Giving Heed To......

How would you finish the above title?  Just what are you giving heed to in your life?  This is a question we should always ask as we constantly examine ourselves before the Lord.  Heeding is basically paying attention to, adhering to, or as one definition says it is holding your mind towards.  You can give heed to two things - God or satan.  Sometimes you can think you are heeding God but in reality you are heeding satan because you allowed your senses to become dull to right and wrong.  You stepped into the gray areas and remained there for so long that you no longer think the black areas are so black anymore.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Notice that it will be, or is now, common for some to depart the faith.  Somewhere along the way, they heeded the wrong voice.  They started inclining their ear to satan's minions and started to "see" things a different way.  They allowed themselves to let these spirits overtake their mind and thus, thoughts were formed and suddenly, they have an 'awakening' and depart the faith.  The instruments of satan, these seducing spirits, do well at speaking lies, but behind the curtain they are full of evil; hypocrisy.  Long ago, they got tired of hearing holiness preaching, the gospel became dull to them and then everything around them started looking ok, no longer gray areas, no longer erring on the side of safety - they worked their way to the opposite end of the spectrum and are now calling what is good, evil and what is evil, good.  Sadly, these false prophets, teachers, bloggers - are trying to take others down their path to "freedom."  Is it really freedom?

Since when is freedom a life full of hate rhetoric, bitter-laden slanders, gossip and endless questions?  Since you left the true freedom of Christ.  God gives His children this awesome love that can overlook a brother or sister's wrongdoings.  Somehow, what Billy Bob did 15 years ago - stays back there and you treat each other as nothing ever happened.  Sister Big-Moutha is now Sister Love-Mucha, because she realized that love covers a MULTITUDE of sin!  Love doesn't keep a list (or a blog!) full of wrongs others have done.  Love doesn't gather together to talk about a group of believers that are trying to live holy!  That ain't love!  What are you giving heed to?

I've been showed some awesome love over the years by the men and women of God in my church.  At times, they could have wrote up a blog on me and what I did wrong, but the love of God that was within these honorable men, rather sought to see my restoration.  Sure, we have had disagreements and I have differing opinions on certain things but the great part is - we agree on the Bible!  The doctrine is pure, the preaching is hot and the Spirit is in agreement that these men are true.  I'm in this with my faithful brothers and sisters till the end and I'm loyal to the goal; the mission; the cause; the saving of souls and lifting up of Jesus!  We are of one mind, one accord and strive to dwell together in unity.  Satan tries to destroy that at times, but those left standing are the ones who shall not be moved, they won't waver - they have been tried and tested and found faithful!

I remember a time in my life that I was giving heed to seducing spirits - yes, I've been there.  However, I realized it was because I was heeding lies out of the devil's trough and it marred my perception.  I started questioning everything, doubting others, and satan almost had me but God kept me!!  I looked out my window that day, and asked God if this church was real, true and was it His church?  I still get chills when I think of how the Holy Spirit filled that room at that moment and without the shadow of a doubt, I knew it was!  Many times, I've received this same confirmation in my times of struggle and God has always told me we are where he wants us.  I decided to give heed to GOD and men, who by their lives, have proved faithful and holy before the Lord.

Notice that Paul told Timothy what was to come and he exhorted him:

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. ~1 Timothy 4:6-7

I'm thankful that my Pastor does the above verses - he puts us in remembrance of these things, he guards the sheep and points us towards heeding Christ and for that I stand faithful today!