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• THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS

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A. OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO ‘QUENCH THE SPIRIT.’

“DO NOT QUENCE THE SPIRIT.“ (5:19)

B. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD.

“DO NOT DESPISE PROPHETIC UTTERANCES (PREACHING).“ (5:20)

C. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ‘DISCERNING.’

”BUT EXAMINE EVERYTHING CAREFULLY; HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD; ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL.“

(5:21-22) “PROVE ALL THINGS; HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD. ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.“ (5:21-22)

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1. “DISCERNMENT” - THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TWO OR MORE THINGS.

i. DIFFERENTIATE.ii. DECIDE.iii. TELL APART.iv. TELL BETWEEN.

2. “SPIRITUAL DISCERMENBT” – THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH DIVINE TRUTH FROM ERROR AND HALF-TRUTH.

i. VIRTUE VS. VICE.ii. SPIRIT VS. EXPERIENCE.iii. INTELLECT VS. EMOTION.iv. GOOD VS. EVIL. v. ETHICS VS. MORALS.

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3. THE APOSTLE EXHORTS THE THESSALONIANS TO “EXAMINE EVERYTHNG. “

“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” (ACTS 17:11)

“NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY, THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES

OF DEVILS; “ (1 TIM. 4:1)

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“ O TIMOTHY, KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST, AVOIDING PROFANE AND VAIN BABBLINGS.“

(1 TIM. 6:20-21)

“I CHARGE THEE . . . . . . PREACH THE WORD; BE INSTANT IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING AND DOCTRINE. FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY

WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES

TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS; AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE

TRUTH, AND SHALL BE TURNED UNTO FABLES. BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE

AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY.” (2 TIM. 4:1-5)

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4. ESSENTIAL TO LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

“TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES; TO ANOTHER PROPHECY; TO ANOTHER DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; TO

ANOTHER DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: “ (1 COR. 12:10)

“THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO, AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF

DOCTRINE, BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, AND CUNNING CRAFTINESS, WHEREBY THEY LIE IN WAIT TO DECEIVE;

BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST: “

(EPH. 4:14-15)

“ BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: BECAUSE MANY FALSE PROPHETS ARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD. “

(1 JN. 4:1)