Hardness of Heart Part 4

A Special Anointing?

1 have no special anointing for arthritis-G.o.d gave me just as much power over any other sickness and disease as arthritis, but that's an area in which I've exercised my faith. G.o.d gave us power over all all the power of the enemy (Lk. 10:19). If you have a special anointing to see legs grow, for example, it's because you've exercised yourself in that area. the power of the enemy (Lk. 10:19). If you have a special anointing to see legs grow, for example, it's because you've exercised yourself in that area.

Most of us have faith for certain areas. But it's a lie from the devil that you have to have doubt and unbelief in other areas. You don't. You can renew your mind and eliminate the vast majority of Satan's warfare against you. You can stop the conception. stop the conception.

Someone might say, "But, Brother, you're a preacher. It's easy for you to say that-you stay around Christians all the time and don't have to contact the world."

You've never been a preacher if you believe that! You should have the responsibility, the worry and the pressures a preacher has for a while. It's not easy to serve G.o.d. You put yourself on the front lines, responsible for a thousand people in a church, and see what kind of trouble the devil gives you. never been a preacher if you believe that! You should have the responsibility, the worry and the pressures a preacher has for a while. It's not easy to serve G.o.d. You put yourself on the front lines, responsible for a thousand people in a church, and see what kind of trouble the devil gives you.

Facing the Music in Vietnam

When I went through Vietnam, I lived with the doubt and unbelief of others 24 hours a day, and I saw myself victorious in every situation-but not without effort.

The thing I hated worst in Vietnam was the unG.o.dly music. 1 was the lowest ranking man in my bunker, but I determined that I wasn't going to listen to that music, or the blaspheming and cursing G.o.d all the time. I got a poster board and a marker and wrote Exodus 20:7 in big letters on it. I hung it on the wall so that when anyone opened the door, the first thing they saw was: "Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. " "Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. "

From that time on, not another cussword was said. For three months not a single word was said to me of any kind! They stopped playing the radios and left the bunker to drink. They didn't even acknowledge that I was there. You might think that was bad, but it was better than hearing all of their filth and perversion.

A Militant Faith

When I was in the United States before being s.h.i.+pped out to Vietnam, 1 was held over at a base. One day, we were waiting to get paid, and were down in this little stairway that was no larger than 10 by 10 feet. There were about 40 people huddled down there, trying to stay out of the cold and wind. None of them knew me. They were cursing and blaspheming G.o.d, just like soldiers do. There was a tall fellow there, named David, who was a former gospel singer before he was drafted. He was not living for G.o.d, and was blaspheming the Lord and making jokes about Christians, just like everyone else. Finally, he got a twinge of conviction, and said, "That's no way for a good- ole Scofield-carrying Baptist to talk."

I asked, "You have a Scofield Bible?" And he said, "Yeah, do you?" And I said, "1 sure do. Why don't you ever read yours?" And he said, "What do you mean, ever read mine?" 1 said, "Have you ever read Matthew 12:36?" And he said, "I don't know what it says." And I said, "It says, '...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "' '...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "'

Boy! He got mad and began pus.h.i.+ng his way through that crowd, and just as he got up to me, I said, "One other scripture-Galatians 4:16 says, 'Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?'" 'Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?'" He just stood there glaring at me, then turned around and walked away. He didn't say anything, and for the next 30 minutes, He just stood there glaring at me, then turned around and walked away. He didn't say anything, and for the next 30 minutes, no one no one said anything! Again, 1 didn't have to listen to all their doubt and unbelief. Two-and-a-half months later, that fellow got right with G.o.d, and told me that he had been under such conviction, he hadn't slept a wink since then. said anything! Again, 1 didn't have to listen to all their doubt and unbelief. Two-and-a-half months later, that fellow got right with G.o.d, and told me that he had been under such conviction, he hadn't slept a wink since then.

The very first night I was in the Army, everybody was cursing and blaspheming G.o.d in the barracks. It was night and the lights were out. Suddenly one guy said, "Even though I talk this way, I really do know G.o.d." I said, "Did you ever read 1 John?" He said, "Who said that?" 1 said, "In 1 John 2:4, it says, 'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. "' He got mad, turned the lights on, and started walking around, saying, "Who said that?" I just acted like 1 was asleep. I never said a word. "' He got mad, turned the lights on, and started walking around, saying, "Who said that?" I just acted like 1 was asleep. I never said a word. They They never said a word-they all went to sleep. It worked. never said a word-they all went to sleep. It worked.

