The deceitfulness of sin never rests, and with a continued rejection of God’s Spirit we will develop a hard-heartedness that is the result of a pattern of stubbornness: a reliance on ourselves before God.
Definition: Stubbornness is the refusal to obey God in your actions and/or thinking
Observations:
- Stubbornness is intentional
- Stubbornness falls into one of two categories:
A. Passive: Refusal to do the right thing
B. Active: Refusal to stop doing the wrong thing - Uncorrected stubbornness will lead to destruction
Conclusions:
- The root of stubbornness is pride
- Stubbornness is not based on ignorance
- Stubbornness is unrepentant sin
- Unrepentant sin will ultimately lead to a hardened heart
Applications:
- Respond to your pride with humility
- Respond to passive stubbornness with action, and active stubbornness with repentance
- Deal with your stubbornness before your heart becomes hardened