HARDENED HEARTS

GOD’S Bob April 6, 2021

Hebrews 3: 7-19

The title today is not talking about the hardening of our heart and arteries when we do not take good care of ourselves. That, too, is an important warning. The hardened heart in question today is a warning about unbelief and letting that harden your spiritual heart.

Who amongst has heard the good news and ignored it and even rebelled against it? I must admit I had reached a point in my past where I let anger and my own rebellion harden my heart. Today’s passage is a warning to not let our hearts be hardened with rebellion.

God speaks to everyone, but it is how we respond to His voice that will determine the condition of our hearts. Some hear the Lord’s voice and are motivated to pursue a deeper and more obedient relationship with the Father. However, some will resist or refuse Him. Each time this happens their heart becomes less responsive and will harden. Let me tell you if you let it get to that condition, it is hard to hear the Lord. He will continue to call on you, but your hardened heart will dull its impact. I had let my heart get hardened. It was difficult to come back in that condition. But God is the God of All Things and All Ways and there is nothing that He cannot do.

The problem with the condition of hardening hearts due to being less responsiveness to the call is that it happens so slowly we do not recognize that it is happening.

How do you/we respond to the Holy Spirit when it speaks to us through Scripture or some other means? Here are some warning signs of the hardening of our hearts:

· INSENSITIVITY TO WHAT GOD SAYS

· RESISTANCE TO HIS AUTHORITY

· BLAMING HIM FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES WRONG IN OUR LIFE

· DISOBEDIENCE TO HIS INSTRUCTION

· JUSTIFYING OUR SINFUL CONDUCT

· REJECTION OF REPROOF FROM OTHERS

· FOCUSING ON WORLDLY THINGS

· LITTLE TO NO INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS

· NO DEVOTION TIME—BIBLE READING, STUDY, AND PRAYER

· AVOIDANCE OF OTHER BELIEVERS—NO GATHERING FOR WORSHIP, ETC.

It is never too late if you realize you are in some of these situations.

Ask God to mold your heart. ISAIAH 64: 8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand,” Remember one of God’s specialties is making all things new. Remember the prodigal son story. That is God. He delights in our turning back to Him!