Prove All Things

Temple Baptist Church - 6-12-2016

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Introduction:

A.  In the days of my childhood, things were a lot simpler. 

1.  Things were simpler in a lot of ways.  We talk of the America that our children will never know.  When we talk about the “good old days,” we are talking about days when kids were safe and could be kids. 

2.  I remember the days when I knew what a boy or girl was!  Today, I have to look at some several times before I am convinced and often leave the scene confused.  Boys who identify as girls and girls who identify as boys.  Pray for me!  I do not want to end up in the wrong restroom!

3.  We are talking about days when family values created solid homes for us to grow up in.  Not necessarily what we would call Christian homes but good homes where parents taught us good manners, respect for authority, obedience to whatever the authority was, to be courteous and kind to others (Golden Rule), to be good citizens, and to fear God.  All of these things are missing in today’s society, not that there are no good homes, but that good homes are about as scarce as “hen’s teeth.”

B.  Let’s bring this down to our day.

1.  Our day has become much more complex and, therefore, often confusing to God’s children.  Things were more “black and white” then than they are today as the lines of right and wrong have been blurred by the world and the political correctness of our day. 

2.  Now the public schools are beginning to teach children that Gay/Lesbian/Transgender/Cross Dressers/etc. are acceptable lifestyles.  Back in our youth, they were still in the “closet” and rejected across the board because people had Biblical principles.  Today, the poor old sinner is just confused because he/she is trapped in the wrong body.

3.  In our day, people no longer think it necessary to get married.  In our day, you go to prison and pay a hefty fine for destroying a Bald Eagle’s egg (an unborn bird) and find it perfectly legal to kill an unborn baby. 

4.  Years ago, a drunk was a drunk but, in our day—he has a sickness or disease and needs to be treated for it!  One man said that the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic was that the drunk didn’t have to go to all of those meeting.

5.  The list could go on but you get the point.  These are confusing times to those who do not know the Lord and do not know the Bible (I am talking about the right Bible, the King James Bible.

C.  Morality has changed because the world has changed, the government has changed, the schools have changed (they are not breeding places for the socialistic progressive liberalism that we see all around us), the churches have changed, because the homes have changed—leaving children no sense of right and wrong.

D.  As these have changed, much confusion within the ranks of Christianity has taken place.  One person says this, another says that, and who are we to believe; what are we to do?  This confusion is not of God for God is not the Author of confusion! 

1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

E.  In today’s Christianity:

1.  If you stand for the Old Paths, or for the old traditions (which are not wrong as long as they are not against the Scripture or taught as commandments of God), you are cultic, legalistic, or pharisaical. 

2.  If something condemns or brings conviction, malign it or mock it, do not just leave it alone.  Just look at the politics of our day.  If someone or something is contrary to what the politician believes or stands for, just demonize or laugh at it.

3.  We live in the day of “gray or shaded areas.”  As lines of morality and right/wrong have been blurred and moved, so have the things of God.  We live in days of change and the changes are neither right nor are they consistent with the Bible.

F.  I tell people if there is something that they do not know if it is right or wrong, do what they know is right until they can prove the rightness or wrongness of what they are wrestling with spiritually.  Giving the world the benefit of the doubt is not Scriptural principle.

1.  God’s children are to measure all things by the Bible.  In the midst of all of the change and confusion, we still have a “benchmark.”  A point of reference from which all things are measured.  We have the unchanged King James Bible.  People who do not know what “bible” to use remain confused because their “bibles” constantly change as more and new versions are put on the marked. 

2.  As “bible teachers” who do not stand for inerrancy and infallibility continually switch versions.  I remember well when the liberal teachers and preachers left the King James Bible for the New American Standard Version (NASV).  Now, most of those have changed to the English Standard Version (ESV).  As they changed from the King James Bible, their standards began to fall and their “Christianity” changed.

1.  God’s children have been saved unto good works.  Though salvation is not of works, salvation does work!  Today’s Christian does not act like yesterday’s Christian.  I used to hear the phrases “He/She was a godly man/woman.  Today, people just say that he/she professes to be saved.  Thank God for professions and confession that show a Biblical conversion!  Biblical conversion is measured by the Bible.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2.  God’s children need to walk in the light as He is in the light.  When we are saved, we should have a desire for righteousness.  Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psalms 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Psalms 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

3.  God’s children are to glorify God in all things.  A good question to ask oneself when nor sure is this:  “If I do this, will it bring glory and honor to God?”

Philippians 1:10-11  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  (11)  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (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.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  (32)  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  (33)  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Conclusion:  Put every aspect of your life to the Biblical test, get assurance for the Bible, and hold it fast!!  Don’t let the world change your mind or set your lifestyle.

1 Thessalonians 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.