Take heed what ye hear
William MacDonald warns believers to guard their minds and ears against false, subversive, impure, and worthless influences, emphasizing the importance of saturating oneself with the Word of God.
In this teaching sermon, William MacDonald exhorts believers to be vigilant about the influences they allow into their minds and hearts. He highlights the dangers of false doctrines, subversive teachings, and impure content, urging Christians to guard their ears and saturate themselves with the Word of God. Through practical wisdom and biblical insight, MacDonald encourages a life transformed by Scripture and separated from worldly pollution.
Text
“Take heed what ye hear.” (Mk. 4:24)
The Lord Jesus cautions us to be careful what we hear. We are responsible to control what enters through the eargate, and equally responsible to put what we do hear to proper use.
We should not listen to what is blatantly false. The cults are spewing out their propaganda in unprecedented volume. They are always looking for someone who is willing to listen. John says we should not receive cultists into our house or even greet them. They are against Christ.
We should not listen to what is deceitfully subversive. Young people in colleges, universities and seminaries are often subjected to a daily barrage of doubts and denials concerning the Word of God. They hear the miracles explained away, the Lord Jesus condemned with faint praise and the plain meaning of Scripture watered down. It is impossible to sit under subversive teaching and not be affected by it. Even if the student’s faith is not destroyed, his mind is defiled. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?” (Prov. 6:27, 28 NASB). The obvious answer is “No.”
We should not listen to what is impure or suggestive. The worst form of pollution in today’s society is mind pollution. The one word that describes most newspapers, magazines, books, radio and TV programs, movies and human conversations is filth. Through constant exposure to this, the Christian is in danger of losing his sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. And that is not the only danger! When we receive vile and suggestive stories in our minds, they have a way of coming back to haunt us during our most holy moments.
We should not fill our minds with things that are worthless or trifling. Life is too short and the task too urgent for that. “All must be earnest in a world like ours.”
Positively, we should be careful to hear the Word of God. The more we saturate our minds with the Word of God and obey its sacred precepts, the more we will think God’s thoughts after Him, the more we will be transformed into the image of Christ, and the more we will be separated from the moral pollution of our environment.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Responsibility to Guard What We Hear
- Control what enters through the eargate
- Avoid listening to blatantly false teachings
- Reject cult propaganda and false doctrines
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II. The Danger of Subversive and Impure Influences
- Beware of doubts and denials in academic settings
- Recognize the defiling effect of subversive teaching
- Avoid impure and suggestive content that pollutes the mind
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III. The Futility of Worthless and Trifling Content
- Life is too short for trivial distractions
- Urgency to focus on eternal matters
- Be earnest in a challenging world
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IV. The Positive Call to Hear and Obey God's Word
- Saturate the mind with Scripture
- Obey sacred precepts for transformation
- Be separated from moral pollution
Key Quotes
“The Lord Jesus cautions us to be careful what we hear.” — William MacDonald
“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?” — William MacDonald
“The more we saturate our minds with the Word of God and obey its sacred precepts, the more we will think God’s thoughts after Him.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Be intentional about what you listen to and avoid sources that contradict biblical truth.
- Regularly immerse yourself in Scripture to renew your mind and resist worldly influences.
- Reject impure and trivial content that can defile your thoughts and hinder spiritual growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should Christians be careful about what they listen to?
Because what we hear influences our thoughts, beliefs, and spiritual health, making it essential to avoid false, subversive, or impure content.
What dangers come from listening to subversive teaching?
Subversive teaching can defile the mind, weaken faith, and distort the truth of Scripture.
How does impure content affect a believer?
Impure content pollutes the mind and can haunt believers even during their most holy moments.
What is the positive alternative to harmful listening habits?
To saturate the mind with the Word of God and obey its teachings for spiritual transformation.
What does 'take heed what ye hear' mean practically?
It means actively controlling what we allow into our minds and ensuring it aligns with God's truth.