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Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
1 Thes 5:21
- Thread starter Winnie
- Start date
JohnDB
Member
Not every Believer behaves in the best manner possible.
Some are downright annoying and say the wrong things at times.
But every true believer has some kind of good fruit about them...and Paul wants you to focus on the good qualities someone has.
Dear Sister Winnie, I'll just paste an excerpt of a study I have access to I hope
gives the understanding of it you desire. Blessings in Christ Jesus.
Lessons in Thessalonians
THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE SONS OF GOD
By A. S. Copley
http://www.gracegod.com/Study Books/Thessalonians2.pdf
ATTITUDE OF OPERATIONS. "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil" - 5:20-22. Four are here named: First. "Despise not prophesyings," or prophecies. By a careful study of I Corinthians fourteen, we learn what is meant by prophecies. Some people imagine that they mean messages in other tongues, as if God were speaking infallibly through an individual. Such messages are considered more sacred than the written Word of God and as supplementary thereto. The interpretation is always in the first person, as if they were actually the Voice of the Lord. Hundreds of typewritten pages of such supposed messages from God have been sent to us for distribution. We cannot receive them. In fact, having read several copies, we refuse to waste time reading any others. There is no warrant in the New Testament for such addresses. There is no need for a "prophetic word," as a supplement to the Scriptures. Generally, such messages put forth unscriptural statements, which proves that they are simply men's thoughts and not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the language of such supposed heavenly messages is not at all akin to the Word of God. They lack depth and sublimity. They are dry and lifeless. They abound with vain repetitions. They are usually a burlesque on the Voice of God. In a number of places, much harm has been wrought, because the saints accepted what they were told was the Word and Voice of the Lord. Of course, confusion soon reigned. The prophecies, that Paul exhorts us not to despise or set at naught, are the expositions of God's written Word. "He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort" - I Corinthians 14:3. If he speaks in a tongue and interprets it, or another gives the correct interpretation, he is a true Scriptural prophet of God. His address builds up, exhorts, and comforts the hearers. If it does not, his message is spurious and he is not God's mouthpiece. In I Corinthians fourteen, the apostle emphasizes prophesying - not simply as telling future events, but as teaching doctrine also. Eight times in that chapter, he speaks of edifying or building up the saints. I am prophesying now through the printed page, because I am writing in harmony with the Word and explaining it. But the clear full preaching and teaching of the entire Scriptures is exactly what people are despising today. They who speak in tongues, giving forth what they term "the prophetic word," also despise real Scriptural prophecy; but, instead, flaunt upon the public the cogitations of their own minds. What will the harvest be? A great heap of ashes; for the work of those who build wood and hay and stubble shall be burned. Oh, beloved reader, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" - Galatians 6:7. Second. "Prove all things." Beyond a doubt, this refers to the preaching. We must weigh what we hear and read, in the scales of divine Truth. Is it Scripture, or at least Scriptural language? If it is according to the Word of God, it will also be practical, especially if the prophesying is concerning doctrine and experience. Does the message edify and comfort? Does it enable the saints to grow in grace, and get victories over the flesh and the devil? Are the saints fed, as with the finest of the wheat? Or are the people simply entertained, or detained? Is there nothing more than a lively time, or a solemn weeping time produced? Are the selfrighteous or those strong in themselves only strengthened, and the weak made to feel sad? Are the pious (?) fortified in their make-believe piety? My friend, have you noticed that often a message may have some truth in it, but it produces no conviction? Most folk are afraid of conviction. They are content with what they see and know and possess. A true divinely commissioned prophet brings a message that convicts his audience, in view of leading them on further in God. The next exhortation follows naturally. Third. "Hold fast that which is good." This plainly implies that we reject all that is spurious and unscriptural. Because men claim to be sent from God, many timid saints imagine that they must accept all that they teach and endorse and support them, whether they speak scripturally or not. Oh, no! We should be as bold in rejecting false teaching and refusing to support such teachers, as they are bold to push their wares on us. Truth honors God, and makes men free from sin and the world. We cannot afford to hold to anything except the Truth. Ninety percent of what is spoken and written today is spurious and injurious. We are compelled to weigh by the Scriptures, all that we hear and read. Fourth. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Evil will appear on the scene as long as the evil one is still "the prince of the power of the air" and of this world. Evil appears in religious guise and in Spirit-filled meetings. It appears in godly homes, but we are admonished not to yield to it. Turn away from it, spurn it, denounce it - whether it be evil doctrine or conduct.
ezra
Member
Jesus is good hold on to him stay in the race
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
- Test all things; hold fast what is good.
In this context, Paul is desiring for the Church he raised up to mature and discern between that which is good and that which is not.
Hebrews says it this way:
This is accomplished by those who put forth the effort to test or prove the things that are being taught or prophesied to them in the absence of Paul.
Test or Prove - Strong's G1381 - dokimazō
- to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
- to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy
Which also is accomplished by recognizing and embracing those who have a good track record of laboring among them as leaders.
We see this also in the context of verse 21 -
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
- we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you
This is just as true today, as we tend to want to embrace new and exciting people and teachings that may come through our Church or Forum, to tickle our ears with what we want to hear.
We need godly leaders who are proven, who will watch over us, and are not afraid to tell us things for our own good, rather than what we want to hear.
This is the meaning of admonish.
