Inside the pages of this book, Rev. Dr. Larry A. Brookins examines three significant contexts from the Bible that bring to the forefront how God views sin and disobedience, whether outside the church among the peoples of the world, or within the church among the congregations of the saints. It also highlights the heart of the God of both Old and New Testaments, as it relates to the life that is lived in submission and conformity to the Will of God. In Seven Things that God Hates, Seven Letters to Seven Churches and Let Go of Your Neighbor's Throat no camouflage is presented. Jesus said: "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32) . The God, Who is Love, has word against the transgressor of His commandments. The goal is not condemnation but correction (see II Timothy 3:16) . The objective of divine admonition is forever? "repentance" (see II Peter 3:9) . More than anything else God desires to bless, but He will curse. More than anything else the gates of Heaven invite all, but what of the reality of Hell? The love of God is unconditional and embraces every sinner with an invitation to salvation, regardless of individual sin. But don't misinterpret divine love for acceptance of a lifestyle that displeases God and or for absolute salvation without the condition of faith and obedience. Jesus died for all, but not all will enjoy the fruit of His sacrifice.
Seven Things that God Hates & Seven Letters to Seven Churches
By Larry A. BrookinsAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Rev. Dr. Larry A. Brookins
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4520-4728-7Contents
Foreword...........................................................................................................xvThe 'Gavel'........................................................................................................xixPreface............................................................................................................xxiIntroduction.......................................................................................................xxviiCHAPTER ONE Sin One: A Proud Look..................................................................................1CHAPTER TWO Sin Two: A Lying Tongue................................................................................13CHAPTER THREE Sin Three: Hands that Shed Innocent Blood............................................................25CHAPTER FOUR Sin Four: An Heart that Deviseth Wicked Imaginations..................................................35CHAPTER FIVE Sin Five: Feet that Be Swift in Running to Mischief...................................................45CHAPTER SIX Sin Six: A False Witness that Speaketh Lies............................................................55CHAPTER SEVEN Sin Seven: He that Soweth Discord Among Brethren.....................................................67CHAPTER EIGHT Letter One: To the Church at Ephesus "Rekindling our Love for the Lord"..............................101CHAPTER NINE Letter Two: To the Church at Smyrna "Be Faithful".....................................................111CHAPTER TEN Letter Three: To the Church at Pergamos "Don't Compromise".............................................121CHAPTER ELEVEN Letter Four: To the Church at Thyatira "Ridding the Church of Jezebel"..............................131CHAPTER TWELVE Letter Five: To the Church at Sardis "Having a Name without Substance"..............................141CHAPTER THIRTEEN Letter Six: To the Church at Philadelphia "An Open Door for Faithful Service".....................149CHAPTER FOURTEEN Letter Seven: To the Church at Laodicea "The Problem with Being Lukewarm".........................157CHAPTER FIFTEEN Let Go of Your Neighbor's Throat...................................................................169Epilogue...........................................................................................................177Sources Cited......................................................................................................181
Chapter One
Sin One: A Proud Look
Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV) "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
(NIV) "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: (17) haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, (18) a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, (19) a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
Recorded for us in these 4 verses of the 6th Chapter of the Book of Proverbs is an inventory of seven things that God hates, yet, this record is not meant to be exhaustive or a complete listing of all sins, but merely suggestive of the kind of things that God hates.
Throughout Scripture there are many other sins catalogued, in both the Old and New Testaments, all of which, equally to the sins of our text, God hates. By way of side note: there are no big sins and little sins, or acceptable sins in the definition of God. The truth of the matter is that, God hates, or God despises all sin. The truth of the matter is that, all sin is an abomination or a blemish against all that God is and all that God stands for. All sin is in direct violation against the precepts or instructions of God's Word for life and living.
Sin, in the life of the Christian, misrepresents our relationship with God, as it reveals the DNA of the devil, of whom Jesus said, "was a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). Furthermore, Scripture states: "He who commits sin is of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
What happens when we sin is that, we commit those things that God admonishes us not to do. We break His commandments. We transgress His laws. We disobey His rules. We show contempt for His character. We defy His authority and we go beyond the limits of behavior and communication that are clearly posted for our obedience within His Word.
Sin disconnects us from God, as God can have no fellowship with sin. Therefore, sin infringes on what God will do for us and give to us, and it brings into our life, not the favor of God, which God desires for our lives, but the judgment of God against our life, both now and in the future, unless we rectify the sin issue through the confession of sin and by the giving up of sin, regardless of what the sin may be.
People don't like to talk or hear about sin for what sin really is, but sin is detestable to God and a plague on society. It corrupts nations. It destroys households. It severs relationships and sin causes widespread destruction, disease, debauchery and death. No matter how we attempt to dress it up and no matter how we endeavor to dismiss sin and deem all things and conduct legal, permissible, okay and good, there is nothing righteous or wholesome about sin.
