Thank you so much for this teaching. It came at the right time. I am in tears. I am realizing my hardness of heart. God is so good. Thank you so much. Please pray for me.

@BenjaminOommen

3 жыл бұрын

I know this comment was over a year ago but I hope you're doing okay, Gina. God bless

@agentclol

3 жыл бұрын

hope you're doing better now.

@pamelaetheredge2394

2 жыл бұрын

Continued prayers for your walk with the Lord 🙏🏼❤️

@nancyjernigan5840

2 жыл бұрын

I said a prayer for you Gina. Have you Accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? We love you and want to meet you in Heaven.

@hondotheology

2 жыл бұрын

if you're crying, your heart is not hard. people with hard hearts will have nothing to do with God but either way God bless

God softened my heart last year, before that I was a mess of a creature. I turned away from the Lord as a child and sin was well known to me, I was depressed and self destructive, but regardless He never abandoned me. I needed to fall on my own so that I may properly give praise to my Lord and Savior, Thank you, Lord, for giving me a humbling that was much needed in my life.

@chuckw8391

10 ай бұрын

🙏🏼❤️

@philipd8868

16 күн бұрын

Glory to God 🙂

"Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb 3:12-13)

@jeffwarren6906

3 жыл бұрын

Nice one Pierre ,, I had forgot that one , as soon as I read it , I said , of course , how did I not remember that .. Hope all is well with you Brother ,, God Bless You and Yours !

Just recieved revelation. When I was younger I was brought up knowing right from wrong. As I got older I went against Gods word. Meaning I hardened my own heart. While in my time away from the things of God. I was blind as to what my actions were causing. But when I was at the end of my strength and totally broken. My eyes were opened again. I came back from a heart hardening. Now the parables make sense.

@jeniferkeson7366

3 жыл бұрын

That makes sense why God was always with me even in addiction and even when I was angry and bitter and lost

@jeniferkeson7366

3 жыл бұрын

Oh my God you are so good. Thank you Lord for revelation.

@jeniferkeson7366

2 жыл бұрын

@@flybandit1 yes

@jeniferkeson7366

2 жыл бұрын

@@flybandit1 surrender to God.

@sherlock6181

2 жыл бұрын

@@flybandit1 Please answer me. Did it go better? My heart is a feelingless stone and i think of hell all the time.

Greetings from Pakistan. I’m your new subscriber and love your teaching. I’m keep watching your videos non stop. Loving it. God bless you ✊❤️🙏

@noobartist3762

3 жыл бұрын

God bless you brother

@user-jy5ff3zo3u

3 жыл бұрын

😉💪🏼🙏🏼🌹

@johnplasterer

3 жыл бұрын

⁹

@lilyseestheworld7865

3 жыл бұрын

@@user-jy5ff3zo3u Only an Armenian can read your name :-D! Good job :)

@suzziezhills

3 ай бұрын

Love to see you here. Praying for our Christian brothers and sisters who abide in the Lord in some hardened places.

All it takes for God to harden someone's heart is to remove His influence and leave it to do its own thing. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse- who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

Amen! God simply honors what we choose because he is a righteous God, if we dont repent, he will not forgive, if we don't seek him, we dont find him, of we harden our hearts, he will even hardened it more because that's what we deserved, and be is the God of Justice.

Great sermon, it put my heart at ease, the JMac message made me think/feel I was heading towards hell, unloved and discarded by God and that I lost my way/salvation somehow ... Why do I care about such things? Why can't I rest in Jesus work on the cross? This sermon is helping me understand the sanctification process. I wish to be soft and useful clay to the creator of all. God have mercy on me.

@judylloyd7901

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, JMac, for all his understanding of scripture, has this one doctrine wrong. Such a shame. I became a Calvinist through listening to him. After 3 years in this doctrine, I decided to listen to other perspectives. There must have been something that made me unsettled about it. Now that I am no longer a Calvinist, I still listen to John MacArthur but just not to any of his sermons about Calvinism. 😁😁

@johnnyjohnson1370

Жыл бұрын

Whatever you do. Look up Andrew Farley

@warnerchandler9826

Жыл бұрын

​@@judylloyd7901 I have found that the Calvinist approach taints nearly everything MacArthur teaches.

@Oliva_80

Жыл бұрын

​@@judylloyd7901 No need to keep listening to him.

@danielwarton5343

10 ай бұрын

Listening to John MacArthur’s teaching on election and security has helped me more than any other preacher. The work the Lord has done in our hearts can’t be overcome by the devil. We have security in the Lord through His work and the sealing of the Holy Spirit.

Really a blessing. I'm going to have to listen again because I need to internalize this. Today I was reading Romans and I got stuck on Romans 9. I found it upsetting. I could not understand. I'm trying to read and understand instead of just reading and not thinking about what I've read (as I usually do). I read it three times each time with a heavy heart. So I got on KZread to see if I could find someone talking about Romans 9. Thank you. This really has helped me and clarified the passages for me. Honestly, thank you.

