Brian Yeager's Outlines
Harden Not Your Heart

Introduction:

The heart of man (not the organ) is the place in which the word of God works Luke 8:4-15. The word of God works and reveals the intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12-13 "12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

I. What is a hardened heart?

A. One that does not see John 12:37-40 "37. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." Christ quoted from Isaiah 6:8-10. See also- Matthew 13:14-16"14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

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. 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."

1. It is with the heart that man believes Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." a. Our hearts can be far from Christ Matthew 15:7-9 "7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 2. It is the heart of man that thinks (as Christ points out here) Matthew 9:4 "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" a. Good or bad Matthew 12:35" A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

b. Matthew 15:18-19"18. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."

 3. It is from the heart man speaks Matthew 12:34 "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

4. Forgiveness is from the heart Matthew 18:35 "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

5. It is with our hearts that we reason Mark 2:6 "But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts."

6. It is with the heart that man purposes II Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

7. It is with the heart we can condemn ourselves I John 3:21 "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."

8. It is with the heart that man desires Psalms 10:3 "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth."

9. It is with the heart that man sorrows Psalms 13:2 "How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?"

a. Sorrow leads to repentance II Corinthians 7:9-10 "9. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 10. The heart loves I Timothy 1:5"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." a. It is love the provides obedience John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." B. All things that the heart does points to the ultimate -OBEYING- Romans 6:17 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

C. All of our heart should be given to God Mark 12:28-30 "28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

D. Where our treasures are there is our hearts Matthew 6:19-21 "19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

E. The actions of man and his heart can differ Psalms 55:21 "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords."

1. But God knows the truth Psalms 69:5 "O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee." II. An Inspired Request "Harden Not Your Hearts" A. Hebrews 3:8-9;15"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years." "15. While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." 1. These words are the words of the Psalmist Psalms 95:7-11 "7. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8. Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11. Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest." a. Israel provoked God Exodus 17:1-7

(Note: This is not the same place in which Moses sinned and caused himself not to enter the promise land when he was told to speak (not strike) to the rock Numbers 20:1-13).

 B. There is a time in which man was completely turned from God Genesis 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." 1. They paid the price Genesis 6:7 "And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." III. The Word of God can do wonders for the heart of man A. Can make a heart pure I Peter 1:22-23 " 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

B. It can make the heart burn Jeremiah 20:9 "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

C. It brings joy to the heart Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts."

D. It can produce fruit in our hearts if our hearts are good and honest Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

 Conclusion:

We should want to be as the Psalmist Psalms 51:9-10 "9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

The only way to be clean is to be washed in the blood Revelation 1:5 which occurs in baptism Acts 22:16.

Copyright 2001 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.

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