ABSTAIN FROM EVIL
1 THESSALONIANS 5:14-22
INTRO: DECISIONS
1: PERSONAL CHOICES
A) EVERYONE HAS AN OPINON
B) WE BASE A LOT OF OUR EVERYDAY CHOICES ON WHAT WE BELIEVE OR FEEL PERSONALY
C) EX: ELECTION, BIGGEST VOTER TURN OUT IN HISTORY, TWO SIDES, TWO VIEWS, THE VOTE FOR MOST CAME DOWN TO MORE OF A PERSONAL RATHER THAN POLITICAL STANDPOINT.
POINT: WE MAKE CHOICES EVERYDAY. HOW MANY CHOICES DO WE MAKE ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD AND HIS WILL? NOT ENOUGH, THE BIBLE TELLS US TO ABSTAIN FROM EVIL, FROM ALL APPERANCE OF EVIL TO BE EXACT.
2: PAUL GIVES INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO DO
A) THE CLOSING OF THE LETTER IS INSTRUCTIONAL
B) WARN, COMFORT, SUPPORT, BE PATIENT
C) REJOICE EVERMORE
D) PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
POINT: WITHOUT A DOUBT THE PEOPLE AT THESSALONICA WERE TROUBLED FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS IS A PERIOD IN TIME WHEN CHRISTIANITY WASN’T EXACTLY LEGAL AND ACCPETED BY ALL. IN THIS DAY AND TIME MANY CHRISTIAN PEOPLE ARE DISMAYED AND WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR US AS WELL.
BODY: QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT
1: QUENCH
A) EXTINGUISH FIRE
B) SUPPRESS FEELING
C) THE HOLY FIRE WITHIN US THE SPIRIT
POINT: PAUL TELLS US NOT TO QUENCH IT, DON’T IGNORE THE CONVICTION; DON’T PUT OUT THE BURNING DESIRE WITHIN YOU THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN YOU.
2: HOLD FAST
A) GOOD THINGS
B) THINGS OF GOD
POINT: CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE THE TRUTH TO APEASE THE WORLD. WHAT IS TRUTH AND RIGHT WE SHOULD NEVER BE WILLING TO LET GO.
3: ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPERANCE OF EVIL
A) REFRAIN
B) CHOOSE NOT TO BE A PART OF
C) JUST THE APPERANCE OF IT
POINT: IF IT EVEN SEEMS WRONG TURN AWAY DON’T LET SATAN OR ANYONE ELSE EVEN TRY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT SOMETHING SMALL DOESN’T MATTER.
CONCLUSION: LIVING IN THE SOUTH EVEN TODAY IN 2008 WE ALL STILL FACE AN UGLY HARSH BEAST KNOWN AS RACISM. WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT ELECT MANY HAVE ENGAGED IN VERY UGLY AND DOWN RIGHT SINFUL SLANDER OF OUR NATION’S NEXT LEADER. THE CONCLUSION I DRAW THIS WEEK FROM OUR SCRIPTURE IS DON’T GET INVOLVED, REMEMBER WE REPRESENT JESUS CHRIST, ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPERANCE OF EVIL. THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO BE PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY OVER OUR GOVERNMENT. FRIENDS LET US NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT MOST!!!!!!!