@hondotheology

2 жыл бұрын

not everything in scripture should make you feel good

@judylloyd7901

2 жыл бұрын

@@hondotheology She's talking about being upset that she couldn't gain clarity. Why would you feel the need to say something negative about that!? (What's wrong with you? is what I'm asking.) Or did you not read her comment properly?

This is a poem I wrote a while back after watching this sermon: For even in hardness, their hearts seemingly unswayed, By the unmistakable majesty of the truth you’ve just said, I find joy in your comfort I find peace in your arms. I trust, knowing you’ve never let me down. And the hardness of the bitter, the callous, and unsaved, Are temporary works of the God who made. The Potter and the Clay - One vessel for mercy, and another given up. His choice not presuming upon, but rather presiding in our broken delusions of self-centered sin. May my heart be broken for those who’ve yet to turn. May I be as grieved as God, and yet still yearn How greater still, would your heart be broken? A love transcendent, riddled with mire, from the painful reality of our sinful desires. But the Potter acquiesced in his mercy and grace. A clay pot made second-rate - a service still found, yet truths of a further purpose abound Come, Lord God, let your work continue, That even though friends fall away and loved ones withdraw, I will stand firm in you God, not by works nor by law, Rather with the unrelenting faith exemplified in you And should you desire, should they grow in truth, may those once lost be returned in all glory. Amen

@eliesh3833

2 жыл бұрын

That was a well-written poem. And quite beautiful, too.

@gabicreightonbooksetc.

2 жыл бұрын

@Kenny Lee, I love this poem.❤️ Do you often write poetry?

@olutoluhi4241

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this Please share to a wider network.

@chuckw8391

10 ай бұрын

Beautiful, thank you, God Bless🙏🏼❤️

@edwardvgarrick8748

9 ай бұрын

God Bless and Thank you for this helps me to paint a image in my head when examining my own life. Christ be with you and amen

Came into this video worried about what would be said and concerned for my own faith. Left it completely assured of God's glory, with a "hardened" faith that God will carry out his will for us in righteousness and keep the promises he has made to his creations. God bless you Mike, Amen!

Hi Mike, I would first like to say I am beginning my walk with Jesus Christ and our all mighty heavenly father God. I've tried so many times to listen but feel I'm not worth the time but at the same time I feel ,see and understand the awesomeness when I'm in the presence of hearing the word and still look away. As you connect to translation in the bible seeing your commitment your passion your comprehensive connection explained ,I realise if I could see right through you the holy spirit is what I'd see. My heart is hardened repeatedly living how I've learnt and been taught thinking it's supported by the bible. I've never read the bible. I've watched Jesus movies but think i understand how to live by the bible just by understanding right from wrong but will do wrong acts any how. By the grace of God I have crossed your path and am understanding that what I know is partly learnt. While listening to you teach you have uncovered alot of who i am and so i feel this is a great place too begin. I pray that you and others pray for me in my journey to discovering my true potential. Life outside the bible world my mind is like my wondering eyes (no good) i need to understand the bible for all my intelligence and life's experiences keep leading me to discover the truth. I will continue to follow you , your awesomeness I will strive for because it looks just great on you.thankyou so much. in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

@jeffwarren6906

3 жыл бұрын

You have alot of insight and good self-reflection Tones Yolo . I will disagree with you though on "you understanding right and wrong " , yet never having read the Bible . Life lessons teach us about life , but , the Bible teaches us what the true understanding is in what God has provided to us ,, Romans c 3 vs 11 & 12 cleared that up for me , vs 11 - " There is none that understandeth , there is none that seeketh after God " , vs 12 - " They are all gone out of the way , they are together become unprofitable ; there is none that doeth good , no , not one " ... I'm sure you are smart . But you started one sentence by saying , " I need to understand the Bible " and finished it with " all my intelligence and lifes experiences keep leading me to the truth " ,, You might find subjective truth , but you will never know the objective truth of Gods word unless you learn it from the Bible . John c 17 vs 17 - " Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word is Truth " { that's Jesus speaking } .. Anyway , I just wanted you to know i'm praying for you . And since it has been a year that you posted this ,, I bet you have already come along way in Gods Word { the Bible } God Bless you Tones ,, many here are praying for you ....

@williamgodfrey2534

Жыл бұрын

Brother I just read a message that you wrote 4 years ago on Rick Winger channel and I just want to check with you and make sure you are growing in your walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother you wrote about me it sounded like and I know exactly how you felt. I am thankful that I found my Lord Jesus Christ 5 years ago now and I continue to walk with Him today and I can honestly say that had I not found my Lord I would not be here today. Brother I hope you are still following our Lord because you do matter and you are very important to me and our Lord Jesus Christ! God Bless you Brother!!!

2 Timothy 2.20-21 Also touches on the concept of vessels for common use vs vessels for honorable use, and teaches that one can cleanse themselves of the former in order to become the latter.

@zekdom

3 жыл бұрын

Heh, nice find.

