THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS 1
A.OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO ‘QUENCH THE SPIRIT.’ “DO NOT QUENCE THE SPIRIT.“ (5:19) B.OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD. “DO NOT DESPISE PROPHETIC UTTERANCES (PREACHING).“ (5:20) ”BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” (MATT. 4:4) 2
C.REASONS WHY BELIEVERS SHOULD “NOT DESPISE PROPHETIC UTTERANCES.” 1)AUTHORITATIVE. (ISA. 1:2) 2)COMPLETELY INFALLIBLE. (PS. 19:7) 3)INNERANT IN EVERY PART. (PROV. 30:5-6) 4)SUFFICIENT FOR ALL SPIRITUAL NEEDS. (2 TIM. 3:15-17) 5)ABSOLUTELY EFFECTIVE. (ISA. 55:11) 6)DETERMINATIVE OF ONE’S SPIRITUAL CONDITION. (JN 5:24) 7)SUPREME SOURCE OF TRUTH. (JN 17:17) 8)SOURCE OF VICTORY OVER SIN & THE FORCES OF EVIL. (EPH. 6:17) 9)ULTIMATE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH. (1 PET. 2:2) 10)ONLY PERFECTLY RELIABLE SOURCE OF GUIDANCE. (PS. 19:8) 11)IT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL HOPE. (PS. 119:116) 3
D.OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ‘DISCERNING.’ ”BUT EXAMINE EVERYTHING CAREFULLY; HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD; ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL.“ (5:21-22) “PROVE ALL THINGS; HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD. ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.“ (5:21-22) 1.“DISCERNMENT” i.THE ABILITY TO DISTINQUISH; TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO OR MORE THINGS. ii.ONE WHO IS KNOWING AND JUDGING. iii.ONE WHO IS SHARP-SIGHTED. 2.“SPIRITUAL DISCERMENBT” i.THE ABILITY TO DISTINGQUISH DIVINE TRUTH FROM ERROR AND HALF-TRUTH. ii.ESSENTIAL TO LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 4
3.THE APOSTLE EXHORTS THE THESSALONIANS TO “EXAMINE EVERYTHNG. “ “THESE WERE MORE NOBLE THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO” (ACTS 17:11) “NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY, THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS; “ (1 TIM. 4:1) “TILL I COME, GIVE ATTENDANCE TO READING, TO EXHORTATION, TO DOCTRINE. “ (1 TIM. 4:13) “ TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF, AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE; CONTINUE IN THEM: FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT BOTH SAVE THYSELF, AND THEM THAT HEAR THEE.” (1 TIM. 4:16) 5
“ O TIMOTHY, KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST, AVOIDING PROFANE AND VAIN BABBLINGS, AND OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED: WHICH SOME PROFESSING HAVE ERRED CONCERNING THE FAITH. GRACE BE WITH THEE. AMEN. “ (1 TIM. 6:20-21) “ I CHARGE THEE THEREFORE BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO SHALL JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM; PREACH THE WORD; BE INSTANT IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING AND DOCTRINE. FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS; AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, AND SHALL BE TURNED UNTO FABLES. BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY.” (2 TIM. 4:1-5) 6