Hardening Of The Heart - Charles Banna
Visit our website for more information: www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker discusses the natural human tendency toward sin and the hardening of the heart, tracing this issue from the Fall in Genesis to the current state of mankind. He emphasizes that while God created humanity upright, sin has led people to devise ways to dishonor Him. The core message is that the heart is inherently deceitful and desperately wicked, requiring God's intervention, which is demonstrated by the contrast between those who harden their hearts and those who respond to the truth.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God created man upright, but man sought devices to sinSolomon observes at the end of his life that God made humanity upright like Himself, but people fell into disobedience and invented ways to sin.Ecclesiastes 7:29
Wickedness rampant in mankindBy Genesis chapter six, sixteen hundred years after creation, the wickedness of man was great and every intent of the heart's thoughts was only evil continually.Genesis 6:5
The human heart is deceitful and desperately wickedJeremiah declares that the human heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately wicked, a condition fully known and searched by God.
Two types of responses to the preached wordWhen Paul preached in Ephesus, some people became hardened and disobedient while others had their hearts melted in repentance, much like sunlight can harden clay or melt butter.
Hardening of the heart is a gradual processJust like physical atherosclerosis in the arteries, spiritual hardening happens gradually over time unless a person humbles themselves before the Lord and seeks His treatment.
Do not harden your hearts todaySince today is the only day we have, believers are warned not to repeat the unbelief of the Israelites in the wilderness who provoked God and failed to enter the promised land.
Take care against an evil, unbelieving heartBelievers are exhorted to watch out lest an evil, unbelieving heart causes them to fall away from the living God, encouraging one another daily against the deceitfulness of sin.Hebrews 3:12–13
Drawing near with a sincere heart and full assuranceScripture calls believers to draw near to God with sincere hearts and clean consciences, echoing the urgent call to repent preached by Jesus and John the Baptist.
The disciples struggled with hardness of heart and unbeliefEven Jesus's own disciples frequently displayed unbelief and hardness of heart, failing to fully grasp His teachings about suffering and even doubting reports of His resurrection.
Watch over your heart with all diligenceKing Solomon advises watching over the heart because from it flow the springs of life, and thoughts determine a person's destiny.Proverbs 4:23
Pharaoh's hardened heart and God's judgmentAfter Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart against God's commands through Moses, God eventually began hardening his heart in judgment, serving as a warning against ignoring God's voice.
A deluding influence for those who reject the truthPaul warns that those who do not receive the love of the truth will face a deluding influence from God, leading them to believe what is false.
God promises to remove the heart of stoneGod promises through Ezekiel to take away the stony heart from His people and give them a new heart of flesh and a new spirit so they can walk in His statutes.Ezekiel 11:19
Take heed how you listen and obey todayBelievers are urged to examine themselves, take heed of how they listen to God's word, and respond with a soft heart rather than a religious routine.
