Facing the Music

What's one of the key ways you can be more like Christ. Here Stephen Devi with this important truth easy to find the model in the character of Satan was called by Christ, the father of what father lives. He speaks lies and lying happens to be dialect Johnny were on the other hand, Jesus Christ always speaks the truth. For he is truth to the believer who was most like Christ and most unlike Satan is the believer tells the truth. Yet the truth Dean likes instead of acting like Christ. You've probably heard of the seven deadly sins, seven deadly sins is a phrase that comes straight from Proverbs 6 for Solomon lists seven sins that God hates Stevens looking at those seven deadly sins. In today's lesson but make sure you listen all the way to the end because he's also going to turn them around and encourage you with seven actions that bring delight to God Stevens calling this lesson facing the music.

Robert Jeffers included in his commentary on some of the Proverbs. An interesting history of a popular phrase. We often use today all transitive Chinese and English.

Evidently a member who wrote of the Royal Orchestra China talked his way into playing in the orchestra. Although he had no musical training whatsoever. Whenever this massive orchestra with practice or perform, he would simply hold the flute against his lips and pretend play for some time he got away with it, enjoying the prestige of being in the orchestra as well as receiving a handsome salary one day. However, the Emperor requested that each member of the orchestra come to the palace and perform one solo piece for him as he intended to enjoy several days music. The flautist knew that in a matter of hours he would be discovered. His family shamed he would more than likely be executed for fraud feigned illness that the court physician found nothing wrong with them on his appointed day, an hour to perform approach he took his own life rather than standing for the Emperor to be exposed as a thief and an imposter and out of that event came the phrase he refused to face the music we use that phrase today to talk about somebody who refuses to be accountable only to face his just desserts to stand up and own up to what he or she really is. They refuse to face as it were, the music you study the book of Proverbs for very long, and you get the distinct impression that the Emperor of heaven has called each of us and for personal evaluation. It doesn't do any good to feign illness is no hiding our performance. In fact, it's impossible to escape him.

Even in death. Perhaps that's why the apostle Paul was so passionate about his development and performance for the glory of God when he wrote it is my ambition to be pleasing to Christ. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse nine the hard truth is what were often not very pleasing to our Lord and we are in constant need of challenge in corrections to the greatest dangers to the Christian. Growing up in Christ is the danger of believing that we have arrived at by the apostle Paul wrote these important words and he himself said, I haven't obtained yet it it isn't perfect, but I press on Philippians chapter 3 verse 12. It's dangerous to believe that we've arrived at point a good thing. However, the face of the music. The evaluation of Scripture as it exposes us for not only who we are, where we should grow what we should change or do if you turn the Proverbs 6 that's one of those passages that serve causes in for the personal encounter with the Emperor of heaven to great text look with me at verse 16 of Proverbs chapter 6. Here are six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood heart that devises wicked plans fee make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. This is one of those passages where were not only having to appear before the divine, or the heavenly Emperor, but it's also getting a physical from the divine physician. He takes a look at our body. Did you notice how he references our eyes.

The health of our hearts. The condition of her tongue. The use of our hands and even our feet. He just brings us and checks us all out. You enjoy getting a physical and that it allowed Joyal delight. It's that time of year again where I got a call and make a scheduled appointment with the doctor to get a physical and poked and prodded and pushed and weighed in item you can always default though because you're you wear your clothes in your shoes, strengths, machines, I can say that every year.

My shoes are weighing more and more, but I don't see the doctor. But as only after you had to sit on the waiting room for an hour, but eventually you get checked out and then they tell you to go to the lab to have your blood drawn.

That's my favorite part just thinking about it, but you not queasy and my palms get sweaty and and I give her my arm. That cruel barbaric nurse and I look this way. I grit my teeth and she feels hundreds of files that will weaken me for the rest of my life not exaggerating, but this is where danger to our health is exposed and it is very important. The divine physician and in attacks like this pokes and prods and ways he draws blood. Now before we we look at each of of these parts examined why why a list of seven maybe three reasons why. First of all, it aids the believer with his memory, why, why does he say six again no. Seven but I think it aids the believer in our own memory condensing it. These are certainly categorical syndicate shallot underneath these, but it helps you to get a list. This is one of those things that the that the poet knew we could start talking our shirt is a short list and it aids our memory just know there are seven Sands God hates the memory.