@frodomocho1329

3 жыл бұрын

Very good! An alcoholic drug addict etc. becomes clean becomes usable to the Lord! Though a good Calvinist would say you didn't do that God did....

@Window4503

2 жыл бұрын

@@frodomocho1329 Because he did. We have nothing in us that can make us clean. Christ cleansed us, the Bible makes that clear. I’m Lutheran though, not Calvinist. We don’t adhere to all of TULIP

@ShepherdMinistry

2 жыл бұрын

@@frodomocho1329 Every good thing comes from above. Ex drug addict here.

Ok Mike, I’ve been studying this chapter for years and have been doing good in understanding in my recent years but your teaching on all this has seriously helped me understand certain parts that I didn’t understand. Thank you so much and just so you know out of the 200 teachings I’ve heard on this chapter you’re understanding of this chapter is actually the best I’ve heard and makes the most sense. Thank God for a man like you as you surely make it clear God did give us teachers for a reason.

@dakotafrantz4179

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah man he's good

@philabetshwanongrum6321

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah.... I totally agree... I just LOVE his teachings!!! so BIBLICALLY sound!!!🔥🔥🔥

@thereseservais924

3 жыл бұрын

Amen. Thank God for willing teaching us and opening our eyes and hearts to His goodness, love, grace, mercy and for His power to make those things work already in this world ! My heart shouts "Glory" to Him.

The first time I read this YEARS ago and in a different time in my life, I was so angry with God. I thought, “what kind of God are you”? and then he answered me and showed me his truth. Understanding the heart of God changed the lens of my view of this scriptures. He is good and only good all the time. He does no evil. The fact that he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, he knows our hearts. Also the reason I am not a Calvinist. Thank you for your love for God, his truth, and people.

@RUT812

Жыл бұрын

Amen! That’s the reason I’m not a Calvinist, either.

There is a profound saying, "The hot sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay". The hardening stems from the person's heart, they are not a new creation, they don't have a new heart that God creates within His people.

Thank you, Mike - "God is right, I'm wrong. If I disagree with God, I'm wrong. How much do I know?" - so true. God said in Isaiah, Who are you to be afraid of a man who will die, and forget the Lord your Maker ... It is our small view of God that causes the problems, and God's sovereignty creating free will is part of the picture, as well as His care and provision for His creatures.

I am jaw-dropped!! WOW! A millennial who is truly in love and reading God's infallible word!! PRAISE the LORD brother! I have just discovered you and have been blessed and shocked and awed by your teachings! STAY TRUE BRO! BLESS YOU!! WOW!

@pearlyq3560

6 жыл бұрын

I have only listened to three sermons thus far -- so I hope I haven't spoken too soon. We'll see if you perspective on the Jews is Biblical, but I suspect it is. Well done good and faithful servant! I am shocked and delighted! There IS a remnant! YEAH!

@Silence-and-Violence

5 жыл бұрын

There's plenty of us brother. Not necessarily with the depth of study and wisdom of this man, but there are lots of us millenials (and our next generation some are calling "z") who have come to Christ and love him with all our hearts. I was saved because of exposure and contact with a bunch of wonderful, Bible believing millenial Christians.

@Sadielady1978

5 жыл бұрын

He's not a millenial...Gen X or xennials to be more specific. It's a group between generations that experienced things like the rotary phone and the cell phone, no internet to dial up to WiFi, played outside all day but had technology, etc. We're a unique group 😊

@Rbl7132

5 жыл бұрын

Wow are you deceived!

@boopsnootandboogie

5 жыл бұрын

There's a lot of us out there. You just have preconceived ideas about us ;)

Thank you Mike Never worry about being lengthy etc I listen every day. Sometimes 5 years later God bless 🙏

Finding these sermons tears later but, fortunately, at the right time. Thanks, brother.

If Pharaoh was already defiant of God, then him just learning about God, His holiness and His power, would be enough to make Pharaoh harden his heart. God doesn't have to harden his heart directly. It's like God's saying, 'I'm going to harden his heart, by just being more and more Myself!'

@chadkndr

Ай бұрын

You would think the nature of Love itself would soften all hearts. Who could withstand Love in it's highest form?

@tfolbrix2879

25 күн бұрын

@@chadkndr I feel this way. I don’t know what to do. Here’s how it happened: Over months and months of crying out to God, I started to go and look at the Gospel from living waters and Heart searching of course, and I saw that my heart was inclined toward sin. I think it’s gotten worse, that I started to Despise the Lord. Now I feel Hardened and with not a fear of God. I need to be born again. To hate the darkness and let the light in. I don’t feel conviction, please pray for me. Also that I may be brought to the end of myself. I’m scared.

Okay so I’m kinda confused. At one point you said in refutation of calvinism you said it isn’t like God is choosing some and not choosing others but then you go on to say it’s more like God is active & not active in others. Isn’t that God “deciding” who to pursue & not to pursue?

