Series: Imitators
Thesis of series: We live in a society that seldom reflects Jesus. As Christians, we are called to be His reflection, to do His will and to keep our hearts blameless.
Sermon: Focus on His Image
Thesis of sermon: We need to focus on His return, do God’s will, keep our hearts blameless and by all means build each other up and not tear each other down.
I Thess. 5:1-28:
1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16Be joyful always;
17pray continually;
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;
20do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21Test everything. Hold on to the good.
22Avoid every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25Brothers, pray for us.
26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
T. S. - Thought on how this chapter applies to us today: When we focus our lives on what is taught in chapter 5 we are creating a healthy church, a healthy body of Christ that is living in anticipation of Jesus Return.
1. Focus on the fact that Jesus is coming back (1 Thess. 5:1-11).
a. Illustration of Galveston and hurricane: APPROACHING STORM:
i. "Isaac’s Storm" is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached. The author vividly describes how as the streets began to flood people went about their business as if nothing was wrong. Children played in the water, men gathered for breakfast at the local diner, and no one fled from the storm that was about to strike. Some didn’t worry because Issac Cline, the national weather service officer in Galveston, assured them it would not be a severe storm. Others simply believed that Galveston was invincible. Some thought that since they had never seen a hurricane strike Galveston one never would. So for a number of reasons, people assured themselves nothing bad would happen. And as a result over 6,000 people died one September day in 1900. Today we can see storm clouds forming on the horizon. There is a moral and spiritual decline that continues to erode our national life. The warning signs are there for us to see--the signs that Jesus is coming soon. They beckon us to return to the Lord and seek refuge in Him. How will history look back on what we did as the storm approached? SOURCE: Steve Hanchet. Citation: "Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History," by Erik Larson and Isaac Monroe Cline. Vintage Books; ISBN: 0375708278; (July 11, 2000).
b. Signs of His return?
i. The following is taken from http://somehelpful.info/Prophecy/Signs.html also from Luke 21; Matthew 24; Revelation 13.
1. Wars and rumors of Wars (Matthew 24:6,7)
2. Famines, pestilence, earthquakes (Matthew 24:7, 8)
3. Deceivers who claim to follow Jesus (Matthew 24:4, 5)
4. People of Israel return to their land (Ez. 37:21,22)
5. Increased wickedness and loss of love (Matthew 24:12)
6. Return of the fallen angels (Genesis 6:4; Luke 17:26)
7. Strong delusion (2 Thess. 2:11)
8. One world government (Daniel 2:40; Revelation 13)
9. One world ruler and an assistant emerge (The antichrist and false prophet) (Rev. 13:1-4; 7-8; 11-15; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 9-12).
10. Technology to control the world (Rev. 13: 16-18)
ii. The biggest key for us is to understand is the 10 dangerous assumptions that many Christian make today in their life – the following is adapted from http://somehelpful.info/Prophecy/Signs.html: Please note -- I have adapted some of their assumptions about Christians or deceptions and made them more practical and in line with my perspective.
1. If the mainstream media hasn’t told us about something, then it must not be important.
a. Many Christians believe the main stream media tells the truth.
i. Trust me they spin the news!
b. We should know this is not the case – the media has a bias and it’s a godless bias, a liberal agenda and a value system that is worldly – not Biblical.
i. The truth is many of them are deceived and they believe the deceptions so to them deception is truth.
2. Most of modern history is random and not conspiratorial.
a. The Bible tells us that we are on linear movement toward a climax when Jesus shall return.
b. Realize: Everything happening around us is not random but orchestrated by the hand of God.
3. Most of the world leaders are trying to do their best and will solve the world’s problems through their collective intelligence.
a. Mankind is incapable of solving the problems of the world on their strength - we need the power of the Holy Spirit a divine intervention.
b. Our world is spiraling downward and looking for a person to save it or rescue it. But they are looking to men to do it!
4. The current fiscal money system and paper asset paradigm is honest and will continue indefinitely.
a. It’s obvious that we are moving toward a cashless society.
b. Look at all the new technology changing the way we buy and sell.
