How can we avoid being "stiff-necked" as described in Acts 7:51 today? Understanding “Stiff-Necked” - Acts 7:51: “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.” - “Stiff-necked” pictures an ox refusing to bend to the yoke. Spiritually it means: • Unwilling to yield to God’s direction • Resistant to the Holy Spirit’s promptings • Persistently repeating ancestral sins (compare Exodus 32:9; 33:3) Tracing the Heart Problem - Stubbornness starts in the heart: “uncircumcised hearts and ears” (Acts 7:51). - Hardened hearts dull spiritual hearing (Jeremiah 6:10; Hebrews 3:13). - Pride feeds the condition: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). - Repeated refusal invites severe consequences: “A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery” (Proverbs 29:1). Practical Ways to Cultivate a Tender Neck 1. Humble Yourself Daily • Acknowledge absolute dependence on the Lord (John 15:5). • Confess sin quickly; keep short accounts (1 John 1:9). 2. Listen Actively to Scripture • Treat the word as final authority, not suggestion (Psalm 119:60). • Read with the intent to obey: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). 3. Welcome the Holy Spirit’s Conviction • Pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23-24). • Respond immediately when conviction comes; delay toughens the heart. 4. Submit to God-Ordained Leadership • Honor parents, pastors, and civil authorities (Ephesians 6:1-3; Romans 13:1-2). • A yielded attitude toward human authority often reflects a yielded attitude toward divine authority. 5. Practice Corporate Accountability • Meet regularly with believers who will speak truth in love (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Invite correction; wise people love reproof (Proverbs 9:8-9). Daily Habits that Keep Us Responsive - Morning surrender: verbally place every plan under Christ’s lordship. - Scripture meditation: linger on a single verse until it shapes thinking. - Quick obedience: act on the first clear nudge without over-analyzing. - Gratitude journal: thank God for corrections as well as blessings. - Evening review: ask, “Where did I resist the Spirit today?” then repent. Warnings and Encouragement from Scripture - Hardened response: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). - Tender response: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). - Ongoing promise: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Closing Thoughts A stiff neck is not a personality quirk; it is a spiritual emergency. Yielded believers keep their hearts soft by humbling themselves, treasuring Scripture, welcoming correction, and moving promptly in obedience. When the Spirit nudges, bend quickly—the yoke of Christ is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30). |
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