A verse worth reflecting on: [+] ​​​​​​​​O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways ​​​​​​​and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? ​​​​​​​Return for the sake of your servants, ​​​​​​​the tribes of your heritage. ​​​ (Isa 63:17)

Thank you for serving up a true Scripture meal, not just milk. This is such a blessing!

This is the best biblical explanation of heart hardness I have heard. Also, so encouraging that it is not permanent and that we can pray for a heart softening for ourselves and our loved ones! Blessings!

This has been the best sermon for me! God wanted me to listen to this today. Answers major questions as well as speaks to me personally. My family will serve the Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

Greetings from London, England. I am so blessed by your teaching. Makes me really want to delve deeper into scripture and examine my heart and actions. Thank you and may the Lord continue to use you and bless your ministry.

The freewill question: even in Romans 9:20 I see an indication of God’s affirming our free will: “Nay, but oh man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” I believe it is, in part, pointing out that, if you were MERELY a molded thing, nothing BUT clay, you wouldn’t be able to open your mouth and make your complaint. The fact that clay can’t complain, proves that you are more than a molded thing, and have free will. Then he goes on to point out, that God has the right of a potter over his creations. I love your putting these things in context. Dig, dig, dig in the word. It’s definately work, but it is buried treasure, like it says in proverbs.

I have people tell me they know Jesus is the way, but won’t bow the knee. It’s devastating, but there is hope. There’s always hope in Christ.

@caviestcaveman8691

3 жыл бұрын

Its hard I see he is the way but its so hard for me and idk why I hate it!

@HitekaniBilankulu

Жыл бұрын

@@caviestcaveman8691 it's pride.

@caviestcaveman8691

Жыл бұрын

@Hitekani Bilankulu it's proof honestly...

Thank you very much for clearing up the situation for me. Those are thoughts that I had when I first read the Bible about the hardening of a heart and why God would do that. I knew that God had a good reason and that it was justified I just didn’t understand it. I think that there are some things in the Bible that at least myself that I don’t have the capability to understand or the Holy Spirit hasn’t given me that understanding yet. Praise God and thank you for helping me study his word. God bless you and your family and friends. Duane.

Thank you Mike! You’ve helped to make a couple of things biblically and personally click. The essence is that God does this partly to give the Pharaoh/ others a chance but also to His glory, to bring those others Israelites / some of us closer to Him, and saves us .... if we are able to see that. Really helps explain parts of my life. Puts a different slant on some tough things I went through and sadly people lost who no matter how much love I gave, they just got more and more abusive. God is just, God is love. Edit : on more reflection, just wow. Thank you again Mike! God bless

I wonder if he's winging it 😂 great sermons

@spiritualrearmament3266

4 жыл бұрын

If he's just the winger think how good the main man must be.😂

Thank you Brother Mike, I loved this. God is indeed sovereign, just, righteous, loving, holy, wize, patient, gracious beyond all our understanding. 🕊🙏💙🙌

What an amazing teaching. I'm very new in my walk. This teaching was encouraging. Mike thank you for your humility and care with scripture. May God continue to do great things with you.

@charlbrummer1055

8 ай бұрын

😅

Please pray for me I need your intercession

@saiyongdawn7756

5 жыл бұрын

💝

@watchgoose

3 жыл бұрын

Christ Himself is THE Intercessor.

@frame3139

3 жыл бұрын

Jesus in you, talk to HIM.

@zaazazza6555

3 жыл бұрын

You can’t use another sinful man as an intercessor, he is no better than you. Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.

As your teaching us about this......I feel this is my life as a younger man..............the understanding you bring to this is incredible.......thank you for this and being a teacher of God's truth.

A picture the Lord gave me relates to that old quote: the sun shines on the clay and butter, making one hard and one soft. Here it is: There are two soils. The Sun of Righteous shines on both soils with the intent to soften both. On both a seed is cast. One soil rejects the seed. The other soils receives the seed within a crack or cut (circumcision). Then the sun shines on the first soil. With no rain, the already hard soil gets harder and harder until all the water has left. This soil looks like those deserts starving for water with hexagon shaped cracks. Any rain just immediately dries up under such unshaded sun. The 2nd soil has just enough water in which the seed to root. The new leaves give shade to the soil. The roots break up the soil even more. Eventually a new tree grows and drops leaves which decays as organic matter, further softening the soil. The tree invites birds of the air to come who further fertilize and soften the ground below. The tree drops fruit and seeds within to continue to increase the next generation of soil softening. The moral: God does nothing wrong when hearts are hardened. All He does is good - send the sun, the rain and seed. The soil that rejects the voice of the word of God grows hard. As it is written, "when you hear my voice, harden not your hearts"!

@ryanteuscher7996

5 жыл бұрын

@Cory God chose to harden Pharoahs heart. However, Pharoahs response to Gods hardening was to not hearken to the voice of the Lord. I wonder how many times I've hardened my heart according to Gods will for my life. He definitely knows better than me. If I am hardened I will trust and wait on the rain.

