Preached February 17, 2008
Introduction
God… hate? Doesn’t seem to go together. Yet God does hate some things.
V. 16
6, no 7– indicates this is not an exhaustive list (no mention of sexual sin, stealing, idol worship, etc.)
Hate, abomination– strong language. Hard to imagine a more definitive way to express God’s displeasure.
These things provoke loathing from God.
Seven items listed.
1st five are connected to body parts
last 2 are lifestyle practices
So, we are talking about how we live– a way of life God hates.
1. Haughty Eyes
a. A proud look that betrays an arrogant heart.
b. Lit– “High Eyes.” Refuses to bow in reverence or recognize someone else as superior.
c. Willful defiance and disrespect.
d. Looking at others with contempt
2. Lying Tongue
a. A person with no regard for the truth.
b. By lying, this person seeks to rearrange the facts to give him an advantage.
c. Trying to redefine the world to gain an advantage and not have to live by the normal rules of life.
d. Distorts reality for selfish gain.
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
a. Violent person
b. Temper and anger problem
c. Profound lack of respect for human life.
d. Not just limited to murder, but a contempt for people in general.
4. Heart that devises wicked schemes
a. A con artist who is trying to take advantage of others.
b. Just wanting to get ahead, no matter the cost, or hurt to other people.
5. Feet that make haste to run to evil
a. Enthusiasm for doing wrong
b. Heart– inner man plotting
c. Feet– Outer man executing plans
6. False witness who breaths out lies
a. Different than verse 17– That was a distortion of the fact.
b. This is complete and total fabrication
c. This is the subversion of justice
d. Slander and malicious gossip
e. A wicked person lies as easily as he breathes.
7. One who sows discord among brothers
a. Do the other 6 things, no question your will have chaotic relationships
b. Trouble maker. This is a problem person.
Summary
We call the person doing these things: Self-centered
So what does God love?
Humility, honest, respect for life, pure thoughts, eagerness to do good, truthfulness, and peaceful harmony
IE– Loving others
How can we keep from becoming a Proverbs 6:16-19 kind of person?
1. It begins with the work of Christ– the new life we have in Him.
2. We focus on Him and grow in our relationship with him.
3. We systematically destroy the works of the flesh with the aid of the Holy Spirit. (ie– Struggle with lying, start working on it.)
4. Instead we cultivate Godly virtues, remembering that our character comes from Christ and his work in us.
Notice everything in Chapter 3 takes us back to Christ (v. 1-4, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16).
5. We must especially let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.
SO… God works in us and we cooperate with God by strengthening the good and tearing out the bad.
No comments yet
Comments feed for this article