.

2. If you only serve when it is convenient for you, you are not a real servant. Real servants do what is needed, even when it is inconvenient.

3. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He desires to.

4. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for the calling of God upon their life and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.

GAL 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

5. True servants do not make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances.

If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done –
ECC 11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

6. God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.

7. Real servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants “do it with all their heart,”
COL 3:23.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The doctrine of Election. Part 19. The Order of the Morning Star is the highest manifestation of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday, August 15, 2004

Point 1. Definition.
Election is the expression of the sovereign will of God in eternity past before the universe existed and before mankind lived on the earth.

Point 2. Three Elections in History.
a. Israel under the ritual plan of God.
b. Christ under the incarnation plan of God.
c. The Church under the pre-designed plan of God.

Point 3. The Unique Election of History: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Point 4. The Election of Israel.
Point 5. The Election of the Church.
Point 6. Election and the Believer’s Escrow Account.

Point 7. Selection and Election.
Point 8. Election and the Sovereignty of God with the Free Will of Man.

Point 9. The Blessings and Rewards Given to the Believer Who Fulfills His Election.

Just like in time, there are winner and loser believers, in eternity there are winners and losers, or those who are privileged forever and those who lost their privileges, 1CO 3:11-15.

PHI 3:1 Finally, my brethren, keep on having inner happiness in the Lord. On the one hand, to be repeating 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.

You will be poor in contrast to what you could have had and what the winner believers have.

Just like there are differences of rank among the elect angels, there are differences of rank and privileges among believers; 1CO 15:39-42.

1) The crown of righteousness.
2) The crown of life.
3) The incorruptible crown.
4) The crown of rejoicing.
5) The crown of glory.

The ultimate decoration is the order of the morning star, REV 2:26-28.

“Furthermore, the winner, even he who keeps my assignments [execution of the predesigned plan of God] until the end [perpetuation of spiritual maturity through evidence testing], to him I will give authority over the nations.”

The mature believer will be a ruler over a Gentile nation and rule during the Millennium.

Adam – 930, Seth – 912, Enosh – 905, Kenan – 910, Mahalalel – 835, Jared – 962, Methuselah – 969, Noah – 950

Receiving this decoration, the order of the morning star, is the highest manifestation of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church-age.

This same title was given to our Lord at the ascension and session and is related to both the strategic victory and tactical victory of the angelic conflict.

I am the root – Jesus Christ as eternal God, the descendent of David – Jesus Christ in hypostatic union, the bright morning star – His title for the First and Second Advents.

The order of the morning star is named after our Lord’s royal title and is given to the believer who had a historical impact in the Church-age.

MAT 5:13 You are the salt of the earth;
MAT 5:14 You are the light of the world.

The order of the morning star authorizes the recipient to reign with Christ in the Millennium and hold the highest privileges for all eternity.

These believers can eat from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God, located in the New Jerusalem, REV 2:7.

1) The uniform of honor, being invisible and worn in the soul, is exchanged at the Judgment Seat of Christ for the translucent uniform of glory worn over the resurrection body.

It was first modeled by Jesus Christ on the Mount of transfiguration –
Mat 17 “And His clothes became white as light.”

The uniform of glory is given as a translucent light which covers the resurrection body –
REV 3:4-5 “they will walk with me in whites”

2) The name of the winner believer also appears on the honors list, and he is presented in the court of heaven during the Tribulation period on the earth.

3) A new order of knighthood and eternal order of chivalry will be added to the believer’s name in the Lamb’s book of life forever, REV 2:17 cf; COL 3:4.

COL 3:1-4 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

4) The winner believer will also rule with Christ during the Millennium, REV 2:26-28.

5) The winner’s name is recorded in the permanent historical record section because of his invisible historical impact during the Church-age, REV 3:12a.

This temple of God will be the historical textbook of the true heroes of history.

6) The winner receives his own coat of arms of glory, REV 3:12b.
7) The winner has special privileges related to the Tree of Life, the gazebo of the garden, called the paradise of God.

PHI 3:14 I keep on pressing on toward the objective for the purpose of the reward belonging to the upward call of God [Father], by means of Christ Jesus.

At the end of your life on earth you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you.

At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God, and He is going to evaluate whether or not your life glorified Him in the midst of the angelic conflict and how well you served others with your life.

