1 Taking Heed Hebrews 3:12, 13 1 Corinthians 10: 12, 13 2 Hebrews 3:12, 13 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Taking Heed 3 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13 • 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. • 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Taking Heed 4 Introduction • Divine warnings to “take heed” in many verses of the Bible ▫ This phrase found 55 times in the KJV • In these two verses we have warning statements ▫ To not develop an evil, unbelieving heart that results in departure from God ▫ To be on guard to not sin when tempted • What are some things we need to heed so we can avoid sin, error and departure from God? Taking Heed 5 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About Satan • He seeks to devour Christians ▫ 1 Peter 5:8, 9 • He seeks to deceive us like he did Eve ▫ 2 Corinthians 11:3 • He seeks to blind people from seeing the truth ▫ 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 Taking Heed 6 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About False Prophets • They are wolves in sheep’s clothing ▫ Matthew 7:15-20 • They give false appearances as teachers of truth ▫ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 • Their teaching is destructive ▫ 2 Peter 2:1-3 • There are many in the world presently ▫ 1 John 4:1 • Some who were once teachers of truth have departed from the faith ▫ Acts 20:29-31 Taking Heed 7 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About False Teaching • Results in vain worship ▫ Matthew 15:8, 9 • Results in disobedience to God ▫ Ephesians 5:6 • Causes one to follow empty traditions ▫ Colossians 2:8 • Leads to error, wickedness and falling from God ▫ 2 Peter 3:17 Taking Heed 8 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About Deception • Caused by failure to warn brethren to mark and avoid ▫ Romans 16:17, 18 • Associating with those who are evil ▫ 1 Corinthians 15:33 • Not considering the consequences of our actions ▫ Galatians 6:7, 8 • Rejecting Divine declarations of unrighteousness ▫ 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 • By not being a hearer and doer of the word ▫ James 1:22-26 Taking Heed 9 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About Covetousness • Don’t rely on the abundance of possessions ▫ Luke 12:15-21 • Earthly riches can be a snare and deceive ▫ 1 Timothy 6:6-12 • A hindrance to entering the kingdom of God ▫ Ephesians 5:5 • A character trait Christians are to mortify ▫ Colossians 3:5 Taking Heed 10 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About Self • Not to think highly of self ▫ Romans 12:3 • Be forgiving of those who repent ▫ Luke 17:3, 4 • Give heed to continue in the doctrine of Christ ▫ 1 Timothy 4:16 Taking Heed 11 Take Heed To God’s Warnings… About Apostasy • Don’t think you cannot fall ▫ 1 Corinthians 10:12 • Use care not to depart from God ▫ Hebrews 3:12 • Heed the examples of those who have fallen ▫ Hebrews 4:11; 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Taking Heed 12 Heed God’s Warnings about… • Satan • False Prophets • False Teaching • Deception • Covetousness • Self • Apostasy Taking Heed 13 “Take Heed” • “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” ▫ 1 Corinthians 10:12 • “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” ▫ Hebrews 3:12 Taking Heed