@arcguardian

5 жыл бұрын

@@ryanteuscher7996 the Pharoah wasn't butter, he was clay. God hardens clay. Rejecting God is a choice.

@ryanteuscher7996

5 жыл бұрын

@@arcguardian never said it was butter I said that pharoah was offend at God rebuke of him. I'm saying Pharoah still had a choice after the hardening

@arcguardian

5 жыл бұрын

@@ryanteuscher7996 God didn't force Pharoah to be clay, pharoah chose the path of clay rather than the path of butter.

@ryanteuscher7996

5 жыл бұрын

@@arcguardian clay is softened by rain God gives the rain. God also gives the sun to Harden the Clay. We may sow and water but God gives the growth. Repent of ur New Age religion. Exodus 4:21 KJV - And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Seems to me that it goes like this Prepared for glory = prepared by God Prepared for wrath = prepared by works If you don't let God prepare you, he will let you prepare yourself, and it will be for wrath.

Gratitude of your insight on this teaching. Humility is growing as you share this Wisdom! God bless you for your gentle lovingkindness!!!! At 15 minutes into video a glorious moment of Grace in Mercy to Joy of Good. Your giggle gladdened this heart of Hearts.... of Praises to God. HUMBLED of your giggle! So sweet!

Merci Mike pour cette étude biblique. Thank you for that biblical study. Romuald, Paris France 🇫🇷

I was studying Romans and chapter 9 through me for a loop. Prayed to God about it because I immediately thought this is contradictory to the gospel explained in the rest of the Bible. Then I found these teachings that make sense. I love how you explain things by looking at different scriptures on the topic that brings understanding. Very grateful for the way you teach.

What a great talk. When God's Word is preached in fullness as written, without any concern for how it will be received, people are healed! This is such "meaty" Truth.

Thank you so much Mike for this study on Hardness of heart. I love you brother. May Jesus Christ bless you, as you have blessed me immensely through your videos.

Going back and watching these old verse-by-verse series... This is SO GOOD. A clear teaching. 💜

Thank you for demonstrating what it actually means to teach Scripture. It has been very refreshing for me to listen to your teachings in the midst of a world being influenced so powerfully by false prophets who infiltrate the Body with ‘good music’. I appreciate so much your sound Biblical teaching. I will be praying for you as you become a beacon of light for so many including me. A voice of reason amidst the chaos. Blessings to you and your family.

Thank you for this study, it has really helped me understand the position that both sides take when approaching this scripture and is helping to soothe the voice in my head that says that God is not merciful, that he actually causes people to be lost. I know this voice is the devil trying to convince me that God is not who he says he is: a merciful and loving God.

Mike, I am a new viewer from the UK of your material online. I have to say I am being greatly blessed by your talks/sermons. The clarity, humility, and your way of delivery is something that strongly resounds with me. God bless you as you continue teach in a very real and down to earth yet authoritative way.

I loved this!!! Though I may not understand it completely it was amazingly awesome to me. Thank you so much for sharing this. 💗✌😇

Awesome video and you explained BEAUTIFULLY this hard topic. I hear a lot of wisdom that the Holy Spirit speaks through you. God has definetely used you according to His ways.

man mike you really help me understand the grace and purposes of God so much more clearly, God Bless

I pray that my heart will soften

As a student and teacher of bible theology I have to say this has got to be the most in depth explanation I have ever heard. Thank you.

Thank you for this. You handle the Word with boldness, depth and humility, a combination that is increasingly hard to find. Lord bless and guide your ministry!

another way of looking at it is to see "hardening" as God amplifying what the person feels , it's like we do when someone is jealous of us , we rub it in

Thank you for this teaching! This cleared up so many questions I had.

Thanks for the clarity of these verses. Very good teachings

You are a blessing to many Mike. Thank you Brother, God Bless - Skorp, Western Australia.

I was studying Romans 9 after a discussion I had with fellpw brothers and sisters and I encountered your ir teaching and it felt like manna from the sky. Thanks you are a blessing to God's Kingdom and I thank God for you, as I ascribe all glory to God alone 🙂🙏

am not here to defend it am not here to attack it, that's not my place! Am here to say what it says!! wooooooo! Thats the most beautiful thing a pastor can say bout Gods Word!!!! Bless u Mike!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this careful teaching of a hard to understand truth! I love the reminder of the last point. I dare not trust my heart but humbly seek God's working in my life.

Hey Pastor Mike, just wanted to let you know, just like Vernon Magee, you teachings are still working years later! This Teaching is absolute Fire! Wow! Like you said it’s so awesome when the sword of the Spirit shows us a revelation of Gods word! I always knew that God harden peoples hearts, just could never really explain it. And your interpretation of why Jesus spoke in parables, is so Powerful! Thank you Sir! Look forward to diving into more of your teachings! 🔥🔥💪🔥🔥

Thank you Pastor Mike for the inspirational message.