“Each of us will have to give a personal account to God,” ROM 14:10.

JOH 7:17 “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or not”
JER 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find {Me,} when you search for Me with all your heart.”

MAR 8:35 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it.”

This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels; MAR 8:35; MAT 10:39; 16:25;
LUK 9:24; 17:33.

You are going to give your life for something. A career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth?

What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.

Abraham was old,
Jacob was insecure,
Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses was slow of speech,
Gideon was poor,
Samson was co-dependent,
Rahab was immoral,
David had an affair and all kinds of family problems.

Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow,
John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered,
Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular,
Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The doctrine of election, Part 20. The equal privilege of election manifested by the universal priesthood of every Church-age believer.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Point 10. The Equal Privilege of Election Manifested by the Universal Priesthood of Every Church-age Believer.

GAL 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all equal in Christ Jesus.

Never before the Church-age and never after the Rapture is there ever another universal priesthood; it is only for us in the Church-age –
the dispensation of personal responsibility.

A priest is a human being who represents people before God. In the Church-age, since every believer is a priest, every believer represents himself before God.

You are responsible for: every thought you think,
every motive you have,
every good decision you make,
and every action you take, good or bad.

He made you a priest so that you could represent yourself before Him.

Acts 20:35 – God derives more pleasure from “giving to us” than He does from “receiving from us.”

MAT 23:9 “And do not call {anyone} on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”

Peter was the first to teach the doctrine of the royal priesthood of the believer around 65 AD, 1PE 2:5,9.

As a royal priest, every believer has a direct line to God, which means he represents himself before God, he evaluates himself, and he offers prayer for himself.

To learn Bible doctrine under the principle of perception requires a tremendous amount of objectivity.

JOH 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

ROM 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

HEB 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory,

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure,” EPH 1:5.

He identifies Himself in family terms: Father, Son, and Spirit.

He did not need a family – He desired one, so He devised a plan to create us, bring us into His family, and share with us all He has.

The moment you were spiritually born into God’s family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance.

GAL 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

EPH 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1. We will get to be with God forever.
2. We will be completely changed to be like Christ.
3. We will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering.
4. We will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service.
5. We will get to share in Christ’s glory.

The believer-priest cannot account for his thoughts, motives, decisions, or actions in undefinable terms.

Under the privacy of your priesthood, you must be able to define your life in terms of the PPOG – you must learn the technical language and vocabulary.

The royal priest’s self-improvement is based on the function of perception of doctrine, not upon the advice and counsel of others.

No believer can think, apply doctrine, or solve problems through the mind or the personality of another Christian.

To the extent that we seek counsel or advice, we are not getting enough doctrine or we are not using our own doctrine.

Under the privacy of your priesthood, you have the right to assemble with other believers in a group, where your privacy is respected, to learn doctrine from your pastor-teacher.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The doctrine of Election. Part 19. The only human dependence of the royal priesthood is the divine provision of your very own pastor-teacher.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Point 10. The Equal Privilege of Election Manifested by the Universal Priesthood of Every Church-age Believer.

In the Church-age, since every believer is a priest, every believer represents himself before God.

ROM 14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

ROM 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.
ROM 14:12 So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
ROM 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

1PE 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1PE 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

You are the ones chosen or elected by God, elected for the high calling of the royal priesthood, elected to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do His work and speak out for Him.

Under the privacy of your priesthood, you also have the right to assemble with other believers in a group, where your privacy is respected and where you can learn doctrine from whomever is your right pastor-teacher.

The privacy of your priesthood permits the function of both your positive volition toward doctrine plus the right to metabolize and apply that doctrine to your own experience.

The only human dependence of the royal priesthood is the divine provision of your very own pastor-teacher and your consistent positive volition under his teaching ministry.

1) To equip and train the Royal Family for combat.
2) For the work of service = preparing believers to function in their spiritual gift.
3) For the edification of the body – to study, to teach, to discipline (public), reprimand (private), and encourage by steadfastness and doctrine.

1CO 1:26-27 not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish ones of the world to shame the wise,

ACT 20:28 – the Holy Spirit assigns a certain pastor to a certain congregation or group of people.

“Has made” – aor-mid-ind – tithemi = to place, to appoint, to assign.

ROM 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
2CO 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

“Overseers” – episkopos = a guardian of the flock, overseer, supervisor, superintendent, and policy maker.

