1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Overview:
Don't resist or try to suppress the Holy Spirit's working in your life and the lives of others. Don't hate/despise/fail to listen to the teachings of those inspired by God, but examine what they say with God's Word. Once you have found it to be true, then you are to retain it and use it in your life. Do resist every form of evil.
Application:
Here is a list of 2 Do's and 3 Don'ts. The Holy Spirit is often talked about in terms of a fire. Here the word picture is of someone dousing the Holy's Spirit's fire with water or dirt. The Holy Spirit is continually at work in the lives of believers. However, He does not push His will or His power on us, rather He wants us to submit the control of our lives over to Him - this is being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. His admonition to not despise prophecies has to do with what he said previously about respecting and honoring those that teach us the Word (pastors). Historically the NT was a work in progress, so the Holy Spirit used prophecy both prophetic and for explanation of present situations the church was facing. How do you know if what someone is prophesying is true? Test it and compare it to other Scripture - it it's not, toss it, but if it is true, then you must obey it and put it into practice. Not only should false prophecy be avoided, but all kinds of evil (doing worldly practices, lust, envy, strife etc.) must be avoided. Stop trying to live with one foot in the world and the other foot in the spiritual world - it won't work, and it shows you have not yielded control to the Holy Spirit, and you/I am in danger of suppressing His power.