How Does God Feel About Our Sin? - part 2

Pro.6:16-23

INTRO: Last week I preached the first part of this message. We looked at the first three sins listed as something God hates or despises. Today we will continue.

AS we learned last week, these sins have a great penalty. So we can understand when we look at them, we need to move from them and walk with God. The other thing we need to come away with when we look at is the pleasure God has in forgiving us of our sins (when we call upon Him for forgiveness). That is the whole idea of exposed sin here, God will forgive you if you seek Him. God wants to forgive us. God desires for us to call upon Him. He is knocking at our heart's door, asking us to let Him in.

I have always found these sins that were listed interesting. Here we have a list of something that God hates. Something He really dislikes. Something that He does not want us doing in any shape, form or fashion. They may not be the sins we would list, but they are the ones God spells out as hated or detested by Him.

So how do we approach them? How do we understand this. Let's look into God's Word and get started.

Proverbs 6:16 - 23 16These six things doth 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 deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Along with the last sin I dealt with last week, the next three sins deal with actions that are very hurtful to those around us. Typically they have little chance of protecting themselves, and it looks like evil triumphs. But as we will see today, God is the final say, He is in control.

Lets get started.

We see the next sin listed

One that have a heart that devises wicked imaginations

Problem:

Seeking their own benefit

Care not if their actions cause others pain

Most often are meant to harm and bring pain

Their imaginations pervert others' lives - "Playboy"

Promote Satan's agenda

 

Cure:

Get right with God

Get close to God

Spend time in God's Word and worshiping Him

(to help rid the evil imaginations from our hearts)

Spend time with godly believers

Grasp the idea of self-sacrifice

Promote God, not self

Think on God and His ways not self and Satn's ways

Philippians 4:1 - 9 1Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Next we see…

Feet that be swift in running to mischief

Problem:

We act on our bad thoughts

We are quick to hurt others

We do not listen to our conscious

We do not listen to the Holy Spirit

We are disobedient to God

This is more than running to see or watch a fire raging or burning in a building. This is running to start or feed the fire that burns. This is running to hurt someone. This is getting carried away with evil thoughts and pouncing upon those that are often helpless to prevent harm.

 

Cure:

Know God

Love God

Serve God (do - verse 9)

Find empathy in your life for others

Place other's need above your own.

 

 

And the next sin I want to look at today is…

A false witness that speaks lies

Problem:

Planned lying, purposefully done with intent to ruin others - vs. a lying tongue, which often is the result of someone trying to hide actions or sins.

Usually seeking the hurt of others

Often seeking the gain of others

Lies for self-benefit

Is a false witness to hurt others

Their testimony brings undeserved condemnation

Their testimony brings pain and suffering

Their testimony taints their reputation

Cure:

Tell the truth

Be honest with yourself too

Do not covet and seek after other's possessions

Do not plan or try to implement pain for others

Do not seek revenge

Let God live in your heart and seek His benefit

 

Okay, I have look at the next three sins listed as despicable to God. But I also want to take time and look at a character in the Bible - Haman.

Haman is found in the book of Esther. Talk about a character that fits these sins to a tee!

Let me give you a quick glimpse of him and his sins he carried around…

He had a proud look -

Esther 3:1 - 2 1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Saw himself as more important than others

Sought to be better than others

Sought to maintain power/control at all costs

He had hands that wanted to shed innocent blood -

Esther 3:5 - 6 5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

Sought to harm even innocents

He devised an evil plan in his evil imagination

He was quick to act upon his evil plan (feet swift to run to mischief)

Sought to legitimize his deeds

Esther 3:8 - 9 8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

He was a false witness that spoke lies - verse 8

BUT, he meet his doom

Saw himself as rich and great in his own eyes

His self-worth affected those around him - Est. 5:14

Esther 5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Saw himself as worthy of all things

Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

  

We see his final reward for his sinful life - destruction

Esther 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

It even cost his family

Esther 9:13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

 

As I close, we see…

God hates sin

God hates our sin

God shows us here that sin brings destruction

God helps us fight sin

There is no escape our destruction except by the riches and mercy of God

Esther 4:11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

Our King, the King of Kings offers to us His mercy - will we accept?

Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 021107am