Yes... good points! Also, if you read Romans 9:22-23 “What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath PREPARED (perfect participle) for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He PREPARED BEFOREHAND (aorist indicative) for glory.” Notice that there are different tenses for the action of “preparation.” When God prepared the vessels for wrath, notice its missing the “beforehand” that is applied to the vessels of mercy “prepared beforehand” for glory. So, Romans 9:22 simply says that the vessels of wrath are “made” for destruction. Though this does happen in the past, one cannot say this happened before birth; otherwise, it would have had to use “beforehand.” Why is this significant... because it also says that God “endured with much patience” (past tense) with the vessels of wrath “prepared for destruction.” And if, this “preparation” for destruction didn’t happen before birth, then there must have been a period in the past when they had a chance to respond to God’s patience. A final note, notice that these vessels are prepared for future events- “destruction (v.22)” and “glory (v.23).” This makes sense with Romans 8:29- (“predestined to conform to the image of the Son”) and Eph 1:5 (“predestined to the adoption of sons”), which also happens in the future according to Rom 8:23. In light of these tenses, it follows that God doesn’t predestine people to believe the gospel; rather, He predestines the believers of Christ unto conformity, adoption to sons, and to GLORY.

@rlfoxjr

5 жыл бұрын

Can I put something out there to ponder ? Divide the WORD of GOD 2 Timothy 2:15 one side of the SCRIPTURE is Intent the other side of the SCRIPTURE is cause and effect, through history they run side by side, in our falling state we see life through cause and effect it’s something we did to bring judgment on ourselves, God has SPOKEN but we are rebellious toward His authority, the gospel of moral repentance is preached and to those who turn from there unmoral state and make Jesus Christ lord they will be forgiven, those who do not will be put in hell after the white throne judgment, causes and effect started at Genesis 1:1 Seeing life through INTENT, GOD “wanting to show HIS wrath and make HIS power Known” Romans 9:22a, now the new man see life as GOD wanting to do something, we see through one lump of clay HE made two vessels one will be used for honor the other for dishonor the key thing is they will be used. Out of every generation the vessels for honor are vessels born loved to be used for a vessel for HIS SON, HIS SON in them will as Peter said in 1 Peter 1:10 and 11 paraphrasing CHRIST revealing the work of GOD declare the thing HE will bring about and the purpose being John 14:29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it comes to pass, you may believe” the REVELATION of things coming is JESUS in these vessels for honorable use by GOD and this is why the our loved. Noe the vessels for dishonorable use are the vessels born hated there born hated just because of HIS intent, HE wanted to show HIS wrath they are “prepared for destruction” just because of HIS INTENT these vessels are born in every generation and will show HIS wrath in every generation now, but not all born hated will stay in that state, in every generation GOD is drawing HIS creation to HIMSELF through First the creation and second HE has always had HIMSELF a witness, if the vessels born hated are stirred up to ponder life because of the drawing of GOD, GOD then will start to open there eyes and ears HE will start to conform them to the image of HIS SON Romans 8 with HIS SON now in them they are vessels loved by GOD and used for honor, Hebrews 10:5 “Therefore, when HE came into the world, HE said; Sacrifice and offering YOU did not desire, But a body YOU have prepared for ME.” To see life through the INTENT of GOD we repent of the way we where seeing life to now see it as GOD has revealed it through the vessels for honorable uses, for me I could never walk as JESUS walked but as one who has died to self I am amazed to observe GOD using my body prepared for HIS SON to proclaim the work HE is doing. Every thing in the SCRIPTURE is there to revile how a person see the GOD of the Hebrews, just something to ponder our not. GOD bless

@progodspeed2311

5 жыл бұрын

Roy Fox I’m not entirely sure of what you’re saying, but correct me if am wrong... God intends to show what He desires to happen, but from our perspective, it’s all cause and effect. Regardless... we find the same grammatical construction of “God desiring” to do something in 1 Timothy 2:4, where it says “God desires all men to be saved and come to repentance.” Now, knowing that your claim an “effectual desiring/intent” on the part of God, you will have to claim that “all men” doesn’t mean all men. But we know from context and every other instance in the Bible where it says “all men” that it means everyone with out exception. Being this is the case... “Desiring” doesn’t necessarily mean “going to do.” It’s false to say that Romans 9:22 shows “intent”, because “intent” means “going to do.” If that was the case, then Romans 9:22 and 1 Tim 2:4 is a clear erroneous contradiction!

