The Things God Hates / things god loves
Proverbs 6:16-6:19
“The Things That God Hates”
Proverbs 6:16-19 "These six things does the Lord hate. Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
I. A Proud Look
A. literally haughty or lofty eyes – the Latin Vulgate – oculos sublimes
B. A proud look is the idea that we are better than others.
C. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
D. During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist--." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.
E. It was this attitude that was maintained by the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14
F. The problem with a person who thinks he or she is perfect --they have no room for improvement. They will not come to or seek God.
G. It is said of Uzziah in II Chronicles 26:16 “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.”
II. A Lying Tongue
A. The book The Day America Told the Truth says that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses.
B. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
C. On a beautiful fall day, four students decided to go for a drive instead of showing up to class on time. When they did arrive, the students explained to the teacher that they had had a flat tire. The teacher accepted the excuse, much to their relief. "Since you missed this morning’s quiz, you must take it now," she said. "Please sit in the four corner seats in this room without talking." When they were seated, the teacher said, "On your papers write the answer to one question: ’Which tire was flat?’" – (Clara Null, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare.")
D. Leviticus 19:11 “Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.”
E. Contrary to God’s nature - I John 5:6 “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
F. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
III. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
A. God hates abortion.
B. At 18 days after conception the heart beats on its own. At 6 weeks the fetus quickly moves in the womb. Brain waves are present at 8 weeks and child grabs, swims freely, heartbeat measurable. At 12 weeks cries, sucks thumb, sleeps and wakes, All organs and systems function, including mental. The unborn infant can definitely feel pain. From this point on nothing new develops there is just growth and a maturing process.
C. Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.”
D. Psalms 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
IV. A Heart filled with Wicked Imaginations
A. Wicked imaginations – thoughts of iniquity
B. There are evil thoughts in the hearts of all men but the devising and fabricating of them with a preoccupation that yields control to Satan is abhorrent to God.
C. Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”
D. We must be careful what we bury in our heart. To bury something does not mean it is dead. It may simply mean we have buried something alive that will devour and destroy us from within. - Maxie Dunnam in Let Me Say That Again. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 5.
E. II Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
V. Feet that are swift in running to Mischief
A. It speaks of feet that quickly to carry out what has already been devised in the heart.
B. This is more than falling or sliding into sin, which is common to all of us.
C. This is the execution of a premeditated act of sin.
D. Proverbs 1:15-16 “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: [16] For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”
E. Isaiah 59:7 “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.”
VI. False witnesses
A. Literally – “he that breathes out or utters a false witness”
B. Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
C. Perjury used in ruining the innocent.
D. Matthew 26:59-61 “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; [60] But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, [61] And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” (John 2:19-21 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. [20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? [21] But he spoke of the temple of his body.”)
VII. Sowers of Discord
A. James 3:2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”
B. The emphasis is on the man who intentionally seeks to destroy the harmony and unity among believers.
C. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
D. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
E. “What will it profit a man if he gains his cause, and silences his adversary, if at the same time he loses that humble, tender frame of spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made!” - John Newton, from The Letters of John Newton. Christianity Today, Vol. 33, no. 11.
God’s Favorite Things
1 Samuel 13:14-13:14
The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people.
From 1 Samuel 13:14
What does God look for in our hearts?
I Spirituality
A. A life alive with His Spirit
B. God is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His for Him to fill.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
II Humility
A. A servant’s heart is a humble heart.
B. You do as you are told
C. You don’t rebel
D. You respect those in charge
E. You serve faithfully.
Psalm 78:70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.
Psalm 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.
III Integrity
A. It is displayed in what you do when no one’s looking
B. It’s much more than making a good impression.
Psalm 78:71-72 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Favour
This word—FAVOR—can change your life.
G. The word has multiplied meanings.
G. Old Testament: Grace, charm, acceptance, goodwill, or desire. I love this definition: To bend (condescend) or stoop in kindness to an inferior. Lastly—To be shown consideration.
H. New Testament: You are more familiar than you think. It is from the Greek word: "Charis." This is where we get our word for "Grace." It is where we get our word for "Gifts of the Holy Spirit." Charismata Gifts. Listen, even the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a sign of God’s FAVOR on us.
I. Other NT meanings: The divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life. That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. Grace of speech. What is due to grace. The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace.
J. So, let me just say it like this: FAVOR is different from Grace, although it comes from the same root word. Grace is undeserved—The Bible is full of instruction about how we can obtain FAVOR (We will look at these in this series): FAVOR COMES UPON THOSE WHO…
Watching
Waiting
Praying
Keeping His Commands
Walking in Kindness and Truth
Good Understanding produces FAVOR
Finding a Good Wife is God’s FAVOR
Suffering
K. All of these things produce FAVOR! Remember when I said that there were three things needed to walk in your dreams? Those three things apply to finding FAVOR with God:
1. Total Unconditional Surrender
2. Absolute Purity
3. Kingdom Thinking: Having the Mind of Christ.
L. Actually, DREAMS and FAVOR are brothers! Throughout the Bible, you will not find ANYONE who had a mission from God who did not also have God’s FAVOR.
