An Evil Heart of Unbelief

1. An Evil Heart of Unbelief What is it? How is it caused? How can it be avoided?

2. Hebrews 3:12-13 Beware, brethren, 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. 

3. Background The Hebrew Christians had been facing trials and persecutions because of their religion. Some had fallen away. The epistle to the Hebrews was written to encourage the rest not to develop “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” But what is an evil heart of unbelief? How is an evil heart of unbelief caused? How can an evil heart of unbelief be avoided?

4. What IsAn Evil Heart? It is not man’s physical heart, but his spiritual heart that can become evil.

5. What IsAn Evil Heart? “By an easy transition the word [heart] came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements” (Vine's p. 297).

6. What IsAn Evil Heart? It is his intellectual, emotional, ethical and volitional natures combined.

7. What IsAn Evil Heart? It is the seedbed for all things good & evil in man.

8. Matthew 12:35; 15:19 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 

9. What IsAn Evil Heart? An evil heart contains mostly evil treasure and is therefore set on evil.

10. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? There are two kinds of unbelief. Doctrinal - Not believing) Practical - Not seeking)

11. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

12. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? There are two kinds of unbelief. Doctrinal - Not believing Practical - Not seeking

13. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? There are two kinds of unbelief. Doctrinal - Not believing Practical - Not seeking

14. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? There are two kinds of unbelief. Doctrinal - Not believing Practical - Not seeking

15. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? Unbelief in the immediate context.

16. Hebrews 3:7-11 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,In the day of trial in the wilderness,Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,And saw My works forty years.Therefore I was angry with that generation,And said, 'They always go astray in their heart,And they have not known My ways.'So I swore in My wrath,'They shall not enter My rest.' "

17. Hebrews 3:16-19 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Is this doctrinal or practical unbelief?

18. Hebrews 4:6-7, 11 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts." Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.  "Obstinacy, obstinate rejection of the will of God." Clearly, this is practical unbelief.

19. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? Belief and unbelief may co-exist.

20. Mark 9:14-16 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"

21. Mark 9:17-18 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

22. Mark 9:19-20 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

23. Mark 9:21-24 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 

24. Matthew 17:19-21 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." 

25. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? An evil heart of unbelief is a heart that is indifferent to what God wants done. That is, it has no intention of obeying God.

26. What IsAn Evil Heart of Unbelief? The practical unbelief of the Jews is a warning to Christians.

27. 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

28. 1 Corinthians 10:6-7 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

29. 1 Corinthians 10:8-11 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

30. What Causesan Evil Heart of Unbelief? Can be caused by failing to understand the role of tribulations and persecutions.

31. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

32. 1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 

33. Matthew 13:21 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 

34. Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 

35. What Causesan Evil Heart of Unbelief? Can be caused by not fully trusting God.

36. Exodus 16:1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt.

37. Exodus 16:2-3 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." 

38. Exodus 17:1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.

39. Exodus 17:2-3 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, "Give us water, that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?" And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" 

40. Numbers 14:1-3 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" 

41. Numbers 21:4-5 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 

42. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

43. What Causesan Evil Heart of Unbelief? Can be caused by the love of the world.

44. 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

45. Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 

46. Luke 8:14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 

47. 2 Timothy 4:9-10 Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 

48. What Causesan Evil Heart of Unbelief? Can be caused by overconfidence.

49. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

50. How Can One Avoidan Evil Heart of Unbelief? Avoiding the development of an evil heart of unbelief is a matter of sheer determination.