5. Trying to understand how the devil works through powerful unsaved individuals is unimportant or a waste of time.
a. We need to know either you serve the world or the Jesus there is no in between.
6. All the atrocities like the Nazis did in World War 2 have ceased and are no longer happening in the world today.
a. Nations, religious people especially Christians and certain races are still being martyred today.
b. People are still being killed by some of the same policies as the Nazis adhered too.
c. There are people in the US who still follow some Nazi principles.
7. Christians in modern cosmopolitan cities will never be persecuted.
8. Christians can expect to be raptured out of this world before all the events of Revelation 6-8 come upon the earth.
a. The assumption is their will not be hard times for Christians ---this not true because many Christians globally are dying for the Christian faith already!
b. God is being rejected in our nation and a godless nation will persecute Christians because they are seen as a threat.
9. Christians cannot be influenced by demons or demonic power.
10. All who call themselves Christian will go to Heaven.
a. Matthew 7:15-20; 21-23: Jesus own words dispel this false assumption.
i. 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
T.S. – The signs of Jesus coming are surfacing more and more and yes we cannot be certain of the exact time of His return but we can see more and more things aligning in our world which are pointing to His return. But we also need to make sure we are ready for when He comes so it becomes imperative that we do God’s will now so we are ready if he comes tonight or within an hour.
2. Focus on Gods will (1 Thess. 5:12-18)
a. Thoughts on Gods will – when we take the time to study the Word we clearly get a picture of God’s will:
i. John 6:40 tells us that God’s will is for all to believe in Jesus and be saved.
ii. Ephesians 1:5-12 tells us that God’s will is that we praise the Lord for His gift of salvation – that we praise and give him the glory!
iii. Ephesians 5: 1-20 tells us that God’s will is for us to live in His grace each and every day.
iv. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 tells us that God’s will is to give graciously.
v. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 tells us God’s will is to live a life of integrity and avoid sexual immorality.
vi. 1 Thessalonians 5: 11-18 tells us that God’s will is and we will look at this section in a moment.
vii. 1 Peter 2:15 tells us that God’s will is do right.
viii. 1 Peter 4: 1-7; 19 tells us that God’s will is to suffer for the cause of Christ and do right even through the suffering.
ix. Colossians 1:9-12 tells us that bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God is doing God’s will.
x. Colossians 4:12 tells us that being a servant is God’s will.
xi. 1 John 2:15-17 tells us that doing God’s will is not conforming to this world’s image or belief system.
xii. Romans 12:1-12 tells us that God’s will is that each of us be a living sacrifice for the Kingdom of Heaven.
xiii. Romans 15:30-33 tells us that God’s will is for us to pray for each other.
1. As you read through these passages we discover very quickly that being in the will of God deals with how we live our lives daily, and it’s about our daily actions! Are they godly or godless?
b. Quotes:
i. Henry Blackaby said, "You never find God asking persons to dream up what they want to do for Him...Without doubt, the most important factor in each (Biblical) situation was not what the individual wanted to do for God. The most important factor was what God was about to do." (Experiencing God, page 66)
ii. He adds, "God reveals His purposes (His tasks) so you will know what He plans to do... When God came to Noah He did not ask, 'What do you want to do for me?' He came to reveal what He was about to do. It was far more important to know what God was about to do. It really did not matter what Noah had planned to do for God. God was about to destroy the world. He wanted to work through Noah to accomplish His purposes of saving a remnant of people and animals to repopulate the earth." (page 99)
c. Henry Blackaby, the author of Experiencing God, tells this heart wrenching story about a situation he encountered early in his ministry. He writes, “The first funeral I ever conducted was for a beautiful three-year-old. She was the first child born to a couple in our church, and the first grandchild in their extended family. Unfortunately, she was spoiled. While visiting the little girl’s home one day, I observed that she loved to ignore her parents’ instructions. When they told her to come, she went. When they said, "sit down," she stood up. Her parents laughed, finding her behavior cute. One day their front gate was inadvertently left open. The parents saw their child escaping out of the yard and heading toward the road. To their horror, a car was racing down the street. As she ran out between two parked cars, they both screamed at her to stop and turn back. She paused for a second, looked back at her parents, then gleefully laughed as she turned and ran directly into the path of the oncoming car. The parents rushed their little girl to the hospital, but she died from her injuries. As a young pastor, this was a profound lesson for me. I realized I must teach God’s people not only to recognize His voice but also immediately to obey His voice when they hear it. It is life” (preachingtoday.com).
