Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
This week we are continuing our series titled Great Words from the Bible.
Today we are talking about Take Heed.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Hebrews 2:1 (AMP)
Give Heed
2 For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 1:1-2:4 (AMP)
Introduction
In tonight’s text, “Heed” means to pay careful attention to and is the opposite of disregard for God’s Word.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ is superior to prophets and angels, and because the revelation of God in Christ is superior, we ought to give earnest heed to the things we have heard.
Because Jesus is the final and supreme revelation of God, we are to give special attention to God’s message as it is revealed in Christ.
Using this passage as a guide, let’s look at some of the things that deserve our careful attention.
- Take heed to the doctrine taught by others.
Mark 8:15 AMP
15 Jesus repeatedly ordered them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
It was necessary for Jesus to issue this warning because His disciples had come out of a pharisaic atmosphere and they would meet the Pharisees again and again.
He combined the warning concerning the Pharisees with a warning concerning Herod.
The leaven of the Pharisees was bad theology, and the leaven of Herod was bad politics.
Christians need to be aware of unspiritual and irreligious teaching.
We also ned to be aware of ungodly blindness that insists on signs to show God and truth.
2. Take heed that no one deceives you about Christ.
Matthew 24:4-5 (AMP)
4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].
5 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many.
It is amazing how successful some deceivers have been through the ages with eschatological programs and teaching about the second coming of our Lord.
Many have claimed to be what Jesus is, the Christ, or Messiah.
Let us be aware of those that seek to lead us astray.
3. Take heed to God’s Word.
2 Peter 1:19 (AMP)
19 So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the morning star arises in your hearts.
The phrase “So we have the prophetic word made more certain.” Has reference to all the messianic prophecies.
The transfiguration scene confirmed the messianic prophecies and made clear the deity of Jesus Christ as God’s beloved Son.
What Peter saw with his eyes and heard with his ears does not equal the affirmation of the glory and deity of Christ that is presented in God’s Word.
Eyes and ears may deceive us, but there is no doubt of the truth and certainty of God’s Word.
We constantly need to focus our minds on God’s prophetic Word concerning out blesses Lord!
4. Take heed to what you hear about responsibility.
Mark 4:24-25 (AMP)
24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.
25 For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”
We need to take heed to what we hear and how we hear.
Some things should not be heard, for they blacken the mind and heart.
What is worth hearing should be heard rightly and heeded.
Let us hear attentively with understanding.
Let us rightly use words of truth.
To use the truth selfishly is to lose it.
To share the truth with others is to gain more truth.
For, as Jesus said in Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
5. Take heed to yourself.
Luke 21:34 AMP
34 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;
Jesus issued this blanket warning to His disciples and others who would follow them.
They should guard their hearts against being weighed down with over indulgence, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life.
They need to ward off anything that would prevent them from watching constantly for the Lord’s return.
Sinful living and earthly cares dim the sense of hope and expectancy for the Lord’s return, and this loss of expectancy leads to sinful living.
Conclusion.
Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:10, According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,
We must build on the right foundation.
We do not need to lay a new one, but only build on the foundation already laid.
Let us carry out the plans of the original architect.
Let us heed the original design.
Let us be what Christ wants us to be!
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
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