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5 sermons cite this verse
… Now quotes from the Old Testament. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, and that's a reference to the Old Testament, inspired by the Holy Spirit and continuing to be spoken to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, here's what it says. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness. Today, you see what the author of Hebrews is doing. He's taking a passage that was many years ago when God's people were rebellious, and now he's applying it here to this congregation of people and saying that moment, that warning, that word from the Holy Spirit spoken years ago is still with you. And that same Holy Spirit speaks that word to us today if you hear his voice. So here's the thought I encourage you with as you enjoy the music this evening. You think, how should I listen to these songs? Well, enjoy the common grace gifts of instruments and singing and music and enjoy the preparation from all of our musicians. …
You might think that if you were alive in the time of the tribulation, you'd respond to the gospel. Israel is indicted here because when God had put Himself on full display, on such a display as the world had never known, God brought to Egypt ten plagues by which He liberated the people, and they went toward the Promised Land, and yet they died in the wilderness. They resisted God. They turned their back on God. They did not honor God. They did not enter into rest. Today is the day. Today is all you have. For some of you here today may not even be a tomorrow, but while it is day, and while you may, don't harden your heart. Enter into the rest that is provided to all who embrace Christ as Savior and Lord. Father, Your Word comes to us in power like no other word. No word of man can match the power of the Word of God. And we know it is true, and it bears the imprint of veracity. …
Therefore (as the Holy Spirit says) "today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 3:7. THE Holy Spirit says, "Today." There is a great talk about yesterday. There are some who will have it that there are none like the days that are past—"the good old times." There are some who glory in what they did years ago. Their work was done yesterday. They have long ago retired from the business of life, but still they are accustomed to indulge in the recollections of what they did in days gone by. Yesterday is also dwelt upon in lamentation and even in despair. Yesterday! Alas, opportunities are past. "The harvest is past, and the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Yesterday we lived in sin. Yesterday we rejected Christ. Yesterday we stifled conscience and, therefore, despair says that it is now all over. Time is gone. Closed forever are the gates of Mercy—the death warrant is signed—the gallows are erected for the execution. Now it is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit, neither that we may take comfort in it, nor despair about it, said not, "yesterday"—He said, "Today." He points us not to the past—(we shall have to look at that and weep over it, or bless God for it either with repentance or gratitude)—He points us not to the time of the Flood but to today. A very large proportion of mankind, you will find, delight in dwelling upon the word, "tomorrow." Oh what will they not do tomorrow! Sin shall be rejected tomorrow! The Savior shall be sought tomorrow! Clasped in the arms of faith, they will exult in the peace of Christ tomorrow! They will pray tomorrow! They will serve God tomorrow! Alas, of all the nets of Satan as a fowler for the souls of men, perhaps there is none in which he took in more that in this big net of procrastination. "I will—I will," and there it ends! "I go, Sir," and he went not. To resolve and re-resolve, and then to die—the same is the melancholy history of thousands of hearers who bid fair for Heaven a thousand times and yet will never enter there! …
Let us, therefore, labour to submit to the sovereignty of God. God insists, that his sovereignty be acknowledged by us, and that even in this great matter, a matter which so nearly and infinitely concerns us, as our own eternal salvation. This is the stumbling-block on which thousands fall and perish; and if we go on contending with God about his sovereignty, it will be our eternal ruin. It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God, as our absolute sovereign, and the sovereign over our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and harden whom he will. 5. And lastly. We may make use of this doctrine to guard those who seek salvation from two opposite extremes presumption and discouragement. Do not presume upon the mercy of God, and so encourage yourself in sin. Many hear that God’s mercy is infinite, and therefore think, that if they delay seeking salvation for the present, and seek it hereafter, that God will bestow his grace upon them. But consider, that though God’s grace is sufficient, yet he is sovereign, and will use his own pleasure whether he will save you or not. If you put off salvation till hereafter, salvation will not be in your power. It will be as a sovereign God pleases, whether you shall obtain it or not. Seeing, therefore, that in this affair you are so absolutely dependent on God, it is best to follow his direction in seeking it, which is to hear his voice to-day: “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart. ” Beware also of discouragement. Take heed of despairing thoughts, because you are a great sinner, because you have persevered so long in sin, have backslidden, and resisted the Holy Ghost. Remember that, let your case be what it may, and you ever so great a sinner, if you have not committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, God can bestow mercy upon you without the least prejudice to the honour of his holiness, which you have offended, or to the honour of his majesty, which you have insulted, or of his justice, which you have made your enemy, or of his truth, or of any of his attributes. Let you be what sinner you may, God can, if he pleases, greatly glorify himself in your salvation.
15. It is a divine evidence and conviction, secondly, that what God hath promised He is able to perform. Admitting, therefore, that “with men it is impossible” to “bring a clean thing out of an unclean,” to purify the heart from all sin, and to till it with all holiness; yet this creates no difficulty in the case, seeing “with God all things are possible.” And surely no one ever imagined it was possible to any power less than that of the Almighty! But if God speaks, it shall be done. God saith, “Let there be light; and there” is “light”! 16. It is, thirdly, a divine evidence and conviction that He is able and willing to do it now. And why not? Is not a moment to Him the same as a thousand years? He cannot want more time to accomplish whatever is His will. And He cannot want or stay for any more worthiness or fitness in the persons He is pleased to honour. We may therefore boldly say, at any point of time, “Now is the day of salvation!” “To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts!” “Behold, all things are now ready; come unto the marriage!” 17. To this confidence, that God is both able and willing to sanctify us now, there needs to be added one thing more, —a divine evidence and conviction that He doeth it. In that hour it is done: God says to the inmost soul, “According to thy faith be it unto thee!” Then the soul is pure from every spot of sin; it is clean “from all unrighteousness.” The believer then experiences the deep meaning of those solemn words, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” …