@rlfoxjr

5 жыл бұрын

Romans 9:22 does show intent GOD showed us this in Romans 9:17 paraphrasing the only reason GOD raised up Pharaoh was to show HIS power in him and that HIS NAME may be declared in all the earth, that’s understanding is REVELATION that came down from GOD concerning Pharaoh, in Isaiah 46 the REVELATION given to us is He has SPOKEN it and HE will bring it to pass which you can go back to Romans 9:12 the older shall serve the older then HE moves things in to position to fulfill what HE SPOKE using the vessels from the same lump of clay. In John 14:29 “And now I have told you before it come, that when it does come to pass, you will believe” if a man see live as cause and affect then they project to those around them a wimpy GOD but intent shows all is for a reason as a servant HE can never disappoint me because I’m HIS to use how HE likes, The JESUS I made LOAD is the one that came down from Heaven, brother step back and ponder from Genesis to Revelation and tell me what is GOD doing. Thanks for your patience with a fellow servant. GOD bless

@progodspeed2311

5 жыл бұрын

Roy Fox Yes, Romans 9:17 shows intent while 9:22 elaborates that action of God in more detail. Two things to note: 1.) When Paul writes that about Pharaoh and God hardening “whom He wills” in 9:17-18, the audience claims that it’s not fair in v.19; to which Paul replies that God- as a potter- does have a right over the vessels to do what He wishes (9:20-21). Notice that v.22 is a further response to justify God’s actions as a potter... “... What if God desiring to show His wrath and make His power known BORE with much patience prepared for destruction” (v.22). Yes... God is willing to show His wrath and He will do just that, but Paul continues to say this doesn’t happen before the period of God’s patience is over with them. In the simplest of terms, God does desire to harden sinners to demonstrate His wrath, but He withholds those desires in the period of patience. It doesn’t say that God automatically hardens people as they come. 2.) Does even Romans 9:17 show “intent”? What does it mean that God “raised up” pharaoh for this purpose? The true question one must ask is... “Is ‘raising up’ someone for a purpose equivalent to ‘creating’ someone for a purpose?” Well... “raising up” someone is the same as “propping” them up as someone props up a chair when it falls. If you read that OT reference about the Pharaoh in Exodus... God says in the verse right before that God could’ve killed Pharaoh long before Moses’ confrontation (Exo 9:15), but has raised him up for this purpose (9:16). So, Exodus is not saying that God created Pharoah to destroy him, but “allowed him to live even longer” to demonstrate His wrath.

@progodspeed2311

5 жыл бұрын

Romans 9:12 is very interesting. That’s the section where God said that “before the twins had done anything good or bad, He determined that the older should serve the younger.” Yes, notice that has nothing to do with salvation, but rather who would be the one to continue Abraham’s blessing for the nation of Israel. This makes sense... but why you may ask! Because God is looking at these twins “before doing anything good or bad.” God is looking at these children as blank slates having done nothing wrong or good. Why would God choose to harden someone before they did anything bad? Remember that Esau severely disregarded his birthright for a morsel of soup (Heb 12:16). Yet, God didn’t take into account Esau’s future action of severe disobedience when He deciding between the two. Yes, even if Esau didn’t reject birthright, Isaac still would’ve been instructed to give his blessing to Jacob. Therefore, there is no way to conclude that God created Esau to simply die for his sins while choosing Jacob to be the faithful one and all... it just doesn’t follow (even though the Calvinist insist we look Romans 9:12 in that manner).

Truly good stuff. Thank you for everything you did and you do brother.

If you could imagine a father disciplining his child, and in the middle of the discipline, instead of the child becoming humbled, become even more emboldened in defiance against their father. The intent of God is to humble the proud that the proud may obtain mercy, but for the strong-willed, it only serves to agitate them more, aka the hardening of God

What a true blessing, stay encouraged, God has many treasures set up in Heaven for your faithfulness and heartfelt sermons

This was really good, it’s really important to get into specifics with this subject and this sermon really helped in understanding those.

Love your dedication Mike! I think the best reformed perspective on hardening I’ve seen is that “hardening is the playing out in time of God’s eternal decree of reprobation”. In the same way that regeneration, faith, and repentance are the means in time of God’s eternal decree of election. Love your ministry brother, praying for you and Sarah Zimmerman ❤️

@emilycooper442

Ай бұрын

So we're pawns on a chessboard and not actually loved

Thank you Mike for your humble approach to interpreting scripture.

45:35 Haha!! I love your way of teaching Mike, thank you for the laughter, keep on the good work.

I have recently discovered your channel and teachings, and I am learning so much! You are truly gifted by God as a Bible expositor and teacher.

Beautifully covered Bro. Mike. Well done.

Thank you Mike and thank you Holy Spirit for giving Mike such insight into the scripture! As a former drug addict and now an asst.pastor, I appreciate how you have humbly and thoroughly expounded on passages that have given me difficulties for a long time...as well as how you steer these teachings back toward ourselves and their applications in our own lives. I just stumbled upon your channel seeking out the Word ( discarding the rocks until I find a gem)..also, thanks for bringing home the danger of my own heard being hardened .. great job!

Thank you for the content you put out.

This was beautiful, Mike. Thank you for your study and scholarship to explain these difficult passages so clearly and with inspiration. May God continue to bless you-and us, through you.

You are an absolutely wonder and humble "normal potato"....wow....love your teachings with all of my heart and you always instruct us to let the scriptures be our final word. God bless you. Thank you so much.

Time to teach... as a master... God has a plan and He will do His will.

LOL your "second" voice is my favorite!! I'm so grateful for the time and effort you put into your channel. thank you!!

