The Effective Christian Walk

1. QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT

• Quench means to: “extinguish” or “suppress” “to cool”

• In our soul the Holy Spirit is represented by fire

• Quenching the Spirit takes place when we do not allow the fullness of the Spirit in our lives

• How do we quench the Spirit?

a. Being out of the will of God

b. Not praying

c. Having ought against our brother’s and sisters

d. Failing to give God what is already his

• John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

• When we quench the spirit peoples lives are in danger

• We must seek to keep anew our relationship with God

2. DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS

• Do not disregard or neglect the instructions you receive

• The Word is full of instructions and ‘prophesying’ which guide us through our Christian lives

• Jesus taught in parables which were stories for learning

• God has set among us people with a variety of gifts in order to complete his work, we must not question those who are truly called

• Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

• We must take instruction seriously and respect those whom God has called

3. PROVE ALL THINGS; HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD

• As we spoke above; God has called people to a work and we must respect those who are called

• The key is holding to the teachings of the Bible and nothing else

• II Timothy 2:15 “…rightly dividing the word of truth.”

• II Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

• Satan can transform what look like good things into works for himself

• We must grow in the Lord so that we might be able to resist his deceitfulness

• I John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

4. ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL

• Or ‘From the Appearance of’

• I Peter 3:17 “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

• We must do more than not appear evil on the outside, we must keep it out of our heart

• Matthew 23:38 “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

• I John 5:9 “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:”

5. REJOICE EVERMORE

• We as Christians have everything to rejoice about

• Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

• Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

• We should rejoice because we have victory over this world

• I John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”

• We should rejoice because we have victory over the grave

• I Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• We should rejoice because we have victory over sin

• Revelation 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”