07-26-2020 – Vitally Important Don’ts and Dos…

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 5:19-22 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | The printable PDF bulletin/newsletter
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Vitally Important Don’ts and Dos…
Read 1Thessalonians 5:19-22…
“19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.”

Two weeks ago (1Thessalonians 5:16-18), we studied Paul’s command for us to continually, without ceasing, in every situation: be rejoicing, be praying, and be giving thanks, because this is God’s will for us in Christ.

Today, we are going to study 1Thessalonians 5:19-22, please follow along as I read through the text. In verses 19-20, we are commanded to not do two things: we are not to quench the Spirit, nor are we to despise prophetic utterances. Okay, but what do those mean?

The Spirit (verse 19), is of course the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is referred to masculine form

(John 14:16-17),
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you

Paul commands that we do not quench the Spirit of God. Think about that word quench for a minute, you’ve heard thirsty people say after drinking some water, “boy, that really quenched my thirst.”

To quench something can mean to stifle, retard, or even extinguish its energy or working power; in reference to the Holy Spirit, this is paramount to us hindering or suppressing the work of the Spirit in our individual lives, and in the life of the church.

It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us as spiritual children of God

(cf. John 3:5-8;
“5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

Titus 3:5),
“5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

fills us, seals us, places us in Christ’s body, sanctifies us

(cf. Ephesians 1:13-14;
“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

1Corinthians 12:12-13, 18, 27;
“12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

“18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

“27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Colossians 1:15-18;
“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

2Thessalonians 2:13).
“13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

It is God’s Spirit who makes God’s Word effectual in our lives, that we might serve the Lord boldly and victoriously

(see 1Corinthians 2:12-16).
“12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

God loves and desires we grow spiritually healthy and strong

(see Psalm 119:11;
“11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

Ephesians 4:15;
“15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”

1Peter 2:2).
“2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

As Christians, we can quench the Spirit’s work in us by not prayerfully, reverently, and expectantly reading, heeding, hiding God’s Word in our heart, and applying God’s Word to our life, as witnesses of His Grace.

We can also quench the Spirit by the way we respond to the difficulties and troubles in this life, e.g., instead of trusting God and seeking His provision and purpose in and through the events, circumstances and happenings in our life, we attempt to live by our own abilities and resources, holding up our own rights, freedoms, comforts and wants as priorities, instead of our witness for the Lord

Matthew 5:1-11;
“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

Matthew 6:26-34).
“26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God’s Spirit illuminates God’s Word, so that we can know the will of God and appropriate the provisions of God, in order to carry it out

(see Romans 12:2;
“2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Philippians 4:12-13, 19).
“12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

“19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

1Thessalonians 5:20
“20 do not despise prophetic utterances.”

We are warned not to despise prophetic utterances. The word translated despise here, means to look down upon, to consider as having no value, to show contempt toward.

The words prophetic utterances and prophecy are different forms of the same word, referring to both written and spoken words. The revelatory proclamation of God’s divine, sovereign and eternal Word was limited to the apostolic era; although, in the New Testament apostles and prophets proclaimed new revelation, but also reiterated divine truth that had already been spoken or recorded.

Prophetic utterances have ceased, i.e., there has not been given, nor will there be, any new revelation from God, the Bible is complete. However, the gift of prophecy [proclaiming God’s Word] by way of expositional and exegetical teaching, is the method and manner through which pastors-elders-overseers feed and care for God’s flock today.

Prophecy, for the most part, is a term that refers to God’s written Word.

2Peter 1:20-21,
“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

However, God’s Word is not only to be read via the written text, it is to be heard as it is proclaimed, as John writes:

Revelation 1:1-3,
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. “

Revelation 22:18-19,
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

Read 1Thessalonians 5:21-22…
“21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.”

Now we come to three exhortations by Paul, to the church, that are vital for believers to do; and these have to do with spiritual discernment, based on the authority of God’s Word.

1Corinthians 2:1-11,
“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

Colossians 2:8-10,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”
Ephesians 5:13-17,
“All things become visible when they are exposed by the light, everything becomes visible in light.” “For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:3-12,
“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”

Ephesians 5:1-2,
“Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

We are called to examine, to test and approve, to judge between true and false, right and wrong, good and evil; as we embrace, live out, and proclaim, that which is pleasing to the Lord.

Romans 12:9,
“ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Philippians 4:8,
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

We are to abstain [keep away from] any evil [all that is displeasing to the Lord]: behavior, attitudes, teachings; anything that is harmful, including lies, falsehoods, deceptions, i.e., all that perverts spiritual truth, morality and goodness [by God’s standard].

As Children of God and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must not do anything that is dishonoring to God and to God’s Word; but instead, we are commanded (Ephesians 5:18) “to be filled with the Spirit,” (Colossians 3:16), to “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” (Philippians 2:5), that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” and (Galatians 5:25) we are to “live by the Spirit, [and] keep in step with the Spirit.”

These are all different ways of stating the same sovereign truth — that Christians are to live under the control of the Spirit of God, in harmony with the Word of God, in a demonstration that models the Son of God, in order that the character of God and obedience to His Word might be exemplified in and through our daily lives.
Pastor Mike
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