Abundant Warnings About A Hardened Heart Mark 6:52 – did not understand because heart hardened Mark 8:17 – “Do you not perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?” John 12:40 – he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts Acts 19:9 – when some were hardened they spoke evil of the way

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.' 11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' " 12 Beware, 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 "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:7-15

X The Bible Heart

Men Have Strange Ideas About Hardening The Heart “Already hardened – born that way” Text (Heb. 3) was a warning to those already born Ezek. 18:4, 20 – not bear sin of father “God just arbitrarily hardens one’s heart” Acts 10:34 – God is no respecter of persons Ezek. 33:11 – God has no pleasure in death of wicked “Surroundings, environment hardens the heart” Idea of blaming everyone but self Suggests that we have no choice Men like Joseph, Daniel, and Paul had bad surroundings How would one overcome?

The Hardening of the Heart

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart of the Heart The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? God (Exo. 4:21; 7:3, 13; 9:12; 10:20, 27)) Magicians (Exo. 7:22) Pharaoh himself (Exo. 8:15, 32; 9:34) The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? How Did God Do His Part? Made demands contrary to what Pharaoh wanted to do Demand (“Let my people go”) and the plagues are all God did The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? How Did God Do His Part? What Did Magicians Do? Tried to duplicate the miracles of Moses and Aaron but couldn’t (Exo. 7:22; 8:18) Effect: Gave Pharaoh the impression that they had as much power… The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? How Did God Do His Part? What Did Magicians Do? What Did Pharaoh Do? Looked to his own interest, own will, prominence, material progress Yielded to pride, self will, prestige, and power Had he been willing to do God’s will – effect would have been different. The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? God (Exo. 4:21; 7:3, 13) Magicians (Exo. 7:22) Pharaoh himself (Exo. 8:15, 32) By the demands By their deception By his stubborn will

The Hardening of the Heart The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart The Hardening of Our Heart

The Hardening of Our Heart Possible For Any of Us to Have Hardened Heart: Heb. 3:12-13 1 Tim. 4:1-2 The Hardening of Our Heart

The Hardening of Our Heart Possible For Any of Us to Have Hardened Heart: The Demands Have the Same effect Commands are for our good (Deut. 6:24) Yet may be contrary to my desires, pride, vanity, selfishness, passions, etc. (Acts 24:25; Mk 8:34) Attitude is determining factor: If heart is set on self will, fleshly desires, own pleasure, etc. – Heart will be hardened! Gospel can harden or soften 2 Cor. 2:16 Sun hardens clay / softens wax The Hardening of Our Heart

The Hardening of Our Heart Possible For Any of Us to Have Hardened Heart: The Demands Have the Same effect Magicians Today Magicians deceived Pharaoh into thinking Moses & Aaron were not of God False teachers today deceive (1 Jno. 4:1-6) Mislead Confuse Create prejudice Result: hearts are hardened to the truth! The Hardening of Our Heart

The Hardening of the Heart The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart The Hardening of Our Heart Evidence of a Hardened Heart

Evidence of a Hardened Heart Hearing is Dull Matt. 13:15 Acts 28:27 – Paul’s preaching fell on deaf ears Not because they could not hear Because they would not hear Hardened by the message preached When hear some principle over and over … doesn’t affect you Evidence of a Hardened Heart

Evidence of a Hardened Heart Hearing is Dull Eyes are Blinded Matt. 15:14 – blind leaders of the blind John 12:40 – blinded their eyes and hardened Rom. 11:7 – elect obtained & rest blinded Not that cannot see – but will not see! Evidence of a Hardened Heart

Evidence of a Hardened Heart Hearing is Dull Eyes are Blinded Conscience is Numb 1 Tim. 4:2 – conscience seared Not bothered by unheeded passages When one sees he is not right and thinks: “I know, but so are others…” Evidence of a Hardened Heart

The Hardening of the Heart The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart The Hardening of Our Heart Evidence of a Hardened Heart Preventing a Hardened Heart

Preventing a Hardened Heart Use Daily Reminder Heb. 3:13 – exhort daily Acts 17:11 – search scriptures daily Preventing a Hardened Heart

Preventing a Hardened Heart Use Daily Reminder Beware of Deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3:13 – hardened by deceitfulness of sin Sin is misleading Appears as fun, harmless & even good Hides its consequences Can convince ourselves (Gal. 6:3) Preventing a Hardened Heart

Preventing a Hardened Heart Use Daily Reminder Beware of Deceitfulness of Sin Beware of Drifting Departure comes gradual (Heb. 2:1) Could I be changing – even slightly? See it in my attitudes? See it in my attendance? See it in my study? See it in my praying? See it in my worship? Preventing a Hardened Heart

Preventing a Hardened Heart Use Daily Reminder Beware of Deceitfulness of Sin Beware of Drifting Practice Self Examination 2 Cor. 13:5 – to see if are in the faith Jas. 1:22-ff – look in the mirror to see what changes need to be made Preventing a Hardened Heart

The Hardening of the Heart The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart The Hardening of Our Heart Evidence of a Hardened Heart Preventing a Hardened Heart