(Mark 3:1-6)
“And he entered again into the synagogue; and
there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on
the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3And he saith unto the man which had the withered
hand, Stand forth. 4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on
the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their
peace. 5And 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. 6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took
counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.”
I. CONSIDER THE PROBLEM
A. OF HARD HEARTS...
1. Has been around for a long time (Cain,
Pharaoh, Israel)
2. It leads to spiritual dullness - an
inability to see truth
a. Which prompted Jesus to teach the public in
parables
“Therefore speak I to them in parables: because
they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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:
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.”
b. Which hindered His disciples from
understanding the obvious
Mark 16:14
“Afterward he appeared
unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and
hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he
was risen.”
3. It leads to mental resistance - a
refusal to consider what
might be true
a. As seen in our text with the Pharisees
b. They were blinded to the good Jesus had done
4. The end result is calamity!
Proverbs
28:14
“Happy is the man that feareth always: but he
that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
-- Hardness of heart is a very serious problem!
B. OF HARD THOUGHTS...
1. Hard hearts produce hard thoughts (e.g., the
plot to destroy
Jesus)
a. The Pharisees and Herodians were unable to
see the good that
Jesus was doing
b. They became co-belligerents, though normally
opposed to one
another
2. Very similar to what we see in today's
political environment
a. An inability to see any good in the
opposition
b. A willingness to engage in the politics of
personal
destruction
c. Plotting to destroy by any means possible
3. The same occurs often in the realm of
religious differences
a. In our efforts to stand firm for the truth
b. We can easily begin to think ill of
neighbors, co-workers,
even brethren!
c. It becomes evident in the way we treat others
(ignore,
malign, abuse)
4. Hard thoughts thus lead to verbal abuse
and physical violence
-- Hard thoughts don't remain thoughts very
long, they transform
into deeds!
[Since the problems of "Hard Hearts And
Hard Thoughts" are real and
serious, what can be done...?]
II. CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE
A. FOR HARD HEARTS...
1. We can nurture a tender, compassionate
heart; by remembering:
a. Our own weaknesses and need for forgiveness
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Colossians
3:12-13
“Put therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
b. The condemnation of those without compassion
“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on
thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and
delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts
forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
James 2:13
“For he shall have judgement without mercy, that
hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
2. This will help create good and noble
hearts, with fair minds
like:
a. The good soil in the parable of the sower
“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.”
b. The Bereans willing to give Paul a fair hearing
“These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
-- Tender hearts are created by remembering our
own failings
B. FOR HARD THOUGHTS...
1. Tender hearts will address the problem of
hard thoughts
2. But kind thoughts can be further
nurtured by:
a. Dwelling on things that are noble and pure
Philippians
4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
c. Developing the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:3-5
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not
every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
3. Such tender minds will be
characterized by:
a. Lowliness of mind, esteeming others better
than ourselves
b. Looking out for the interests of others
-- Tender minds are the result of growing in
Christ
**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:
'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'
If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **
I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!
http://www.fghconline.com/
