1 Thessalonians 5:19-28 (Part B)

Long after many will say to me in that day as time goes on. So those who come along a cherry pit. Will this get job still working with this one is I don't get it there. Those sensations believe this gifts of the Spirit have ceased many of them are intelligent men, but because a person is intelligent doesn't mean they're always right side intelligence anointing. That's what matters most. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Thessalonians. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Now here's Pastor Rick with today's edition of cross reference radio in first Thessalonians chapter 5. Now we must define this because there multiple meanings to this prophecy is manifold. According to the Scripture. It is one of the most abused gifts given to the church is the movement of spiritual information in some form, but not limited to a single form and certainly not limited to predictive prophecy.

Yes, there is this such a thing as predicting the future because God is revealed it will get to that in a minute. The context will spot for us.

The operation of which facet of prophecy is in operation, when Nathan the prophet stood before David and told him the story of the man who had a dear lamb and that land was taken and eaten by a rich man who had a huge flock just to satisfy his pleasures and David said who did this, he will die for this.

Nathan said you the mandate. That's a parable of what you did to Uriah that sheep you are the man that is called direct prophecy that is sundering the truth of God at the right moment to the right person that is applying God's word appropriately when Peter said Ananias, who is filled your heart that you should lie to the Holy Spirit in a dropdead that was direct prophecy with judgment, both under the umbrella of prophecy. But then in Scripture. There is also those who are singing or proclaiming God's word or exalting through God's word or through God's teachings and edifying one another.

That also is called prophecy. So we go 1st to 1st Chronicles chapter 25 verse one first Chronicles 25 verse one moreover David and the captains of the Army separated for the service. Some of the sons of Asaph Heyman and of to do a fun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments and symbols and so there you see that those who were ministering to the flock in song were said to be prophesying. They were not predicting the future. They weren't singing about the future they were singing praises to the Lord and then in acts chapter 21 we read of Philip the evangelist, the gift of evangelist. That man had he would preach and people would get saved. The church has those who their strong point is not in bringing people to Christ. What is teaching people who already come to Christ the gift of teaching is in operation. In that regard. Well, here he had for maiden daughters for righteous virgin daughters and it says here in verse nine of act 21 now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied they were telling the future. They were encouraging the flock they were preaching the word. They may have been singing. But what we are establishing here is that biblical prophecy, according to the Scripture when it uses the word. It is not limiting it to predicting the future.

This comes out further in first Corinthians chapter 14. This is why we could link it very easily to the events in acts chapter 21 what the New Testament church also thought of prophecy. The chapter 14 first Corinthians verse three but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. So when you see someone say, thus saith the Lord of fire will come out of the sky burn off all your hair and strip you of your clothing and you'll be embarrassed by his partner prophecy. Not very edifying so who would say such a thing right well you you might be surprised.

Well, there's more. And so that covers this point that there is direct prophecy.

There's prophecy. What is meant by song proclamation of the word exaltation edification. Whenever you preach the word to someone at work or give a word in season to a believer of these are all under spiritual activity, according to God's word.

According to God.

Now it does not stand to reason again that these believers were predicting events but that they were also praising the Lord we see the predictive prophecy and the singing of songs labeled as prophecy in the Old Testament and the life of Saul. We mentioned him earlier. One of the great apostates of Scripture, Samuel. You might remember, was told by God the future concerning Saul first Samuel chapter 9 verse 15 of the Lord. That's Jehovah had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came saying tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. You shall anoint him commander over my people, and he continues to develop the prophecy and that is exactly what happened and so that is predictive prophecy, God is given the word to Samuel. Samuel now knows the future concerning these events and then in chapter 10 we see the prophecy coming to pass. But we also see other usage of the word he says in verse five of first Samuel 10 after that you shall come to a hill notices Samuel telling Saul the future because God is told Samuel you shall come to a hill of of God where the Philistine garrison is and it will happen when you have come there to the city that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with stringed instruments, a tambourine, a flute and a heart before them and they will be prophesying it be singing to the Lord. Then the spirit of the Lord will come upon you and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. So what we are hopefully establishing here is the usage of the word prophecy to teach us what does the Bible mean when it speaks of prophecy. Well, it's not limited to what Paul says, don't despise prophecies is not only talking about the office of a prophet is talking about the various ministries of prophecy come to the next, to which bear warning with them. The ministry of the word ministry of the word is also considered prophecy and we find this in Revelation chapter 19 verse 10 John writes, I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, see that you do not do that now this is Johnny's in heaven and is an angel with him explaining to him. Much of what he is being shown by Jesus Christ, and John is overwhelmed and stressed about out of the ageless.

That's because you 10 yards. You do not do that here. He doesn't say it that way I can add it because it wasn't me it was me, I'd be telling the story so Rick, you're smarter than that. But anyway that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is. Of prophecy.

