The Oil of Intimacy pt. 6

The love of many will grow cold

Matthew 24:10–12 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

A hard cold heart is obviously a barrier to intimacy.

In the days we are living in, we have to be especially careful not to allow our hearts to grow cold and hard. We need to be vulnerable, genuine and loving

Why do our hearts grow cold?

Jesus tells us some of the reasons right here.

Offense, betrayal, deception and lawlessness.

When people offend us or hurt us, we often turtle up. If we choose not to forgive and let go of the offense, our heart will always start to harden and grow cold.

How does deception cause our hearts to grow cold?

Because one of the Devil’s main lies is that you should listen to your feelings and that things should be about you!

If you live for you and if you are led by your feelings, you will drift away from God and push Him and others away

1 Timothy 4:1–4 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;”

2 Timothy 3:1–7 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

These are people with hard and cold hearts!

Signs your heart is hardening and growing cold:

You find it a chore to read the Word, pray, go to church, or serve others.

You are critical and judgmental of others.

You have a negative outlook on life which causes you to grumble and complain.

You are discontent.

You find yourself irritated, frustrated and angry often.

You feel unappreciated.

You are focused on yourself more than others.

You are really bothered when people don’t do what you think they should do.

You are independent and don’t want to work with others. You isolate yourself.

You avoid phone conversations and face to face conversations, preferring texts instead.

You have an expectation of rejection, disappointment and hurt from others.

Lack of emotions.

Delayed obedience.

Effects of a cold and hard heart:

Church/obedience becomes a chore. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Revelation 2:2–4 ““I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Your witness is not effective.

3. Your joy and peace go missing!

4. You lose your purpose.

5. You don’t hear the voice of Holy Spirit clearly and you don’t pray because you have pulled away from Him.

6. Your feelings get you into trouble by leading you into dangerous temptations and situations.

7. You end up hurting people.

How to overcome a hard and cold heart.

Admit and confess.

Repent

Ask Holy Spirit to reveal how this happened.

Pray that the Lord would mend your hurting heart.,

Pray the promise of Ezekiel 37 He will take our stony heart out and give us a heart of flesh.

Start praying. Communicate with the Lord! Tell Him exactly how you are feeling, but end with praise.

Think about how God loves you, has blessed you, has helped you, has been faithful to you. Think about His goodness and let your love for Him motivate you to obey!