“Flock” and “church” are both nouns in the singular, illustrating that there is one pastor for one congregation.

A. One flock and one shepherd over that flock.
B. One church and one overseer over that church.
C. One pastor assigned or appointed by the Holy Spirit.

1PE 5:3 – there are certain believers who are allotted or assigned to a certain pastor.

God’s will is perfect and He has a perfect will regarding what pastor should be shepherding and exercising oversight over a certain group of believers.

“Not for personal gain and personal profit.”

One of the things that you must look for within the pastor – a ready mind is a prepared man.

“Not lording it over those allotted to your charge” – the pastors or those who think that they are pastors who violate the royal priesthood of the believer.

“Allotted to your charge” – kleros =
a. Those assigned to the charge of a certain pastor.
b. Those allotted or distributed to a certain pastor.

c. The New Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon, page 349 – “those whose care and oversight has been assigned to ‘one’ Presbyter” or pastor teacher.

“Examples” – nominative masculine plural – tupos = a mark, or impression, or a pattern.

It is always the message that counts, never the man.

COL 4:17 – Archippus received this ministry from the Lord.
Epaphroditus was the right pastor teacher to the Philippians, PHI 2:25, and he was called “your messenger” to the Philippians.
Epaphras was the right pastor teacher of Colosse, COL 1:17, where he is called the servant of Christ on “your behalf.”

In COL 4:12, he is called one of “your number.”
The apostle John was the pastor to Gaius and his church, 3Jo 4, and so he called that church “my children.”

1. Finding the right pastor means finding someone who is faithful in the communication of Bible doctrine under the principle of line upon line, precept upon precept.
2. Finding your right pastor = your consistent exposure to his Bible teaching through attendance at a local church, face-to-face, or through a consistent program of non-face-to-face teaching – the Internet, audio, tape, video, radio, television or the printed word.

Faithful Bible teaching from your right pastor demands your faith perception, metabolization, and application of that teaching to your own life as a royal priest.

Life in the PPOG is not only spiritual freedom under the filling of the Spirit, but spiritual independence within the framework of your royal priesthood.

As a believer-priest, you cannot fulfill your election and the PPOG by advancing to spiritual maturity on someone else’s thinking, motivation, decisions, actions, advice, counseling, emotion, or even their leadership.

The first stage of spiritual adulthood is spiritual self-esteem, which is when you know how to do it on your own, and you no longer feel threatened by all the things in life that cause fear, worry, and anxiety.

a. Rebound as the basic technique for the recovery of fellowship.
b. A consistent prayer life.
c. Perception, metabolization, and application of doctrine to your own experience.
d. Worship.
e. The sacrifices of life, such as praise, which is your doctrinal momentum resulting in spiritual adulthood and the manner of operating of virtue-love.
f. Divine viewpoint mental attitude from metabolized doctrine.
g. Self-motivation from metabolized doctrine.

Your priesthood demands that you live your own life as unto the Lord and take the responsibility for your own decisions.

MAT 7:1-3 “Judge not, or you too will be judged, for in the same way you judge others you will be judged. And with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you again.”

God will not permit anyone to take His place in judging or evaluating other believers.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The doctrine of Election. Part 22. God will not permit anyone to take His place in judging or evaluating other believers.

Friday, August 20, 2004

Point 10. The Equal Privilege of Election Manifested by the Universal Priesthood of Every Church-age Believer.

Your priesthood demands that you live your own life as unto the Lord and take the responsibility for your own decisions.

1CO 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts;

God will not permit anyone to take His place in judging or evaluating other believers.

People will judge your life, your motivation, your decision making, all the way to criticizing your personality.

Who has the audacity and the stupidity to tangle with God by messing with those saints who are called the “apple of His eye,” ZEC 2:8?

Who has the audacity and the stupidity to tangle with God by messing with those believers who, MAL 3:17, are called “His jewels”?

ISA 62:3 “We are His crown of glory”

EPH 6:12 – Satan has demon investigators who constantly keep track of all believers to accuse them before the throne.

a. The defense system against the accusations and the judging of Satan.
b. The truth that every believer must live his life as unto the Lord.