What About You?

How does this apply to you? Suppose people at work are running down the President of the United States. We know the President is the ruler of our people, and we're commanded to pray for him; but people criticize him constantly, and that's negative. It hardens your heart toward G.o.d because you're violating the Word of G.o.d. Psalm 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the unG.o.dly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the unG.o.dly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. " What should you do? You don't have to criticize What should you do? You don't have to criticize them, them, but you can say, "According to Romans 13:1-4, the President is the ruler of my people, ordained by G.o.d for my good, and I've been praying for him." Do you know what will happen? Either those people will repent, or they will never mention it around you again. In either case, you win. but you can say, "According to Romans 13:1-4, the President is the ruler of my people, ordained by G.o.d for my good, and I've been praying for him." Do you know what will happen? Either those people will repent, or they will never mention it around you again. In either case, you win.

At church, in the Army, on the job-anyplace you find yourself-you can stop the conception. That's half the battle.

6.

Understanding Unbelief.

Let's review for a moment. We've learned that our hearts can be hardened. Having a hard heart is defined as being deprived of wisdom, judgment and understanding (Mk. 8:17-19). The way your heart becomes hardened is by what you do not consider what you do not consider (Mk. 6:52). What you focus your attention on, you'll be sensitive to; what you neglect, you'll be hardened to. Most of us have neglected the things of G.o.d and paid attention to the things of the world. (Mk. 6:52). What you focus your attention on, you'll be sensitive to; what you neglect, you'll be hardened to. Most of us have neglected the things of G.o.d and paid attention to the things of the world.

"Because of your unbelief..."

In Matthew, chapter 17, there is a perfect example of a hardened heart. Jesus' disciples are trying to cast a demon out of a boy. Starting at verse 14, it says, "And when they were come to the mult.i.tude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them. Because of your unbelief. "And when they were come to the mult.i.tude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them. Because of your unbelief.

If I asked you, "Why have you you prayed for something and not seen the manifestation?" the typical answer would be: "Not enough faith." Jesus' disciples asked Him the same question, "Why couldn't we cast him out?" Jesus didn't say they didn't have enough faith. Instead, He pointed to their unbelief. prayed for something and not seen the manifestation?" the typical answer would be: "Not enough faith." Jesus' disciples asked Him the same question, "Why couldn't we cast him out?" Jesus didn't say they didn't have enough faith. Instead, He pointed to their unbelief.

Faith and Unbelief

You can have faith and unbelief at the same time. Most people have never considered this. They think you either have faith or unbelief, but not a mixture of the two.

For instance, Jesus once said, "Be not afraid, only believe" "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mk. 5:36). Why didn't He just say "believe"? It's because it's possible to believe and disbelieve at the same time. Also, a man once told Jesus, (Mk. 5:36). Why didn't He just say "believe"? It's because it's possible to believe and disbelieve at the same time. Also, a man once told Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief" "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief" (Mk. 9:24). In other words, the man said, "I have faith, but 1 have unbelief at the same time." Mark 11:23 says, (Mk. 9:24). In other words, the man said, "I have faith, but 1 have unbelief at the same time." Mark 11:23 says, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pa.s.s; he shall have whatsoever he saith. "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pa.s.s; he shall have whatsoever he saith. " Why " Why would Jesus say, would Jesus say, "and shall not doubt" "and shall not doubt" if faith is automatically the absence of doubt? It's because you can operate in faith and unbelief at the same time. if faith is automatically the absence of doubt? It's because you can operate in faith and unbelief at the same time.

This has been a source of confusion to many people, because they've seen their faith work, but when they don't don't see it work, they ask, "G.o.d, what's wrong? I know I prayed in faith. I've seen it work before, and now it doesn't seem to be working." The problem is that you had faith, but it was hindered by unbelief. see it work, they ask, "G.o.d, what's wrong? I know I prayed in faith. I've seen it work before, and now it doesn't seem to be working." The problem is that you had faith, but it was hindered by unbelief.

