Hey, this is David Platt. I want to invite you to something I look forward to every year.

Secret Church. This night exists to help us identify with many of our brothers and sisters around the world who have no choice but to gather in secret,

often at great risk, just to open God's word. Once a year, over 50,000 believers around the world gather online

with one intention to study scripture for six hours, to be shaped by it, and to pray for our

persecuted brothers and sisters. This year, we'll study the life of Elijah. We'll pray specifically

for those who are suffering for their faith

and will act together to make Jesus known among the nations. Early registration of the best rate is now

open until February 17th. Register at radical.net slash secret church.

Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Exodus chapter 9, verse 7.

And Pharaoh sent and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead, but the heart of Pharaoh was hardened,

and he did not let the people go.

That's the phrase I want us to meditate on and pray according to.

The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, despite plague after plague, after demonstration of God's power,

over and over and over again, and here specifically in this plague of the livestock

for all the livestock of the Egyptians to die, not one of the livestock of

the people of Israel to die.

Like, it's clear that God is God, that Pharaoh should humble himself before God, that God will

accomplish his purposes, that God has all power,

not Pharaoh, but what happens in verse 7? It's the phrase we see over and over and over again.

Pharaoh hardened his heart. His heart was hard toward God, toward the word of God, toward the power of God.

This is the curse of sin. To have a hard heart toward before the God of the universe.

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