Hebrews 05:12-14 Exercising Our Senses to Discern Good and Evil

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Text: Hebrews 5:12-14

Introduction

Throughout the beginning, there has been a war between good and evil.

Can you tell the difference?

Body

I. In the Garden of Eden

A. Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat nor touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; yet the serpent tempted them saying, “your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:3-5).”

B. Solomon requested an understanding heart to discern good and evil (1 Kings 3:9).

C. Christians must exercise senses to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14).

II. The disciples. Many that were with Christ exercised their senses to discern the truth, and share it with others.

A. John exercised his senses to learn Christ (1 John 1:1-3).

B. The disciples exercised their senses to discern Christ’s resurrection (Luke 24:38-43), especially Thomas (John 20:25-28).

C. Peter and John preached what they have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).

III. The Lord. The Lord has made us, and not we ourselves (Psalm 100:3). Therefore He knows our senses, and wants to help us use them.

A. Old Testament example: Isaiah 42:16-21.

B. New Testament example: Matthew 13:13.

IV. Exercising Our Senses.

A. Hearing.

1) Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17).

2) Seven churches in Asia must hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2,3).

3) We must hear and do God’s word (James 1:22-25).

B. Seeing.

1) Isaiah tells us to stop our ears from hearing of blood, and eyes from seeing evil (Isaiah 33:15-16).

2) People saw and heard the miracles Philip did (Acts 8:6).

3) Search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).

C. Touching.

1) Do not touch unclean things (2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Isaiah 52:11-12).

2) The woman with an issue of blood touched Jesus (Matthew 9:21).

3) Uzzah touched the ark to steady it, but died (2 Samuel 6).

D. Smelling.

1) Epaphroditus brought Paul a good report of the Philippians, a sweet smell to God (Philippians 4:18; Romans 12:1).

2) Jesus Christ was a sacrifice, a sweet smell to God (Ephesians 5:1-2).

3) Christians are the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

E. Tasting.

1) The master of a feast knew Jesus turned water into wine by tasting it (John 2:9).

2) Some have tasted the heavenly gift and the good word of God (Hebrews 6:4-5).

3) Newborn babes in Christ taste the graciousness of the Lord (1 Peter 2:2-3).

Conclusion

We can follow the example of David to exercise our senses to discern good and evil (Psalm 101:1-8).