The Things a Loving God Hates: "A False Witness Who Utters Lies"

The Things a Loving God Hates Introduction:

1 John 4:7–8 (NASB)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and...

8 ... God is love.

John 3:16 (NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (NASB)

8 ...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 45:7 (ESV)

7 ...you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness...

Psalm 97:10 (ESV)

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! ...

Amos 5:15 (NASB)

15 Hate evil, love good...

God is love but God hates sin. He hates all sin. But there are some sins He hates even more than others.

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NASB)

16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Haughty eyes

A lying tongue

Hands that shed innocent blood

A heart that devises wicked plans

Feet that run rapidly to evil

A false witness who utters lies

One who spreads strife among brothers

The question is, why?

Why does God hates these particular sins so much?

We are going to examine each one of the seven things listed in Proverbs 6:17-19 and define exactly what they are and discover why God hates them so much.

If we claim to love God, we are going to hate these same things too and desire repentance and rescue from the things our loving God hates.

That means that we are going to hate these things in our own lives FIRST and hate the pain and suffering they cause us and those we love.

It also means we are going to hate what God hates in in our world and desire to respond to it the way God wants us to according to His word.

So far we have covered haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood and a heart that devises wicked plans. Today we are going to investigate...

"A False Witness Who Utters Lies”

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NASB)

16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue…

19 A false witness who utters lies...

Proverbs 12:17 (NASB)

17 He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.

Matthew 7:15 (NASB)

15 “Beware of the false prophets...

2 Peter 2:1 (NASB)

1 ...false prophets … also… false teachers...

2 John 7 (NASB)

7 ...deceivers...

Because God hates a false witness that utters lies, we need to...

EXAMINE the testimony of witnesses.

1 John 4:1 (NASB)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:20–22 (NASB)

20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

Colossians 2:8 (NASB)

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Matthew 7:15 (NASB)

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:16–20 (NASB)

16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Matthew 24:11 (NASB)

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

2 John 7–8 (NASB)

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world...

2 Peter 2:1–22 (NASB)

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned...

Revelation 2:2 (NASB)

2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

Because God hates a false witness that utters lies, we need to...

EXPOSE false witnesses who utter lies.

Ephesians 5:6–11 (NASB)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them...

Romans 16:17–19 (ESV)

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Matthew 16:6 (NASB)

6 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:11–12 (NASB)

11 “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 23:13 (NASB) [The Eight Woes]

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites...

1 Timothy 1:19–20 (NASB)

19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander...

2 Timothy 1:15 (NASB)

15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 2:16–17 (NASB)

16 ...avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus...

2 Timothy 4:10 (NASB)

10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me...

Popular False Teachers Today [Name Names]:

Joel Osteen

Andy Stanley (Communicating for Change & Visioneering)

Steven Furtick (Elevation Church/Elevation Music)

Bill Johnson (Bethel Church in Redding, California)

Brian Houston (Hillsong International in Sydney, Australia)

Kenneth Copeland

Benny Hinn

Creflo Dollar

TD Jakes

Joyce Meyer

Paula White

Christine Caine

Jen Hatmaker

Beth Moore (Some of her old Bible studies are fine…)

1 Timothy 5:19–20 (ESV)

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Because God hates a false witness that utters lies, we need to...

ENSURE our own witness is true.

1 Timothy 4:16 (NASB)

16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Proverbs 14:25 (NASB)

25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.

2 John 7–8 (NASB)

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

2 Timothy 3:13–17 (NASB)

13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Ephesians 4:15 (NASB)

15 ...but speaking the truth in love...

2 Timothy 4:2–5 (NASB)

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

James 3:1 (NASB)

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

Luke 17:1–2 (NASB)

1 He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Proverbs 19:5 (NASB)

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

Proverbs 21:28 (NASB)

28 A false witness will perish, but the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

Two applications here, both are important!

1) Don’t be a false witness. It is dangerous for you and others. Instead, make sure you speak truth. You will be blessed if you do and you will rescue yourself and God could use your truth witness to rescue your hearers. (Ezekiel 33)

2) Don’t listen to false witnesses! They could deceive you and lead you astray. Instead, listen to the truth. Hear what God has to say. Believe His word. God is that standard for truth. Jesus is the truth. Listen to Jesus and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

How’s your witness?

Do you know the truth today?

The truth about us?

The truth about God?

What do you do with it?

Do you apply it to your own life?

Do you share it with others?

Memory Verse of the Week:

Proverbs 14:25 (NASB)

25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.

Bible Study Questions:

What does this Scripture teach us about God?

What does this Scripture teach us about man?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?