Hold Your Horses

Here is an example. You can hook a team of horses up to a weight and exert tremendous power in one direction. Under normal circ.u.mstances, it would move. But if you had a team of horses pulling in the opposite direction at the same time, exerting equal force, the net effect would be zero. In the same way, a lot of us really do release our faith, but it is negated by unbelief. Nothing moves.

When Jesus rebuked the disciples, He didn't say, "You don't have any faith." He said, "It's because of your unbelief." Remember, in Matthew, chapter 10, the disciples had already been commissioned with power over unclean spirits, and over all all sickness and disease. They had seen people delivered, apparently sickness and disease. They had seen people delivered, apparently every every person delivered. They didn't ask, "Jesus, why wasn't this one cast out?" They didn't believe that miracles had pa.s.sed away the night before, like some people believe today! person delivered. They didn't ask, "Jesus, why wasn't this one cast out?" They didn't believe that miracles had pa.s.sed away the night before, like some people believe today!

They knew about faith, but they still didn't see results. I've had that same problem, and I've wondered, G.o.d, I've seen it work so easily before-why isn't it working now'? G.o.d, I've seen it work so easily before-why isn't it working now'? It's It's because of unbelief. because of unbelief.

Mountain-Stopping Unbelief

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus continues rebuking the disciples: "for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " "for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " Imagine that: faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to cast a mountain into the sea! In other words, the faith we had to get born again is enough to see anything happen. It's enough to see cancer healed. It's enough to see people delivered. It's enough to see the dead raised . . . if it's not mixed with unbelief. Imagine that: faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to cast a mountain into the sea! In other words, the faith we had to get born again is enough to see anything happen. It's enough to see cancer healed. It's enough to see people delivered. It's enough to see the dead raised . . . if it's not mixed with unbelief.

Many people try to build faith, build faith, build faith- and that's not totally wrong, but they don't deal with their unbelief. Some of us have such high levels of unbelief that the only way we'll ever receive anything is through corporate faith: we'll always have to have the entire church pray for us.

The only consistent way to live in victory is to decrease your unbelief level, to just pull the plug on unbelief. If you do that, you'll find that "with his stripes we are healed" "with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5) is all you need to maintain total healing. You won't need a thousand scriptures on healing; one will do . . . if you don't have any unbelief to wipe it out. (Isa. 53:5) is all you need to maintain total healing. You won't need a thousand scriptures on healing; one will do . . . if you don't have any unbelief to wipe it out.

What is Unbelief?

Unbelief can take various forms. It can be total rebellion, such as saying, "1 just don't believe this, even though it's scripture." That's unbelief. Or it can also be as small as saying, "I believe G.o.d heals, but what if. . . ?"

The Bible says in James 1:5-8, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of G.o.d, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of G.o.d, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. " Again, this is an example of belief and unbelief occurring at the same time. " Again, this is an example of belief and unbelief occurring at the same time. "For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways. " The "For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways. " The Bible talks a lot about being single-minded. That means don't believe and disbelieve at the same time. Confessing the Word, believing that you're healed, but then questioning G.o.d when a pain hits you, is unbelief. Bible talks a lot about being single-minded. That means don't believe and disbelieve at the same time. Confessing the Word, believing that you're healed, but then questioning G.o.d when a pain hits you, is unbelief.

What You See is What You Get

In Mark 9:20, the Bible cites the same instance of the disciples and the lunatic boy. It says, "And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. " "And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. " This demon, in other words, had a This demon, in other words, had a physical physical manifestation. The disciples saw it. manifestation. The disciples saw it.

