EXAMINE EVERYTHING - 1 Thess. 5: 19-28

I. JESUS IS COMING BACK. 1. When no one expects it. 2. To bring back salvation or destruction to each and everyone. 3. Whatever it will be for each of us will depend on if we are ready when He does come. 4. If we are going to be ready we must do what Paul says in vs. 19-22.

II. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE READY WHEN THE LORD COMES BACK. A. “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances”; vs. 19. 1. “Quench” literally means “extinguish” or “put out.” 2. In Eph. 4: 30 Paul uses a similar statement: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” 3. In Acts 7: 51, some were, “Resisting the Holy Spirit.” 4. The idea behind these statements is: “Do not ignore, do not reject, do not resist what the Spirit has told you.” 5. In 1 Cor. 2: 12-13 Paul says: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might 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. a. Paul got what he spoke from the Holy Spirit. b. If we reject what Paul says we are simply rejecting the Holy Spirit. c. So Paul says, “Don’t quench the Holy Spirit.” d. The Lord is coming back and you cannot be ready if you resist, reject, and ignore what the Holy Spirit has been trying to tell you. B. “Do not despise prophetic utterances”; vs. 20. 1. “Despise” – hold contempt for; set at naught. 2. When someone comes speaking the word of God do not despise what they say. 3. It is through the word that we learn about Jesus and what we must do to be saved. 4. If we are going to be ready when the Lord comes again we cannot hold “contempt” for what the word tells us. C. “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil”; vs. 21-22. 1. Just because someone claims to be from God and guided by the Spirit does not mean they are. 2. Examine everything; prove everything; and hold fast to that which is good and abstain from that which is evil. III. GUIDELINES FOR TESTING WHAT MEN TEACH IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF IT IS GOOD OR EVIL. A. Does what they teach agree with the scriptures? 1. In Acts 17: 11 Paul started teaching some of the Jews in Berea and notice what they did: Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. 2. Deut 13:1-4 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying,' Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. a. It doesn’t matter if they perform a sign or how convincing they are. b. What matters is whether or not what they say agrees with the word of God. B. What do they say about Jesus? 1 John 4:1-4: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 1. Many will say some nice things about Jesus. 2. If they do not uphold His deity, His humanity, His Messiahship, and His uniqueness as the way to salvation, what they say is not from God and you need to stay away from it. C. Does what they say hold up the gospel of grace? Eph 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Gal 1:6-8: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. D. Does what they say show up in the speakers life? Matt 7:15-20 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. E. Does what they say build up the body of Christ? 1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 1. Many have the idea that prophesy is for discovering mysteries. 2. Prophesy is for building up, exhorting, and consoling. F. A guiding principle: Do not use the Holy Spirit as a cover for proclaiming that which is against the will of God: Eph 4:30-31: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Conclusion: Here are the guidelines for testing those things spoken by men claiming to be sent from God: Does what they teach agree with the scriptures? What do they say about Jesus? Does what they say hold up the gospel of grace? Does what they say show up in their lives? Does what they say build up the body of Christ? The Lord is coming again and these are thing we must do to be ready when He does come. 1. Do not quench the Holy Spirit. 2. Despise not prophesying. 3. Examine everything; hold fast to that which is good and abstain from every form of evil. As we think on these things, lets close with Paul’s prayer for each of us: 1 Thess 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.