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

Verse 20 is a verse the Charismatics like to abuse. The proper way to understand Scripture is always by comparing Scripture with Scripture. We have mentioned men like Kenneth Copeland, and I have made it very clear that I believe he is a fraud. There are many others that fall into that same camp.

I Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

In order to understand what God is saying, we must have spiritual discernment. A lost person has none of that. A lost person is looking for glory. Lost people find many ways to do that. Saved people are changed by God. They may still look for personal glory, but if they do they are quenching the Holy Spirit. All glory belongs to God.
When Paul was writing the words of our text, the Scriptures were not yet complete. Prophecy was still taking place. The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ contains much prophecy. It is the last book of the Bible. Paul was directed to remind us:

I Corinthians 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

In verse 8 of the above verses we have the word “shall fail”. This is in the context of prophecies. The Greek word translated as “shall fail” means “to render entirely idle, (useless)”. Paul was directed by God to remind us that the time would come when there would be no further prophecy. When would that time be? Paul stated it would be when the perfect is come, prophecy, tongues and knowledge would be done away. Paul was directed to use the illustration of a person who begins life as a child and grows into adulthood. The child likes to play with childish things. His reasoning is only in part. He demonstrates immaturity in many ways. However, when the person becomes an adult, the childish things are to be put away. Now it is time to behave as an adult.
During the history of man, the Scriptures were incomplete until the book of the Revelation was completed. After that, prophecy stopped. There was also no longer the gift of tongues. Now people would need to take time to learn the language of another people group. Knowledge would vanish away. Knowledge is that intuition that God gave to certain people at certain times. We do not have that kind of knowledge today. We can observe things and people and we can gain a sense of where they are coming from. We do not have the same ability to know what people are doing, as we find in the Bible. Again, we know the Charismatics boast that they still have that, but they prove themselves to be liars.
That is why Paul wrote that we need to prove all things. Those who are saved do not run with everything they hear. They need to check it out. This is what was needed in the past three years. There is overwhelming evidence now to expose the entire Wuhan virus stunt as a man-made experiment to take control of people. There was no science to back up what they were lying to us about. They still want to hide behind their lies. They need to be exposed. Rather than cower in a corner for fear, live and help others to know how to live as well.
The shots are not helpful at all. They did not stop the spread of the virus. They killed many and they are also maiming many others. The governments are talking of trying to further scare people with a “new variant” now. It is nothing more than a cold. Colds can sometimes be deadly. Most times they are just colds. You can go to the doctor and get medicine for them and they will last a week, or you can treat them at home and they will last seven days.
Cleanliness is always important. There are some people who do not wash up after using the toilet. They like to wipe their noses with their hands and then smear that into their pants or others things. They like to shake people’s hands or touch shopping carts, etc. and they are spreaders of germs. Some people do not want to be taught. Ungodly people act more like animals at times than like people. Godly people will be taught and they will receive the teaching and pass it on to others.
In our Bible study last night we talked of the corruption that is still taking place in many religions. Most were never true, but some had some truth. The Mennonites took the name of Menno Simons and built their religion on his writings. That was a mistake. He warned them against doing that. However, when he died, he lost control of all things. Today there are Mennonite factions that are antisemite. They are under God’s judgment because of their ungodly views regarding the Jews. They have chosen to believe the lies of the “Palestinians” and never bothered to check the facts. They also teach works salvation. They are not alone in these things, and they are guilty before God.
The Judaizers were busy seeking to corrupt the Gospel in Paul’s day. There was no need for true saints to fall for the corruption. They needed to prove all things. The same is true today. We need to prove all things. The truth is the Word of God. When someone comes with a “new prophecy” we can prove that against the Word of God. God is not giving us any new prophesy today. The Scriptures are complete. God is not adding any more words to His Word. It is completed. God is not healing in the same manner as He did up to the end of the first century. There are people who claim that God is still healing the same way, but they need to run to the doctor and they need surgery at times. Jesus did not need to do surgery on anyone. He healed them. Occasionally He used mud or spit, but His healing was healing. God can still heal today. Those who claim to have the gift of healing should go to the hospitals and empty them out. Don’t use the excuse that the people lack faith. Those who claim to be healers lack faith. They do not walk by faith. They walk by sight. They want to see signs and wonders. They are being groomed for the coming of the antichrist.
Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good. Don’t run after everything you see and hear. The “good” is the Word of God. Hold fast to that. Build your life on the truth. Forget about the frauds. Get away from them. They will spoil you if you try to play around with them. Rebuke them and get away from them. That is what the Bible teaches.
Pastor Bartel