If you do not live your life as unto the Lord, then you will allow others to bully you into some system of:
1. Personality imitation;
2. Asceticism;
3. Emotional activity;
4. Program spirituality.

a. The opinion of the cosmos diabolicus, the devil’s world, or human viewpoint, the general and popular trends in life.
b. The public opinion in churches which is generally legalism of some form or emotionalism of some form.

Elect – eklektos = those elected to privilege.

ISA 50:9 “Behold, the Lord God helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me?”
COL 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you or robbing you of your prize [escrow blessings].
COL 2:16 Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink.

GAL 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying doctrine?
REV 3:11 “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.”
2JO 1:8 Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

Point 11. The Equal Opportunity under Election, Which is Your Royal Ambassadorship and the Divine Provision of Logistical Grace Support and Blessing.

Two aspects of logistical grace come to you from the justice of God to His indwelling righteousness in you.
1. Logistical support which is designed to sustain you.
2. Logistical blessing which is additional blessing, and more than just support.

The righteousness of God has demanded, ever since the moment of your salvation, that the justice of God sustain your life through every stupid mistake and every dumb decision you make.

On a daily basis, the justice of God sends to us to the indwelling righteousness of God everything it takes to keep you alive and to sustain you, as well as great and fantastic blessings.

All logistical blessing in the Christian life comes in this manner to the winner and loser alike.

God blesses you only because you have His righteousness indwelling you – His integrity is not compromised.

Our blessing is a matter of grace, just as our salvation was a matter of grace.

Point 12. Conclusion.

The EP/EO of election = there never has been and never will be a Church-age believer who did not have exactly the same privilege and opportunity to fulfill God’s plan, reach S.M., and receive the fantastic escrow blessings provided by God the Father in eternity past.

This will determine whether they lived in their election or whether they rejected what they were elected for.

Predestination is the provision of a plan, a personal destiny from the sovereign will of God for the Royal Family.

Predestination provides equal privilege (union with Christ) and equal opportunity (logistical blessings) to execute the PPOG.

A. Election = God wills the highest and the best for you as a believer.
B. Every believer has a tremendous escrow account in heaven, 1PE 1:4, but the very fact that most believers will not receive the transference of their escrow blessings does not cancel out their blessings, but they remain on deposit as a memorial to the justice of God.
C. God’s will is for you to withdraw from your escrow account as much as you can.
D. How can I get these fantastic blessings?

E. Election does not mean a violation of human volition, it means that the highest and best was previously deposited in escrow for every believer in eternity past.
Equal privilege = you are in union with Christ and His church.
Equal opportunity = you have logistical grace support.

F. You have been elected to privilege.
Election is based on the fact that God the Father deposited in eternity past phenomenal blessings for each one of us and at that same time He provided for each believer the privilege and the opportunity of attaining those blessings.

G. Never before and never again in human history has every believer been made a priest.
H. Never before in history has any believer received the enabling and indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
I. The fact that you have been elected to special privilege and special opportunity is the greatest “motivational challenge” you will ever face.

You now have the daily use of your volition as a means of advancing to maturity.
The ordinary becomes extra-ordinary, extraordinary!

J. There is no excuse for any believer not receiving these fantastic blessings.

JOB 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

ROM 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Why are you here? You are here to glorify God.

How can I glorify God? Glorifying God demands understanding.

God’s will for your life as a member of the Royal Family of God under election is to bless you.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

What are you letting your mind dwell upon?

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Demonstrative pronoun tauta – tau’ta + pres-mid-imp – logizesthe – logivzesqe.
Logizonai = thinking in the sense of calculation, evaluation, estimation; in this passage, to concentrate.

Customary present tense = denotes what habitually occurs, or the custom of the mature believer who has great capacity for life and who fulfills these principles of thinking the way verse 8 describes.

Middle voice = permissive middle; it represents the agent, the mature believer who is serious about his relationship with God, as voluntarily yielding himself to the results of the action, or seeking to secure the results of the action in his own interest.

Whatever is true [doctrinal],
whatever is honorable [noble or worthy of respect],
whatever is just [fair or right],
whatever is pure [of proper motivation],
whatever personal loves exist,
whatever is commendable,

Imperative mood – imperative of permission which expresses a desire of the one who is the recipient of the command, he desires to think this way as much as God desires it.

MAT 6:21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

“On these things” – accusative neuter plural – demonstrative pronoun – tauta – tauta = emphasizes the categories in the context = “these things” or “these categories,” vs. 8.

