Receiving the Word

I Thessalonians 5:20-28

“Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:20-21)

So often we think of prophecy as just foretelling the future. Unfortunately most think of it in the sense of having some miraculous ability to foresee what others cannot. As a result, we overlook the broader and greater meaning of prophecy. The last part of Revelation 19:10 tells us, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The Old Testament prophets frequently foretold the future, but in the sense of allowing the people to see what would result from their obedience or disobedience. Most of the prophecies were focused on actions the people needed to take. In teaching and preaching of the need for and consequences of receiving and obeying Christ, we are prophesying.

There is a tendency for us to reach a point where we no longer want to hear what the Bible says, wanting something new. Paul warned Timothy of this, and instructed him not to yield to the pressure to find something new. “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.” (II Timothy 4:2-4)

I Corinthians 14: 22 specifies that prophecy or teaching is especially applicable to those who already believe. They do not require special signs to convince them of god’s power. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” Matthew 16:4 states, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign,” implying that they refuse commit to him, not just simply not believing because of a lack of knowledge. I Corinthians 14:4-5 describes the importance of such prophecy, as compared with the signs which those unbelieving seek. “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

Peter states “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (II Peter 1:19) We can fully trust God’s Word, but we must keep in mind that we can easily misinterpret passages, and thus must mot interpret except in accordance with other scripture. Since as II Timothy 3: 16-17 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Unfortunately, Peter warns, there are false teachers among us. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of,” (II Peter 2:1-2). As a result Paul directs that we are to “prove (test0 all things,” retaining what is good.

The Thessalonians were inclined to either reject unfamiliar doctrine, or to accept it blindly. Paul is instructing them to be more like the Bereans as described in 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.” To become truly a great Christian requires such discernment that Paul directed Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (II Timothy 2:15-16) As II Timothy 3:17 tells us, it will fully equip us to do everything God expects us to do.