It's easier to release your faith for something you easier to release your faith for something you don't don't see, as I did for the lady with arthritis. This is why it's so hard, for example, for people to get their eyes healed. Your eyes are your strongest sensory knowledge gate. Over 80 percent of your contact with the physical world comes through your eyes. You depend more upon them than what you feel, hear, smell or taste-all combined. When someone has hands laid on him for his eyes to be healed, immediately his eyes either say, "You're healed," or "You're not healed." If that healing is not instantaneous, that person is in for the fight of his life. Most Christians have never learned how to bring their senses into subjection, so most of them fail to get their eyes healed, even though it takes no more faith to heal your eyes than it does to heal your big toe! If there is no instantaneous manifestation, there will be more unbelief to deal with concerning your eyes than there would be concerning your big toe. see, as I did for the lady with arthritis. This is why it's so hard, for example, for people to get their eyes healed. Your eyes are your strongest sensory knowledge gate. Over 80 percent of your contact with the physical world comes through your eyes. You depend more upon them than what you feel, hear, smell or taste-all combined. When someone has hands laid on him for his eyes to be healed, immediately his eyes either say, "You're healed," or "You're not healed." If that healing is not instantaneous, that person is in for the fight of his life. Most Christians have never learned how to bring their senses into subjection, so most of them fail to get their eyes healed, even though it takes no more faith to heal your eyes than it does to heal your big toe! If there is no instantaneous manifestation, there will be more unbelief to deal with concerning your eyes than there would be concerning your big toe.

The disciples saw saw this demon convulse this boy, and it's my personal opinion that when they saw it, they related easier to the physical manifestation than they did to their faith. That's where their unbelief came from. this demon convulse this boy, and it's my personal opinion that when they saw it, they related easier to the physical manifestation than they did to their faith. That's where their unbelief came from.

Is Unbelief Normal?

Many people believe that this is perfectly normal; that our emotions must must go contrary to the Word. They say, "Well, it's just human. You'll always have fears. You'll always have doubts." I will admit this: because none of us are where we're supposed to be, we do experience these things, but it is wrong to think we have to. Hebrews 5:14 says, go contrary to the Word. They say, "Well, it's just human. You'll always have fears. You'll always have doubts." I will admit this: because none of us are where we're supposed to be, we do experience these things, but it is wrong to think we have to. Hebrews 5:14 says, "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. " "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. " Our physical senses-what we see, taste, hear, smell, and feel-are what this is talking about. It says we can literally bring them into subjection, bring them to the point that they don't always have to be going contrary to G.o.d. Our physical senses-what we see, taste, hear, smell, and feel-are what this is talking about. It says we can literally bring them into subjection, bring them to the point that they don't always have to be going contrary to G.o.d.

1 was raised in a denomination that taught if you wanted to know G.o.d's will, take your first reaction and do the opposite. That may be true for a carnal Christian (the carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d, according to Romans 8:7), but we don't have to stay that way! We can change. Instead of thinking, was raised in a denomination that taught if you wanted to know G.o.d's will, take your first reaction and do the opposite. That may be true for a carnal Christian (the carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d, according to Romans 8:7), but we don't have to stay that way! We can change. Instead of thinking, Oh, no, what's going to happen if I lay hands on this person and they're not healed? Oh, no, what's going to happen if I lay hands on this person and they're not healed? we we can get to the point where we say, "Satan, what are you going to do when I lay hands on them and they are healed?" You can look on the positive side of it. You can change your emotions and be receptive to the things of G.o.d. can get to the point where we say, "Satan, what are you going to do when I lay hands on them and they are healed?" You can look on the positive side of it. You can change your emotions and be receptive to the things of G.o.d.

In other words, we can exercise our senses to the point that they will be sensitized to G.o.d more than to the world, more than to the junk on television, more than to sin, hatred, strife, unbelief, jealousy and adultery. Our emotions do not always have to be unbridled, but most Christians' emotions are unbridled because they've never disciplined themselves and brought them into subjection. That's a tremendous hindrance to their faith.

I believe that was the disciples' problem. It wasn't that they disbelieved G.o.d; they had a lot of faith. They had seen G.o.d work and they had seen their faith produce, but they had not brought their emotions, their senses, into line. So when they encountered a negative situation they were simply moved by it-not moved far, but far enough so they couldn't cast that demon out.

Finally, in Matthew 17:21, Jesus said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. " "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. " That's That's what we'll consider next. what we'll consider next.

7.

The Rote of Prayer and Fasting.