So you see when you are ministering the gospel when you are sharing the faith.

It is under the authority of prophecy and then there is predictive prophecy. Jesus, that you see this building, not one stone will remain upon itself and of course that happened just as the Lord said it was predictive and the Temple was destroyed by Titus in 70 A.D. so sometimes this predictive prophecy is immediate. As with Samuel, and sometimes it is delayed. As with the Lord's prophecy or as with Paul's prophecy of the rapture harp also in the Greek you will be by force taken away by the Lord. Other imposters counterfeits frauds of mine absolutely let's not forget charlatans Matthews gospel chapter 7. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name. That means they were singing they were talking about Jesus as the ghetto think in a sense of always predictive prophecy, cast out demons in your name done many wonders in your name and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you who practice lawlessness because they quench the spirit. The lampstand was remove its future. Jesus is talking about. After long after many will say to me in that day as time goes on.

So those who come along a cherry pit. Will this gift still working with this one is I don't get it there. Those sensationalist they believe the gifts of the Spirit have ceased many of them are intelligent men, but because a person is intelligent doesn't mean they're always right side intelligence anointing. That's what matters most. Now much of this happened in American theology or Western theology because of the Azusa revivals that Were Taking Pl. in California and return of last century. They were abusing the Holy Spirit. Some of them were right on. But a great many of them were abusing the spirit and the intellectual community of Christianity. Then harden themselves against the spirit in retaliation, and they interpreted first Corinthians 13 eight which says love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will fail, whether there are tongues, they will these whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

And so this it will see these things are vanished away. But the writer Paul says, when Christ comes is talking about his return. And so this is a bias that has crept into the church because of abuses within the church. So you have guilt on two sides. You have the established intellectual side of Christianity resisting the gifts of the spirit, then you have the less, establish more grassroots part of Christianity abusing the Holy Spirit and hopefully you have churches like the church in Philadelphia and Smyrna. In Revelation chapter 3 were abiding with the spirit, and they are neither turning to the left of the right. They have found the balance just because again Amana's intelligence doesn't mean you cannot be wrong.

Einstein was intelligent and more intelligent than all of us put together and he was wrong about God that cost him everything.

Nowhere in Scripture do I find that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased, and if it were something as important as the gifts do you not think the Holy Spirit would point out if their words stop near the teaching as well. In the last apostle died the gifts.is not a gift to the church is a gift of the apostles. If that's the teaching is not the case. Love never fails. That's ongoing but whether they are prophecies, what kind we discovered them, they will fail. Yes, when Christ comes will need to predict anymore. Without these things will be all be changed in the something else greater, far more wonderful it would be the fulfillment of the gifts of the church has. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law whether there are tongues, they will cease. Yes, but not yet. Like him or not part of the church abuse absolutely you know there are many people that have been born again through the millennium, and a will be born again who have been illiterate and have not been great readers of the word God has allowed them forms of expression that are superlative in tongues would be one of them. Not everyone can be a theologian and a scholar. And so, where he says they will cease or whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. Is anyone prepared to say that the gift of knowledge is vanished from the church because the minute you say yes. The minute you loaded to church with abundant dummies little knowledge there ignorant, by definition, by default, so first Corinthians 1310 verse that they confused, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away with.

Yes, when Christ comes. These things will all changed just as it was with the law and so again there's many great Bible teachers.

Otherwise, Bible teachers who when you read the writings or preachings on the Gospels on the Old Testament it wonderful when they come. The first Corinthians, a fall flat on their face. Any time someone comes up to a pastor and says that message blessed me he has to say in his heart. It's a gift God gave it to me I know is not made. It's all the Lord's everything, something he felt was that vital to the church that he gave it to the church at Pentecost and a one-stop church is gone so there covered but I know how Christians think. Not all of them but a novel once they locked onto a pet doctrine right or wrong proof Scripture not a great majority of them don't want to hear. They made up their mind they like it this way and you can show them all the verse and proof you want is not a point worth arguing is what it is. C'est la vie. Well, we've covered that with some vigor and now we come to verse 21 test all things hold fast what is good.

Test everything because everything will test you bluntly put, don't be a fool. Gullibility brings no glory to God, but it may bring harm to you. First John chapter 4, he writes, beloved, do not believe every spirit know why does he have to even say that because Christians tend to do this just for Jesus name wanted they'll take it on drink from it. Sure you put in the Jesus mug is gotta be good, and he signaled a little going through that. Consider the source.

What if you got a package in the mail, UPS guy delivers it in here taking and you look at the return address and is somewhere like Saudi Arabia.

