Hebrews 3:8 (NIV)... do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.

Our heart doesn’t get hard in the good times of life, but in the testing times in our lives The times when: we are offended, wronged, hurt, life feels unfair, we are betrayed, taken advantage of We see the sin and injustice around us We look at people around us We look at the Church

adjective: having or showing no kindness, compassion, or sympathy for other people Callous, compassionless, unmerciful, unsparing, and unsympathetic desensitized

Exodus 7 (NLT) 13 Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the LORD had predicted. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. * Refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit

Mark 16:14 (NKJV) Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Mark 6:52 (NKJV) For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Deuteronomy 8:14a (NKJV)... when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt... * Pride, an unteachable heart, haughty

Mark 8 (NLT) 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread.

Mark 8 (NLT) 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? Religious Spirit: Anger, judgment, criticism, unforgiveness, pride

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?

1 Peter 3:8 (DBY) Finally, be all of one mind, sympathizing, full of brotherly love, tender hearted, humble minded Ephesians 4:32 (NASB) be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 20:5 (NKJV) Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. *So easy to be filled with hate or judgment (shallow)

*A GOOD MAN ABOUT TO BECOME GREAT Eliphaz (Job’s friend) criticizing Job 23:16 (KJV) For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me TROUBLETH - bahal - to disturb, hurry, be disturbed, alarm

Job 42:10 (NKJV) And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. * He didn’t allow his heart to become hard in the time of testing!

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend. - Martin Luther King, Jr. The Church makes the world their enemy, we have hardened our heart toward the world - Eugene Peterson

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message (MSG) “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message (MSG) This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message (MSG) 48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”