knowing jesuso.b5z.net/i/u/10137465/f/hardness_of_heart.pdf · them, "because of your hardness of...

KNOWING JESUS “HARDNESS OF HEART”

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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3/2/2016

copyright@PLM TEACHINGS

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees

3/2/2016 copyright@PLM TEACHINGS

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Because of your hardness of heart………..

Why Is This Message Important?

Jesus said in Luke 4:18, that he was anointed to minister to the broken

hearted

However, many people are turned away from God and His Word due to

hardness of heart

Hardness of heart is related to dullness of hearing and volitional ignorance

How do we minister to someone who by reason of experiences, rejection,

rebellion, etc. has hardened their heart to receive the gospel?

How do recognize that someone has hardened their heart against God?

We are living in a time where many have become insensitive and hardened

and they need to experience the life and goodness of God in their lives


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Scripture

Matthew 19:7-9:They said* to Him, "Why then did Moses command to

give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?“ 8 He said* to

them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to

divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality,

and marries another woman commits adultery.“

The Pharisees were tempting Jesus – trying to trap Jesus (deceit)

Moses permitted divorce to protect the wives from abuse

However, this was not God’s original purpose or design

Hardness of Hearts – stubbornness of the people

God didn’t command divorce, but it was permitted


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http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=mt 19:8&t1=en_nas&sr=1http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=mt 19:9&t1=en_nas&sr=1

Points of Emphasis

What can we learn from Jesus’ encounter

with the Pharisees?

Not everyone wants to receive the truth

Some will challenge you, tempt you, in an

attempt to mislead you or distract you

Hardness of Heart is something that is

recognized by God

Yeah the same one you always claims, “knows

your heart”

While God allowed some things, it doesn’t

mean that it is His perfect will

We are still required to speak the truth

whether they believe or receive you or not


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I Don’t Want to Hear That!

Point of Emphasis

The Pharisees were so set in their way of

thinking that they were not open to the

teachings of Christ.

The Pharisees were so stubborn and they

had hardened their heart so much that their

false belief about Christ did not change

even when they witnessed Jesus perform

miracles before their eyes. They were

imprisoned by unbelief.

We are living in a culture that wants to

invent a Christ they can understand and not

seek to have him revealed


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Scriptures: Hindered Understanding

Mark 3:5 - And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being

grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine

hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus did not express hatred for men, but the hatred over the effects of sin over

men lives

The Pharisees were so focused on their religion that they couldn’t understand or

rejoice over the power of God healing someone

Mark 6:52 - For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart

was hardened.

Their minds were too dulled to perceive the miracle – Jesus just fed five thousand

and they couldn’t believe that he could walk on water too


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A Hardened Heart Hinders

Matthew 13:15 - For this people's heart is waxed gross, and

their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;

lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be

converted, and I should heal them.


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• The enemy (satan) knows that if anyone comes into the knowledge of the truth, perceive it, trust and obey the truth, they can experience healing, wholeness, blessings as they come to understand their purpose and God’s Will for their lives

• This is why satan tries to harden our hearts through deceitfulness, fear, sin, and a myriad of cunning devices

• A hardened heart is a spiritual block to healing (i.e. Naaman)

What is the Heart of Man?

The soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions,

desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours, and intelligence

The center and seat of spiritual life. The heart is the core of our being, and

the Bible sets high importance on keeping our hearts pure: “Above all else,

guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

The human heart, in its natural condition, is evil, treacherous and deceitful.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond

cure. Who can understand it?” In other words, the Fall has affected us at the

deepest level; our mind, emotions and desires have been tainted by sin—

and we are blind to just how pervasive the problem is. (Mark 7:21-23)


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What is a Hardened Heart?

Unresponsiveness to the mind and will of God

Intentional – Some people harden their heart to the truth in order to pursue

a sin, action, or belief that they consider is their right or need

Example: Yoga

Matthew 19:8 - He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts

suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Linked to rejection and rebellion towards God Word

Unintentional – Due to trials, hurts, abuses, people have hardened their

hearts to prevent healing, restoration

Without spiritual influence – In this state the heart will not yield to the truth

and prevents the mind from perceiving – made unresponsive and insensible

God turned men over to a reprobate mind (Romans1:28); God hardened Pharaoh’s

heart removing His constraining influence (Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:13) (Acts 20:22)


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Example: Pharaoh

Exodus 8:15 - But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he

hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had

said.

Just as Pharaoh had closed his heart and ignored God, now Pharaoh was

punished by losing the sensitivity of his heart, which he had hardened

himself

Scholars believe that the Lord was not making Pharaoh do evil, but allowing

him to do evil

Without God's Spirit, man's heart is a stony heart, where it's hardened to

God.

Ezekiel 11:19: "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you;

and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:"


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Scripture

Hebrews 3:12,13: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an

evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort

one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be

hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:8: “Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day

of temptation in the wilderness:”

Harden not your hearts - Do not render the heart insensible to the divine

voice and admonition. A hard heart is that where the conscience is seared

and insensible by one’s own volition


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http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=heb 3:13&t1=en_kjv&sr=1

Take Heed: Hebrews 3:12

Take heed brethren – We need to guard our heart to prevent

hardness

An evil heart of unbelief – A hardened heart is linked to unbelief –

if you can’t receive from God, you can’t believe God

In departing from the living God – A hardened heart leads one

away from God; one becomes alienated from God


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Ephesians 4:18 - Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: • This is willful ignorance refusing to see and experience

the goodness of God

Not Me! It’s Those Sinners!

You may say, “I’m a believer, blood-washed,

saved, and sanctified! My heart is always open

towards God”

Question: “Have you ever had something revealed to

you in the scriptures or by the Spirit of God and you

chose to ignore it or refuse to accept as true?”

