Behold, Our Duty. Bryant Hewitt Message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1sjXNYGYJQ


http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-hewitt-channel

Before Paul closes his epistle with a final blessing and admonition,
   he lists another series of exhortations...
   a. Do not quench the Spirit - 1Th 5:19
   b. Do not despise prophecies - 1Th 5:20
   c. Test all things; hold fast what is good - 1Th 5:21
   d. Abstain from every form of evil - 1Th 5:22
   -- Taken together, we can categorize these exhortations as "Our Duty
      To The Truth"

[What is our obligation to the truth?  What does God expect of us
regarding the reception of truth, and that which proves to be error?
From the exhortations in our text, we can say first...]

I. DO NOT STIFLE REVELATION OF THE TRUTH

   A. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRUTH...
      1. In Proverbs, we are exhorted to "buy the truth, and do not sell
         it..." - Pr 23:23
      2. Why is truth so important?  In Psalms we learn...
         a. God's truth preserves us - Ps 40:11
         b. God's truth is a shield and buckler - Ps 91:4
         c. God's truth provides atonement - Pr 16:6
      3. Jesus taught regarding truth...
         a. It provides freedom from the bondage of sin - Jn 8:32
         b. It is the means by God sanctifies Jesus' disciples - Jn
            17:17
      -- In view of its benefits, we should never be guilty of stifling
         the truth!

   B. THE REVELATION OF THE TRUTH...
      1. God's truth was made known through His Holy Spirit - Jn 16:13
         a. In Old Testament times, He did this through prophets - cf.
            1Pe 1:10-11 ; 2Pe 1:20-21
         b. In New Testament times, He did this through the apostles and
            prophets of Jesus Christ - cf. Jn 16:13; 14:26
      2. These inspired apostles and prophets communicated God's
         truth...
         a. Through their spoken word - cf. 1Pe 1:12
         b. Through their written word - cf. Ep 3:3-5; 1Co 14:37
      3. This truth was fully and finally revealed....
         a. Completed through the work of the apostles - Ac 20:32; 2 Pe
            1:3
         b. Revealed one time for all times - Jude 3
         c. Thus we have that which can make us complete - cf. 2Ti 3:
            16-17
      4. Today, if we desire to receive God's truth...
         a. We cannot look to their spoken word, since they are no
            longer living
         b. We must look to their written Word, i.e., the Bible
         c. We must accept God's Word in its entirety - cf. Ps 119:160

   C. THE SUPPRESSION OF THE TRUTH...
      1. Mankind has a history of resisting God's truth...
         a. Israel suffered this affliction - cf. Hos 4:1
         b. The Gentiles likewise, especially the wise - cf. Ro 1:18-23
      2. In New Testament times, Christians could be guilty of resisting
         truth also...
         a. By "quenching the Spirit" - 1Th 5:19
            1) Refusing to heed what the Spirit was still making known
               at that time
            2) Cutting off the revelation of God's truth intended for
               them
         b. By "despising prophecies" - 1Th 5:20
            1) Belittling the prophecies being made known through the
               prophets
            2) Refusing to accept what the prophets of God were
               revealing