The Hard Heart – Part 1

The Hard Heart – Part 1
Matters of the Heart Series

This is a difficult topic to address, but one we must hear. I write this blog in all humility, admonishing myself as well.

It is out of pure grace God comes to us.  He is the:

Author: “…the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
Aggressor: Think back to when you decided to follow Jesus. He came after you through the Holy Spirit. He wooed you. He drew you. (John 6:44-45)
Architect:  Of our triumphs, our troubles, our trials, our life. It is only through Him that life makes any sense. (Romans 8:28-29) (Tweet this)
Absolute Authority: With power to do his will. “Not in your own strength for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you – energizing and creating in you the power and desire – both to will and to work for his good pleasure and satisfaction and delight” (Ph.2:13 Amp). It is only through Him we have the ability to do His will. 

 

Listen! God wants to speak to you. “Speak Lord – your servant hears.” He wants to make sense of your life. (Tweet this!)  When does God desire to speak to you? Today.“Today if you would hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8 NASB).

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today; lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:13 NASB)

God gives life to us in daily chunks–24 hour daily compartments. If we don’t listen today, we become a compilation of piled up days. (Tweet this!) We become a summary of unexpressed responses to what the Lord has said. And a succession of those layers of yesterdays of not listening results in a life of unexpressed praise, of unexpressed responses. Our hearts become hard.

“And todays turn into yesterdays

And yesterdays turn into walls

The walls turn into mountains

And we are destined for a fall.” (Kathy Wright Gipson)

God does not promise us tomorrow – respond today!

What is a hardened heart? How do we know if we have begun to develop a hardened heart? A hard heart is one that continually resists the convictions and warnings and wooings of the Holy Spirit. (Tweet this!) And I’m not talking about lost people here. A hard heart can develop in the life of a Christian. The Hebrews 3 passage is written to the church.

It is dangerous to sit under the preaching of the Word week after week and not respond in obedience.
It is dangerous to sit in your pew and sing and praise and worship.
It is dangerous to listen to tapes …
… or go to conferences …
… or Women of Faith …
… or retreats and seminars
… or prayer breakfasts
… and not be changed!

 

My husband used to get amused at people leaving church who would say, “Sure enjoyed your sermon, Pastor.” He was temped many times to say, “I really don’t care whether you ‘enjoyed’ it or not. What are you going to do about it?” Did they even have a clue? Do we realize we are in a spiritual battle? It’s warfare. It’s serious!

Can’t you picture guys in the military? “Well, I think I’ll do this, Sarge, but I don’t feel like doing that. So I believe I’ll just sit this particular exercise out for today, thank you very much.” Yeah, right! A soldier has signed up for the Army, and it is the daily discipline of following the commander’s orders which prepares him for battle. An undisciplined soldier is no good in the battle, and is even dangerous to his fellow soldiers.

Somehow, we’ve gotten the idea we have a supermarket type Christianity. We go down the aisles of our faith, if you will, and we think to ourselves, “I believe I’ll have some of that, but I believe I’ll pass on this for right now.  This is too bitter,” or “That’s too hard.” That’s not the way my Bible reads. My Bible reads, “Today if you would hear His voice harden not your hearts.”

Questions to Ponder

Do you desire a Spirit led and filled life? Start today. Harden not your heart.
Are you trying desperately to solve your problems yourself? Turn the reins of power over to Jesus today. (Tweet this!) Harden not your heart. 
Begin praising God for his deliverance in all circumstances today. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thess. 5:18). Praise him so that he will get the glory in every circumstance. Harden not your heart.
Is there some pet belief or tradition you are clinging to…even though God is pressing in? He’s calling you.
Is God wooing you, but you are afraid? Or even worse, your pride won’t release you. Lay it at His feet today.  Harden not your heart.

 

Questions for Discussion

Can anyone share a time in their life where the Lord helped them to let go of hardness in their heart and then they received a clear word from Him?
What are some things you do in your life that you have found keep your heart soft towards the Lord?

 

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