The Danger of Heart-Hardening
The sermon warns against the dangers of heart-hardening, which leads to a frozen fountain of generosity, destructive behavior, and grieving the Holy Spirit.
A.W. Tozer warns against the danger of hardening one's heart against God's Word, emphasizing that such a state arises from selfishness and a love for darkness. He illustrates how covetousness leads individuals to ignore the needs of others, ultimately freezing their capacity for generosity and disrupting the natural order. Tozer argues that neglecting the truth and refusing to act on the impulses of righteousness can stifle spiritual life and grieve the Holy Spirit. He urges believers to embrace truth and respond to the call of righteousness for the sake of their souls.
Text
Another breakdown in the truth--feeling--act sequence comes when the heart for selfish reasons deliberately hardens itself against the Word of God. This is the state of all who love darkness rather than light and for that reason either withdraw from the light altogether or when exposed to it stubbornly refuse to obey it. The covetous man looks on human need and sternly refuses to be moved by it. To yield to the impulse of generosity naturally aroused by the sight of poverty would require him to give up some of his cherished hoard, and this he will not do.
So the fountain of generosity is frozen at its source. The miser keeps his gold, the poor man suffers on in his poverty and the whole course of nature is upset. Is it any wonder that God hates covetousness? But be sure that human feelings can never be completely stifled. If they are forbidden their normal course, like a river they will cut another channel through the life and flow out to curse and ruin and destroy. The Christian who gazes too long on the carnal pleasures of this world cannot escape a certain feeling of sympathy with them, and that feeling will inevitably lead to behavior that is worldly.
And to expose our hearts to truth and consistently refuse or neglect to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us and, if persisted in, to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence. The Scriptures and our own human constitution agree to teach us to love truth and to obey the sweet impulses of righteousness it raises within us. If we love our own souls we dare do nothing else.
Sermon Outline
- The Heart-Hardening Process
- Consequences of Heart-Hardening
- The Dangers of Unchecked Feelings
- The Importance of Loving Truth
- Scriptural teaching on loving truth and obeying righteousness
- Daring to love our souls
Key Quotes
“The covetous man looks on human need and sternly refuses to be moved by it.” — A.W. Tozer
“If they are forbidden their normal course, like a river they will cut another channel through the life and flow out to curse and ruin and destroy.” — A.W. Tozer
“The Christian who gazes too long on the carnal pleasures of this world cannot escape a certain feeling of sympathy with them,” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be careful not to harden our hearts against the truth of God's Word.
- Loving truth and obeying its impulses is essential for our souls and for living a life that honors God.
- We must be aware of the dangers of unchecked feelings and take steps to cultivate a heart that loves truth and righteousness.