PHI 4:8 From now on, members of the Royal Family of God, whatever is true [doctrinal], whatever is honorable[noble or worthy of respect], whatever is just [fair or right], whatever is pure [of proper motivation] whatever personal loves exist, whatever is commendable, if there is any virtue [there is for the mature believer – first class condition] and if anything worthy of praise [there is for the mature believer – first class condition], be concentrating on these things.

The mature believer is not left without objects of expression to concentrate upon.

Even though this is the Devil’s world, 2CO 4:4, Jesus Christ still controls human history, HEB 1:3.

You are what you think. What do you concentrate on – whatever is true or doctrinal or that which is erroneous and false?

Whatever is honorable [noble or worthy of respect], or that which is dishonorable and not worthy of respect?

Whatever is just [fair or right], or the things that are unjust, prejudiced, or wrong?
Whatever is pure [of proper motivation] or whatever is deceitful?

Whatever areas where personal loves exist or whatever areas where personal lusts exist?
Whatever is commendable or whatever is undeserving of concentrating upon?

You would do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Your mental attitude is what you think at any given time.

PSA 23:3 “He restores my soul;”

PSA 19:7 The doctrine of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The life of every believer is determined experientially by two principles: what he thinks and what he decides.

Divine viewpoint mental attitude is part of the greatest delegation of divine power in human history.

Whether it is the lusts of the have-not’s or the dissatisfaction of those who have, there is a general unrest today which reflects one very important fact – believers in TLJC have failed in the dynamics of the divine viewpoint of life.

MIC 4:12 “But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, And they do not understand His purpose;”

ROM 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

Satan has so many distractions today to deaden thinking so that born again believers become mindless imbeciles, struggling through life looking for some emotional experience to pull them through.

God has delegated to every Church-age believer all of the power to handle any problems or difficulties in this life.

The born again believer should be an alert thinking individual, not a mindless, emotional, irrational, yapping, rolling, screaming imbecile.

You should be on the alert to those distractions designed by Satan and the kingdom of darkness to lure you away from the PPOG, from your personal sense of destiny and from receiving what you have been elected to receive.

LUK 12:37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes;”

ACT 20:31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”

1CO 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

COL 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

1TH 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1PE 5:8 Be of sound mind, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

People can hide their thoughts and become masterful at the practice of hypocrisy.
PRO 23:7 “For as a person thinks within himself [nephesh – soul], so he is.”

Concentration is a matter of your priorities in life.
Concentration is a matter of your priorities in life.

PHI 4:8 whatever is true [doctrinal], whatever is honorable [noble or worthy of respect], whatever is just [fair or right], whatever is pure [of proper motivation] whatever personal loves exist, whatever is commendable, be concentrating on these things.

1CO 2:16 “For who has known the thinking of the Lord that he should instruct Him, but we have the mind of Christ [the mystery doctrine of the Church-age].”

The delegation of divine power to every Church-age believer is Bible doctrine metabolized and deployed and ready to use in your soul.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Spritual metabolism. Part 2. Without metabolism, there is no life.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

To learn – aor-act-ind – manthano = to learn from someone who has the authority to teach.

To receive – aor-act-ind – paralambano = implies agreement, approval and therefore acceptance.

As the physical heart, the physiological pump processes the blood, so the right lobe processes knowledge or doctrinal information.

NAS – 1CO 8:1 …Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

Virtue-love, the filling of the Spirit with the metabolization of Bible doctrine –
GAL 5:6b but faith working through love.

JAM 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

You cannot grow from what you know, you can only grow from what you truly understand.

Understanding is epignosis, knowledge is simply gnosis.

The Doctrine of Spiritual Metabolism. Point 1. Definition.

a. Metabolism = the system of physical and chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.

HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active

Without spiritual metabolism, there is no spiritual life or spiritual energy.

a. Metabolism = the system of physical and chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.

b. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are produced.

ACT 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up.”
HEB 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

c. Metabolism = the chemical changes in the living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities.

PSA 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
PSA 119:107 I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy word.
PSA 119:93 I will never forget Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast revived me.

d. Metabolism = the intake and the absorption of food, plus the process of respiration by which oxygen is made available to the tissues for the multiple chemical transformations needed for the physical body to function properly.

