11.  That ye may approve things that are excellent...

• Philippians 1:10,22 - That ye may approve things that are excellent;...
• I Thessalonians 5:21 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
• Colossians 1:10 - That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• The bad guys...
• Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
• Romans 16:18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
• II Timothy 3:1-9 - referring to the 'religious'
• Have Christians lost / given up / thrown away their ability to discern between right & wrong?
• Discern-To separate by understanding. To distinguish; To see the difference between two or more things; To discriminate.
• II Timothy 3:10-17
• we have NO reason to give up / not know / not discern, etc.
• II Thessalonians 2:13-17
• again, we have NO reason today!
• II Timothy 4:3,4 -  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
• Can we ourselves not even endure sound doctrine?
• Obviously, they didn't do it very well during the OT, but they were supposed to!
• Ezekiel 44:23 - And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
• Ezekiel 22:26 - Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
• But there is even more... 27-28 - Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
• Sure seems like today, doesn't it?
• They didn't do it well during the Gospels!
• Matthew 16:3- And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
• Paul even reminded them how poorly they were at approving the things that are more excellent...
• Romans 2:17-24
• Not everyone in the Tribulation will be able to discern, either!
• Hebrews 5:14 - But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
• But how about us today?
• Is tolerating through 'grace' the way we are suppose to be as Christians?
• Do we just act like all the other modern Christians and try to have favour with all people?
• Acts 2:46,47 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
• II Timothy 3:13 - But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
• Romans 16:18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
• Hundreds of new 'religious' life-changing life fixing books becoming available every month,
• tracts are changing (including Chick), worthless salvation message, more modern pics, charismaticky, etc.
• Bible programs for young and old that advertise good works and morals - vegetables and talking animals, etc.
• health concerns that are becoming more & more spiritually oriented (See I Timothy 4:1-3 - doctrine of devils)
• magazines that feature pics more than teachings and the teachings are without any Scriptural support, anyway
• images over words - In the "Age of Illusion," our choices can be easily hidden from public view. The power of truth has taken a back seat to the power of image and the skills of marketing it.
• politics,
• life warnings, Tribulation, etc.
• radio programs,
• cassette / CD sermons & studies by the thousands to be found online,
• dvd/video stories of "goodness and good people with happy ever-after endings,
• "bible" studies that use psychology to satisfy and work the flesh all because they love god and God loves them;
• people who mean well but are just flat wrong with their Biblical / Scriptural teachings & solutions;
• personalities on radio and tv
• authors who sell based on their name!
• those with 'numbers' of gain, success stories, etc.
• They are:
• from the folly of the Great Commission stuff - even including the KJB guys & their personal gurus.
• a result of the fruit of the modern bibles - also a folly, but both are eternally dangerous!
• entering into our homes - II Timothy 3:5-7 - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• From "Voice - An Independent Church Journal" - March, 2009 pg. 20
• The problem is that few Christians have been taught to discern truth from error.  Therefore, many well intentioned believers swallow whatever is being promoted.  For example, Michael W. Smith heavily endorses the fictional work The Shack, saying that it will change one's relationship with God forever.  His endorsement alone may account for the sale of hundreds of thousands of copies of the novel. And he is right.  The Shack, if taken seriously, may very well change your relationship with God, but not in a positive way.  The Shack offers a view of God that blends Christianity with Eastern and New Age thought.  The undiscerning Christian will not recognize this fact and could easily sink into a distorted understanding of the nature of God.
• Our people today are surrounded constantly by a wide array of falsehood and half-truths in the name of Christ!  Many would rather hear about self-image and how to prosper and succeed in life...
• Pastors would find that some of their people are buying what Oprah is selling at the moment.  Recently, she has thrown considerable influence behind the New Age movement (often called the New Spirituality).  First, it was Rhonda Byrne's The Secret; next it was Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth. Both of these authors liberally quote Scriptures... could the folks be taken in?
• How about the Emergent Church movement?  It is nothing more than a postmodern update of old liberalism.
• Most don't know that the most popular book on College Campus is Donald MIller's Blue Like Jazz offers a fresh view of the Christian life, at the same time using virtually no Scripture and subtly distorts the truth of the Bible, let alone even rightly dividing, the KJB, etc.
• PS - For those who do not know me personally, I do not endorse "Voice" - it is a Great Commission publication - and the nondiscerning reader would read good things on what is ''wrong" today, but their answer is still Scripturally wrong as they seem to almost totally ignore Paul's writings. - M Paulson

• Then there is a book I recently saw in a restaurant 'Christian book rack' - by Dutch Sheets.  Roll Away Your Stone - Living the Power of the Risen Christ
• Must be time for the Devil to turn up the subtle deception concerning Paul, the Risen Christ and the Greater Commission!
• "What price would you pay to remove the barriers that hold you back in life? The wonderful news is that it's already been done and the tab's already been paid! In Roll Away Your Stone, best-selling author Dutch Sheets reveals life-changing biblical truths about who we are in Christ and how to become the person God made us to be. But this is more than a book about our identity in Christ -- it is an action plan to conquer the lies that keep us defeated and to walk into a newfound freedom we have never known. It's not about who you think you are -- it's about understanding and possessing the truth of who you really are in God's eyes! In this powerful new work that Sheets calls his "life message," readers are given sound, doable tools for looking at God, His provisions, and the principles He has established that enable them to be set free and walk in His way. It's time to roll away your stone."
• action plan
• best-selling
• tab's already been paid
• life-changing
• biblical truths
• how to become the person God made us to be
• conquer the lies that keep us defeated
• to walk in a newfound freedom that have never known
• life message
• sound, doable tools for looking at God
• His provisions, and the principles
• enable them to be SET free
• walk in His way.
• it's time to roll away your stone
• right - they mean it is time to buy his book  $$$$!
• His solution is OT, Great Commission plus Tribulation verses throughout the entire book. This guy won't even teach what the Risen Christ teaches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• How do we discern?
• In part then, but not at all that way today.
• I Corinthians 2:14
• Given by God directly then - in part, but not today!
• I Corinthians 11:29 ???
• I Corinthians 12:7-10 ???
• ...KJB today!
• I Corinthians 13:8-10
• Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Acts 13:46 - Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
• Romans 2:16 - In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
• Philippians 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
• Philippians 1:9-11 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent;

• II Corinthians 13:7 - Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
• Not think of himself more highly...
• Romans 12:3 - For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• Man worship / Man followers!
• I Corinthians 4:6 - And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
• It's coming even more so...
• Jude 16 - These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
• So, you think you are doing fine?
• I Corinthians 8:2 - And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
• I Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
• Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
• However, it is ok to believe that you are growing?  that is fine!  We are supposed to!
• Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
• Ephesians 4:15 - But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
• II Thessalonians 1:3 - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
• Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
• Ephesians 1:28,29 - Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
• Acknowledge Paul's writings!
• I Corinthians 14:37 - If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
• It isn't us - it is God!
• II Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
• Paul didn't dare tell everyone all of what he saw / heard, etc.  He would have been lifting himself too much!
• II Corinthians 12:6 - For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
• II Corinthians 12:7 - And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
• See Acts 14:7-17 ... (15) And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein...

• Do you want to discern the correct "right" today?
• II Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• That will show you how do discern and to approve the things that are excellent!