d. Let’s revisit our text today: So what is God’s will for our lives from chapter 5?
i. Gods will is for you to respect your church leadership!
1. Num 12:8 Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
a. God asked this question to Aaron and Miriam who were speaking against Moses new wife who was a Cushite.
2. The following thoughts are from http://biblemeditationshop.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/lacking-respect/
a. In Christian circles in the West, there often seems a poor attitude in respect of leaders. This seems far less so in churches in the Far East, where respect is often a national characteristic. Yet the Bible has a lot to say about respect for leaders, spiritual and non-spiritual. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was very clear about this: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Rom 13:1,2) In the day in which we live, authority often seems to have a bad name, because those in authority sometimes publicly abuse their position.
i. But this is no excuse to assume all leadership is bad or misguided!
3. We have a growing disrespect for leadership today in our country.
a. Teachers are no longer respected.
b. Parents are not even respected.
c. Seniors are not respected by the younger generation.
d. But Seniors don’t respect the younger generation either.
e. We see it with Police officers.
f. The President or civil leaders have little or no respect.
g. We see in the media! We see disrespect applauded and admired all over TV!
i. Have you ever watched - Saturday Night Live
ii. The Simpsons started it all!
iii. Need I go on!
h. We see disrespect rising up in society in general – no one respects anyone.
i. Why? Because we are living in the “Me Generation!”
i. We also have a disrespect toward God in church! Yes, I said it! Many children in the church are not taught to respect God or the Lord!
i. How do I know?
1. Litter thrown on the floors of the church during service–chairs that are drawn all over with church pens?
j. Many in the church lack reverence for the Lord for things that should be held in a reverential way.
i. Like the Bible!
ii. Like Communion!
iii. Like Baptism!
k. Showing respect is to be built into the younger people but somewhere along the way that value stopped being taught.
ii. Gods will is for you to live at peace with each other.
1. You can only do this if you respect other people and respect the teaching of the Word of God.
2. It is harder to live at peace with others than to fight with others. It takes self-discipline!
iii. Gods will is to warn those who are idle.
1. Why? So that they don’t miss Heaven, so they don’t suffer from being idle in the things that could change their life.
2. Are you idle about right and wrong! Are you idle in sharing your testimony! Are in idle in sharing what God’s Word says to this generation? Are you idle about witnessing for Jesus!
iv. Gods will is to encourage the timid.
1. Standup be bold for the Lord – come stand on La Grange with us today to support the right to life. Babies lives are at stake! Today is National Life Chain Sunday – a voice crying silently in the wilderness to quit killing the babies and the next. generation!
a. I am encouraging the timid today to answer the call of God and do the will of God by being a quiet voice for the unborn – remember God is calling us to radical obedience to His will and to His ways.
i. I say this very clearly for all to hear: Abortion is not the will of God for an unborn child! It’s the choice of the parent deciding their child’s life has no value!
ii. We need to become radical for the Lord and quit allowing the liberal media and anti-christian forces to dictate what we stand up for!
b. David Platt quotes:
i. “We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”
― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
ii. “Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”
― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
iii. “The price is certainly high for people who don’t know Christ and who live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark”
― David Platt
iv. “But then I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, 'I wish you would have kept more for yourself.' I'm confident that God will take care of me.”
― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
v. Gods will is to help the weak.
1. The number one surgery in America today is abortion!
a. I think it is time for us to stand up for the weak who cannot stand up for themselves. What do you think?
b. Are they not the most helpless and needy of today –the weakest of society!
