Another Night with the Frogs - Part 3
(The Heart is the Heart of the Matter)
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Last week, I revealed my thoughts as to why Pharaoh said,“Tomorrow”--stubborness.
-He refused to submit and surrender to the will of God.
-Perhaps my simplistic answer left you thinking, “That’s it?”
-In this case, it isn’t a matter of great complexity. Instead, it is rather simplistic – stubbornness.
-Many times, when considering our efforts to grow spiritually and our shortfalls along the
way—our struggles and weaknesses—we might assume there is a great deal of complexity
involved. However, perhaps it is all more simplistic that we sometimes think.
-Does it many times come down to our own stubbornness? Our own resistance to the will of
God in/upon our lives? Our own hesitancy to truly submit and surrender?
-In this manner, we can certainly learn from Pharaoh.
-Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart
-From Exodus 4:21 to 14:17, one can find 18 verses which reference the leader’s hardened heart.
(4:21; 7:3, 13,14,22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 34, 35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8)
-We find references to God hardening the heart of Pharaoh and to Pharaoh hardening his own
heart. So, which is it? It is both.
-God: 4:21, 7:3, 9:12; 0:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8:17 (Egyptians’ hearts)
-Pharaoh: 8:15, 32, 34-35
-God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by “putting him on the spot.” Think of it this way: If God had
not sent Moses and Aaron to demand the release of the Israelites, Pharaoh would not have
hardened his heart. Pharaoh would not have hardened his heart against God in relation to the
plagues if God had not brought about the plagues.
-God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by putting him in the situations and circumstances that
demanded/required decisions by Pharaoh. Yet, the decisions belonged to Pharaoh.
-reoccurring words/terms: “when…he” – based on the circumstances, not on an arbitrary
hardening of his heart by God; “he would not/did not listen” (7:4, 13, 22; 8:15, 19; 9:12; 11:9)
-1 Sam 6:6; Rom 9:14-18 – God knew beforehand the decisions Pharaoh would make. By
His providence, Pharaoh was allowed to be placed on the throne of Egypt to fulfill the
purpose/will of God. So, God utilized the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart (in response to
the demands He placed upon him) but He didn’t force the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart.
-If he forced that upon Pharaoh, injustice could be claimed.
-Could God, in his providence, placed another leader upon the throne of Egypt who
would not have hardened his heart and would have immediately released the Israelites?
Sure! But, then there would have been no plagues to serve their various purposes, etc.
-Rom 2:4-6; 2 Pet 3:8-9 (See also 2 Tim. 2:19-21; Jer. 18:1-11 – notice “if”)
-So, it was Pharaoh’s decision. How he would react to his setting and circumstances was up to
him. He would determine whether or not to listen to Divine instructions.
-Now, what about us?
-What type of heart are we preparing for decisions, circumstances, the Divine message?
-The Heart is the Heart of the Issue
-There are always areas for improvement – individually and congregationally.
-And, we could talk all day long about why those needs for improvement exist.
-Some of it can be due to the expected immaturity in the life of an early Christian. Christianity is a process
of growth. And, so we move from weakness toward strength.
-Yet, immaturity is something we should outgrow.
-When it comes down to it, isn’t most of the need for improvement an issue of the heart?
-Are we truly striving to fully conform ourselves to the will of God? (Rom. 12:1-2) Or, are we doing that only
as long as it is convenient – i.e. as long as it fits nicely within my will?
-Why don’t we serve better and in more ways?
-Why don’t we read and study our Bibles more?
-Why don’t we attend worship services better? Sunday p.m.?
-Why don’t we attend Bible classes more often? Wednesday?
-Why don’t we better enjoy the times when we are here for worship &/or study?
-If there are things we can do to be more effective then let’s talk about it.
-But, doesn’t most of this (if not all of this) eventually make it to the heart?
-Time? – But, don’t we find the time for that which we really want to do?
-When it comes down to it, the heart of the matter is…the heart.
-Summary and Invitation
-Hardness of heart hinders one’s knowledge of the will of God – Eph. 4:18.
-Hardness of heart contributes to spiritual rebellion against God – Heb. 3:8, 15
-Hardness of heart—if not changed—will cause one to be lost– Rom. 2:5
-Let’s work hard at learning God’s will. Then, with imagery, let’s allow the knowledge we
have in our head to penetrate our hearts. Then, we will be willing to submit and surrender
to the will of God. (James 4:7)
-Invitation <Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Last week, I revealed my thoughts as to why Pharaoh said,“Tomorrow”--stubborness.
