“Test all things; hold fast what is good” comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:21 in the Bible, commanding Christians to diligently examine teachings, spirits, and experiences, keeping what is true and beneficial while rejecting falsehood, often by comparing everything to God’s Word and the teachings of Jesus, as exemplified by the Bereans in Acts 17:11. It’s a call for critical discernment, not blind acceptance, ensuring faith is rooted in sound doctrine and not novel or worldly ideas.
Core Meaning & Application
- Examine Carefully: Don’t just accept things at face value; investigate their authenticity and source.
- Hold Fast to Good: Retain and cling to what is proven to be true, righteous, and beneficial.
- Abstain from Evil: Reject every form or appearance of evil that doesn’t align with God’s will.
Biblical Context & Examples
- Testing Spirits: The instruction is closely linked to testing prophetic messages and spirits, ensuring they come from God (1 John 4:1).
- Berean Example: The noble Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teachings, setting a standard for biblical scrutiny (Acts 17:11).
- Against Novelty: It guards against “itching ears” – the desire for new or sensational doctrines over established truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
How to Apply It
- Know Scripture: Diligent study of the Bible provides the standard for testing.
- Discernment: Develop the ability to distinguish between truth and error, good and evil.
- Spiritual Growth: Use testing as a way to grow in understanding and holiness, presenting yourself blameless before Christ.
For the most part, those spreading doctrines of devils and lies hatched by Satan do not openly reveal their true identity, and many do not even know they are being used as Satan’s dupe. Satan tries to present his false doctrines as good in order to gain wider acceptance. Therefore, we cannot judge by appearances but must judge by the standard of revealed truth from God.
After Jesus’ fasted 40 days/nights tempted/tried; Satan appeared and tempted Him. First, with His hunger (not haven eaten for greater than a month!) For those who the possibility of successfully completing this in the physical… Note this: Three important men in the Bible were led to do an extended fast – Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Surprisingly enough, it was also these two men, Moses and Elijah, who then appear together with Jesus in a pivotal moment in Scripture when Jesus shows the disciples evidence of His divinity (the transfiguration).
Many people in the Bible fasted, including Jesus, Moses, David, Esther, Daniel, the prophet Elijah, the woman Anna, and the entire city of Nineveh, for reasons like seeking God’s guidance, repenting, mourning, or preparing for spiritual challenges, with examples ranging from Jesus’s 40-day fast to specific prayers for deliverance or guidance by figures like Nehemiah and the early church apostles (Paul & Barnabas)**.
Key Figures Who Fasted
- Jesus: Fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil (Matthew 4).
- Moses: Fasted for 40 days while receiving the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34).
- David: Fasted and prayed for his sick child and mourned for seven days after his death (2 Samuel 12).
- Esther: Called for a three-day fast for herself and her people before she approached King Xerxes (Esther 4).
- Daniel: Fasted partially (abstaining from delicacies) for guidance and saw visions (Daniel 10).
- Elijah: Traveled 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb, sustained by God (1 Kings 19).
- Anna: A devout prophetess who served God with fastings and prayers, awaiting the Messiah (Luke 2:36-37).
- Nehemiah: Fasted and prayed for Jerusalem’s restoration (Nehemiah 9).
- Paul (Saul of Tarsus): Fasted for three days after his Damascus road experience and often during his ministry (Acts 9, 2 Corinthians 11).
Groups & Nations
- The People of Nineveh: The entire city, including animals, fasted and repented at the prophet Jonah’s warning (Jonah 3).
- The Israelites: Observed commanded fasts like the Day of Atonement and national fasts for repentance or deliverance (Leviticus 16, 1 Samuel 7).
- The Early Church: The apostles and believers fasted to seek God’s will for major decisions, like appointing leaders (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23).
Reasons for Fasting
- Repentance and seeking forgiveness (Nineveh, David).
- Seeking guidance or divine instruction (Daniel, early church).
- Mourning or showing grief (David).
- Seeking deliverance or intervention (Esther, Jehoshaphat).
- Spiritual preparation and dedication (Jesus, Paul).