To consecrate, consummate and congratulate what God condemns and what God abhors is like putting fresh clothes on a filthy body. Though you look good on the outside, sooner or later, the stench underneath will rise to the surface and 'infect' and 'affect' the exterior cover-over and camouflage, and the longer you go unwashed, the greater the stink that protrudes from your flesh. Simply put, you can dress up the outside, but you can't dress up or cover-up sin. Sin is like a flicker of fire-if it goes unchecked; fire can ignite and demolish your house.
The Book of Numbers, Chapter 32 and verse 23 declares: "Be sure that your sin will find you out." Translation: "you will eventually suffer for your sin."
No matter how hard we try to conceal sin, or give sin a makeup or facial treatment, or how we attempt to legislate sin as legal, we only deceive ourselves. Know that, we might fool or convince people, but never God. Always remember that, the wheels of God grind slowly, but they do grind. And what eventually happens is that, what God grinds is broken up and pulverized.
We cannot trifle with God's Word and still expect His approval on our lives. Proverbs 28:13 states: "He who covers his sins shall not prosper." God is no respecter of persons. He has no favorites. He has no seniority perks or specialized treatment when it comes to sin. Sin is sin, no matter who commits it: preacher, president, choir member, deacon or musician.
God has no categories or sections of first-class sinners and economy or coach sinner. For the sinner, no matter whom he or she is, we have to deal with God. None of us can escape and none of us will escape. We must confess and forsake or be convicted by divine justice and confined to hell or stripped of Kingdom rewards.
The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to teach us, through a series of brief and clever statements of truth, how we are to live wise and skillful lives; how we are to know and receive wisdom and instruction; how we are to perceive the words of understanding; how we are to be prudent in all things, and how we should and could avoid the pitfalls of sin, deceptions of Satan and the harmful attractions and charms of the world. It says to us: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends therefore are the ways of death" (Proverbs 16:25).
The Book of Proverbs engages us to think and to examine before we act, react, conversant and commit. It challenges us to sidestep the ways of evil and to embrace the ways of righteousness. It provokes us to "trust God" and "not to lean to our own understanding," and to, "in all our ways acknowledge God," allowing Him to direct and order our everyday steps and walk within life (see Proverbs 3:5-6). Our text says:
"These six things the LORD hates, yea, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."
I want to elaborate on what I can and then bring it to a close. And what we don't get to and through now, we will pick up and discuss later. First of all, let me define the terms "hate" and "abomination," because the text says: "these six things the LORD hates, yea, seven are an abomination to Him."
In the Hebrew "hate" means: "an extreme dislike that alienates," and the expression "alienate" means to: "make unfriendly; to set against; to push away; to isolate, or to be in a state of estrangement and hostility." The word hate is a strong term, yet it denotes the attitude, which God has towards the sins and perpetrators of such sins listed within our text.
An "abomination" is something that is repugnant or disgusting. It is something that is repulsive. It is something that is foul. It is something that is nauseating, upsetting to the stomach and hideous. And what are listed in our text are things, and again, perpetrators of such things that are ugly and offensive to God, and things and people that simply make God sick. You don't want to make God sick. "These six things the LORD hates, yea, seven are an abomination to Him."
Many of us realize that there is often a correlation or connection between the things we love and that, which we hate. In other words, because we love certain things, we tend to hate other things. We tend to hate the things that threaten the wellbeing of the things that we love. For example: as a parent, who loves your children, because of your love for them, you also hate the things that might violate or threaten their health, happiness, comfort, security, life and future. And by the same token, because God loves certain things, He also hates the things that jeopardize the stability and demonstration of the things, which He loves. For example: the Bible says: "what God has joined together, let no man tear asunder" (Mark 10:9). Therefore, we also hear it proclaimed, in Malachi 2:16: "God hates divorce." He hates divorce because He instituted and consecrates marriage. Marriage is God-ordained and it denotes union, while divorce designates separation. The God that we serve is a God of unity and harmony, not a God of division and discord. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob advocates 'forgiveness' and 'humility,' not 'unforgiveness' and 'pride.' Thus, sin # 1 of our text is:
A PROUD LOOK
A "proud look" is a look that is consumed with "pride." Pride is an attitude of self-exaltation, conceit and self-superiority that arrogantly tramples and looks down on others. It has a disdain for others, nothing good to say about others and it rebels against God. Pride is vain. Pride is snobbish. Pride is stuck-up, stuck on self, snooty and pretentious. It has to be the center of attention. It has to have the last word. It must have its way and the religious prideful think that they are "holier than thou."
God hates pride because it contradicts His command that we humble ourselves, esteem others above ourselves, and that we go through life in service and servanthood to others.
