Test Everything! Good Vs. Evil…Avoid Deception

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything, hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-23 ESV)

Matters of the Heart

Our whole spirit, soul, and body is dependent upon our personals choices. These choices lead us into sin or towards becoming blameless in our walk with Christ. Every individual is made up of a spirit, soul, and body. People world minded will not grasp today’s verse as Paul was writing to the church in Thessalonica. Today’s concerns are not the world, it’s individuals who claim Christianity, who are world minded. Paul makes this very clear in 1 Thessalonians.

Understand

I have to ask myself, “What about all the individuals who attend church and even members in church, though never study God’s Word?” I know many believe they cannot understand when they read, yet, asking The Holy Spirit to help, Jesus will open our minds to understand. When opening a Bible for the first time, we all start the same- like running a race. All racers line up, prepare selves to have a great start, then those who trained harder, run faster. Those who do not train, may never finish.

Training

Same when accepting Jesus as Savior, we no longer resonate old behaviors, made new in Christ. Our training begins…sinful selves fade, transformation is welcomed, even desired. This separates us from the world. We are called to be set apart, yet, not forgetting to love enemies, help the forgotten…widows, orphans, and the poor.

Test

Do not quench the Spirit- The Holy Spirit works to keep us from sin, opening eyes to Truth. It’s dangerous when quenching the Spirit…ignoring is same as rejecting next training session. We must be diligent when training Spiritually. Especially, when societal confusion has exploded, false prophets, teachers, and fake news are misleading people. God is speaking through prophets, yet prophecies have been twisted or ignored. God has trained prophets today to have tough skin. His promises are true, He is faithful. God’s sovereignty is just, and His ways are perfect.

Good vs. Evil

Test everything! We are to hold onto what is good. Abstaining from every form of evil. Therefore, must discern between evil and good. God is the God of peace, we are able to experience when staying the course, training hard in midst of gaining strength and endurance…avoiding deception, and gaining maturity…all to work towards our whole spirit, soul, and body being blameless when Jesus returns. He will return!

Be encouraged!