Ephesians 5, if you have a Bible, Ephesians 5, I'm gonna look at verse number 26. Ephesians 5, 26, I have a few verses I wanna share with you and then we're gonna get into a little bit of a beginning of a series that we're gonna start off this new year with. And so we'll see how far we get with this tonight. But Ephesians 5, the universe number 26, it says that he might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing, say washing, by the washing of the water with the word.
How many of you know tonight that the word of God washes us and it cleanses us and the word of God can literally heal us, deliver us and set us free. By the washing of the word, Titus chapter three, verse five and six, the book of Titus chapter five, verse, chapter three, verse five and six, mentions the washing of regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit. It connects this cleansing to the spirit's work through the word of God. So through the word of God, the Holy Spirit brings cleansing to us, it brings revelation to us, it brings truth to us and it sets us free, it washes us, what's it washes us from?
Well, it washes us from the past. It washes us from the way we used to think as opposed to the way we should be thinking. The way we used to act as opposed to the way we should be acting. It cleanses us from old things so that old things can now become passed away and all things can become made new.
Amen? John chapter 15, verse three, Jesus said, you are already clean because the word I have spoken unto you. The word of God is powerful church, it's powerful. It should not be neglected in our lives.
It should become the utmost priority in our lives on a daily basis. We should desire to spend time in the word of God, reading the word of God, studying the word of God because the word of God will change us. The word of God will erase things in us and bring things to newness in our life. It's powerfully important.
We're starting a series tonight that will go on for a few weeks probably here the first of the month as we get back into Bible study, the second Wednesday night of the month. And I want to encourage you to be here next Wednesday night because next Wednesday night is going to be as we're starting the series, but next Wednesday night is going to be a night with a king. And so we're going to encourage you to come and we're going to spend time in his presence through worship and prayer and see what God will do much like he did tonight in the early part of our service. And then the following week, we will pick back up in the second part of what we're starting here tonight, but you won't want to miss next Wednesday night when I encourage you to be here Sunday morning as well as God has a powerful message for us.
If you have not signed up for Harvest Bible Training Center, you need to do that. You need to do that. There's a sign up in the back. It'll be a great encouragement to you.
It'll be strengthening to you. It'll be life to you. So we want to encourage you to do that as well. Proverbs chapter six.
Proverbs chapter number six, beginning in verse 16 through verse 19. It says this, Proverbs six verse 16 through 19. These six things, six things, six, not five, six. And we're going to see there's a seven.
These six things, the Lord hate. Yay seven are an abomination unto him. A proud look, a lying tongue. Hins that shed innocent blood.
A heart that diviseth wicked imaginations. A feet that can be swift in running to mischief. A false witness that speaketh lies. And he that soweth discord among the brethren.
Seven things. So 97 verse 10 says this, Yee that loved the Lord. How many love the Lord tonight? Your Bible says, Yee that loved the Lord hate evil.
We should despise evil things, evil doings. He preserveth the souls of his saints. He delivereth his saints out of the hands of the wicked. What an incredible promise to us.
What an incredible word God gives us that if we are in and of him, then there's something that we shouldn't like. We should dislike what God dislikes. We should despise what God despises. We should reject what God rejects.
We should literally, and I know it's a strong word, but we should hate what God hates. God hates anything that will separate us from him. God despises anything that would be contrary to his will plan for his creation. Yee that love, Yee that love the Lord hate evil.
He will preserve, he will keep the souls of the saints. And he delivers them. You don't need delivered from something unless something's around you. He delivered them out of the hands of the wicked.
First of the year, there are many things that we could cover, there are many topics, we could cover, there are many subjects we could talk about. Maybe some that would even be more comfortable than the seven I've just mentioned. How about love, blessing, favor? Grace, mercy, right?
But there's subjects in the scripture, there's topics in the scripture, there's things that scripture addresses plainly. And some of those things will make us feel comfortable and cause us to feel really, there are other things that could make us feel a little bit uncomfortable, especially if we find ourselves dwelling in some of those places that he doesn't like. In that list that I just shared with you a few moments ago, I'm sure that at one point or one time some of those things may have been a regular or consistent part of your life. I would like to think, but I'm wise enough to know that we face a real enemy who's kind of in crafty.
And because of that, sometimes we fall to the traps and snares that he sets before us. But we need to know that God is not happy with those things. And so if there are things that God doesn't like, then would it be wise for us not to like them? If there are things that God specifically points out in his word and says, I hate these things, these things are an abomination to me.
Wouldn't it be wise then for us, maybe even as uncomfortable as some of those things that may cause us to feel, wouldn't it be wise for us to hear those things and then separate ourselves from those things? The Bible says, these six things. The Lord hates, yes. Seven are an abomination to him.
That's strong word, he just isn't it. He didn't whisper it, he didn't soften it. Nowhere in the Bible does he apologize for it? This is not about hatred of a sinner.
It is the holy position of a righteous God. This is acceptable and this is not acceptable. So if there's something that's not acceptable to the Lord, why would we want something that's not acceptable to him in our life or in our daily life or in our existence? It literally is in opposition.
These seven things are literally in opposition to the righteousness of God. Are you with me? That's what the Bible says. Are we concerned with what the Bible says?
Should we be concerned with what the Bible says? Should we need to be concerned with what the Bible says? Absolutely to each one of those questions. So if God says these things, I detest.
These things are abomination. These things I despise. These things I hate. We would do well then to say, okay God, what are those things?
Because if we don't and we fall prey to those things or we begin to entertain any of those things in our heart and in our mind, we are playing right into the opposition of the enemy. And we're positioning ourselves outside of righteousness. Remember we talked about on Sunday morning staying within the circumference of the will of God in our lives. Not stepping outside of the will of God for our lives.
Not stepping outside of what God has given us through his word because we found out that there is blessing, how many like blessing? There is blessing when we remain in when we stay. It doesn't mean that everything's always gonna go the way that we want. It doesn't mean that we're not gonna face difficulties.
It doesn't mean that there's not gonna be hardship. But what it means is God's favor will be upon us. And even when we are tried, we will come out victorious and that God's presence will bring victory to us. How many believe that tonight?
Opposition to righteousness against everything. Those seven things complete opposition to righteousness and they destroy God's creation because they're in complete opposite direction of God's plan. God loves people. Don't never lose sight of God loves people.
And it's amazing to me sometimes when we get saved or become born again that we look at people like they're lesser of us because they're still lost in sin and we're saved. We want to be lost in sin too. We want to be lost in sin too. We should never forget about that.
We don't live there but we are grateful and thankful that He delivered us out of the sin. Amen? God does love. God, the Bible says He would that everyone would be saved.
God's plan, God desires it. But there is free will. And sometimes people will reject God's plan. They'll step out of what God has for them.
How many of you here tonight have ever stepped out at some point or another away from God's word or plan for your life? Every single one of us probably have at one point or another. God hates corruption. God hates dishonesty.
God hates these things. Let me read them to you again. A proud look. We're going to break each one of these down.
Not tonight but in the next few weeks. A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent. You notice He just did not say blood. He said innocent blood.
A heart that divides wicked imaginations. Feet that are swift to running. I don't know why that one stands out to me so much but I've known some people in my life over the years. And as I was growing up, I knew some people that I went to high school with or people who grew up in the neighborhood, people who were swift to run to mischief.
Somebody just came to your mind, didn't they? Maybe thought yourself, right? Did you ever just know somebody that was swift to run to mischief? If there was something to get into, they were getting into it.
I've said this for years. I've known some people. There could be 99 out of 100 good choices but they'll make that one bad one every time. Anybody know anyone like that?
You could put 99 good, righteous, solid choices in front of that person and put a big arrow point in the right way to go and they'll go, but what about that one? I feel bad for that one. It's all by itself. There are just, every time I read that, there are just, there are faces that pop in my head of people that I have known in life that just run after mischief.
I mean, if they get in trouble, they're gonna get in trouble. A false witness. High witness, my goodness. They won't break down each one of these.
Don't raise your hand to this. But have you ever lied about somebody? Have you ever said something that wasn't true about someone? And he, that's so, that's discord.
Let me give you just a little analogy about something discord among the brethren. Hey, Pastor Church, good to see you tonight. Wednesday night Bible, say, God bless you. Good to see you tonight.
Hey, did you hear about, oh, I shouldn't tell ya. I probably shouldn't say anything to ya. And most people, they're like, oh, you can tell me. I won't tell anybody.
No, I shouldn't say anything. This Craig's sitting right over there and if I say it, then he might see me talking to you. And if one of us look at him, he's gonna know what we're talking about him, right? Saying it without saying it.
Have you ever said something without saying something? Why are you all sitting there looking so righteous at me tonight? Have you ever pointed a finger at someone, maybe even out of jealousy? Maybe because you desired what they had or you desired the position they had or you desired the place that they had.
And therefore, if you could just kind of in a, you know, you're not maliciously doing it. You just didn't come right out and say anything to George. But what did I do? Plan of the seed.
I insinuated. Oh, he's looking. Oh, it must be juicy, huh? Or just going to somebody and just flat out, what did you think about what's on so dead?
What did you think about what's on so sad? Just because something that they may have said or done brought conviction to you and therefore, you felt the need, ready? To get him back. To get him back.
None of you. You all just are so righteous and just so loving and so kind. Last thing I never crossed your mind is ever getting somebody back, right? Proverbs, chapter 97, verse 10.
You either love the Lord, hate evil, hate evil, hate evil. You either love the Lord. God didn't soften it. He brought it right out for us.
He brought it right out there for us to see in the open so that he could say to us, listen, these things are not good. These things are not of me. These things will bring harm. These things will bring danger.
These things will divide. These things will separate. These things will hurt. So as my children, as those who follow me, I don't want you to do those things.
God despises what corrupts people. So he loves us enough that he recorded in the Word of God in the Book of Proverbs a list of things. And there are other things throughout scripture, but we're dealing with these seven specifically in this little series. So if God took time, I've never taken time to share something with one of my kids.
If I didn't think it would be beneficial for them. I've never instructed them a certain way. If I didn't feel it was beneficial. How many of you here tonight are parents?
How many of you have instructed your kid because you just wanted to see them get hurt? Don't you say nothing? Father in the name of Jesus delivered us one? No, no, just stop right there where you are.
Put your hand over her mouth. Just stop her right now. We've all been healed, delivered, and set free tonight, right? How many have ever instructed them?
No, no, we wouldn't do that. We wouldn't do that. You wouldn't turn on the stove. She's just, you wouldn't step on the stove and get a nice knot and then say, Corin, now son, go and teach you valuable lesson.
Go over and stick your hand on that stove top, would you? No, you wouldn't do it. You wouldn't take a trap out in the yard and set a trap that was meant to catch a bear or whatever and say, Jimmy, run right to that trap. And there's a little circle thing in the middle of it.
And when you get in front of it, do this. You just have to tell on yourself, don't you? Are you repenting tonight? Is that's what's happening here?
You're repenting in front. No, you're 100% right. Usually if you tell them not to do something, sometimes we need to use wisdom. You're 100% right.
I'm glad you said that. Because sometimes we need to know what not to say. Because she's 100% right. If we tell them sometimes what not to do, what are they gonna do?
Do it, why? That's called rebel yes-ness. In the Bible says we were all ready for this. This is King James, you're gonna love it.
The Bible says Justin, we were all born like a wild-assist cult. I didn't swear. That's a donkey, right? That's what the King James Bible says.
We were all born like that. What is the reference? He said rebellious, rebellious, you don't have to teach your kid to go, I don't want that. How many of you ever took your toddler into a room and said, okay, here we go.
This is called 101 on getting what you want. Throw yourself on the floor, kick your feet, scream, yell, call me names, do all that. You don't do that. Well, they may see you doing it, that's how they pick it up.
Sometimes we have to be wise, because sometimes if we tell them what we don't want them, sis and I always kind of, when instructing our kids and it didn't always go well, some of you know it didn't go well. There were, you've been out in here 25 years, there's something, it just don't go well sometimes, right? But you instruct them and we've always tried to take the approach to explain to them why not to do it. We never really took the don't do that.
We explained why they shouldn't do that or why they didn't want to do that. And it wasn't always with, oh, you know, real soft. And sometimes it was like, you don't want to do that. I tell you why you don't want to do it, right?
Sometimes it was heavy, but yeah, it was a warning to, don't do that and here's why you shouldn't do that. And you all know, and if you have a kid, sometimes they're gonna get to the age where sometimes they're gonna do what they, how many of you here have just done what you wanted to do? As mom or dad or grandpa or grandma or somebody, somebody in your life instructed you in a way that you would not get yourself in a mess or harm's way, but you just did what you wanted to, I've been there. I came three months away from making the worst decision of my life, three months from Justin probably destroying anything that God had for me in the future, three months, making a choice, a decision that could have changed the course of everything in my life, but his goodness come around in the afternoon.
And I was willing to listen to a voice that said to me, Sean, whatever you do, don't do. And I heard that instruction and I listened. It hurt, it was uncomfortable. I didn't want it, but I listened to it.
And a year later, God brought the exact opposite of that situation into my life and changed my life forever. God is so good. But there've been times in my life that I didn't want to listen. I've made some rebellious decisions in my life, especially when I was younger, you know?
As we get older Ron, we would like to think, we get a little wiser, right? And I'm not picking people's names up because they're in anything, I'm just familiar with them. Sometimes it makes a point because it makes a human, right? Ron's never made the this wise, ununamised decision in his whole life.
He's always just made, right? Yep, see? He shook his head and went that halfway grin. So God gives us this list.
If he took time, if he took time to make sure this list made the book, it's because if we ignore what he's told us, it'll bring destruction, it'll bring pain, it'll bring heartache, it'll bring hurt into our lives. And so I want us to be careful to go down through this list and understand, because it's crucial that we understand that first of all, when it says God hates this, this is flowing out of his holiness. Just as a loving parent would not do some of those things that we talked about tonight. A loving parent hates things that we can become addicted to or drugs or alcohol or whatever, why?
Because they don't want to see their child's life destroyed, right? So there are some things in my life. I literally, I have no tolerance to. There are some things, and some of you have heard me talk about some of those things.
I have no tolerance. And I'm not ashamed of it. And one of them is alcohol. I have zero tolerance to alcohol.
Zero, because I see what it's done in people's lives. It impairs, it causes someone to not make wise or good decisions, so as a parent, I despise something that could harm one of my children. That's how I view it. That's how I view it.
There are some that may deem it okay and think that it's okay. And to you, maybe it is permissible. Maybe it was permissible to your child, but maybe it was your grandchild that won't. Or maybe it's your great grandchild that won't.
The enemy is cunning and crafty. And there are times he may lie weight till he sees the right link. That if he hits it hard enough, it may break. Does anybody know what I'm talking about?
So God took the time and God wrote the list. It's vitally important for us to understand that it's important and why it's important because God's hatred of unrighteousness flows out of his holiness. God hates sin because it destroys his image in us. And this is important for us to understand.
I'm gonna close with this. The phrase abomination, say abomination. I know I'm a couple minutes over tonight. The phrase abomination means, ready?
Something morally repulsive to God. Something that violates his design. He said it's an abomination. Morally repulsive to God.
If it repulsives God, it should repulse me and it should repulse you if it repulses God. Because if his spirit, come on, Christian, you wanna wanna wanna, if his spirit is in us, why would his spirit in me be different than his word? Why would his spirit dwelling in me instruct me something different than what he said in his word? It won't happen, it won't happen, right?
And so if you care at all about seven things and God hates, you won't wanna miss the next, probably at least, we'll try to cover maybe two at night. I didn't even get one tonight, we'll get there. But we're probably gonna try to make this about three or four weeks and we'll get through that list of seven and who knows it may turn into seven weeks, I don't know. But if God said it, I think it's important for us to pay attention to it.
What do you think? All right, Father, we love you, we thank you for this night, thank you for this opportunity and the time together tonight. We thank you for your word, we thank you for instruction. God, I thank you tonight that as we leave this place, these things that have been spoken tonight, God, you will sear in our hearts and in our minds.
I pray Lord that we'll think on them, that we'll ponder on them, that we'll go back and reflect the things that we've talked about tonight. And God, I pray that those things that repulse you will become repulsive to us. Those things that you despise, we too will despise. And so Father, I thank you tonight that you put these things in your word for us so that we can learn from them, we could grow from them, we could become better people because of understanding what your word has to say to us about these seven things, that we may not fall trapped to them that have victory over them.
We give you praise, be with each one as we leave this place tonight and our rising and our sitting and our coming are going wherever our feet may trod, whatever our hands may touch, Father, I pray tonight would be blessed with you. But you're healing virtue be released over of your home family and life that's represented here tonight. Father, I pray that you open windows, doors, you make ways. Father, that whatever is pleasing in your sight, I pray it over your children tonight in Jesus name.
Amen.