Pride is a dangerous and invasive thing. It can creep in suddenly, with too many applauses and cries for encores, and when too many people speak well of you or crown you with greatness. And just as sudden as it creeps in, it can demolish and tear down in moments, what took years to build up. As a matter of fact, pride has brought down nations. It has brought down politicians. It has brought down pastors and ministries, and it will bring you down, if you believe the resume. Scripture says: "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Haughty is just another term for "proud" and "arrogant."
Per 1st Timothy 3:6, pride was the sin of Satan. Per Jeremiah 49:16, pride deceives the heart. Per Daniel 5:20, pride hardens the mind, and as it is listed number one here in our text, pride is the 'basis' or the 'foundation' of all other sin. You name it and it can be traced back to "pride."
The oppression of the poor is because of pride. The hoarding of possessions is because of pride. The judgment of others is because of pride and division in the church is the result of pride. Everybody wants to be in charge, and everybody wants to do what's right in their own eyes.
Be careful of people who constantly use the singular personal pronouns: "I," "me," "myself," "mine" and "my." "I" is subjective. "Me" is objective. "Myself" is reflexive. "Mine" is a possessive pronoun and "my" is a possessive determiner. These people start stuff. They hoard stuff. It is all about them and never about others. Lucifer used them and was kicked out of Heaven. Isaiah 14:12, 13 and 14 state:
"How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Where there is contention, there is pride. Where there is strife, there is pride. Where there are debates, there is pride and when man or woman seeks to do his or her own thing, it is a matter of pride. But always remember that the Bible says: "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride" (Proverbs 14:3)-"when pride cometh, then cometh shame" (Proverbs 11:2)-"all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1st John 2:16)-"the fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride and arrogance" (Proverbs 8:13).
What do we do then when we note pride in our lives? 1) We repent. 2) We apologize. 3) We take our eyes off of self, and 4) we fix our eyes on Jesus.
If anybody could make the case for having reason and right to exalt themselves, it was Jesus. After all, He was coequal with God from eternity past. He is the Word that was with God. He is the Word that was God. Through Him all things were made and without Him nothing was made that were made (see John 1:1-3). All things exist because of Him and all things exist unto Him (see Colossians 1:16-17). But when He took on flesh and blood and became one with us, He didn't come with "a proud look." He didn't come with "haughty eyes." He was not born in the palaces of Jerusalem and Jesus did not come for others to serve Him (see Mark 10:45).
The Bible says: "He made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death on a cross" (Philippians 2:7-8).
What do we do when pride invades our thoughts: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)
He didn't amass wealth unto Himself. He gave Himself for the benefit of others. He had no where to lie His head and He didn't look down upon others.
The prostitute-He didn't look down. The tax collector He didn't look down. The adulterer-He didn't look down and on any of them He didn't look down, but Jesus reached down to pick them up. He reached down to make their lives better. He reached down to invite them in and He reached down to forgive their sin. Their lives were a mess, but Jesus didn't look down. He did stoop down, but Jesus didn't look down.
Jesus stooped down to give sight to the blind. Jesus stooped down to make the lame to walk. Jesus stooped down to unclog deaf ears and He stooped down to convict stone-throwers of their sins.
Jesus said: "Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy-laden. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and there is rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29), but not so with pride.
Pride will not reach out. Pride will not pick up. It will condemn. It will throw stones. It will distance itself away from others and have no compassion upon others. But I heard Jesus say: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:3). The Word says: "Humble thyself under the mighty Hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). "He, who humbles himself, shall be exalted, but he, who exalts himself shall me made low" (Luke 14:11 & Matthew 23:12).
Don't have a Pharaoh spirit. Don't have a Lucifer spirit. Don't have a spirit that is of this world, but let the Holy Spirit abide within. Let Him take you 'out of self' and put you 'into Christ.'
Let the Holy Spirit give you a humble spirit and bring you to your knees. Get down now in your own will and not later by God's might. God will bring low every haughty eye and He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (see James 4:6).
Chapter Two
Sin Two: A Lying Tongue
Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV)
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
(NIV) "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: (17) haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, (18) a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, (19) a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
We declared in chapter one that, listed within our text is an inventory of seven sins that God hates, and that this list is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of all sins, but merely suggestive of the kind of things that God extremely dislikes.
We know Scripture speaks of many sins, other than the sins of our text and that, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
To one extent, we've all been guilty of what I spoke on in chapter one, the issue of "pride," and if the truth be told, we have all been guilty of what I'm dealing with in this chapter at one time or another, or at many times and often.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Seven Things that God Hates & Seven Letters to Seven Churchesby Larry A. Brookins Copyright © 2010 by Rev. Dr. Larry A. Brookins. Excerpted by permission.
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