- to admonish, warn, exhort
JLB
chessman
Member
Paul is concluding his letter with the same point he made in his introduction:
We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention constantly in our prayers, because we remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brothers dearly loved by God, that he has chosen you,
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4
To "hold fast" is a Greek word derived from nautical terminology meaning to hold your heading (or anchor) steadfast and sure against all counter pressures to deviate (or break anchor) . As a major port city Thessalonica had become THE major trading port hub. To include the spreading of The Gospel. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4
"That which is good" is 11 things listed throughout the letter and summarized/repeated in Chapter 5:
1. respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you...
2. Be at peace among yourselves.
3. admonish the disorderly,
4. console the discouraged,
5. help the sick,
6. be patient toward all people
7. no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, 8. pursue good toward one another
9. Rejoice always,
10. pray constantly,
11 give thanks in everything
Why is it good to do these 11 things (including giving thanks for something you might not rejoice in at the moment, like evil done to you)??? Because we are chosen by God (not the other way around) and we ARE (not might be) of the Day! Anyone who tells you, 'you are not of the day' or God will not save us, simply isn't preaching Paul's Gospel and are not anchored in (holding fast) the Truth.
But because we are of the day, we must be sober, by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation, because God did not appoint us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
...
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all people. See to it that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue good toward one another and toward all people. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. The one who calls you is faithful, who also will do this.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-9,12-22,24
...
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all people. See to it that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue good toward one another and toward all people. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. The one who calls you is faithful, who also will do this.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-9,12-22,24
Hold fast means don't let go. Keep it. ie. Keep what is good. Store up in your heart that which is good.
Sister Christian
Member
Hi Winnie,
I think it is because you just took the one verse out of the whole of Paul's letter. It wouldn't make sense out of context would it? Just as if someone took a line out of a letter we write to someone and then asked the meaning. It needs to be understood as part of the whole message.
I read 1st Thessalonians 5 to be Paul saying what amounts to, don't believe everything you're told or hear. Test what people tell you about the faith, righteousness, and such. And hold fast to that which is the truth, which would be the good advice that sustains further the good news of our Lord.
Jim Parker
Member
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being aware that the chapter and verse numbers were added in the 1500's to make it easier to find a passage, don't take the verse as a "stand alone" statement. It was written in a context.The immediate context has to do with prophesying in the church.
Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, (1Th 5:19-21 RSV)
So, let the Holy Spirit be active in the congregation and don't disdain prophesying. However, neither should you accept everything that is "prophesied" because it could just be the person speaking according to his/her own inspiration rather than the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Keep the good stuff and ignore the junk.
iakov the fool
(beaucoup dien cai dau)
DISCLAIMER: By reading the words posted above, you have made a free will choice to expose yourself to the rantings of iakov the fool. The poster assumes no responsibility for any temporary, permanent or otherwise annoying manifestations of cognitive dysfunction that, in any manner, may allegedly be related to the reader’s deliberate act by which he/she has knowingly allowed the above rantings to enter into his/her consciousness. No warrantee is expressed or implied. Individual mileage may vary. And, no, I don't want to hear about it. No sniveling! Enjoy the rest of your life here and the eternal one to come.
chessman
Member
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
Is it a good prophesy to hold fast to that the day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night?
That depends if you rightly divide what is being said.
It could honestly be said that the Day of the Lord is not coming as a thief in the night, as well as the Day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night.
For me, He is not coming as a thief in the night.
JLB
It is a straight forward statement concerning the world, but not the Church.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4
The Lord is coming as a thief in the night.., for the world.
The Lord is not coming as a thief in the night...for His Church.
chessman
Member
It's straight forward statement, period. Not applicable to brothers, but true nonetheless.
Just as true is the statement of the Lord's coming as a thief in the night, is the fact that we are (presently) "all" sons of day (not just some).
for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1 Thessalonians 5:5&version=LEB
God did not appoint us ("all sons") for wrath. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1 Thessalonians 5:5&version=LEB
God appointed us ("all sons") for the obtaining of salvation.
Whether we ("all sons") are awake or asleep, we ("all sons") will live at the same time (Eternally) with him.
The Day of the Lord will not come as a thief in the night for the Church; those who choose to heed the admonitions given by Paul and Jesus.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
The Lord gave us signs so that that Day would not overtake us as a thief, like the world who reject Jesus as Lord, and scoff at His coming, and will be caught unaware because they chose to live as children of the night, which is exactly what Paul warned the Church not to do.
- All anyone has to do is read the next verse to know that.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-10
- For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
Same admonition as Jesus gives us, because that is what Jesus taught His disciples, and warned them as well.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51
His servants whom He promotes to serve His people and watch over them to give them food, if they turn back to a sinful lifestyle and to live among sinners again and abuse His people will be appointed their portion with the hypocrites, at His coming, because that Day will come upon them as a thief.
JLB
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Hold fast to the truth of Gods word which is pure and good for us always testing that of what you hear of others that try to teach us as there are many false prophets that say they come to you in the name of the Lord, but are ravaging wolves in sheep's clothing Matthew 7:15; Romans 17, 18; 1 John 4:1-6.
Comes as a thief in the night only means that those who are in darkness not knowing Gods salvation for they reject His word will be surprised when they find out that what was preached to them was truth, but now to late for them to repent and turn back to God.
chessman
Member
Right.
So we obtain salvation through us or Him?
He died for us, not us for Him right?
So whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him, right?
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season (us or Him)?
Nothing to do with my post.
No where did I insinuate that we obtain salvation through us verses through Him.
Nothing to do with my post.
No where did I insinuate that we died for Him.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
- This is a summation of His thoughts that refer back to the previous chapter.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Being appointed to wrath is to be left on earth when the Lord comes to gather the living and dead in Christ.
JLB