God don’t like ugly Pt(2)

Good morning, CHURCH!

Welcome to FFM where we love God and love people.

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Let’s Pray

Lord, help us to see you as new and fresh through your word today?

Lord, help us to see truth where we have believed lies?

Lord, speak to us through your word today.

Most of all, help us to love you and others more.

Let’s go to the book of Psalm 133:1 NKJV for this week’s wisdom Vaccination.

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This Week’s Wisdom Vaccination

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Today’s opening shot of wisdom is this.

‌Psalm 133:1 NKJV

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Simple yet profound!

Behold is a word used to call notice to and consider the importance of the statement to follow.

And what statement is that?

How good and how pleasant being used consecutively to convey the message that it is both valuable and enjoyable for us to dwell together in unity.

Unity is like the sound of a great symphony or orchestra.

You bring all the various instruments together to form one amazing sound.

(String instruments, woodwind instruments, brass instruments, and percussion!)

All differently unique but when played in unity they make:

“One band One sound.”

Psalm 133:1 serves as a reminder and a call to pursue harmonious relationships, reflecting the character and purposes of God in our community.

All the various gifts in the community coming together to form one glorious church community.

“One Church One sound.”

Now today we will again be talking about things that fight against and destroy that unity.

Today’s message title is:

God still don’t like ugly.

A quick review to catch up.

As I stated last week the Bible addresses this concept of "haughty eyes".

And it’s generally condemning pride and arrogance.

The term "haughty eyes" is often used to describe a proud, disdainful look that reflects an arrogant heart.

It implies a sense of superiority even if you don’t realize it.

(I’m better than you, I don’t need you, I know it all, don’t correct me or critique me.)

In Proverbs 6:16-19, the Bible lists seven things that God hates, describing them as "detestable" to Him.

One of these is "a heart that devises wicked schemes."

The full passage in the NKJV translation reads:

Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

So, today we’ll start with:

#1

A Heart Like Haman

Let’s define: A Heart That Devises Wicked Schemes

Intentional Evil:

Someone who plans and plots evil or harmful actions deliberately.

This is not committing a sinful act spontaneously but premeditation and intentionally doing wrong.

Moral Corruption:

The heart is often seen as the seat of emotions and intentions in biblical literature.

Therefore, a heart that devises wicked schemes suggests deep moral corruption, where a person's inner thoughts and desires are focused on creating harm or injustice.

Deceptive and Manipulative: Wicked schemes often involve deceit, manipulation, and trickery.

This can encompass various forms of dishonesty, fraud, or plotting harm against others.

You might be asking yourself, “Why would you be warning us against such evil?” Most of us are believers.

And the reason is that there are Christians that end up in a place like this, but it doesn’t usually start there.

It starts somewhere seemingly innocent and builds when it is not corrected in time.

Just like it probably wasn’t Cain’s intention to kill Able when he was first warned by God.

But he didn’t check his self and ended up being our first human convicted of murderer.

Let’s look at Haman'sPlot Against the Jews in the book of Esther which shows us an example of someone devising wicked schemes.

Haman was a guy promoted by King Xerxes.

He was the Kings close confidant.

He was offended by a Jewish man named Mordecai who refused to bow to him.

Esther 3:5-6 NKJV

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.

6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

When He found that Mordecai was a Jew, he didn’t just want to take out his wrath on Mordecai but on all the Jews in that Empire.

So, he convinced the King to enact a decree that anyone who doesn’t bow when it’s time would be killed.

The Jews only bowed to their God and not to King Xerxes.

Haman's character in this story serves as a caution to us about the dangers of pride, vengeance, and unethical behavior.

By reflecting on these traits and recognizing any similar tendencies within us, we can strive to cultivate humility, empathy, and integrity in our lives instead of letting evil advance in us like Cain and Mordecai.

We should seek to treat others with respect and kindness.

We should address conflicts with forgiveness and understanding.

In doing so, it can help us avoid the pitfalls that Haman's character demonstrated.

Haman exhibited several negative traits that serve as warnings for us.

Question?

What are ways we might sometimes be like Haman:

-When we seek positions of authority or influence for the wrong reasons, prioritizing our ego over genuine service and leadership.

-When we feel slighted and let our feelings fester, do we let it lead to inappropriate responses or actions that harm our relationships with others.

-Do you ever act on a desire for revenge, rather than seeking resolution or forgiveness.

-Do you ever resort to manipulation or deceit to achieve your goals, compromising your integrity and causing harm to others.

-When feeling insecure about your own worth or position, does it lead you to undermine others or seek to elevate yourself at their expense.

-Do you focus solely on our own desires and needs, blinding you to the worth of those around you.

What would be some practical applications for us to avoid a Haman type of heart?

We should self-reflect.

Examine our own hearts and motives.

Are there any thoughts or plans that are harmful or unjust towards others?

We are called to a heart of integrity and purity. Not get back!

We should be ethical in our conduct.

In daily life, whether in personal relationships, business, or community interactions, it is important to act with honesty and fairness, avoiding any form of deceit or manipulation.

We must do the work spiritually.

As believers we are urged to cultivate a heart aligned with God’s values.

We should be seeking to promote justice, kindness, and truth always.

Proverbs 6 also talks about:

#2

A Troublemaker

Feet that are swift in running to evil:

This is an extension of the previous one we motioned.

This phrase refers to individuals who are quick to engage in harmful or wicked activities.

This signifies a readiness to do wrong and a lack of hesitation to participate in evil deeds.

This passage of scripture in Proverbs 6 emphasizes that God disapproves of behaviors and attitudes that cause harm, spread lies, create discord, and engage in wicked actions.

It's also a call to avoid these actions and cultivate virtues that align with God's values.

We also have:

#3

A False Witness

A False Witness Who Speaks Lies:

This refers to someone who intentionally provides false testimony or spreads lies, particularly in a legal or judicial context. Bearing false witness is a severe offense because it can lead to the wrongful punishment of innocent people, the undermining of justice, and the spread of misinformation.

This passage emphasizes God's disdain for dishonesty and injustice. Bearing false witness is explicitly condemned because it not only harms the individuals directly involved but also corrodes the foundation of trust and integrity within a community.

The importance of truthfulness is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's character and His desire for righteousness and justice among His people.

Bonus:

There is a seventh thing.

One who sows discord among brethren.

This refers to someone who deliberately creates conflict, division, or strife within a group that should be united, such as a family, community, or congregation.

This person actively seeks to cause arguments, spread rumors, and foster hostility and mistrust among people who should be supporting and loving one another.

(Gossip, slander, manipulation, deception, undermining unityetc.)

And you know what, I can see why this is an abomination to the Lord.

We’ve experienced this before, and it feels terrible.

In conclusion, God wants us to represent Him in the way we treat others.

And you can only treat others the way He treats us if you have an intimate relationship with Him and have been healed and set free from your past hurts and trauma’s.

If you’re watching online or here in the building, I have a very important question to ask you.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now?