M. What does this mean? It means that God likes you—He loves you—and He wants you to be successful in the plans that He has for you. In addition, He has provided FAVOR to help you!
Psalm 5:12
"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your FAVOR as with a shield."
NIV
Psalm 30:5
"For His anger is but for a moment, His FAVOR is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning."
NAS
Psalm 30:6-7
"Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved. "LORD, by Your FAVOR You have made my mountain stand strong;You hid Your face, and I was troubled."
NKJV ...
Proverbs 19:12
"The king’s anger is as dangerous as a lion’s. But his favor is as refreshing as the dew on grass."
Another version says it like this…
"The king’s anger is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like welcome rain."
B. If your walk is dry and empty…you need the touch of the Lord’s FAVOR upon your life. It is refreshing like sweet rain on a spring day.
Proverbs 16:15
"When a ruler is happy and pleased with you, it’s like refreshing rain, and you will live."
C. Look, when you have the Lord’s FAVOR in your life, you will experience times of incredible refreshing.
D. We have looked at so many different characters in the Bible who had FAVOR—I wish I had the time to really tell all of their stories:
1. Ruth found FAVOR with Boaz – A type of Christ.
2. Hannah found FAVOR with the Priest Eli – Samuel the prophet was born and 1 Samuel 2:26 says…
"And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in FAVOR both with Jehovah, and also with men."
3. Nehemiah found FAVOR with the King—accomplished the mission of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
4. Esther found FAVOR—so much so that the King offered her up to half his kingdom.
5. King David found FAVOR—even though he often failed. His heart was after the things of God.
II. Body.
A. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Bible promotes the principle of FAVOR. It is clear—God wants to bless us with FAVOR.
Psalm 119:58
"I entreated Thy favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Thy word."
F. This word "entreated" is an interesting word. It means to "be rubbed or worn even to the point of being wounded."
G. In other words, the Psalmist is saying, "I want Your FAVOR so badly; I am going to rub up against you in prayer even if it wounds me."
H. The idea here is that if we really want God’s FAVOR…we have to go after it and seek Him until we find Him.
Transition: The second way to get FAVOR according to the book of Proverbs is a three-step process:
2. Listening, Watching, and Waiting brings FAVOR!
A. Go with me to Proverbs 8:32-36.
B. Note these three things in verse 34:
1. Listening – To listen is to perceive with interest and to obey.
Note: The Bible is filled with instructions to listen: 284 references to the word. However, God’s intent is that we listen with the heart to obey…that is what brings FAVOR.
2. Watching – To watch is to stay awake or to be alert. Notice it is DAILY.
Note: The NT is abundant with encouragement to be on the alert—especially in reference to the return of Christ.
3. Waiting – To wait is to stand guard, to observe, or to give heed.
C. God is saying to the Body, "Listen to me with the intent to obey, stay alert on a daily basis, and wait for Me by standing guard and giving heed to Me."
D. When we cooperate in this way…we "obtain" (produce or furnish) FAVOR from the Lord. Verse 35.
3. Teaching and Understanding produce FAVOR!
A. Turn to Proverbs 13:14-15.
B. Teaching is not enough to produce FAVOR. Do you understand that just because we are being taught this principle of FAVOR does not mean we are walking in FAVOR?
C. Teaching does not necessarily produce anything. We can easily become as James said, "Hearers of the Word but not Doers."
D. This is very important. Teaching and Knowledge must be mixed with Understanding.
E. Lance Wallnau says it works something like this:
1. Teaching (Knowledge is Imparted).
Isaiah 5:13
"My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude is parched with thirst."
2. Illumination (The Light Comes On).
3. Revelation (The Veil is Removed).
4. Transformation (Change Begins to Happen).
5. Manifestation (There is a Demonstration and FAVOR begins to Materialize).
E. Look—many of us are not experiencing FAVOR because we have not understood FAVOR. We are lacking BLESSINGS because we are lacking in knowledge.
F. Wherever you are on this scale from knowledge to manifestation keep pressing in for more.
G. FAVOR is not given all at once. It is progressive—we see this even with the Son of God:
"…Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and men."
Psalm 90:17
"…let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands."
A. To have the works of our hands confirmed in Hebrew means to be directed and steadfast morally, or to be prepared and ready.
B. When FAVOR is upon us that is literally what happens.
3. Speaking the Truth Brings FAVOR!
Proverbs 28:23
"He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue."
A. We often think of rebuke as harsh…but that is NOT God’s way. Even rebuke must be tempered with love:
Ephesians 4:15
"...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…"
B. Notice also the warning in this verse: Flattery will not bring you FAVOR.
Psalm 5:12
"For it is Thou who dost bless the righteous man, O LORD, Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield."
A. Righteous living leads to FAVOR—FAVOR leads to a shield!
B. Our attempt to serve God in righteousness has benefits. This is a great one…HE SURROUNDS us with FAVOR!
Psalm 3:3
"Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head."
Psalm 84:11
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