-He refused to submit and surrender to the will of God.
-Perhaps my simplistic answer left you thinking, “That’s it?”
-In this case, it isn’t a matter of great complexity. Instead, it is rather simplistic – stubbornness.
-Many times, when considering our efforts to grow spiritually and our shortfalls along the
way—our struggles and weaknesses—we might assume there is a great deal of complexity
involved. However, perhaps it is all more simplistic that we sometimes think.
-Does it many times come down to our own stubbornness? Our own resistance to the will of
God in/upon our lives? Our own hesitancy to truly submit and surrender?
-In this manner, we can certainly learn from Pharaoh.
-Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart
-From Exodus 4:21 to 14:17, one can find 18 verses which reference the leader’s hardened heart.
(4:21; 7:3, 13,14,22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 34, 35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8)
-We find references to God hardening the heart of Pharaoh and to Pharaoh hardening his own
heart. So, which is it? It is both.
-God: 4:21, 7:3, 9:12; 0:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8:17 (Egyptians’ hearts)
-Pharaoh: 8:15, 32, 34-35
-God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by “putting him on the spot.” Think of it this way: If God had
not sent Moses and Aaron to demand the release of the Israelites, Pharaoh would not have
hardened his heart. Pharaoh would not have hardened his heart against God in relation to the
plagues if God had not brought about the plagues.
-God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by putting him in the situations and circumstances that
demanded/required decisions by Pharaoh. Yet, the decisions belonged to Pharaoh.
-reoccurring words/terms: “when…he” – based on the circumstances, not on an arbitrary
hardening of his heart by God; “he would not/did not listen” (7:4, 13, 22; 8:15, 19; 9:12; 11:9)
-1 Sam 6:6; Rom 9:14-18 – God knew beforehand the decisions Pharaoh would make. By
His providence, Pharaoh was allowed to be placed on the throne of Egypt to fulfill the
purpose/will of God. So, God utilized the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart (in response to
the demands He placed upon him) but He didn’t force the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart.
-If he forced that upon Pharaoh, injustice could be claimed.
-Could God, in his providence, placed another leader upon the throne of Egypt who
would not have hardened his heart and would have immediately released the Israelites?
Sure! But, then there would have been no plagues to serve their various purposes, etc.
-Rom 2:4-6; 2 Pet 3:8-9 (See also 2 Tim. 2:19-21; Jer. 18:1-11 – notice “if”)
-So, it was Pharaoh’s decision. How he would react to his setting and circumstances was up to
him. He would determine whether or not to listen to Divine instructions.
-Now, what about us?
-What type of heart are we preparing for decisions, circumstances, the Divine message?
-The Heart is the Heart of the Issue
-There are always areas for improvement – individually and congregationally.
-And, we could talk all day long about why those needs for improvement exist.
-Some of it can be due to the expected immaturity in the life of an early Christian. Christianity is a process
of growth. And, so we move from weakness toward strength.
-Yet, immaturity is something we should outgrow.
-When it comes down to it, isn’t most of the need for improvement an issue of the heart?
-Are we truly striving to fully conform ourselves to the will of God? (Rom. 12:1-2) Or, are we doing that only
as long as it is convenient – i.e. as long as it fits nicely within my will?
-Why don’t we serve better and in more ways?
-Why don’t we read and study our Bibles more?
-Why don’t we attend worship services better? Sunday p.m.?
-Why don’t we attend Bible classes more often? Wednesday?
-Why don’t we better enjoy the times when we are here for worship &/or study?
-If there are things we can do to be more effective then let’s talk about it.
-But, doesn’t most of this (if not all of this) eventually make it to the heart?
-Time? – But, don’t we find the time for that which we really want to do?
-When it comes down to it, the heart of the matter is…the heart.
-Summary and Invitation
-Hardness of heart hinders one’s knowledge of the will of God – Eph. 4:18.
-Hardness of heart contributes to spiritual rebellion against God – Heb. 3:8, 15
-Hardness of heart—if not changed—will cause one to be lost– Rom. 2:5
-Let’s work hard at learning God’s will. Then, with imagery, let’s allow the knowledge we
have in our head to penetrate our hearts. Then, we will be willing to submit and surrender
to the will of God. (James 4:7)
-Invitation <Return to Sermon Outlines>