It also encourages the believer battling with his memory, but it encourages the believer by its brevity. Certainly, the Lord hates all centering Austin is equally hated by God, but to summarize it in for a parent down to these sins. A shortlist of six it and it actually encourages us imagine if the text said there are 6000 things the Lord hates, 7000 are an abomination to him you go about 7000 where I begin. So is encouraging to know that was the short hairs. Seven. For starters, Bliss aids the believer with his memory. It encourages the believer by its brevity. Thirdly, this list surprises the believer with its severity. These seven. Solomon writes the Lord hates the Lord despises these actions and attitudes.

In fact, he says these are abomination to him that Hebrew word refers to things that are morally impulsive, reprehensible, these are abomination so does this mean that the Lord considers these seven sins more repulsive, more reprehensible than other students know for all sin is abomination to the Lord affect the text as these six things EA seven is actually Hebrew expression that implies.

The list is not exhaustive. Sin is sin. These in the list are surprising to me.

Among the seven sins you think that you could easily sweep under the rug.

These are a far cry from the nasty nine the dirty dozen right to the list. We understand the one about murder by Sparta, verse 17, but merely to tell you, God hates haughty look as much as he hates motor. You mean to tell me that that ally is as bad as murder is for the average person who says you think you're going to happen to them and kill anybody he would have all you going to heaven.

I never tell anybody.

We look at this list you listen to the physicians report and you discover and report the God hates murder and lying and divisiveness and arrogance equally. So we need to face the music together. This is what God has to say. These are six things the Lord hates, seven are morally repulsive to him. He began his in the next verse with the eyes. A proud look haughty eyes in our vernacular, we might, we might say this is someone who looks down there knows that everybody is. This would be the spirit of the staying the disdainful spirit or attitude they literally disdain other people and since the eyes of person's body were told are the mirror of the soul.

This means that a hottie who is actually betraying a haughty spirit haughty part a disdainful heart and spirit toward others. They look at people like they are better than other people because they really believe they are better than other people. This is nothing less than the attitude of Satan himself who disdain the triune God believing he was worthy of God's own fronds of the person that views with arrogance others is reflecting the spirit of Satan and that spirit will never bring Christ glory.

It will bring Christ dishonor and that's why God hates Scottish preacher James Denny said no man can bear witness to Christ and to himself. At the same time you can't focus your attention on him, and at the same time, focus your attention on you phrase refers to someone who is conceited someone who is caught up with his own reflection in her favorite topic of conversation is who themselves appreciated his response was several decades ago. Somebody asked Walt Disney, what was like to be a celebrity was literally noticed better in the world and he said well it feels fine when it helps to get a good seat for football game. It's nice to be a celebrity. But it never helped me to make a good film or command the obedience of my daughter.

In fact it doesn't even seem to keep fleas off our dog and of being a celebrity doesn't give me an advantage over a couple of laser can be much to it. A good I wonder then about the church, Jean Peterson, the author of the paraphrase, the message once remarked that the church today is growing in its list of celebrities and declining in its list of saints. Solomon moves from this spirit to another one will call this the deceitful spirit he moves now in verse 17 and says the Lord. Not only hates haughty eyes, but he hates a lying tongue. This is a deceitful spirit again.

It's easy to to find the model of the character of Satan was called by Christ, the father of what the father of lies. In fact, whenever Satan speaks, he speaks lies and lying happens to be his native dialect, Johnny 44 where on the other hand, Jesus Christ always speaks the truth. For he is truth John 14 62 the believer who is most like Christ and most unlike Satan is the believer tells the truth and over and over again ransack the Proverbs on your own and discover how often Solomon challenges the believer to be honest. Chapter 4 verse 24 would be one put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you devious talk more than just some big water of ally devious talk to be manipulating the truth to cover your tracks to be stretching the truth to fit your story and more. The Lord hates the disdainful spirit of the Lord hates the deceitful spirit.