2. ANNUAL ABORTION STATISTICS: http://www.abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_statistics/
a. In 2008, approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S., down from an estimated 1.29 million in 2002, 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI).
b. In 2008, the highest number of reported abortions occurred in New York (124,867), NYC (89,469),Florida (86,817) and Texas (81,366); the fewest occurred in Wyoming (≤4), South Dakota (848), North Dakota (1,386), and Idaho (1,481) (CDC).
c. The 2008 abortion ratios by state ranged from a low of 59 abortions per 1,000 live births in Idaho(Wyoming had too few abortions for reliable tabulation) to a high of 732 abortions per 1,000 live births in NYC (CDC).
d. The annual number of legal induced abortions in the United States doubled between 1973 and 1979, and peaked in 1990. There was a slow but steady decline through the 1990's. Overall, the number of annual abortions decreased by 3.7% between 2000 and 2008, with temporary spikes in 2002 and 2006 (CDC).
e. The US abortion rate is similar to those of Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden but higher than those of other Western European countries (NAF).
f. In 1998, the last year for which estimates were made, more than 23% of legal induced abortions were performed in California (CDC).
g. In 2005, the abortion rate in the United States was higher than recent rates reported for Canadaand Western European countries and lower than rates reported for China, Cuba, the majority of Eastern European countries, and certain Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (CDC).
h. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended; about 4 in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. (AGI).
vi. Gods will is to be patient with everyone.
1. Even politicians and people with different views than ours!
vii. Gods will is to not pay back wrong for wrong.
1. We are to pay back wrong with love and forgiveness!
viii. Gods will is to be kind to everyone.
1. Even the mean people of the world!
a. The Geese scenario in the parking lot.
ix. Gods will is to be joyful.
1. We can only impact others if we ourselves live with joy everyday – happy people impact other people!
2. An illustration on the lighter side of life:
a. THE WISDOM OF BABES from Rick Stacy sermoncentrral.com
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” Certainly you have. It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t!
For example:
• Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
• Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
• Michael, wise man that he was also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
• Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.
• Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”
• Naomi, 15 said, “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”
• Lauren, age 9 said, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”
• Joel, 10 years old, said, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and
• Eileen, age 8 said, “Never try to baptize a cat.”
b. GOD IS EVERY WHERE from Jim Kane sermoncentral.com
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:
GOD is like a FORD ... He’s got a better idea.
GOD is like COKE ... He’s the real thing.
GOD is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send His very best.
GOD is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
GOD is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.
GOD is like SEARS ... He has everything.
GOD is like ALKA-SELTZER ... Try Him, you’ll like him.
GOD is like SCOTCH TAPE ... You can’t see him, but you know He’s there.
GOD is like DELTA .... He’s ready when you are.
GOD is like ALLSTATE ... You’re in good hands with Him.
GOD is like VO-5 HAIR SPRAY ... He holds through all kinds of weather.
GOD is like DIAL SOAP ... Aren’t you glad you have Him.
Don’t you wish everybody did?
c. The truth is God wants us to have joy in our life in spite of the craziness all around us and that joy comes from Him – because God likes us to laugh!
i. Reference Charles Swindoll’s book “Laugh Again.” Quotes:
1. “Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.”
2. “I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun.”
x. Gods will is for us to pray continually.
1. We need to be praying for abortions to stop, for the elections of this country, for revival, for God to reveal His direction for us each day of our life.
xi. Gods will is for us to give thanks in all situations of life.
1. We need to give thanks for what God has blessed us with –this nation is the most prosperous nation in the world and in the history of time!
e. God’s will put it into perspective for you and me is this:
i. We need to seek God’s will which is first and foremost the act accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and then receive the gift of grace and then live our life in a holy way that holds on to this precious gift.
