ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL

1. "Now we exhort [encourage] you, brethren, to warn those who are unruly [insubordinate, disorderly, or idle], comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
2. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
3. Rejoice always,
4. pray without ceasing,
5. in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
6. Do not quench the Spirit.
7. Do not despise prophecies.
8. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
9. ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL."
   1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 (NKJV)

• Apostle Paul in his first letter or epistle to the Thessalonians, he gave some admonitions in the concluding remarks:

• He exhorted them to warn those who are unruly, insubordinate, disobedient, who refused to obey orders or show respect for their leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
• Those who did not accept the authority of their leaders, and those who are idle, such had stopped working and were waiting for the coming of the Lord!
• There are people in the body of Christ today who have listened to a wrong doctrine or teaching that makes them unruly, insubordinate, and would not submit or respect the integrity of the Word of God (1 Timothy 4:1,2; 2 Timothy 4:3,4).
  THEY twisted the Word and argued blindly—and things they hold on to are not found in the Word of God.

1. "...as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
2. as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things hard to understand, WHICH UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE PEOPLE TWIST TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION, AS THEY DO ALSO THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES."
   2 Peter 3:16,17 (NKJV)

• He also admonishes that no one should render evil for evil, but every believer should always pursue what is good both for themselves and for all (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
SOME believers only think of themselves, they are not mindful of others, if they have their way, get what they want, they do not mind IF other believers suffered—they just want to get their desires satisfied.

1. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
2. LET EACH OF YOU LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS."
   Philippians 2:3,4 (NKJV)

• One out of other things mentioned is that believers should rejoice always, they should not allow anything to steal their Joy (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
BELIEVERS can rejoice in tribulations, and should rejoice in tribulations (James 1:2).
OF COURSE you are not rejoicing for whatever predicament, but you are rejoicing because you have a God who is able to help and deliver from whatever the problem.

• Believers should always pray without ceasing.
PRAYER is a dialogue.
WE should cultivate the habit of conversing with God as we go about our daily activities (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
CONVERSATIONAL prayers should be the Norm for a believer who wants intimacy with God.

• If you know God holds the reins of your life, you will not be fretful about whatever happens, you will learn to thank God in every situation, thus: " in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

• Some of the Thessalonians started doubting and despising prophecies, they wanted to quench the Spirit; thus they were admonished not to: "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:18,20).
THE fact that we have those who go about with false prophecies does not mean there are no believers or ministers with genuine prophecies.
SOME even say there are no prophets again, that the gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet are done away, that there are no prophets in the body of Christ again.
THEY usually substantiate their points with this Scripture:

1. "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
2. For we know in part and us prophecy in part.
3. But when that which is perfect [complete] has come, then that which is in part will be done away."
   1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NKJV)

• The above passage of the Bible talks about the things that will happen when Jesus comes to gather the saints.
  AT that time we would not need prophecies again, we would not need to speak in tongues again, tongues will cease, and we would not need knowledge again, everything will be known to us, there would be no need for special knowledge.
  BUT for now prophecy is still needed, likewise tongues and knowledge, no one has ceased out of them.
• They claimed that since we have the Bible, the written Word, prophecy has ceased.
  IT is a fallacy, and a ruse, trick of the devil to deceive those who do not have the understanding of the Bible!
  THE question is, HAS knowledge vanished away? If knowledge has not vanished away, thus, prophecy has not ceased—because they are listed together.
  ALTHOUGH there are false prophets who give false prophecies, but the solution or antidote given by the Apostle Paul in that same passage is: "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22).
  THE devil is a counterfeiter, the fact that you have a counterfeit does not mean you should do away with the original or genuine.

1. "And no wonder! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.
2. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."
   2 Corinthians 11:14,15 (NKJV)

• Know the truth of the Word of God, and walk in the light of the truth you know.
IT is the knowledge of the truth, the Word, that sets free, and that will not make you a victim of fake prophecies: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
WHEN you know the Truth, no one would be able to bamboozle, confuse and trick you with fake prophecies.

• Every believer should keep away from sin, that is, evil.
SINS have been made cheap, you need discipline and determination to keep away from them—especially the sin of immorality, that is, sexual sin.

• Lying and unfaithfulness is also rampant even in the church.
  IN FACT, if you are truthful, some people think you are daft or stupid: "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).

• However, the Scripture says:
"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stand, having this seal: "THE LORD KNOWS WHO ARE HIS," AND "LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY."
2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!