Topic: No Hard Hearts [Wednesday July 19, 2017]
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9
The Pharisees had a heart condition that grieved Jesus. Their hearts were hard and insensitive. If you’ll look in Mark 3, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
God was right there in their midst, and they, of all people, should have realized it. They knew the Scriptures backward and forward, and Jesus fit every messianic prophecy written there. But the insensitivity of their hearts literally blinded them to who He was.
The hearts of the Pharisees were also hardened to the needs of the people around them.
That very same thing is still happening today.
Just think again about what those Pharisees were doing. They were:
- Criticizing the minister of God.
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Protecting their religious traditions instead of obeying the Word of God.
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Worrying about their own welfare rather than that of those around them.
Have you ever known any believers who fit that description? Sure you have! In fact, every one of us has done those things at some time in our lives.
Every one of us, to one degree or another, has fallen prey to the same mistake the Pharisees did. We’ve gotten so caught up in doing and saying all the “right” things that we’ve let the tender warmth of God’s love inside us grow cold.
I know that’s true because if it weren’t, we’d be seeing tremendous moves of God among us. We’d be seeing revival on every corner.
That’s what God longs to do. God longs to pour out His Spirit in supernatural power and abundance through His Church. But we’ve developed a heart condition that’s holding Him back.
Today if you are desiring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and the manifestation of His power in your church, check the condition of your heart. If you find any hardness there, repent and ask God to change you. Ask Him to give you the kind of heart that will allow Him to show Himself strong on your behalf.
Scripture Reading: Mark 3:1-6
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
