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No man is born with an evil heart of unbelief, it is formed in us through the processes of life and time. As we go through life, many things happen; some are good and some are bad. But we have different reactions to the many things that happen to us and around us. It is these reactions that may develop into various complexes and dispositions.
[HEBREWS 3:12 AMP] “Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God”.
If the Bible says we should take heed lest an evil heart of unbelief enter into us causing us to depart from God, then it means we can prevent an evil heart from forming in us. We shall study 7 things that can cause an evil heart to be formed;
1. Evil communication:
An evil heart of unbelief forms through evil communication. Evil communication corrupts good manners. The friend of an angry man learns of his ways and gets destroyed. The companion of a harlot, the same is a great waster.
2. Misunderstanding the times and what must be done:
An evil heart was formed in Judas because he misunderstood the times. He did not have the spiritual understanding to know that Mary had prepared the body of Christ for burial when she anointed Him with her box of ointment. At the time, it seemed to him that only the pastor is enjoying. An evil heart formed in Judas when he felt that Mary breaking a box of alabaster ointment to anoint Jesus was a waste.
3. Seeing the trials and temptations of your pastor:
Immature believers get discouraged when they see the affliction of their pastor. Apostle Paul therefore warned the church not to be discouraged by his afflictions. When Peter saw the affliction of the Lord, he denied Him and eventually, he even went back to his former fishing career.
4. Loving the present world:
An evil unbelieving heart could form in any man and cause him to depart from God when he or she falls in love with the present world. Demas loved the present world and depart to Thessalonica. He abandoned his Apostle and the missions because he loved the present world.
5. The seeming success story of others who have departed:
Another factor that can lead to the forming of an evil heart in you is the seeming success story of others who departed. My son, when sinners entice you, don’t follow them.
6. When the rewards of serving the Lord delay in coming:
In the book of Malachi, the people said, “what profit is there in serving the Lord.” They had an evil heart because they saw the prosperity of the wicked and their own breakthrough appeared to be delaying.
7. Your own prosperity and fatness:
The Bible teaches in Deuteronomy that Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked and treated lightly the rock of his Salvation. The deceitfulness of riches can lead to an evil heart of unbelief.
I pray that there will not be an evil and unbelieving heart in any of us; to distrust or treat lightly the rock of our salvation.
Be blessed; I love you!
Noah Simpe Bediako
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Comment…God bless you pastor for this powerful message. I pray that I will be able to overcome the 7 ways by which an evil heart of unbelief can form in people