1. God’s will is not your will or what you want to do, sorry, it is living a life that honors and glorifies Jesus! It’s doing what He wants you to do!
a. We must put Jesus, the Bible as first priority in our life – everything we do is therefore driven from this foundation!
b. Henry Blackaby says that when he is seeking the Lord’s direction and the Lord’s will, he has to reach the place where he can honestly go before the Lord with no will of his own in the matter. Then he is able to pray and find the Lord’s direction.
c. We also need to embrace the direction of the Holy Spirit in our life.
i. Listen to his voice and insight, and also heed his warnings. Yes, everyday!
2. God’s will is achieved as we live holy lives and act as we were taught to act from the Bible.
a. Jesus showed us how, Paul instructed us on how to live holy in the New Testament!
b. We just need to do it!
3. God’s will for your life is for you to be Christ like – to act like Christians who have the name of Jesus on them.
a. Did you know who gets abortions:
i. 37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 28% identify themselves as Catholic (AGI).
ii. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical".
iii. This action is not a Christian act! This should not be happening to church people! It is not Christ like!
4. God’s will is for you to say, “Lord what would you like to do with my life? I am yours use me as you please!”
a. The following quote from http://www.intothyword.org/pages.asp?pageid=53501”We must have the firm desire to surrender ourselves to the will of the Father! However this surrendering we do is not giving up our distinction and personality. It does not make us eunuchs and robots who serve a master out of obligation and employment or out of a predetermined program. It is the refusal to surrender our will that leads us astray and away from His perfect will.”
T.S. – When we know God’s will from Scripture and we follow God’s will then we will be blameless on the day we stand before Jesus in Heaven to give an account of our lives.
3. Focus on keeping your spirit, soul, and body blameless and focus on not grieving the Holy Spirit in your life and or church (1 Thess. 5:19-28).
a. How do you stay blameless or keep from grieving the Holy Spirit in your life or in your church?
i. You do this by not putting out the Spirits fire!
1. Are you a person who throws your words of complaining, or cutting words onto what is happening in the church?
a. Do you throw water on someone when the Spirit first starts using them?
b. Do you squash a person’s zeal for the Lord?
c. Do you rip on leadership for the decisions they make and you don’t care who you bring down as you let your tongues of dissent be unleashed?
2. Barnes notes: Quench not the Spirit - This language is taken from the way of putting out a fire, and the sense is, we are not to extinguish the influences of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Possibly there may be an allusion here to fire on an altar, which was to be kept constantly burning. This fire may have been regarded as emblematic of devotion, and as denoting that that devotion was never to become extinct. The Holy Spirit is the source of true devotion, and hence the enkindlings of piety in the heart, by the Spirit, are never to be quenched.
a. In a similar manner the apostle gives this direction to Timothy, "I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up ἀναζωπυρεῖν anazōpurein, kindle up, cause to burn) the gift of God;" 2 Timothy 1:6. Anything that will tend to damp the ardor of piety in the soul; to chill our feelings; to render us cold and lifeless in the service of God, may be regarded as "quenching the Spirit." Neglect of cultivating the Christian graces, or of prayer, of the Bible, of the sanctuary, of a careful watchfulness over the heart, will do it. Worldliness, vanity, levity, ambition, pride, the love of dress, or indulgence in an improper train of thought, will do it.
3. Jamieson-Fausset Brown Commentary: 19. Quench not-the Spirit being a holy fire: "where the Spirit is, He burns" [Bengel] (Mt 3:11; Ac 2:3; 7:51). Do not throw cold water on those who, under extraordinary inspiration of the Spirit, stand up to speak with tongues, or reveal mysteries, or pray in the congregation. The enthusiastic exhibitions of some (perhaps as to the nearness of Christ's coming, exaggerating Paul's statement, 2Th 2:2, By spirit), led others (probably the presiding ministers, who had not always been treated with due respect by enthusiastic novices, 1Th 5:12), from dread of enthusiasm, to discourage the free utterances of those really inspired, in the Church assembly. On the other hand, the caution (1Th 5:21) was needed, not to receive "all" pretended revelations as divine, without "proving" them.
ii. You do this by not treating prophecies with contempt
1. The idea here is this – do you rip apart the pastors message each week or others messages and search for what may be wrong rather than what may be right in them?
