THE BEMA SEAT: PREY VS. PRAY! TAKE HEED!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
CAN WE HEAR GOD’S SPIRIT WARNING THE CHURCH AGAINST UNBELIEF AND ABUSING GOD’S GRACE --- WE CAN’T QUIT OR LOOK BACK.
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.
TAKE: to lay hold of, remove, to get in your hands, possess power or control.
HEED: to see, to look into, beware, pay attention, take care,
TAKE HEED: watchful, be careful, a serious warning, potential danger, pay close attention, consider carefully, take notice,
PREY VS PRAY: WE ARE IN AN ALL OUT WAR! WE MUST GET READY AND STAY READY! BEING READY MEANS WE HAVE TO GAIN SELF-CONTROL TO WATCH AND PRAY.
PREY: hunted, victim, hostile, to bring harm to body or mind.
PRAY: to connect, to build relationship with God, to communicate with God, intercession, give thanks, supplication, guidance,
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Faith must be an ACTION WORD. Passive faith accomplishes little. We know the story of the 10 virgins from Matthew 25. Will we TAKE HEED?
THE WORDS TAKE HEED ARE FOUND AT LEAST 80 TIMES IN THE BIBLE. WE ARE FACING THE BEMA SEAT OF GOD.
What am I teaching others? We must guard our eyes, our hearts and our minds.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
WE MUST HAVE SELF-EVALUATION AS OUR GROWTH PATTERNS. DO WE STAY THE SAME? WHY DOES PAUL WRITE SOME NOTES TO ARCHIPPUS? TAKE HEED, MY FRIEND, WE MUST BE FINISHERS.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Archippus was Paul’s friend. Paul was concerned that Archippus was going to lose his zeal for his calling. Paul wanted to fan the flame.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Let us take heed of what would bring spiritual growth to our families, churches and nation.
*** “WE HAVE A PHENOMENON IN THE CHURCH TODAY WHICH I CALL THE “ETERNAL BABYHOOD OF THE BELIEVER. ”
By Juan Carlos Orte
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WHO, AFTER YEARS OF HEARING MESSAGES,
ARE JUST THE SAME. THEY CONTINUALLY NEED A MINISTER TO KEEP AFTER THEM,
CHANGING THEIR DIAPERS, PUTTING TALCUM ON THEM AND CHECKING THAT THEIR MILK ISN’T TOO HOT.
THE CHURCH SEEMS MORE LIKE A HOSPITAL THAN AN ARMY.
SOMETIMES, WE FOOL OURSELVES BECAUSE WE GROW NUMERICALLY.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS GROWTH.
BUT TO GROW IN NUMBER ALONE IS NOT NECESSARILY SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
CEMETARIES ALSO GROW NUMERICALLY.
TO HAVE 100 PEOPLE WITHOUT LOVE THEN 200 PEOPLE WITHOUT LOVE IS JUST TO GET FAT.
Are we fighting and bickering with our family and our friends? DO NOT STRIVE RATHER PRAISE AND EDIFY. Are we encouragers? Do we lift up the arms that hang down?
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WE MUST TAKE HEED TO OURSELVES, MY FRIEND. WE NEED TO DIG DEEP WELLS OF DOCTRINE THAT WILL SUSTAIN US THROUGH STORMS AND DROUGHTS.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
TAKE HEED OF SPIRITUAL CANNIBALISM: (THE PRACTICE OF DEVOURING YOUR OWN KIND.)
As people we tend to judge, criticize and demean others. Then we LOSE LOVE AND RESPECT from our own.
Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
** Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is probably the most fun.
To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past,
To roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come,
To savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain that you are giving back
--- In many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that you are wolfing down yourself.
The skeleton at the feast is you. (Unknown)
TAKE HEED: ARE WE BUILDING ON WEAK FOUNDATIONS? WE SHALL FACE THE BEMA SEAT OF GOD…TAKE HEED ON WHAT KIND OF FOUNDATION YOU BUILD UPON…
Our daily choices will define if what we are building will stand the TEST OF TIME. SAND VS STONE…
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT DESIRE TO DECEIVE YOU AND DESTROY ANY HOPE IN ETERNITY.
Deceit?
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you.
TAKE HEED TO WHAT YOU LISTEN? YOUR EARS ARE LIKE A RADIO STATION? YOUR EARS ARE NOT GARBAGE CANS.
With the Computers, Facebook, YouTube, TV, Radio’s we must guard and take heed to what we listen.
Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
CONCLUSION: CAN WE HEAR GOD’S SPIRIT WARNING THE CHURCH AGAINST UNBELIEF AND ABUSING GOD’S GRACE --- WE CAN’T QUIT OR LOOK BACK. IN THE BIBLE TO TAKE HEED POINTS TO URGENCY. IT MEANS PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION, BE VERY CAUTIOUS, BE DILIGENT . God wants us to pay attention to his word. We as believers must guard our minds and hearts to the teachings of the Bible to not be lead astray and avoid sin at all cost. ARE WE TAKING HEED TO OUR PERSONAL ATTITUDES? REFUSE TO BE HIGH MINDED. PRIDE IS A GREAT DANGER AREA FOR HUMANITY.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Revelation 6 warns us: THE HORSES ARE COMING in a logical pattern. The White Horse. (Peace) The Red Horse (War). The Black Horse. (Famines) The Pale Horse. (Death) --- take heed, be ready.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I would love to hear from you.
