Preventing a Hard Heart

Hebrews Series- Fellowship Baptist Church

Passage:           Hebrews 3:12-13

Theme: Preventing a Hard Heart

Proposition:      Be Heart Healthy

Introduction:

We have spent time studying this passage and establishing a central truth taught here and in other New Testament passages—that true believers, true Christians will be people who pursue a direction of faith and obedience to God.

We also saw the reverse of this truth—that those who do not hold firm to their faith, those who do not pursue obedience, were never true believers in the first place.  They were professors, but not possessors.

Today I want to focus your attention on two key verses in the middle of the passage we have been looking at.  They are very practical statements, helping us to understand that each of us plays a role in preventing hardness of hearts.

Hebrews 3:12-13 "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

What we find here is a two-fold role that each of us plays in the prevention of hard hearts among those who call themselves Christians.  It is almost like the relationship between a doctor and the patient.  One has a responsibility to identify problems and the other has a responsibility to follow through on the instruction and advice.

With this in mind, I would like for us to hear the instruction we are being given here today.

Our Responsibility as a Patient

Before we go any further, I want to emphasize something one more time.  In the context of this passage, the problem of a hard heart is not the problem of a true believer.  What our writer wants us to know is that there are many who claim to be believers, who claim to be Christians, who are self deceived.  We have other examples of this such as:

            The parable of the wheat and the tares

            The vine and the branches

            The spirit of antichrist in 1 John

Listen to the Warning – “take care”

Simply put, we must be aware of the danger of self deception

As humans, we are prone to excuse our behavior, attitudes, or actions –

I wouldn’t have said it if they hadn’t . . .

I wouldn’t have thought that if . . .

I wouldn’t have been impatient if . . .

I wouldn’t have yelled if . . .

I can’t forgive them because . . .

I can’t love them because . . .

I’m only human!

                        As humans we are prone to tolerate sin

It, combined with our deceitful heart, causes us to be blinded to truth.  It poisons us, controls us, and convinces us that we can embrace it and be alright. 

            You’re not perfect either!

            It’s not like I committed murder!

            Everybody lies once in a while.

But I love them, how can it be wrong if we are so much in love?

How can you tell me that God says it’s wrong if He made us to enjoy it so much?

      Look for the Symptoms

Why are we told so often in the New Testament to examine ourselves?

Because it is so easy to be spiritually deceived and we need to be continually evaluating our attitudes, actions, and behavior.

For the deceived unbeliever, it can bring us to a point of honesty and salvation.

For the true believer, it allows us to respond with corrective action.

We must be careful to compare our condition with the correct standard.

Many men appraise their physical condition, not on the basis of those who are in great condition, but by those who are much more out of shape than themselves.

Many men avoid going to the doctor by comparing themselves against really sick, unhealthy people. 

Many men avoid dealing with an unhealthy habit by finding others who have practiced the same bad habit and seemed to suffer no consequences.

The consequences spiritually can be as devastating as they are physically.

The standard of comparison is not others, but God’s word.  That is why you must study God’s word regularly.

Our Responsibilities as Doctors – exhort one another daily

Maybe you are uncomfortable with that term.  Maybe you’d rather be a nurse, or a physician’s assistant, or a nurse’s aide.  Whatever term you choose, the reality of it is that we all play a role in preventing hard hearts.  This role has two parts:

            To encourage others through words of faith

Our primary responsibility as believers is to glorify God.  I can think of no better or more direct way to do this than to verbally acknowledge to others who God is and what is happening in your relationship with Him.  Not only is God exalted by this, but you in the process you encourage other believers, and help unbelievers to understand that God is real.

                                    Example of Ron and the faithfulness of God.

It is the continual affirmation of God’s person and works, that He is real, in control, and doing what is best and right in the lives of His children and in this world.

It is getting people’s eyes off their problems and their pity parties and getting them to see our wonderful Savior and Awesome God.

To confront sin through words of correction

This does not mean becoming petty and nit-picking one another.  The target of our confrontation is not:

            personality quirks

            differences of opinion

            disagreement with decisions

            personal style or methods

            irritating habits

These are all opportunities for you to grow in love.  It may be my role to point these out in others lives when it affects the ministry, but it is not your role.

But we must lovingly confront patterns and sometimes instances of

Dishonesty, gossip, immorality, greed, drunkenness, divisiveness, financial abuse, laziness, anger, wrath, revenge, lack of faith.

These are areas specifically mentioned as actions and attitudes practiced by unbelievers.  They are never to be the practice of the children of God.

            How do I confront?

Assuming positive, Prayerfully, Humbly, patiently, Ask questions

Isn’t this the pastor’s job?  Was this written only to Pastors?  Isn’t it to be done daily?

Where are you in this process of heart heath?

            Are you faithful in your role as a patient?

Listening to the warning or tuning it out because you don’t have that problem?

                        Looking for the symptoms -- Examining your life?

            Are you faithful in your role as a doctor?

                        Are you encouraging faith in others?

Are you dealing with known sin in the lives of others?