*Wow..
Something about that "word" required useing my brain!
*Cool!
-=A=-
--- Kahunapule <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
---------------------------------
Like A#1 says, "Eat
the hay & spit out the sticks." Its in
theBible...
---------------------------------
Test Everything
by Charles and Jean
Fowler
"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is
good;abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:21-22NASB).
Indeed, the biblical pattern and expectation is clear, asPaul commanded
the church in Thessalonica: "Test everything." It is theclear teaching of
scripture, that everything must beproved.To the angel of the church in
Ephesus write: Theseare the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His
right hand andwalks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds,
your hardwork and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate
wicked men,that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are
not, and havefound them false.
(Rev. 2:1-2 NIV)Whetherwe are talking about a sermon, a book, a doctrine
or a prophetic word,the scripture is very clear: "It must be tested."
The Greek wordhere is translated in various versions as: prove, test, try,
scrutinize,and examine. It is one of Paul's favorite words: dokimazo. It
isto test with the expectation of approving. It is the word used to
testcoins to see whether they are real or counterfeit. And in this context
itmeans to test preaching, teaching and prophecy.
In fact it meansto test anything and "everything" that would affect or
influence theChristian life.
Biblical Safeguards
We live in a daywhen we are literally flooded with information. Now more
than ever,materials are being distributed in rapid pace, especially in
thereligious arena. And there has never been a broader stream of
theologicaland religious information.
Teachings sweep the globe instantlyby satellite television. Prophetic
words are spread far and wide bymassive email technology. And yet where
does spiritual discernment comeinto play? Where are the safeguards and
tests in place to insure thatunbiblical teachings do not thrive in this
fertile or prolificatmosphere?
In the context of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul issaying...instead of
quenching the gifts of the Holy Spirit, instead ofnegating prophetic
utterance, examine themcarefully.
What a balanced teacher Paul is. He doesn't throwthe baby out with the
bath water. He tests everything. He is verydiscerning. He "eats the hay
and disregards thesticks."
Everything in the church must be tested and proved bythe Word of God. I
don't care if it is a popular praise song, a cuttingedge teaching or a
powerfully anointed prophetic word. All must be testedand proved by the
Word of God.
If it is not scriptural, Paulsays: "Abstain (avoid or hold back) from it."
Only TwoPossible Outcomes
Any test will have one of two results. It iseither good, or it is bad. It
is either scriptural, or it is not. Paulsays: "Hold fast to the good and
hold off from the bad." These two simpleconcepts complete Paul's command
to "Test everything."
There itis: you hold fast to the good thing. Keep a firm grip on the Word
of God.And you do the exact opposite when the thing fails the test of
scripture.When it fails the test of God's Word, you resist it; you keep
away fromit.Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise propheticutterances.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which isgood; abstain
from every form of evil.
(1 Thess. 5:19-22NASB)The ministry of the Holy Spirit is comparedhere to
fire. A Holy Fire that must not be quenched. You see, that is thetendency
when you see something that appears out of control#8212; thathas some
impurities in it. You want to quench the wholething.
But actually, the Fire of the Holy Spirit is preciselywhat we need to
purify the gold of its dross. "Quench not theSpirit."
Timothy is directed to rekindle the fire: to "stir upthe gift of God which
is in thee by the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim.1:6). John baptized with
water, but spoke of One Mightier who shall"baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire" (Matt.3:11).
Test And Balance
Paul is so balanced here,"quench not the Spirit." Do not throw out the
baby with the bath water.But "test everything" instead! We need all the
gifts of the Spirit, allof His precious manifestations, and all of His
miraculous operations.Don't quench His holy operations, but rather "test
everything" andbalance it with scripture.
"Prove all things; hold fast thatwhich is good," (v. 21). Error is never
so dangerous as when it is mixedwith truth. Pure error may easily be
detected and avoided. But errormixed with truth gets introduced where
otherwise it would never havegone.
Remember that rat poison is 98 percent wheat, otherwisethe rat would never
take the pure poison. As the goldsmith tests the goldfor impurities, so we
must test everything with the Word of God.Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spiritswhether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out intothe world.
(1 John 4:1 KJV)The bible eventeaches that apostles must be tested. Even
those who claim to be Apostlesof the Lord, "messengers set by God" must
also be proved. Jesus commendedthe Church of Ephesus because, You have
tested those whoclaim to be apostles but are not, and have found them
false.
(Rev.2:1-2 NIV)Yes, even apostles must be tested.Nothing can be allowed to
go beyond the scrutiny of HolyScripture.
A Biblical Balance Is Key
Now we are nottalking about becoming critical and judging everybody. We
are all inprocess. Thank the Lord that He is still working on each one of
us. Weare not finished products. None of us is perfect.
But we aretalking about a biblical balance between "quenching the Spirit"
andcomplete gullibility#8212;a balance between "Negating all prophecy"
andbelieving everyone who comes along saying "Thus saith theLord."
We are talking about having some discernment aboutthings. Realizing that
there is usually some flesh stirred into the mixsomewhere. God holds us
individually responsible to "study in order toshow ourselves approved unto
God." Even the Apostle Paul said: "We knowin part and we prophesy in part"
(1 Cor. 13:9 KJV).
So let meexpress it this way: We can show grace to the speaker, without
buying into everything he is saying. We can love the teacher, realizing
that noteverything being taught is absolute truth. In fact, many times it
can bequite garbled and immature.
It is up to God to test our motivesand look at our hearts, but Jesus also
commanded us to "Beware of falseprophets" and be discerning. But we can
show grace to the person,realizing that God is still at work in their
lives. All the whileactivating our spiritual discernment and proving the
teaching or theprophetic word, to insure it passes the test of scripture.
Let us pray:Dear God, we needdiscerning shepherds today. We pray for the
Leaders in our churchestoday, to continue to grow in the Word of grace and
in spiritualunderstanding and discernment. Give each individual believing
thespiritual discernment needed today, in order to be unhindered in
hisgrowth in the Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. We believe
andwe expect miracles today. Amen. Copyright © 2003Believers
Fellowship Of Colorado
All rights reserved. Used bypermission.
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--------------********+********--------------------
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and both in the .....cause!
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