DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART - CRUCIFY YOUR FLESH (Be led in the Spirit)
Rom 7:15 For what I am doing, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. For WHAT I WILL TO DO, that I DO NOT PRACTICE; but what I hate, that I do.
(Ref Ex 13:17; 2Pet 2:22; Ps 50:18 thief; Mat 27:17 Barabbas)
Hardening of heart is not only the stumbling block of sinners but also traditional christians. From a sinner they become a Pharisee. By hardening their hearts, they refuse to obey and thus become unbelievers and thus face the God's wrath. As a result we do not understand what we have to do and do what we are not supposed to. To understand this, lets look at Rom 7:15 and both the parts of this verse.

1-For what I am doing, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND - (Because our HEART are HARDENED leading to UNBELIEF) We do not UNDERSTAND since our Hearts are Hardened.
Mark 3:5 Jesus was angered, being grieved by the HARDNESS OF THIER HEART...
6:52 they had not UNDERSTOOD about the loaves, because their HEARTs were HARDENED.
8:17 Jesus:Do you not yet perceive nor UNDERSTAND about the bread? Is your HEART still HARDENED?
These 2 verses clearly state that people fail to understand when their hearts are hardened. These verses also show that they did not understand "about the bread/loaves". Bread represents the "Word of God". Jesus said he is the "Bread of Life" (John 6:36). We not only live by bread but by the "Word of God" (Luke 4:4). So when our hearts are hardened we do not understand the Word/Will of God.

Hardening of Hearts leads to Unbelief
Mk 16:14 He appeared to the 11 and rebuked their UNBELIEF & HARDNESS of HEART, because they DID'NT BELIEVE those who saw Him after He rose.
Act 19:9 when some were HARDENED and DID NOT BELIEVE, but spoke evil of the Way, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples.
Heb 3:8 Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not HARDEN YOUR HEARTS as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 11 So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest. 19 because of UNBELIEF.
(Ref x14:12; Acts 7:51 stiff-neck & uncircumcised; Rom 2:5 HARDNESS=wrath in judgment).
The above verses state that when we harden our heart, we not only fail to understand but this results in unbelief. Because we cannot believe what we cannot understand.

ALSO NOTE:- God hardens whom He wills
The Pharoah hardened his heart, (Ex 5:2; 7:13,22; 8:15,19,32; 9:7,34) but in real God hardened him. (Ex 4:21; 7:3; 12; 10:1,20,27; 11:10; 14:4,17). Similarly God hardens the heart of people and punish them. Let us not be one of them.
Rom 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He HARDENS.
John 12:40 He blinded their eyes and HARDENED their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes or understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. (Isa 6:9)
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

2-WHAT I WILL TO DO, I DO NOT PRACTICE; but what I hate; I do - (be led in the Spirit & crucify the flesh) This is due to the miscommunication between the flesh and the spirit. Our Flesh and Spirit always clash. (Gal 4:28). Our spirit is willing by flesh is week (Mat 26:41). So our Spirit wants to do the good, but our flesh is misleading us into sin to such and extent that in extreme cases, it takes over us and its not us who sin but the sin that dwells in us (Rom 7:17). But if we crucify, siffer and weaken our physical-flesh, our spirit grows stronger and takes control of us. Finally sin excapes and it is not us who live but Christ that lives in us.(Gal 2:20)
Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that YOU DO NOT DO THE THINGS YOU WISH. 24 And those who are Christ’s have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS and desires.
1Pet 4:1 Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HAS CEASED FROM SIN.
Heb 2:14 He Himself through death destroyed him who had the power of death, the devil
1 Cor 15:42 In the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is SOWN IN WEAKNESS, it is RAISED IN POWER. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body
1Pet 3:18 Christ suffered to bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT.
Rom 8 3 ... He condemned sin in the flesh, 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 13 if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you live

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We need to crucify the flesh and give strength and control to the spirit in 5 ways.

HOW TO CRUCIFY THE FLESH
1) Humble Ourselves
Pride hardens the heart - So We need to Humble Ourselves. This is one of the main teaching of Christ. Pride is the main thing that God hates.
Prov 6:16 God hates 7 things ; 17 A PROUD look...
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
1 Pet 5:5 younger submit yourselves to elders. be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the PROUD, But gives grace to the HUMBLE.
2 Chro 7:14 if My people will HUMBLE themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Matt 18:4Whoever HUMBLES himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Phil 2:8(being in the form of God)8 found in appearance as a man, Jesus HUMBLED Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus exhibits the height of humility by coming in human form and then humbles himself to death, that too the death at the cross. Jesus washes the feet of His disciples to show humility and expects his disciples to do the same. However, the only person who washes His feet is a sinner.
John 13:5 Jesus began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 8 Jesus said, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. 14 If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (Ref Mat 16:23)
Luke 7:37 a woman who was a sinner, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