Simpler yet: “Have you ever disobeyed God’s

Word?”

“Have you ever experienced bitterness, anger or

unforgiveness and you have refused to forgive that

person?” or

Been so broken that built up a wall around your heart

and it became difficult to hear from God or read His

Word 3/2/2016 copyright@PLM TEACHINGS

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Hardened Heart - Causes

Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially continual and unrepentant sin.

A hardened heart is closely linked to a seared conscience

1 Timothy 4:2 - Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

This creates layers of unbelief, shrouded in spiritual blindness & deafness, misunderstanding and

misconceptions of God’s Word.

Failed Expectations leading to a broken heart, later to a hardened heart

Hearts can also become hardened when we suffer setbacks and disappointments in life. That is

why God has given the Holy Spirit to us (Romans 5:3-5)

Pride and arrogance

The “pride of your heart has deceived you . . . you who say to yourself, ‘who can bring me

down to the ground’ . . . I will bring you down declares the LORD” (Obadiah 1:3)

Rejection of God’s Word, leading to Rebellion

Hebrews 3:15 - Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear

it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and

irritated and embittered God against them]. (Amplified)


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Hardened Heart - Characteristics

Insensitive and unappreciative to love of Christ and His love

for us

Unbelief and lack of confidence refusing to yield in faith

Spiritual blindness and self-deception

Self-justifying spirit and Selfishness

Absence of a loving and compassionate spirit

Pursuing evil things even though they know it is wrong and it

yields to them negative results

Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They

always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My

ways.’” (Hebrews 3:10)

When a believer ignores God’s voice, then they always go

astray in their heart. This is without exception.

Keeps one thinking in the natural realm


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Other Evidence

One of the primary ways of telling if somebody’s heart is

hardened is through the following:

Are they open and teachable in relation to the TRUTH of God’s word?

Are they ONLY focused on their OWN opinion which is NOT founded on

God’s word

Are they Repentant? Do they seek God’s love and forgiveness?

Are they deceived by sin or do they continue to pursue the same wrong

choices?

Is it difficult from them to understand and perceive what God says and

does, especially in the scriptures?

Do they appear indifferent to the Word of God?


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Hardening Process of Sin


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Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially continual and unrepentant

sin. We need to confess our sins (1st John

1:9)

If we don’t confess our sins, they have a cumulative and desensitizing effect on the conscience, making it difficult to even distinguish right from wrong.

1st Timothy 4:2

• Anger • Bitterness • Disappointments • Being Abused • Unbelief • Deceptions Seared

• Spiritual Insensitivity • No Constraining Influence

Results • Separation From God • Rebellion • Incapacitation • Tossed To and Fro by Doctrine

Healing a Hardened Heart

So, what then is the antidote for a heart condition such as this?

Recognize the effect that this spiritual disease has on us.

Search Your Heart: Yield to the Spirit of God who will reveal to you your

heart’s condition

“Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:1-4)

Renounce your disobedience and Repent

By faith receive God’s Spirit allowing Him to heal and recover you

Hide God’s Word in your heart

Psalms 119:9-11:How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and

keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

10 With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning

for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from

Your commandments. 11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin

against You.

God can heal any heart once we recognize our disobedience and repent of our sins. But true repentance is more than simply a resolute feeling

After repenting of our sins, hard hearts begin to be cured when we study God’s Word. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living

according to your word. I seek you with all my heart. . . . I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9–

11). The


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http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=ps 119:10&t1=en_amp&sr=1http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=ps 119:11&t1=en_amp&sr=1http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps 119.9%E2%80%9311http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps 119.9%E2%80%9311http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps 119.9%E2%80%9311

Possessing a Heart of Flesh

Ezekiel 36:26,27 - A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put

within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give

you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to

walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you,.... A "new heart"

and a "new spirit" are one and the same; that is, a renewed one; renewed by the Spirit

and grace of God; in which a new principle of life is put; new light is infused; a new

will, filled with new purposes and resolutions; where new affections are placed, and

new desires are formed (Gill’s Expository).

I will take away the stony heart - this is a heart hardened by sin, and confirmed in

it; destitute of spiritual life and motion; senseless and stupid, stubborn and inflexible

And I will give you a heart of flesh - soft and tender, through the love and fear of

God; a spiritual and sanctified heart; submissive to the will of God;


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My Spirit Within You

The Holy Spirit will cause us to walk in His statues and keep

God’s judgments with a desire to do them

Being constrained by the love of God; influenced by the grace

of Christ; and strengthened by the blessed Spirit, we are able

to walk and live victoriously in Christ


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Ministering to the Harden Heart

Speak the Truth in Love

Pray earnestly for them

Exercise patience, temperance, and diligence

Encourage them in the Lord with the Word of God

Determine the root of their affliction

Be prepared for spiritual warfare

Love them unconditionally –”Love Never Fails”


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Prayer

Father, In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I come to you and I take

responsibility and I repent of those areas that I allowed my heart to become

hardened towards you because of the following:

Bitterness Unforgiveness Anger Insensitivity

Deception Failed Expectations Pride Arrogance

Complacency Compromise Traditions of Men Unbelief

Lord, I thank you for the spirit of wisdom in the knowledge of you in

accordance with Ephesians 1:17 and that my eyes are enlightened to know the

hope of your calling and all that is available to me through Christ Jesus.

Continue to search my heart O Lord and reveal your will and purpose to me

daily. I rejoice that my heart is right before you. Thank you for a heart of

flesh and not stone so that I may know your Word and desire to do it.


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Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and

organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life

changing principles for spiritual growth and development.

If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.

If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these

kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website

at www.practicallivingministry.org

If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your

church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian

culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at

[email protected]

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