I wouldn't open it to consider the source and as I know the goddesses from Louis is on the cover what you know you get the point sources everything we do. Our source documents. Well Scripture comes from. It matters everything we say to our children when they do something we don't approve which get that from whaling to somebody churches for the head with the kids ministry part is that you are going back to the church and more decks communicating them bears overreact. Sometimes you teach your children understand where they are like a lily among thorns. Anyway, beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone into the world. We don't test with the spirit of suspicion and on until God sets it right, it's wrong. That's how I approach things but once God sets it right then is time to be loyal and supportive, and edify and build up and do something with this, but some never lose that critical spirit. They remain judgmental and self-righteous.

Their entire sourpuss Christian life is torture said the been baptized in vinegar mindset lemon juice. I think I upgraded to vinegar but it's a free upgrade anyway hold fast what is good, that's old school hold on to what is good. He does all things good. This is what Jeremiah said, thus says Jehovah stand in the ways and seek ask for the old paths with the good way he is and walking it then you will find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk in it you. Not all school are old-school goes back to eternity past. That's how far it goes all again. Are you so foolish, having begun in the spirit you now being made perfect in the flesh.

Can you imagine the day they read that letter and the Galatian churches and they get to that line. Are you that foolish. I think there was a lot of hearts repenting at that moment. We hold fast to what is good because there are forces that move against us to force us off the path to the right or to the left just to get us off the straight and narrow.

Joshua chapter 1 verse seven God says to this mighty man of God is his only be strong and very courageous does what God is saying to Joshua and to us that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you.

Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go, what Christian does not want that then verse 22 pieces abstain from every form of evil.

The older King James translation has abstain from all appearances of evil which was right, they both are that were therefore every form in the new King James and appearances in the old King James, the Greek word means a look or an appearance but listen to what the Greek scholar A-T Robinson says, quoting another Greek scholar and agreeing with them. He says if so taken is not semblance as opposed to reality. In other words, don't touch the stuff don't have any evil is this is toxic its nuclear radiates evil. Stay away from it. Avoid contact avoid appearance don't even inhale it. You say will. Satan uses sin against us.

Absolutely. The Bible teaches that very clearly. That's the name Satan is a title, it means he's the enemy that's what it means or you think of a prosecuting if you if you're the innocent guy on trial, the prosecutor is trying to take away your freedom or your life. That is the prosecutor out. That's acceptable when justice is being administered, but Satan. Satan is the cause of it all is because of him is accusing us to stand before God like that that's what the resident wanted that God to give you the one that did see that happen to reread Revelation 1210 the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

That time will come not here yet is all he needs to do to prosecute us every single one of us is tell the truth about us the whole truth even when he's telling the truth is line is again is withholding all the information that he is capitalist but listen to what Scripture says who shall bring a charge against God's elect.

It is God who justifies.

It is the prerogative of God to deal with sinners.

The way he sees fit and he's told us how he deals with them and he's invited us to partake what is made available. We need to deliver.

There is only one there is only one to whom we can go for deliverance from our guilt. There is no other Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18 all Christians know this verse come now, let us reason together, says Jehovah. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

I'm in a make you look like a little white lamb that staying that bloodsoaked staying all over your wool because of what sin has done. I'm going to wash and clean. The New Testament picks it up. Acts chapter 4 verse 12 the message of the New Testament church to which we belong, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, which we must be saved. Romans chapter 4 verse three what does the Scripture say Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. That's what God was looking for without faith it is impossible to please God. Abraham believed them. I believe him when he says the sun Jesus Christ. If he says you are clean.

You are clean. Indeed, I believe it accepted by faith and is nothing Hell can do against it because it's written in heaven is been said by St. now with the Lord Jesus does not parole us keep hardens us and God.

There is no purgatory there's no go to step be. It's either you're right with Christ or you're not. That's what Jesus said he was not with me scatters abroad brother with me or you are not in his work is finished work is complete work. John is gospel chapter 1 verse 12 but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name to gift Ephesians chapter 2. For by grace you have been saved through faith, listen to what he goes on to say that not of yourselves is the gift of God, you can save yourself to messed up.

I am to we cannot save ourselves with. There's one who does.

There's one who will. His name is Jesus Christ, except that by faith.

If you do not like it and you rejected.

You go beyond quenching the spirit you go into blasphemy. So again, you may say it is too good to be true that's a lie from hell. God says it is too good to reject. That's the gospel.

Verse 23 Paul continues.

How 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 completely.

This know all your almost there. I've already made the point you are are washed in the blood or are not God is the only one the God of the Bible, the Lord of the New Testament is the only one that can completely sanctify us to separate us from all the films of sin and its condemnation unto himself.

We call it heaven now makes another point that Scott what he says your whole spirit, soul and body man is an inferior Trinity. There are three things that really make us tick.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of first Thessalonians cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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