In this chapter, we'll look at how prayer and fasting fit in with hardness of heart. Mark, chapter 9, covers the same incident as Matthew, chapter 17, where the disciples tried and failed to expel the demon from the epileptic boy. In verse 29, Jesus tells them, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. " kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. "

Because of that verse, many of us have erroneously thought that some demons are so strong that even the name of Jesus won't get them out: we have to add prayer and fasting. That's not good theology. Every demon ever created trembles at the name of Jesus.

Why Prayer and Fasting?

So why should we engage in prayer and fasting?

Prayer and fasting doesn't move the devil and it doesn't move G.o.d. G.o.d had already already given the disciples all power in heaven and earth, according to Luke 10:19. They didn't have to fast and pray for a double anointing or anything like that. It is possible for us to operate in twice the anointing we've operated in before, but it's because we're learning how to release what G.o.d has given us, not because He gives us more. When G.o.d called us, He gave us all the anointing we'll ever get. given the disciples all power in heaven and earth, according to Luke 10:19. They didn't have to fast and pray for a double anointing or anything like that. It is possible for us to operate in twice the anointing we've operated in before, but it's because we're learning how to release what G.o.d has given us, not because He gives us more. When G.o.d called us, He gave us all the anointing we'll ever get.

Fasting and prayer won't move G.o.d. What fasting and prayer does is affect your senses, to bring them into line so that, for example, when you see a boy falling on the ground, wallowing and foaming, you don't immediately think, It didn't work. G.o.d didn't heal him. It didn't work. G.o.d didn't heal him. You've You've brought your senses into subjection so they'll respond to your spirit, and your spirit dictates to them instead of them dictating to your spirit. brought your senses into subjection so they'll respond to your spirit, and your spirit dictates to them instead of them dictating to your spirit.

Moving G.o.d's "Pity Bone"?

When some of us don't see our prayers work, we ask, "G.o.d, why haven't you moved yet? I've done everything. What does it take?" No answer. So we think, Well, I'm going to fast, and when I waste away and become really pathetic, then G.o.d will see how sincere I am and He'll move on my behalf. Well, I'm going to fast, and when I waste away and become really pathetic, then G.o.d will see how sincere I am and He'll move on my behalf. In essence, we use a fast to change G.o.d. G.o.d has already moved by grace-we don't have to move Him. It is In essence, we use a fast to change G.o.d. G.o.d has already moved by grace-we don't have to move Him. It is ourselves ourselves we're we're moving by fasting and prayer. If G.o.d isn't already on our side by what Jesus did, our fasting and prayer is not going to add the finis.h.i.+ng touch! moving by fasting and prayer. If G.o.d isn't already on our side by what Jesus did, our fasting and prayer is not going to add the finis.h.i.+ng touch!

I've heard people say, "I've done everything I know, and I'm going to fast until G.o.d heals me." Well, you're going to waste away then; you're going to go hungry. heard people say, "I've done everything I know, and I'm going to fast until G.o.d heals me." Well, you're going to waste away then; you're going to go hungry.

Weighed Down with.. .Weight!

We need to fast because of carnality, not to move G.o.d. We can look at our lives and see areas of carnality where our body and our senses have been dictating to us. Most of us can turn sideways in the mirror and see more than enough evidence to prove that our body dictates to us!

If you can't control your eating, you'll also have trouble when you try to release your faith. Suppose you pray for healing. Your body says, "I must not be healed; I still hurt." And you say, "Shut up, body, we're going to believe G.o.d." And your body says, "Who are you to tell me to shut up? You don't control me in any other area. Do you think you're going to control me now?" Your body, your senses, have to be "exercised to discern both good and evil" "exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). That doesn't happen automatically. Don't think you're going to be able to overcome that body if you never discipline it, never train it, never control it. If you're like most people, your body has been spoiled rotten and it's not in any mood to knuckle under and do what you tell it to. (Heb. 5:14). That doesn't happen automatically. Don't think you're going to be able to overcome that body if you never discipline it, never train it, never control it. If you're like most people, your body has been spoiled rotten and it's not in any mood to knuckle under and do what you tell it to.

Train Up a Child.. .Your Body!

Take children for example. When our children go to church, they sit through the service quietly and don't move. They listen; they pay attention. People ask us, "How can your children sit through a two or three hour service and not misbehave?" These same people bring their own kids to church and watch them fight, struggle and squirm the whole time, and they wonder why.