Prove It

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)  

Up to the point of our conversion we were limited in our thinking and only able to discern things according to what we were able to see, hear, and touch; basically limited to our carnal senses. Once you became a new creation, which can only take place to those that are in Christ, you are now able to see things through the eyes of the Spirit and look into a whole new realm and a whole new way of thinking. Every day should be a new day. Like with a child, they continue to learn more about the things around them, the things of this realm that they recently entered into themselves. Your old way of thinking, the way you determined things and made judgments based solely by outward appearances is passed away; you are now able to discern and make judgments according to what the Lord says, who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. (23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)  

Thayer’s definition for prove:
1381  dokimazo- 1) to test, to examine, to prove, to scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals 2) to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, to deem worthy  

Before you put your stamp of approval on something, or I should say God’s stamp of approval on it (after all you are now a representation of Him), do you take the time to check it out to see if it lines up with the word of God before you get involved in something that He doesn’t approve of? If there isn’t peace in the situation that would be the first indication that it is not of God. Secondly, it has to line up with His word before you should proceed forward, otherwise you may find yourself like the prophet Balaam who ended up blaming the wrong ass for the ungodly situation he put himself into. Case in point, 5 months ago when many said it was Christmas time many jumped on the bandwagon and went for a worldly ride. But the truth be known, which by the way it is available to those that are willing to listen, is that it is nothing more than a cheap hoax, a worldly retailers celebration, supposedly in the name of Christianity. Not only has this abomination evolved into an ungodly mess, if you take the time to go back to its origins you will find that it began as a pagan ritual which a bunch of half baked milk toast Christians adopted and imitated; which sad to say, not much has changed over the years. So if you desire the peace of God in your life and someday plan on presenting yourself to Him wholly and blameless, spirit, soul, and body, then you need to be more watchful about the doctrine you allow into your spirit and the things you put your stamp of approval on so that you don’t allow a little leaven to leaven the whole lump.  

Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (KJV)  

This is exactly what takes place when someone doesn’t take the time to rightly divide the word of truth; when someone jumps into a situation just because it looked good and sounded good by the outward appearance, but inwardly was an abomination to the Lord. What you put your stamp of approval on can have dire consequences if it is not of the Lord and a misrepresentation of His word. So like the old song says, ‘look before you leap do waters run deep’ otherwise you may find that the so called pool you’re diving head first into is nothing more than a mirage. The devil painted a pretty picture to Eve back in the Garden of Eden and made it sound too good to be true if she would just partake of the fruit. The same deceiver is still out and about portraying himself as a minister of righteousness, with cheap watercolors that can be easily erased when doused with the living waters of truth. What a pretty picture he will try to paint in your mind, showing you the highlight reel of what you are missing in the flesh so that he can get you living in an imaginary realm of deception and lies. So before you enter his studio, take the time to hear the Lord’s answer and discern the truth; before you allow the devil to paint you into a corner.  

2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (KJV)  

I have seen so many people try to imitate other people that they considered godly, and miss the mark because they were more concerned with mans’ approval and not the Lord’s. You have entered a whole new realm people, which is completely opposite of the one you lived in the past. So in order to walk in the Spirit you have to start thinking in the Spirit, and that will only take place as you renew your mind in the word of God on a daily basis. Otherwise you find yourself back in the realm of the flesh which should be dead, died and buried to those in Christ.  

Commentary:
In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until it was liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money-changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honor who put only genuine full-weighted money into circulation. Such men were called "dokimos" or "approved". --Donald Barnhouse  

Oh how the world keeps such a close watch over their treasures to make sure they don’t get shortchanged. How much stronger would the Christian be if they made their spiritual life as much a priority as their financial welfare or even beyond. I have seen many people who study cults, then go out and about getting in debates over their doctrines. Now with people in banking today, they don’t waste their time studying the phony bills but rather study the genuine bills; that is how they are able to spot the counterfeit ones and there is no debate, case closed. The Bible says it is the truth that will set you free so that you can be free indeed. So how much time have you spent today in the word of truth so that you can know the truth and be approved of God as genuine and the real deal?  

Proverbs 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. (KJV)  

Are you truly a Christian? Prove it.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.