2) Fast
Jesus talks about fasting in Matt 9 where he expects us to fast. In Matt 17, he states that deliverance will occur only thru fasting and prayer. To strengthen our spirit we need to weaken our physical flesh. This way the flesh grows weak but the Spirit grows stronger. When we fast and our flesh is week, we do not fall easily to lust, greed, jealousy, anger, gluttony and sin. This is why Jesus fasted 40 days after his Baptism(s).
Mat 9:15 Jesus said the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then His friends will fast. (Compare 1 Sam 12:22)
Mat 17:21 this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
In 1 Kings 13, a prophet misled by an older false prophet stops his fasting and is cursed to be eaten by a lion and thus dies.
Some of the instances where fasting brought out victory against the enemy are:-
In Judg 20:26 after losing twice to the tribe of Benjamin, the children of Israel, fasted that day and this time the Lord gave them victory of Benjamin
In 1 Sam 7:6 the Israelites at mizpah fasted that day and won over the palestines

STRENGTHEN THE SPIRIT 3) Pray
Let us pray in one accord, turning away from sin, with fasting, with forgiveness, being watchfull, beleiving, fervently, without ceasing, sacrificing, lifting up hands, with worship and hymns and following the doctrine with fellowship in Christ. Below are some references to the 12 points.
For more details of the 12 points, with an example of the victory of Israelites under Samuel over the Philistines in 1 Sam 7:3-10 Click here.
In one Accord - Act 1:14a all continued with one accord in prayer ...
Supplication - Act 1:14b all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication
Repent - 2 Chro 7:14 (If my people will pray and turn from wickedness, I will forgive and heal them.)
Fast - Mat 17:18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him 21 Jesus said this (deliverance) kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting
Forgive - Matt 5:44 pray for those who spitefully persecute you / Mar 11:25 when praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him
Watch - Matt 26:41 Watch and Pray, the spirit is willing but the flesh is week
Believe - Mat 21:22 whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Without Ceasing - 1 Thes 5:17 pray without ceasing
Fervently - Jam 5:16b The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Sacrifice - Rom 12 offer yourselves as a living sacrifice
Lift Hands - 1 Tim 2:8 pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Worship - Act 16:24Paul and Silas, though in bondage prayed with hymns to God and were set free.
Doctrine & Fellowship - Act 2:42 they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers

4) Read the Word of God
The Word of God strengthens our spirit with spiritual food and increases our wisdom in the following ways stated below. For more details of the Word of God, click here for 2 related articles on Mystery or Word of God.
Edifies & gives Life - Jesus is the Bread of Life, the true manna. Just like food gives us life, the Word of God is a spiritual food that edifies us for a strong spiritual life preparing us for everlasting life. His Truth gives us Life. (John 14:6)
Mat 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (Comp Exo 16:15)
Cleanses - It cleanses us from sin with its truth away from the darkness of our sin and past.
John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Ephe 5:26 that He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse her (Church) with the washing of water by the word,
Saves - It teaches us truth from the wrong and leads us out of sin into slavation.
John 5:24 he who hears My word & believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life & shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 8:51 if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.
Judges - It judges the right from the wrong. Jesus judges to save not to destroy. Its our choice if we want to be saved or not. We bring the judgement on oursleves.
John 12:47 ...I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 28 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
Protects - Heb 4:12 The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Ref Mat 10:34/Ref 1:16)
Eph 6:17b And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Heals - God created the world with this Words. Jesus is the Word of God. Just a single word can heal.
Mat 8:8 The centurion said "...just say the word, and my servant will be healed.(Luke 7:7) 16...he drove out the spirits with a word and healed the sick.
Strengthens - 1 John 2:14 ...Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
1 John 3:6a Whoever abides in Him (Word of God) does not sin...
1 John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed (Word of God) remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

5) Be filled and led in the Holy Spirit
Rom 8:1 There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you live 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.

As we have seen above the Holy Spirit can help us overcome the sins of the flesh. Jesus Himself said the Holy Spirit would help us by guiding us in the truth and remind us of the Word.
John 14:26 the HELPER, the Holy Spirit...will TEACH you all things, and REMIND YOU my teachings
John 16:13 the SPIRIT OF TRUTH...will GUIDE you into all truth...

The Holy Spirit can stop us from entering into danger and it can also help us chose the better alternative as in the belwo examples.
Acts 10:19 the Spirit SAID to Peter, 3 men are seeking you. 11:12 the Spirit TOLD Peter to go with them, doubting nothing
Acts 16:6 they were STOPPED BY the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
Acts 21:4 disciples told Paul THRU the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

For more about the Holy Spirit, Click here

6) Be Born Again
1 John 5:18/3:9 whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. Conclusion:- Do not harden your hearts but crucify the flesh. Humble yourselves; Fast; Pray; Read the Word; Be Led in the Spirit & Walk in the Spirit.