Third, he hates the destructive spirit notice. Further, as he examines not just the eyes of the time, but the hands what is it about these set of hands that shed innocent blood notice is the one we would expect gathered to go… Belongs on the list God considers it morally reprehensible and it is true. These are the inquisitors, the murderers from hundreds of holocausts and genocides. This is also the euthanasia proponent the abortionist.

This is the court and doesn't follow that order to remove water and food from a living disabled woman named Terry Schiavo this is for all those who adopt the message of Peter Singer the bioethicist at Princeton who said that killing both pre-born and now he's moved to saying newborn children as well as legalizing the assistance of suicide, especially for the elderly is acceptable within quote the best interest of the family. I hate to be in a family with.

I was in her best interest to bump me off.

He said in an interview that there's going to be enough people in the concept of life and human rights, with only a few hard-core know nothing religious fundamentalists still protecting the life as sacred and so we do. Amen.

He believes that killing of disabled newborn for up to 28 days after birth is acceptable at Princeton actually pays his salary course. He also believes that a man's life is worth more than a cow is a growing following people unwittingly are deceived in the following, the God of this world who is bent on destruction, for he was a murderer from the beginning Johnny 44.

He loves to kill the image of God because he cannot kill God. At least he will motivated and started killing human beings because we are uniquely created in the image of God and is sort of an indirect slam at God.

No wonder the Lord hates the disdainful of the deceitful destructive solenoid further in verse 18. How God hates the depraved spirit of the Lord hates a heart that devises wicked plans, this text refers to those who are plotting to take advantage of others. Those who literally create plans that help destroy the lives of others. Certainly those whose lives are destroyed or personally and directly responsible but he he places responsibility and those who plan those plan.

This is the depraved heart, conniving, scheming, scamming God hates.

Let's turn this one around, challenge ourselves to plan things that will encourage and help others toward purity and integrity is a world filled with with scammers and schemers and they can steal your money and you can steal your parenting steal your reputation so that the church be an assembly that plans to enrich and encourage purity and enhance character and reputation, and when the sinner lies on his bed. Solomon said he plans evil. So when you lie on her bed divided utility her head plan something good somebody else when Jim Elliott and Craig got allow my life to be a crossroad for people who meet me choose the right path so I read a devotional article by my favorite professor Howard Hendricks in which he wrote not long ago I lost my best friends. The dynamic woman 86 years of age. The last time I saw her was at a rather boring reception we were sitting there on egg shells looking all pious and she walked in and saw me and said well hundred 17 for a long time.

One of the five best books you read in the past year.

Generally, changing a group dynamics per philosophy was born each other get into a discussion if we can find anything to discuss. Let's get into an argument. She was 83. He writes on her last trip to the holy land. She went there with a group of NFL football players is one of my most vivid memories of her was seeing her out in front of us yelling inside. She died in her sleep.

Her daughter told me that just before she died.

She had written out her goals for the next 10 years while there is a heart devising and planning for good in godliness and impacting others as well. For Christ. Solomon moves out of feet informs us that the Lord hates feet that make haste to run to evil. These are wondering feet. These are striving feet. This is a reference I think to the delinquent spirit. They have the ability to catch up with trouble have the innate skill to sniff the wind and discover which direction sin is traveling and and find it in with both feet. Chase it down. They pursue evil they live for evil they give their business card evil. They leave their phone for Eve all they say to Eva, you bear the high school seniors who have already decided as soon as they are away from home and some college somewhere they will run to evil, and I've got about five months left and I can't wait.

These are the businessmen whose flight touches down in a distant city and his feet are anxious to get into a good search for sin hates the sound of feet running loves the sound of feet running toward's Chronicles ratio. Solomon informed us that the Lord also hates the dishonest spirit.

