https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Prove-What-Is-Acceptable.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: I Thessalonians 5:16-24<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. I doubt it has escaped your notice, but there are people around us who don’t always do\nwhat is right\n
A. How do you know who to trust? <\/p>\n
B. People claim to be Christians, but we know people can and do lie<\/p>\n
C. For that matter, how do I know if I am as good as I claim to be?<\/p>\n
II. Examine the evidence<\/p>\n
A. Too often we let things slide. <\/p>\n
1. We just accept what comes along because it requires less effort<\/p>\n
2. Besides, who wants more “drama” in their life?<\/p>\n
B. We want to live as God desires – Ephesians 5:1-2<\/p>\n 1. Which means we have to stay out of sins, such as fornication, impurity,\nand greed – Ephesians 5:3\n 2. But that also means I can’t be talking as if those sins are acceptable, even\nwhen joking – Ephesians 5:4\n
3. It isn’t something that can be ignored – Ephesians 5:5-6<\/p>\n
4. We have to be different – Ephesians 5:7-8<\/p>\n
5. Which means we need to prove what pleases the Lord – Ephesians 5:9-10<\/p>\n
C. We need to prove all things – I Thessalonians 5:21-22<\/p>\n 1. We all too easily assume that whatever we are doing must be fine with\nGod – Psalms 19:12-13\n
2. We need to hang on to the good<\/p>\n
3. We need to reject (hate) the evil<\/p>\n
4. That means we have to take a stance<\/p>\n D. In other to mature, we need to be able to distinguish between good and evil –\nHebrews 5:13-14\n
1. It only comes through the use of God’s word – putting it into daily practice<\/p>\n
III. What we look at<\/p>\n
A. It is not just what a person says<\/p>\n
B. We are not to believe everyone who comes along – I John 4:1<\/p>\n
1. Those who follow God are not bothered by this – Acts 17:10-12<\/p>\n
2. Look at what they accomplish – Matthew 7:15-20<\/p>\n
C. But we also have to examine ourselves – II Corinthians 13:5-6<\/p>\n
1. Look at what you do and accomplish – Galatians 6:3-5<\/p>\n
IV. What we compare against<\/p>\n
A. We can’t use ourselves as the standard – II Corinthians 10:12<\/p>\n
B. We can’t use the world – I Corinthians 2:14-16<\/p>\n
C. It is God’s word that can improve us – Psalms 19:7-11<\/p>\n
D. God’s word discerns the thoughts and attitudes – Hebrews 4:12<\/p>\n
V. You know more when you are interested in a subject<\/p>\n
A. A car buff knows all sorts of details about what makes a good or poor automobile<\/p>\n B. A sports buff knows all sorts of details about what makes someone or some team\ngood or bad at their sport\n
C. Learn to love God’s word – Psalms 119:97-104<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:16-24 I. I doubt it has escaped your notice, but there are people around us who don’t always do what is right A. How do you know who to trust? B. People claim to be Christians, but we know people can and do lie C. For that matter, how do I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1119,478,713,877],"class_list":["post-36793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-discernment","tag-false-teachers","tag-judging-others","tag-proof"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":65621,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-prove-jesus-was-not-a-muslim\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":0},"title":"How do you prove Jesus was not a Muslim?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Brother Hamilton and the rest of La Vista Church of Christ, I have two questions that I want to ask you. I want to start with this one in particular because they're two different ideas. As we know, the more time goes by, there will be a new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19382,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-the-translations-god-breathed\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":1},"title":"Are the translations “God-breathed?”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 9, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does II Timothy 3:16 \"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,\" apply to reputable translated versions of the Bible, not just the original copies?\u00a0 I want to use this verse to\u00a0state\u00a0my point to\u00a0someone\u00a0that Acts 2:38 is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30355,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/apostolic-succession\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":2},"title":"Apostolic Succession (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 20:17-36 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do you prove that your brand of Christianity is real? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For some, the argument is based on who was around the longest. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A religion that just recently started is declared to be suspect. If the church has been around\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37638,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-i-am-old-then-ill-be-good\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":3},"title":"When I am Old, Then I’ll be Good","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 25:1-13 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 parable of the vineyard workers we learn that salvation is available to all who will come to the Lord, no matter when it is done - Matthew 20:1-16 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus in his mercy chooses to treat all alike. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When an elderly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32500,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/were-elders-limited-to-the-age-of-miracles-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":4},"title":"Were Elders Limited to the Age of Miracles? (Sermon)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 24, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 20:17-35 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some times I wonder where ideas about the Scriptures come from. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The passages are clear, but it seems that some want a certain outcome, so they seek whatever means they can find to arrive at that result. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was asked if elders\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16716,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-brain-region-sizes-or-pheromones-prove-homosexuality-is-genetic\/","url_meta":{"origin":36793,"position":5},"title":"Do brain region sizes or pheromones prove homosexuality is genetic?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 31, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In college, I've been taking a non-verbal communication class which teaches us about different aspects of what some people refer to as \"body language\". Throughout the class, the instructor had made claims that homosexuality has a genetic basis and that there's evidence that may lead us to believe that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36793"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36793\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}