1. Anabolism – anabole = the process of building up.

2CO 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame,

2. Catabolism – katabole = the process of tearing down.
2TI 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Metabolism as a medical term includes all the body processes by which matter, either organic or inorganic, is utilized for growth, repair, and maintenance.

2PE 3:18 but grow by means of the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
PSA 19:7 The doctrine of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
PSA 40:11 Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me.

The metabolic processes by which oxygen is supplied to the neurons of the brain is how you think.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Spiritual metabolism. Part 3. The grace process of metabolism in eating and breathing.

Friday, August 27, 2004

PHI 4:9 These things [these doctrinal principles we noted] also you have learned [under strict academic discipline] and received [or accepted] and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

The Doctrine of Spiritual Metabolism.
Point 1. Definition.

a. Metabolism = the system of physical and chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.

b. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are produced.

1CO 7:35 And this I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly, and {to secure} undistracted devotion to the Lord.

c. Metabolism = the chemical changes in the living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities.

Through spiritual metabolism of spiritual food doctrine is assimilated to revive an individual with spiritual energy, PSA 119:50, 107, 93.

d. Metabolism = the intake and the absorption of food, plus the process of respiration by which oxygen is made available to the tissues for the multiple chemical transformations needed for the physical body to function properly.

1. Anabolism – anabole = the process of building up.

2. Catabolism – katabole = the process of tearing down.

Anabolism, the building up process, is the doctrine which provides momentum in our spiritual lives.

The principle of edification = the building up of a structure in your soul, ACT 9:31; 1CO 14:4; 1PE 2:5; EPH 4:12.

In spiritual metabolism, Bible doctrine builds us up and that is the process of anabolism.

Catabolism = the tearing down process in metabolism and sometimes doctrine tears our flesh up and provides discernment and the destruction of human viewpoint in our lives.

GAL 4:16 Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?
PRO 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

a. Metabolism of air.
Air is carried into the body through inhale.

In the metabolism of air, oxygen is taken from the air and entered into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide is exhaled.

This occurs even while you sleep, because you have an involuntary respiratory center where carbon dioxide builds up in the blood and pulls the trigger causing you to gasp for air.

Whether in the natural realm or the spiritual realm, this is all courtesy of the grace of God, for there is no talent, ability or credit on the part of man to manufacture this function.

GEN 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

GEN 25:8 And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age,

GEN 35:29 And Isaac breathed his last and died,

Just like metabolism functions in the natural realm, so in the spiritual realm, in perception, metabolization and application of Bible doctrine, faith is a non-meritorious system of perception.

NIV, AMP –
2TI 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

EPH 4:23 and that you be renewed by means of the breathing of your soul – pneumati tou noos = pneuvmati tou nooV”

With natural metabolism, when a person takes in a deep breath, he possibly inhales as much as 300 ccs of air. With maximum effort, he can exhale about 150 ccs, or half that. What remains in his lungs is called residual oxygen, analogous to the metabolized air.

In the spiritual analogy, there is always a certain amount of doctrine you hear that is not immediately metabolized at the time you hear it.

The metabolism of air is analogous to the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit inside the PPOG, metabolizing doctrine.

Just as the Holy Spirit metabolized gnosis gospel, so He metabolizes gnosis doctrine you learn.

Perception of doctrine is the function of the believer in his own mentality with the help of His mentor God the Holy Spirit, but the metabolizing of that doctrine is the function of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

Grace is involved in both air and food metabolism just as grace is involved in spiritual metabolism.

.Oxygen and other gases reside in stable form in the atmosphere around us, which is analogous to logistical and undeserved grace.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Spiritual metabolism. Part 4. The Word of God builds us up and tears us down.

Sunday, August 29, 2004

PHI 4:9 These things [the doctrinal principles noted] also you have learned [manthano – learned from a teacher under strict academic discipline] and received [or accepted]

Verse 9 – the true means of spiritual advance = the function of perception, metabolization and application of Bible doctrine.

PHI 4:9 – These things also you have learned under strict academic discipline and accepted = the doctrines which have been transferred from the Bible to the right lobes of believers through the function of P.M.A. of B.D.

“Accept” – paralambano = to take or to receive to one’s side; implies agreement, approval and acceptance.

It reveals the difference between gnosis (knowledge) and epignosis (metabolization of gnosis or wisdom).