Verse 19 the Lord hates a false witness who breathes out lies just part of his inhale and exhale.

He wrote in Proverbs 1922. It is better to be a poor man than a liar is a good text for use. You enter the business world tomorrow. It's better for you to lose that contract because you tell the truth and gain the contract for July were you hedged cover. Proverbs 26 for 28 is where Solomon writes a lying tongue hates those it crushes and the flattering mouth works ruin jitterbug not telling the truth, but with a liar and the flatterer ruin lives. In fact, it will be Solomon's son Rehoboam study the record of Rehoboam you discover the vicinity. Now to the throne.

He is young counselors that advised him to be rather deceptive and selfish and he follows their advice and they flatter him and they say you are Rehoboam. We are so much greater then your father, Solomon, show your strength are tell everybody George J they ruined his life he would lose the throne was in the believer is to always tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Think of it this way, the Christian is always under we are always under oath to tell the truth to the Lord hates the disdainful spirit. The deceitful spirit, destructive spirit, the depraved spirit the delinquent spirit the dishonest spirit.

And finally, the Lord hates the divisive spirit Proverbs chapter 6 verse 19 concludes the Lord hates one who sows discord among brothers among the brethren.

He hates anyone and anything that will divide his people course in the New Testament.

This would be a reference to the assembly or the church. Those will separate saints now is God hates these seven acts of sin that would mean he will the opposite right so let's turn them around quickly from the deadly seven sins to the delightful seven acts instead of a haughty spirit, then he allows the humble spirit. How you treat someone in your family you treat someone in your classroom to church. Your job tomorrow morning will you look down on them or will you look out for them. Instead of a haughty spirit demonstrate humble spirit number two instead of lying speech pursue legitimate speech tell the truth free instead of hands that harm develop hands that help number four instead of a heart that plans wicked deeds develop a heart that plans wholesome file instead of racing toward perversion run for the prize because of the prize of the high calling which we had Christ Jesus. Number six, instead of lying under oath live under oath. Remember we are all called witnesses are we on the witness stand number seven instead of selling bitterness and disunity sows seeds of blessing and unity. So mirror the model of Christ, who was the perfect opposite of all of these seven terrible things could never think of it as I study this paragraph thing the Christ was the model of humility. He was the epitome of truth and truthfulness. His hands healed and helped and embraced his heart is pure and in sinless his feet walked among us, eventually allowing the piercing nails to silence him, but only for just a moment. Everything he said was true about everybody he ever spoke and we have been unified by him around this truth into one family. This is the divine. Physicians report I recommended we together except the facts don't argue the x-rays forgot the lab report fill the prescription.

Take your medicine. Let's accept the diagnosis and gratitude for God's grace and goodness have passion like the apostle Paul of pleasing the Christ sought to deal with this list of seven to our Lord and to his spirit. Our eyes are balance our hands or hearts perfect as Christians sin should always can committing sins that God specifically puts on a list of things he hates is especially sobering. We need God's help in mirroring our Lord Jesus Christ, and the way we act. I hope you'll find time today to pray and ask God to reveal areas where you might need to change and then ask him for the strength and power by his spirit to walk in holiness you're listening to wisdom for the heart with our daily Bible teacher Stephen Devi.

You can learn more about Steven and our ministry by visiting us@wisdomonline.org that website is filled with resources to help you walk wisely. Many of these resources, such as the audio archive of Stephen's messages are free. Visit there any time and see what we have available for you. The lesson you heard today is called facing the music.

It comes from a series on the book of Proverbs called the quest for hidden treasure. We have all of the lessons in this series available as a set of CDs for those who want to own this collection. You can order the sat on the website or you can call us today at 86 648 Bible. That's 866-482-4253 you can call us any weekday and would be glad to help you when you call sure and ask how you can get a complimentary copy of our brand-new magazine called heart heart to heart is a resource we give to our wisdom partners but we be happy to send it to you in the next three issues are absolutely free is one more lesson to go in this series and that will be tomorrow at this same time here on wisdom for the heart