Training Your Senses

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Training Your Senses
This is how it is also with

• Ever taken on a job or task that, at first,
  seemed incredibly difficult and impossibly
  complicated?
• There just seemed to be so many things to
  remember that you thought you would never be
  able to do it?
• Were you able to overcome?
• If so, how?
• More than likely, you took one step at a time
  and, with diligence and repetition, the
  impossible became much less so.

Hebrews 514
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Discerning good and evil can seem like a daunting
task!

• At first, it seems there is so much to know and
  remember in order to make good decisions and
  right choices- the Bible is such a BIG book!
• But gradually, with time and practice, things
  seem to fall in place. And light bulb moments
  of understanding come with frequent regularity.
• This process has a biblical description
• Having their senses trained to discern good and
  evil. Heb.514

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?

• Give it the Six-Way Test
• Does it destroy your identity as a Christian and
  make you look like the world?
• 1John 519 says there are only 2 groups in
  existence. With which group would you
  categorize the activity?
• 1John 310 says the distinction is, or
  should be, obvious.
• If the activity makes the distinction less
  obvious, it should be forsaken, Rom.122.

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?
Give it the Six-Way Test

• Is the activity questionable in your own mind, or
  does it offend your conscience?
• Rom.1422-23 says that if we violate our own
  conscience we are condemned by God.
• Likewise, v.22 speaks of conviction and v.5
  mentions being fully convinced.
• Are you fully convinced of the rightness
  of the activity? If not, leave it alone,
  James 417.

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?
Give it the Six-Way Test

• Will the activity have a weakening influence on
  those around you?
• Matt.181-10 addresses this subject using
  the language of stumbling blocks.
• Unwise and imprudent acts on our part may
  cause the unsuspecting to stumble, spiritually
  speaking.
• Always remember that there are likely others
  looking to you for an example- and they may
  know less than you!

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?
Give it the Six-Way Test

• Is the activity obviously destructive to your
  body in which the Spirit dwells?
• 1Cor.612-20 has a couple of relative
  points.
• vv.12-13 indicate that some things are lawful
  as servants, but are poor masters
• v.18 says that sexual immorality is a sin
  against his own body
• vv.19-20 state that our bodies should house
  the Spirit. Does activity fit with the
  Spirit?

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?
Give it the Six-Way Test

• Does the activity encourage within you other
  fleshly appetites?
• Col.35ff says to consider the members of
  your earthly body as dead to
• Does the activity aid in putting to death
  other sinful activities, or encourage them?
• Rom.1314 adds that we should make no
  provision for the flesh. Does the activity
  make provisions for the flesh, or the Spirit?

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So, how do I know what is right and wrong
while Im training my senses to do it for me?
Give it the Six-Way Test

• Does the activity bring you under a weakening
  association and influence?
• We must all live in the world,
  1Cor.59-10.
• But the challenge is to live in but not like
  the world. cf. 1Cor.1533
• Does the activity yoke you together with
  God, or with the world? 2Cor.614ff
• Give heed to the admonitions of
  1Thess.521-22 in this regard!

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None of these tests are intended to displace
spiritual maturity gained through study of and
knowledge in Gods Word.

• They are intended to give a basis for determining
  right versus wrong while we are growing,
  maturing, and learning to
• discern good and evil!

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