1Thess 5:16-22 Prove. Hold. Abstain.

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 5

1Thess 5:16-22
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I love these verses. Taken as a unit, you have a compressed “will of God” verse package that can always keep you on the right path…. (and you will not get charged extra for this portable power pack for the pre-tribulation patriot!)

Rejoice Evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. (you should be in the will of God if you are doing these things.)

I always think of Psalm 1 for some reason for the person living under the Jewish dispensation:

Psa 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

That is how I feel about these verses in First Thessalonians 5: to be planted by the waters and bringing forth fruit, always growing and prospering. Amen, amen, amen.

Verse 21 “Prove all things”… what do we think that means?
I suppose it means that we should check everything out, don’t just take someone’s word for it, or some preacher’s take on it, or some church’s stance on it, or some religious institutions explanation of it, or some scholars educational spin on it, etc. Prove all things; prove it. Remember the verse from Acts 17 I used last installment:

Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Here are a few more to ponder:
Matt 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Rom 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Eph 5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Phl 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

1John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

But with proving anything, you must needs have a standard -you have to have a faultless firm stable rule of which to measure things against. That rule/standard is not arbitrary or subjective – it is the infallible Bible of which you have in your possession. Find the Bible you deem that God has deemed infallible, and start proving.

And to finish off the verse, “hold fast that which is good.” There you have it. The good stuff keep. The good stuff own. The good stuff is for you to hold fast, securely, tightly, surely. Prov 23:23 “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

Remember this one form Romans, “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”( Rom 16:19). Hold fast to it and be wise unto it, but the rest, but the evil, be simple towards it, it has no value (yet that is what the carnal mind consumes itself with learning about; the human is a strange creature in its fallen state.)

And here is the clencher, verse 22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I think we know what “abstain” means – to restrain, to refrain, to hold back from, to keep from action – do not partake in. “from all appearances…” wha? From anything that looks questionable my friend. “from all appearances of evil”. There you go. Simple, direct, to the point. Does Paul list them? Do you need them listed? Is it that hard to figure out? Do you have a conscience? Or is it seared? (1Tim 4:2). This is not rocket science here guys. But here are a few to give some appearance…

Gal 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Cor 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1Cor 5:1
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

Eph 4:17-19
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Rom 1:22-32
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Those are some of the easy obvious ones to see and avoid – but the appearance as well, are we giving off any appearances of these things, and the other subtle ones?
For something to see, visible, manifested openly, how about:

Rom 12:17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

1Cor 10:31-33
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

2Cor 8:21
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

We have what we need for a pleasing to God Christian life:
Rejoice Evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Amen, amen, amen.

Grace and peace James.
Prove. Hold. Abstain.