Pastoral Devotional 3/17/2022

Devotion on 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

           “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire,”.

Through the pouring out of His Holy Spirit, God gave life to His chosen people, individually and corporately, and is still giving us life today through that same Spirit.

Jesus promised His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8.  His promise is still in effect and valid in the lives of all who are ‘born again’ and then go on believing.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “The Kingdom of God is not just talking; it is living by God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 LB. That is such a good statement, please read it again. That ‘living’ he is talking about is by obedience to Christ’s Holy Spirit that lives in every one of us.  Paul’s warning to the Thessalonians, and us today, is to not squelch it, to not snuff out the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Turn with me to Hebrews 10, verses 26-27, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

The key is obedience; not out of obligation, but from a heart that desires to please the Lord God Almighty.  James 4:17 reads, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”. In Deuteronomy 28, the first 14 verses, Moses lists 5 IF’s we the people must do in order to continue receiving God’s blessing. All 5 relate to obedience to God’s commands, His Word, and His ways.

     “Do not treat prophecies with contempt.”

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the 14^th chapter, 3^rd verse, he explained the purpose of prophecy.  “… everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.”.  That’s the purpose, the focus of prophecy is always on Christ. Whenever God’s Word is spoken for our strengthening, encouragement, and comfort we are to take it to heart and apply it to our lives. Contempt means ‘to look down on something or someone.  Is that the attitude Christ wants of His church?  Absolutely not!

I know none of us would do that intentionally, but what about unintentionally? Is it showing contempt when we allow our minds to wander during worship or the preaching of His word or prayer or even Bible study?

          “Test everything.”

1 John 4:1-3 reads, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

Don’t simply accept everything you hear spoke or preached, rather test it according to the gospels. Too often man’s opinion rules over the Word of God and the Spirit of God. And we all are very good at discovering in His Word what we already believe to be true; instead of discovering what is Truth and maybe altering what we believe.

“Hold on to the good.”

Hold on with all of your strength and determination to that which is morally valuable or virtuous.  Hebrews 3:6 reads, “… Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.  And we are his house, IF (there that word is again) we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” 

Finally, “Avoid every kind of evil.”

I don’t have to tell you we have an enemy who just waiting to trip us up in some temptation and snare us in sin.  Holiness is the order of the day.  Accountability to one another is God’s answer.  Praying together is God’s way.

In fact, will you pray with me now, asking God to bind our hearts and spirits together as one with His? And to pour out His Holy Spirit’s power upon us, and strengthen us, encourage us, and comfort us as we hold on to His truths, avoiding evil, and obeying His commands and prompting of His Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Pastor John