Analogy of spiritual heart with physical heart = as the physiological pump processes the blood in the bodily heart, so the right lobe processes knowledge or doctrinal information.

The Doctrine of Spiritual Metabolism.
Point 1. Definition.

a. Metabolism = the system of physical and chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.

Without spiritual metabolism, there is no spiritual life or spiritual energy.
HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active

b. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are produced.

ACT 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up.”
2TI 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

c. Metabolism = the chemical changes in the living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities.

Through spiritual metabolism of spiritual food doctrine is assimilated to revive an individual with spiritual energy.

PSA 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
PSA 119:107 I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy word.
PSA 119:93 I will never forget Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast revived me.

d. Metabolism = the intake and the absorption of food, plus the process of respiration by which oxygen is made available to the tissues for the multiple chemical transformations needed for the physical body to function properly.

JER 15:16 Thy words were found and I ate them, And Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

The food on the table must be eaten and metabolized to sustain life and create energy.

1. The greatest doctrinal message in the world from any pastor is no guarantee of spiritual growth; it is merely the first phase in bringing the believer up to the point of metabolized doctrine.

2. Food on the table in itself is not energy.
The key to your physical energy is metabolism.

3. A good message from a pastor-teacher does not produce spiritual growth; it does you no good until it is metabolized by God the Holy Spirit.

4. Metabolized doctrine is a matter between you and the Holy Spirit.

5. God provides in logistical grace everything you need to assimilate doctrine: life, a local church, a pastor-teacher, the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, the PPOG.

6. God’s grace provision of the human spirit makes possible the understanding of that doctrine and sets up a spiritual I.Q. to prepare you for spiritual metabolism.
7. Spiritual metabolism is the Holy Spirit converting gnosis doctrine into epignosis doctrine.

ROM 12:1-2 – being transformed or the doctrine of spiritual metabolism.

“Be transformed” – pres-pass-imp – metamorphoo = to transform, change into another form, transform one’s character; an inner spiritual change.

Schema – lays stress on the outward, but metamorphoo lays stress on the inner man.

“Be transformed” – pres-pass-imp – metamorphoo = to transform, change into another form, transform one’s character; an inner spiritual change.

King James Version –
ROM 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
King James Version –
2CO 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image

NAS –
ROM 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
NAS –
2CO 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,

“Are being transformed” – pres-pass-ind – metamorphoo = to transform, to change into another form, to transform one’s character; an inner spiritual change.

This is how the believer becomes strengthened or filled with spiritual energy.

HEB 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
EPH 3:18 that you may be able to comprehend in the presence of all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth.

Whether or not it is the lessons from the books called the prophets with their predictions concerning the future of planet earth and the divine judgment of God which is to come upon this world.

1SA 16:7 the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

GAL 3:24 The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

REV 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
ISA 65:24 Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

JOS 6:20 …the people shouted with a great shout and the walls fell down flat.

Whether or not it is the lessons of being in an impossible situation and having to have the Red Sea parted experience,
Exo 14 and 15.

Whether or not it is the lessons of the strongholds – how life comes tumbling down through the power of God the Holy Spirit, as illustrated by the pillars of the temple coming down through Samson,
Judges 16.

The presence of God in the burning bush, Exo 3.
Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed so that the planet would not self-destruct through immorality, Gen 19.
Whether or not it is the lessons of Lot’s carnal wife turning into a pillar of salt, GEN 19:26.

All these things are written in the pages of the book for our example, ROM 15:4, 1CO 10:6.

Whether or not it’s the lessons of the giant killer David in
1Sa 17, illustrating how the giants of fear, worry, intimidation, can be destroyed through the information written in the pages of the book.
Whether or not it is the lessons of the three men in the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, overcoming the trials and the adversities of life, DAN 3:26.

Whether or not it is the lessons of the power of man being destroyed as illustrated by the destruction of the tower of Babel, Gen 11.

One day the angels will blow the trumpets, REV 8:2, and human history will unfold and terminate completely, says the pages of the book.
REV 19:11 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

The scars of the lamb of God will be seen, says the pages of the book, REV 5:6.
He will be seated on His throne and ruling, says the pages of the book, REV 4:2.

PHI 2:10-11, in order that at the title of Jesus every knee of the heavens should bow, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, resulting in the glory of God the Father.