I thank God for you. You had me in tears. O God is so good. I am so joyful. God's word is healing and gives hope. I am so exited. Don't ever doubt God.

@alicepeterson8975

3 жыл бұрын

AMEN PRAISE THE LORD!!🙏💖MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU

"The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins." (Charles Spurgeon)

@carolmaplesden916

2 жыл бұрын

do you know the name of that sermon

@garyp.9073

Жыл бұрын

Spurgeon got it wrong too. Mike totally missed the mark on this one. It was a long way for nothing. Check out the Idiom of Permission.

Excellent lesson! So blessed that I somehow found your You Tube channel.❤

Love this, very thorough and (IMO) philosophically powerful! Thank you for your heart for the truth. Side note: when you said more people deserve to have their hearts hardened, I actually thought, "I deserve to have my heart hardened. We ALL do..." because we are attached to these corrupt bodies that fight against all things holy. We deserve to be handed over to what our bodies crave: destruction and chaos. And yet, through the grace and mercy of Christ (by His sacrifice), His Spirit renews us inwardly day by day so that we can fix our eyes on what is eternal, and live accordingly in opposition to the hardening we justly merit.

'For he spoke not as the scribes do but as one who has authority.' Thankyou.

I love Mike Wagner I just recently watched his videos and he has opened my thinking and faith in Christ

Great study. Glad I found this even 5 years after the fact. I took 5 pages of notes! Thanks so much.

WOW. Explained carefully. May God bless you Mike 🙏

God bless you so much for this explanation !

Amazing teaching on this! Thank you so much for this!!

That is great teaching Mike. Remain gracious

When you reject God, you lose a sound mind. God allows their imaginations to take them captive. / love your teachings in the word, thank you †

Excellent study! Thank-you so much Mike!

Great teaching again. It is interesting that when God hardens the hearts of the ungodly, he does so often through the message or through circumstances, and not by some supernatural rewiring of the human heart. It also explains why we as Christians can become hardened to the word of God, even becoming subject to the judicial hardening of God if we remain stiff necked, unwilling to change direction.

Great teaching! Thank you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! PRAISE GOD! GOD BLESS YOU!😭

Fabulously well explained Mike.

Thank you for this Mike

Sound teaching. Points to ponder: Mark 3:5 - [Jesus] looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the *hardness* of their hearts. Mark 16:14 - [Jesus] appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and *hardness* of heart... Hebrews 3:13 - ... exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be *hardened* through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 4:7 - Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not *harden* your hearts.

@timffoster

5 жыл бұрын

@Last Days Detective ...So far this is a good list where man is cited as the cause for his heart being hard. Now let's get a list of all the places where God is cited as the cause for hardening man's heart. (there are dozens. literally) And while we're at it, let's find a list of places where God says He wanted to soften a man's heart, but wasn't able to because the man wouldn't let Him. (I don't know of any. If one gets desperate, Matt 23:37 comes close, but one would need to believe that "Jerusalem" and "Jerusalem's children" are one and the same. The grammar doesn't easily support this interpretation.) And for good measure, let's find verses where God softened someone's heart w/o them knowing it. Acts 9 (S/Paul's conversion would be a classic example, but there are many others) And lastly, let's find verses where man wants his heart to be softer, but God hardened it. Like Is 63:17 So it would appear that God can harden hearts. Man can harden hearts. God can soften hearts. Man can soften hearts. But the fact that God can harden someone's heart even if they want something different (or w/o them knowing) means God holds the trump card, doing whatever He wants. Man is never given that kind of authority/latitude in the Bible.

@lynnewilley9464

4 жыл бұрын

Excellent scriptures that do show that Jesus grieived over people who hardened their hearts ( in Israel) God isn't causing hardening he longsuffered loving them and wishing all would come to be saved but yeah they didn't so he let go or something and let it happen but he kept that parable thing going to keep things secretive...I mean nobody even the disciples knew he was gonna die on the cross and be resurrected..till it happened..

@bufficliff8978

Жыл бұрын

@@timffosterPoint against your Isaiah citation for your purpose of displaying a time where someone wanted their heat softened but God hardened it instead: That citation was the soft-hearted Isaiah praying that God would not harden Israel--not the Israelites requesting softness for themselves. Isaiah was telling Israel to repent and they refused and mocked him. It wasn't a case of the people wishing for soft hearts but remaining hardened against their will.

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

@@bufficliff8978 hm... who is the "us" in that verse , I wonder?

This isnt taught a lot - I really appreciate you tackling these kinds of topics; important but slightly obscure

Love your sermons and explanations👍

My Father in law had a hardend heart . He was just down right evil . He new the truth of the Gospel, but his declaration was that he would never bow before Jesus or confess Jesus is Lord ! We believers know that he will be doing both! He died cursing Jesus. I had over 40 years of this foul wicked person in my life and children's lives . Yet to the end we prayed for him and spoke to him about Jesus Christ . This has been the only experience I have had with someone who's heart had been hardened by God . Very , Very ugly situation!