2. Do reject that God can prophecy through men and women and you say that’s not God – they are false prophets!
3. Do you choose not to come to church to hear the message because you know it or your offended over something?
4. Clark’s commentary
a. Despise not prophesyings - Do not suppose that ye have no need of continual instruction; without it ye cannot preserve the Christian life, nor go on to perfection. God will ever send a message of salvation by each of his ministers to every faithful, attentive hearer. Do not suppose that ye are already wise enough; you are no more wise enough than you are holy enough. They who slight or neglect the means of grace, and especially the preaching of God's holy word, are generally vain, empty, self-conceited people, and exceedingly superficial both in knowledge and piety.
5. Vincent Word Studies
a. The emphasis on prophesyings corresponds with that in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 1 Corinthians 14:22 ff. Prophecy in the apostolic church was directly inspired instruction, exhortation, or warning. The prophet received the truth into his own spirit which was withdrawn from earthly things and concentrated upon the spiritual world. His higher, spiritual part (πνεῦμα), and his moral intelligence (νοῦς), and his speech (λόγος) worked in harmony.
iii. You do this by testing everything
1. Vincent’s Word Study;
a. Prove all things (πάντα δοκιμάζετε)
b. A general exhortation, not confined to prophesyings; but Paul elsewhere insists that a test be applied to phenomena which claim to be supernatural. See on discerning of spirits, 1 Corinthians 12:10; see on 1 Corinthians 14:29, and comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:2, and 1 John 4:1-3. For δοκιμάζετε prove, see on 1 Peter 1:7. In lxx, Proverbs 27:21; Psalm 11:6, δοκίμιον is a crucible or furnace. Hold fast that which is good (τὸ καλὸν κατέχετ)
2. People’s New Testament
a. 5:21 Prove all things. What was spoken they must put to the test, they must hold fast to. There were those who could discern spirits (1Co 12:10). There were also rules for testing (1Jo 4:1-8).
iv. You do this by holding onto the good
1. Barnes notes on the Bible
a. Hold fast that which is good - Which is in accordance with reason and the word of God; which is adapted to promote the salvation of the soul and the welfare of society. This is just as much a duty as it is to "prove all things." A man who has applied the proper tests, and has found out what is truth, is bound to embrace it and to hold it fast. He is not at liberty to throw it away, as if it were valueless; or to treat truth and falsehood alike. It is a duty which he owes to himself and to God to adhere to it firmly, and to suffer the loss of all things rather than to abandon it.
v. You do this by avoiding every kind of evil
1. Barnes notes on the Bible:
a. Abstain from all appearance of evil - Not only from evil itself, but from that which seems to be wrong. There are many things which are known to be wrong. They are positively forbidden by the laws of heaven, and the world concurs in the sentiment that they are wicked. But there are also many things about which there may be some reasonable doubt.
b. A great variety of subjects, such as those pertaining to dress, amusements, the opera, the ball-room, games of chance and hazard, and various practices in the transaction of business, come under this general class; which, though on the supposition that they cannot be proved to be in themselves positively wrong or forbidden, have much the "appearance" of evil, and will be so interpreted by others.
2. Vincent Word Studies
a. Appearance (εἴδους)
i. As commonly explained, abstain from everything that even looks like evil. But the word signifies form or kind.
Conclusion:
The Lord will help us in all these things and He will return - so press forward don't lose heart - he is faithful to fulfill His promises.
Let grace be with you and motivate you to live this way as verse 11 says encourage each other, build each other up!
We need to focus on Jesus - We need to focus on His Return, we focus on Jesus by doing God’s will, and by keeping our hearts blameless.
I close with the following verse which is about in the center of our passage today:
1 Thess. 5:11: 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Closing Illustration:
There is an old story about a pastor leaving a church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the pillar members, “Don’t be so sad. The next pastor might be better than me.” She replied, “That’s what they said last time, but it keeps getting worse.” (Source: John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, p. 159).
Are you doing this in the Church – here at Christian Hills – are you doing it with others in the Body of Christ?
Altar time:
