God Hates What Hurts Us And Others

We need God's Direction, Protection & Correction.  Proverbs 6:16 tells us about the things God hates.   It's easy to look for the things God hates in other people's lives, but we need to look in the mirror and be aware of things that may be in our own lives that God hates.  Every one of the following things will hurt us and hurt others.

4 PARTS OF THE BODY THAT CAN CAUSE INIQUITY:

1. God Hates EYES that look down on others

When someone looks down on you, they think they are higher than you.

For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. - Romans 12:3

TWO MAIN AREAS WHERE PRIDE COMES IN:

1. IN NATURAL THINGS:

• What they HAVE
• What they KNOW
• How they LOOK

"Be careful of pride 'cause it's a quick slide"

2. IN SPIRITUAL THINGS:

• What they DON'T DO compared to others

In 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 Paul tells us could boast of many things but he chose not to. He didn't want anyone to think any higher of him than what they can see in his life and message. We have to make sure our walk opens the door for our talk.

1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourself If you look down on others you won't be lifted up. If you look up to God you won't be taken down. Don't get taken down - get lifted up!

2. God Hates HANDS that shed innocent blood

The Bad News: We have all shed innocent blood because of our sin - Hebrews 9:22

The Good News: HERE is an INCREDIBLE truth:

• GOD HATES the SIN but he LOVES the PEOPLE!

3. God Hates a HEART that devises wicked schemes

To direct our thoughts toward doing things that displease God

"What we justify in your mind - it's only a matter of time before we are living it out."

Proverbs 4:23 says 'Above all else, guard your heart!'

Guard means to set a post like a night-watchman

Heart means the mind, thoughts, and seat of emotions

• The guard will discard all evil thoughts - 'I gotta guard & discard!'

How do you Guard Your Heart?

• Ask YOURSELF – Will these thoughts result in obeying God... or fulfilling the flesh?
• Ask GOD – to set a protection around your mind
• Ask a Godly Friend (HWC, Life Group Leader) – to pray for you that you will overcome every temptation

4. God Hates FEET that run into evil

• Your thoughts…will eventually become your actions
• Your future is your current thought life - all grown up!
  We don't fall into sin... we choose to sin!
• You’ve got to GUARD what you THINK and GUARD where you go! 'We can't play, we've got to run the other way!' 'You have to embarrass sin before it embarrasses you!'
• For your PROTECTION set your feet in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION! - 1 Timothy 6:11-12

"Because I belong to God, I'm going to run from evil; I'm going to pursue a godly life!"

CHALLENGE:
We need to guard our thoughts.  What comes into our thoughts becomes our talk and will eventually become our walk.  We need to guard the way we think, the way we speak and they way we go.  We need to run away from evil and pursue godly things, a life that pleases God.

CONFESSION:
"I declare over my life today that I choose to set a guard over my mind; that my thoughts and words will build up and not tear down and that I will pursue a godly life.  I declare that my feet will run from evil and run to the things of God.  I choose to set my feet in the right direction and go the way that you desire me to go!"