WHAT GOD HATES
Proverbs 6:16-19

INTRODUCTION
Two friends were great baseball fans. They had always joked that they didn't want to go to
heaven unless there was baseball up there. They agreed that somehow, whoever died first, would communicate to the other about baseball in heaven. At last one man died, and sure enough, he called his friend and told him he had good news and bad news. The good news is that there is baseball in heaven and you have never seen such outstanding plays. The friend on earth then said, "Great, but what's the bad news?" The heavenly friend said, "You'll be watching the game with me tomorrow."

A few weeks ago I preached a sermon titled, "What God Loves." Perhaps that was good news, but today, "What God Hates" may be the bad news. There are other scriptures stating what God hates. We could say, generally speaking, that God hates all evil and loves all good. But our text mentions seven things God hates. Let's consider them.
 
 

Generally speaking, who has haughty eyes? I suggest to you: 1) Those who exalt their knowledge, 2) Youth or immature persons who think they know more than they do. 3) Those who are ignorant of knowledge yet to be learned. All of these suggestions lack humility or a contrite heart. Dr. Ironside said, "Haughty eyes belong not to the one who has been a learner at His feet who is meek and lowly in heart."

ILLUSTRATION: Story told by Dr. Adrian Rogers.

APPLICATION

The one with haughty eyes or a proud look must come to a place of humility if they desire God's grace. God hates the lifestyle of haughty eyes. Do any of us have this in our lifestyle? Now let's look at the second thing God hates.
 
 

Falsehood always implies a wrong heart. A pure heart supplies no motive for falsehood. Vanity, avarice, ambition, cowardice--are the parents and patrons of lies. Falsehood always has a bad social tendency. It disappoints expectations, shakes confidence, loosens the very foundations of social order.

 ILLUSTRATION
A lady posted a wrong label on some jars she had prepared for the freezer. She was quite surprised to discover rhubarb in a jar marked peaches.

APPLICATION

God does not expect a lying tongue in the mouth of His children. He hates to be looking for the truth and then find a lying tongue. Really a person who is a habitual liar gives evidence that they are not a Christian. Notice in verse 17 the third thing God hates.
 
 

ILLUSTRATION: Cain and Abel--Gen, 4:10
 

APPLICATION

Most likely no one in our congregation has been guilty of shedding innocent blood. However, we might be guilty of judging someone on hearsay and being critical of someone who is really innocent of the supposed happening. Notice in verse 18 the fourth item.
 
 

"There are evil thoughts in all men's hearts; but the devising, fabricating of them, and thus making the heart into a devil's workshop, is the mark of utter depravity and wickedness, and is abhorrent to God. The devices of the hear, though planned in secret, are clear to him 'to whom no secrets are hid.' The peculiar position which the heart occupies in the enumeration is to be accounted for on the ground that it is the foundation, not only of those vices which have been already mentioned, but of those which follow."

ILLUSTRATION
After hearing the gospel, an old Indian chief reportedly said, "The only way a man can be changed like the gospel talks about is if your God can give a man a new heart."

APPLICATION

Wicked plans come from a wicked heart. Hearts made pure by the blood of Christ desire to hide His Word in their heart that they might not sin against God. Notice also the fifth thing that God hates as it is listed in verse 18.

ILLUSTRATION
The famous illustration about the father tracking through the snow to go to a saloon. His little son followed by jumping into his father's tracks and called to him. 'Hey, Dad, I'm walking in your footprints."
 

APPLICATION

In the first five things that the Lord hates, we have five parts of the body mentioned; the eyes, tongue, hands, heart, and feet. There seems to be a progression to evil. If we find ourselves in an evil pattern or seeming to have a bent toward some sinful activity, we need to forsake it, and cause our feet to run from it. Now notice verse 19.
 
 

EXPLANATION
This sin is one of those expressly forbidden in the 10 Commandments. It may have a lying tongue for a sister or brother, but it is a more advanced sin. . .because society is no longer secure when truth is not its chief ornament. This person robs his fellow creature of his greatest treasure--his own reputation and the loving confidence of his friends.

ILLUSTRATION
About a year and a half ago, a man told me that a distant friend had said some unkind things about me. I told this man I didn't believe that person would say that, so he must have misunderstood. He assured me that my friend had said those things. So I told him, "If that is really your witness, I'm going to call that man and ask him why he said that, because it is not true." I started for the phone and was stopped by the false witness who then said, "Maybe I misunderstood."

APPLICATION

God is a truthful witness and expects His children to tell the truth and to be an accurate witness to the best of their ability. He hates a lifestyle of a false witness. Now notice the seventh characteristic God hates.

ILLUSTRATION
The different ranks of a pipe organ.  If they are used properly beautiful music can come from them.    If they are not in prober arrangement discord comes.
 

APPLICATION

The body of Christ needs all of its members to function properly. Every member needs to

be in tune for the church to play all the gospel music most effectively.
 
 

God hates these 7 lifestyles or evil characteristics of life. If God hates them, on what pretense can we love them or display them as part of our makeup?

INVITATION

 We invite you to make public your decision to follow Christ. Come forward as we sing.