Scriptural Foundation:
Deuteronomy 9:5-7 New King James (NKJV)
It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
“Remember! Do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
Jeremiah 7:25-27 New Living Translation (NLT)
From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.
“Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond.
Reflection:
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it usually last for a few days – a stiff neck. There is no warning, you just fall asleep and the next thing you know you wake up and even the simple things become a challenge. Not being able to turn your neck one way or another becomes a nagging reminder of a restful state becoming a restless state for most of your wakeful hours.
As you know, everything in the natural realm can be applied to the spiritual realm. The Bible speaks often about being vigilant in prayer. Once awakened to the things of the Spirit through salvation, it is our assignment to keep ourselves awake and alert at our post. Sometimes despite our best efforts, Believers do become weary and do fall back asleep to the things of the Spirit. Drawing back from daily fellowship with the Lord and forsaking the assembly of the Saints can cause an induvial to fall back asleep. Then when one is “re-awakened” by the things of the Spirit through Godly relationships, at times, this person may be stiff-necked to receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 8:33 – But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Stiff-necks come and go along our sanctification walk, we must make sure our hearts don’t become hardened in the process, because this will have a long-term effect. Just think about it, if the men that walked alongside Jesus missed it – why do we think that we as Believers won’t?
Mark 6:52 – For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
Later on Jesus calls them out on it…
Mark 8:17 – But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?
You should also pay attention to the same exact scripture that shows up in both the old and the new Testaments:
Old
Psalm 95:8 – “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,…
New
Hebrews 3:8 – Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,…
Across the ages the Lord has been communicating via His Word the same message to the world. We are all His vessels. It is our assignment to preserve this Word in its purest form in our hearts and pour it out upon the individuals around us. At any given time, what are you carrying out into the world? How do you show reverence onto the Lord?
Job 9:4 – God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
Proverbs 28:14 – Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Each morning is a new day, we should always hold on to our testimonies, but at the same time these testimonies rehearsed to yourself or the same group of people is not spreading the Good News of Christ to the world. If anything, this rehearsal is like a reoccurring stiff neck and a good indication that the same convictions that you once had, don’t convict you anymore. And if a Believer has gotten to the point that they can’t tell the difference between the devil condemning and the Spirit convicting…that is a good indication that person has a hardened heart.
Hebrews 3:15 – …while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Again, when things are repeated in the same Book multiple times it is something for self-refection.
Hebrews 4:7 – …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.”
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
If the Word is hidden from the foolish, how much more is it hidden from the ones that know better, but choose to be stiff-necked (stubborn) to the things of the Spirit.
- Are there areas of your life that seem to be perpetually stagnant? Ask the Lord to reveal to you if you are being stiff-necked about something or worst if you have become desensitized to the things of the Spirit and your heart is hardened in certain areas.
Beloved, it is only through a constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit; honest self-reflection; and the exhortation of a home church, that you will remain awake and effective for the Kingdom of God.