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Thessalonians 5:19-21, "Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good."
This morning, the balanced wisdom of Scripture continues to amaze me when
comparing Scripture with Scripture. Further still, the structure of the diction
is precise yet elegant with unequivocally plain statements that cannot logically
yield erroneous thoughts. Whenever we reach a state of erroneous thought, our
irrational mind is at fault and not the diction, structure, or sense of
Scripture. Many times, we can focus on a certain true principle to the point of
neglecting something somewhere else. My own preaching is, many times, filled
with this folly. After taking stock of where I have been lately and the points
often expressed, I will discover - to my own shame - that I have been negligent
in some major areas of thought. At other times, we can lift a thought out of a
passage and carry the correct thought further than the original intent, and many
times, further than the direct context allows. Therefore, let us examine this
set of "small" verses to see some direction for us to take coupled with the
extreme thought to be avoided.
Paul is closing his first epistle to his beloved brethren at Thessalonica. These
brethren were dear to him as he understood their beloved position (I
Thessalonians 1:4), saw their response to the gospel (1:5), and gave them some
of the most glowing, comforting thoughts about the second coming. (I
Thessalonians 4:13-5:10) In closing, Paul gives some succinct commands that are
easily understood but much harder to practice. While not the first on his list,
the first one we desire to look into is not quenching the Spirit. Many times, my
own mind sees immediate applications to things but misses some far-reaching
implications to those same things.
Notice that Paul commands them not to do something. What if they were incapable
of doing it? Would the exhortation be necessary? The way some men expound upon
our action, will, or desire, they leave little room for man to act outside of
the direction of the Spirit's impression. While they might deny "robotic
movement" that is being directly orchestrated by God, they certainly affirm that
if God impresses we must move. It should be beyond question or contestation that
when God acts in the new birth and the resurrection that it is effectual every
time. (John 5:25-29) However, God's impression through preaching, study,
meditation, etc is not with the same effectual power that the new birth is.
While He is certainly able to move us in all points at all times, His will is
not to do so. Rather, we are impressed by His Spirit to these things and to heed
these actions and directives, but we are not forced into them. If we were forced
into them, then Paul's command here is irrelevant. Why tell someone not to
quench the Spirit when they are incapable of it?
Since we are capable of it in preaching, studying, etc, Paul expressly forbids
it. Many times, we feel the desire in service to God to reach out and help our
brother in need. Sometimes we neglect this service due to pride, inconvenience,
etc, and by doing so, we quench or extinguish that most noble impression that
His Spirit gave us. When we have good thoughts, desire to do good actions, and
seek His face and approval, His Spirit is at the heart of the matter, for we
cannot do these things or have these good impressions without Him. (John 15:5,
James 1:17) Sometimes, our preaching is hampered by our own desire to "only talk
about what I have studied." Many times, we see things in our subject that we did
not see until we are in the middle of it. Should we withhold that thought since
we did not have it beforehand? If the Spirit gives the impression to say it, we
should not hold back that which is profitable to the flock. (Acts 20:20)
Perhaps we are moved in God's house to do something that we have never done
before. I have known of those (although it has not happened to me personally)
that felt the urge to shout and held it in. Their conscience smote them
later for withholding what they believed was God's impression to shout. I have
at times held back from doing other things (such as say "amen" or make
affirmation to the preaching) and felt badly for it afterward. The point is not
whether we have to shout, "amen," or affirm what we hear, but the point is that
if we feel led to do so by His Spirit, we should do so, nothing wavering.
Perhaps that bit of affirmation will give the minister the right encouragement
he needs at the right time.
Paul continues by telling us not to despise prophesyings, which simply means we
should not discard or not take into account the good word of the Lord that we
hear. Many times, the preacher may say something or we may read something that
we particularly do not like. Perhaps the word hits upon one of our "favourite
sins." Maybe we feel like he is intentionally singling us out. Whatever the
reason, we should not make light or take lightly the good word of the Lord when
we hear or read it. If it is "Thus saith the Lord" we need to take it to heart
and live after it with all of our being. Regardless of who says it (Balaam's ass
spoke the word of the Lord to him), if it is right, take it. Maybe our
personality clashes with the preacher's personality, take it anyway. Maybe we
have learned a good bit of wisdom from a little child, take it anyway. Many,
many sermon points for me have come through the comments and observations of
little children. Regardless of the source, take the prophesying (word of
the Lord) whenever we find it.
But, then Paul closes the door to any extreme thought on these items. At times,
we can hear people lift verses 19 or 20 out of context. By doing so, they try to
make the verse stand by itself without the input of anything else. Some have
done crazy (there's no other word for it) things in their worship services,
claiming that they are following the Spirit. While I believe they are following
a spirit, they have not tried it to see from whence it came. (I John 4:1) Others
have said things that were far-fetched in scope, claiming that they got this
prophesy by special and secret revelation. In both instances, people are relying
on these verses (out of context) to play on other people's emotions. My own
emotions can be charged and driven by listening to certain types of music or
engaging in certain cinematic themes. A good plot and well-crafted script in
movies can elicit strong positive emotions for me. Well-tuned music can also do
the same. In both cases, my natural senses are coming into focus. There is
nothing sinful about these things, but they have only served to drive my natural
senses.
Paul leaves no doubt as to what he has under consideration by the impression of
the Spirit and prophesyings of the Lord. We are not to let our emotions run wild
and claim the leadership of the Spirit without first proving what is good and
what is not. When someone gets worked up to the point of saying something that
is completely false, we need to understand that the Spirit did not give that to
us. When someone preaches something that we do not like, but cannot back it up
with the word of God, we are not required nor encouraged to take it. Everything
must be strained through God's word to see what is good and what is not. Taking
what the preacher says because he is the preacher, fails the Biblical injunction
to prove what is good. The only way to prove it is to take the written word of
truth to prove that what is said is the truth.
The last phrase ties these three things up in a way that cannot be circumvented.
If something passes the test of being good according to the word of God, we need
to hold it fast. "Holding fast that which is good" means just that. We should
never let it go. To hold something fast means to "take firm possession of" or
"hinder from separation." Perhaps we have been given some good instruction by
way of the preaching or study; we should hide it in our hearts and never with it
part. (Psalm 119:11) Perhaps the Spirit has impressed and moved us in a certain
way; we should hold it fast and never quench it by passing it by. The bride said
not to wake or stir her husband till he pleased. (Song of Solomon 3:5) If He is
pleased to dwell in our midst, let us hold Him fast. If we feel His company and
fellowship, let us hold that fast. What His word says, may we do. Where He
sends, may we go, and what He commands, may we follow.
By heeding these simple yet difficult commands, we will not fall into the ditch
of emotionalism/mysticism or the other ditch of stiffness. Should we feel
lifted up to do something we have not done before, may we press into it with all
of our being. If the Spirit moves us to do or say something, we should do it not
despising its command. But, may we never forget to examine ourselves to see
whether we are in the faith and cleaving to those things that we should. As
married men can attest, our vows to our wives are simple yet very powerful. We
have promised to love them through whatever trial or season of life "till death
us do part." Therefore, we are to hold them fast in our lives, and when we name
the name of Christ, we must do no less and verily much more. We must never let
Him go, listen to Him when He directs, and keep His sayings close to our minds
and hearts.
In Hope,
Bro Philip |
