"Despise Not Prophesying"

I Thessalonians 5:20

Introduction:

Definitions:

• Despise- to make of no account, set at nought.
• Prophesying- a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden...

I.  The Cause of Despising

A.  It condems them- men love darkness rather than light

B.  It confines them- thou shalt NOT... Ye MUST... (Jude 8: "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.")

C.  It confuses them- neither can they know them... (I Corinthians 2:14: ..."neither can they know them, because they are spiritually discerned.")

D.  It convicts them- pricked in their hearts (Stephen)

II.  The Characteristics of Despising

A.  Lack of Attendance- Not Forsaking

B.  Lack of Attentiveness- (Nehemiah 8:3- ... "and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.")

C.  Lack of Acceptance- receive with meekness; (James 1:21... "and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.")

D.  Lack of Adherence- hearer, and not a doer; (James 1:23 "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.")

III.  The Cure for Despising

A.  Hungering- (I Peter 2:2- "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.")

B.  Hearkening- (Jeremiah 26:1-7)-  (v.3)... "If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way," (v.4)... "If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you" (v.5) "To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;")

C.  Honoring- Text- I Thessalonians 5:12-13 (v.12) "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;"

(v.13) "And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.  And be at peace among yourselves.")

D.  Humbling- Swallow your pride & listen!!

E.  Holding- (Titus 1:9)... "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,")