These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

One thing we need to understand about God, is that He hates sin! We need to realize that sin does not come from God but is actually rebellion against God. As the Bible says “God does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13) The temptation comes from our own sinful flesh, this is the war against God, the flesh vs the Spirit

We people say “I was born this way” or “God made me this way” this is just an excuse to sin. While our flesh may drive us to lust after certain sin, God never designed us this way or would never justify us to stay this way. This is why Jesus said we must become “Born Again to see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) You cant remain dead in your sins and expect to worship a Living God. You need to become Crucified with Christ and He will raise you up a New Life (Romans 6)

Every time that you sin, you wage war against God. You declare my flesh is my Master and not Jesus. This is why the Bible tells us “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22) How can you ever obtain peace when you are at war with your Creator? Until you deny yourself and carry your cross, you will never be set free from the slavery of sin

Now this may sound like an impossible war, however Christ has already won the war! When Jesus said “It Is Finished” on the cross, he paid the penalty for your sin. He justified you before your Heavenly Father, now you must become Born Again and Sanctified by the Holy Spirit! What a loving and merciful God , who would die for his own creation. Praise The Lord Amen!

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

The Bible is very clear that God does not reward laziness. One of the dangers of laziness is not being prepared for the future. This Proverb compares an Ant who stores up food during the summer, so when winter comes it wont starve. In fact if you observe nature, you don’t see animals or insects just lying around , they are continually working, gathering food, building nests, ect. This can be applied to our spiritual lives also

One of the most embarrassing things is when you continually see ministries begging for money. Now we know it takes money to keep things operating but there are better ways to support your ministry. First off I have to really question their faith in God, do they not believe God can provide for their ministry? They need to be a beggar on a street corner? What happened to preachers actually working?

The Apostle Paul might be considered the greatest evangelist of all time, yet he still worked as a tent maker not to burden the people (Acts 18:3) Paul also made statements like “Those who don’t work don’t eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) and “Anyone who doesn’t provide for their own family is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8) Yes if you think God is going to bless you by sitting on the couch , think again!

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. Proverbs 6:9-11

This can be applied to our “Spiritual Lives” also. When we look back at the great theologians like Spurgeon, Luther, Wesley, ect we say “How did these men get such great insight”? Well because these men wrestled and toiled with the scriptures their entire lives. If we really want to understand God and his Word, we need to work at it. You need to devote yourself to reading the scriptures, praying, and witnessing to others

How long will we sleep O Sluggard? Remember in Matthew 25 when Jesus taught the parable of the Talents. When he came back he rewarded people on what they did with their talent. Those who were lazy didn’t get a reward. Those who used the talents God gave them were rewarded. Jesus rewarded hard work and faith! Of course this is all in vein without Jesus being our Lord and Savior Amen!

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. Proverbs 5:21

We have all heard the expression “ A perfect Crime”, but in reality there is no such thing. People plot their evil to try and avoid evidence or witnesses, but God sees it All. Anyone who thinks they can get away with evil is a fool. The One who created the Heavens and the Earth, knows every hair on your head. God knows everything that has happened and what is going to happen, He is Eternal

Notice God also ponders our ways. He wants to know why are we thinking the things we think, why are we saying the things we say. Your ways and thoughts are known to your Creator, there is no secret that God doesn’t know, so why not just be honest with him already? When Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to hide from Gods presence but its impossible, God is everywhere he knows all things

Some will go to the next extreme to just deny that God exists at all. This takes them down the road, of not only depravity but also foolishness. To deny the evidence of Gods existence that is clearly seen, makes you a fool, and there is no excuse when you are coming face to face with The Lord. You will give an account of yourself and your actions, without the soul cleansing blood of The Lamb, you are already condemned

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. Proverbs 5:22

You might say “Its not fair that Your condemned” well the cords of your own sins have strangled you. The pleasure of sin that may have lasted a few moments will result in an eternity of suffering. But nobody saw me, right? See no evil, hear no evil? God sees everything and knows your heart and mind.

As Jesus said we need to become Born Again to see the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3) We are depraved in our sinful nature, but Christ can not only set you free but transform you , Amen!

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

What many of us don’t know, is we have a heart condition. Now I’m not talking about a medical heart condition but a spiritual one. The Bible tells us to “Guard our hearts, for everything flows from it” Now when the Bible talks about the heart its not talking about the physical organ in our bodies. The original Hebrew word here for heart is “Leb” meaning your inner core of yourself, your soul, your will.

This is why the gospel message of Christ is about a New Heart. Its not talking about a physical heart but the spiritual one. The world has an old saying to “Follow your heart” but is this a wise saying? The Bible tells us “The heart is deceptive” (Jeremiah 17:9) When we follow our hearts we typically are following our flesh, which can lead to destructive sin. This is why this Proverb tells us to Guard or Keep our hearts, don’t allow yourself to be enticed or deceived with sin

Jesus taught about the heart quit a bit , In Matthew 5 he says “If you look at a someone with lust you have already committed adultery in your heart” (Matthew 5:28) also “If you have hatred in your heart for someone you have already committed murder” (Matthew 5:21-22) Now these sound like extreme teachings by Christ but he is making a point. Our sin begins in our heart, this is why the Proverb teaches us to guard our hearts so we can avoid sin manifesting in it

Jesus also taught that “Our heart defiles us” (Matthew 15:18) when we allow the temptations of sin to creep into our hearts and grow, it defiles your soul. The Apostle James also taught on this subject, “When desire is conceived , it gives birth to sin, and then sin leads to death” (James 1:15) When we allow the temptations of our heart to give birth to sin, it leads to our destruction.

This is why you should guard your heart, for everything flows from it. Guard your heart from drugs and alcohol, guard your heart from pornography, guard your heart from violence because all these things lead to your destruction Amen!