“On the other hand, do not be naïve and gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good, throw out anything which is tainted with evil.” 1Thessalonians 5:19-23

1 Thessalonians 5:19-23 Amplified Bible

¹⁹ Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. ²¹ But test ^[a]all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. ²²  Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In his final greeting to the Church at Thessalonica, Apostle Paul gives various warnings and exhortations to the Body of Christ on how to live a godly life that is worthy of our position in Christ.

Here in verses 19-22 we are called to a life of examination, life which is devoted to self examination: “Not quench the Holy Spirit. Not to scorn the Word of God. But test all things, examine everything carefully, against the Word of God and to hold fast that which is good, genuine, and true. so you can recognize what is good]. Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].”

In order to be so devoted and disciplined do so we need to be like the Berean believers who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught in their churches and assemblies were true to Scripture, or if there was a big, subtle, distortion of biblical truth or watering down of God’s Word of grace.

God has set clear biblical standards for the normal Christian life, as outlined in the Church epistles and which are founded on the teachings of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the foundation stone. The single and unique standard of truth by which we are to test all things is the Word of God.

What does it mean to prove all things?

He told them, “Prove all things…” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The word “prove” is the Greek word ‘dokimadzo’, which means to approve after testing. In other words, don’t simply believe everything you hear. Test it before you accept it.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb95/1th/5/21/t_conc_1116021

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What does it mean to test everything?

Paul tells us to test everything.

This means to examine closely in order to determine its authenticity.

Just because an actor or athlete gives thanks to God after a “performance” doesn’t mean that we should risk our life, then do everything else they do.

Proverbs 30:1-9 Amplified Bible

The Words of Agur

30 The words of ^[a]Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle:

The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

² 
Surely ^[b]I am more brutish and stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man [for I do not know what I do not know].
³ 
I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom,
Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].
⁴ 
Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name?
Certainly you know!

⁵ 
Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver];
He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.
⁶ 
Do not add to His words,
Or He will reprove you, and you will be found a liar.

⁷ 
Two things I have asked of You;
Do not deny them to me before I die:
⁸ 
Keep deception and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
⁹ 
So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I will not be poor and steal,
And so profane the name of my God.

Let us read, pray, mark, study, learn, and inwardly digest God’s Word, and study the truth to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Let us remember that the Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than a short, swift razor-sharpened two-edged sword, which is able to pierce between our resistances of the soul and Holy spirit, can slice between joint and marrow.

Proverbs 30:7-9 Amplified Bible

⁷ 
Two things I have asked of You;
Do not deny them to me before I die:
⁸ 
Keep deception and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
⁹ 
So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I will not be poor and steal,
And so profane the name of my God.

DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT …

nor [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 

The power of God’s Word against our hearts and souls exposes the innermost thoughts of our hearts, can hardcore judge our very motives and secret desires.

Acts 10:9-23 Amplified Bible

⁹ The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on ^[a]the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray, ¹⁰ but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While ^[b]the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance; ¹¹ and he saw the sky opened up, and an ^[c]object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth, ¹² and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³ A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷ Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate. ¹⁸ And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. ¹⁹ While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.” ²¹ Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?” ²² They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say.” ²³ So Peter ^[d]invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night].

May we please make it a daily practice, keep an open mind, a disciplined priority to test all things this world presents to us as ‘correct’ ideologies, theologies, to hold fast to that which is God, the Father, God the Son God the Holy Spirit says is good, may we do so in godly love, in humble submission to the Holy Spirit?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Heavenly Father, instill in me a desire to know You more and to study Your Word diligently and prayerfully so that I may be approved unto God. Help me to examine all things carefully and to hold fast to all that is good, genuine, and true, as outlined in Your Word of grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

Psalm 119:1-16 Amplified Bible

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

^[a]Aleph.

119 How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless],
Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord.
² 
Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies,
And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.
³ 
They do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
⁴ 
You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should follow them with [careful] diligence.
⁵ 
Oh, that my ways may be established
To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!
⁶ 
Then I will not be ashamed
When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].
⁷ 
I will give thanks to You with an upright heart,
When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].
⁸ 
I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].

Beth.

⁹ 
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
¹⁰ 
With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You];
Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
¹¹ 
Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
¹² 
Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
¹³ 
With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
¹⁴ 
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
¹⁵ 
I will meditate on Your precepts
And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].
¹⁶ 
I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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