1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.Do not quench the Spirit.Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
I’ve always thought when I’ve read this passage that there is some great teaching on Christian principles packed in just a few verses. Let’s break it down.
1. Rejoice always – Keep the joy flowing. This is so important to a positive mindset and a thankful heart.
2. Pray without ceasing – Don’t stop! Prayer needs to be continual. When you don’t know what else to do…pray. When you think you know what to do…pray. Prayer keeps the flow of heaven coming in your direction.
3. In everything give thanks – Gratitude is powerful. No matter what you’re going through find the good in it…and give thanks to God.
4. Don’t quench the Spirit – Don’t put out the fire of the Spirit. Don’t set limits and lids on the moving of the Spirit. LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY!
5. Don’t despise prophecies – Prophecy not only announces God’s intentions, it can also declare God’s purpose in the earth. Cultivate the spirit of prophecy in your life. Pray specifically for this gift to operate in your life. Get around people and a ministry that flows in prophecy. Then open your mouth and let it flow!
6. Test all things – Make sure to be discerning. Test everything by God’s word and by the Holy Spirit. Don’t be gullible and swallow everything you hear and everything you see.
7. Hold on to what is good – After you have sifted through that which is seemingly spiritual, discard the chaff and seize the authentic.
8. Abstain from every form of evil – People usually don’t initially go whole hog after sin. Sin is deceptive and works through compromise and appearances and forms of evil that typically fall into “gray areas.” Just avoid it altogether! Playing with it will burn you and eventually control you. It’s not worth it.
So here you have it—eight steps to Christian growth and maturity. Good stuff.