Unity in the Church

Speaker 1

Discord and division God hates . It's a terrible thing to intentionally cause a fraction amongst God's children . You know , we should obviously be against what the world stands for , but within the Church it should not be the case . We see the Apostle Paul in , I think , 2 Corinthians , chapter 11 , where he says all of these things that came down upon him , but the least of which he did not expect it was the wars within the church , right , it was the backbiting , it was the gossip , it was the malicious slander that was coming up against him within the church , right ? So we need to be very careful when we start talking evil and devising plans and causing discord amongst , especially the believer , because God takes it very personal . These people creating the image of God are worthy of dignity , honor and respect . You don't know what they're going through . You have half the story . Oftentimes .

Speaker 1

It's been often said that there's three points to the story . You have his version , you have his version , the other version , and then you have the true version of what actually happened . It's best just to be quiet and allow things to pan out . What do we do ? We often disguise that in a prayer request . Hey , listen , we need to pray for easy . Because of this Because of what , what , and we share it by way of a prayer request , but in reality it's just gossip and slander . That didn't need to be said .

Speaker 2

Yes , friends , it is true , my life has changed yet once again . The other day I was at my buddy Bill Daniels' house . Mark , you know Bill Daniels .

Speaker 3

Ray , you know , bill Daniels , are you going to mention this episode ? Which episode ?

Speaker 2

What are you talking about ? Is there something about this episode ? Yes , it's number 300 . Oh , that's why my life has really changed , because I've sat down 300 times with these fellas . It's hard to believe . Huh guys , 300 ? That is very long .

Speaker 4

Yeah , it's wild too that it's the 300th episode in Daniel's last episode .

Speaker 2

I know I was going to say that . Thank you , Oscar , for stealing my thunder . Daniel Roman , who has been our faithful cameraman for a long time , will be transitioning over to Tennessee .

Speaker 3

That word means something else Don't say transitioning , no , he's not going from .

Speaker 2

Daniel to Danielle . He's just going from California to Tennessee . Daniel has done a great job . As you can tell by the last name , daniel Roman is the son of our beloved Eddie Roman and he'll be going to Tennessee . So , daniel , thank you for all of your hard work . Let's give him a hand , gentlemen . Yes , thank you ?

Speaker 1

You know that echos out to be about 225 hours worth of podcast , or 9.375 days straight through with you guys .

Speaker 3

Boy , my life has really not just nine days yeah , so we could do 300 episodes in 10 days if we don't sleep 10 days time .

Speaker 2

Yeah right yeah , boy guys , I do have to say this has been boy guys boy guys .

Speaker 1

You never heard of boy guys .

Speaker 2

Boys to guys you've never heard of boy guys no , he's boy .

Speaker 1

Ge Guys You've never heard of Boy Guys . No , he's Boy .

Speaker 2

George's brother . Yeah , but this has been just a thrill , honestly . You remember our first episode .

Speaker 1

We had no idea what we were doing .

Speaker 2

We have no idea what we're doing and we still don't . But I just want to say to all of our dear friends out there that have been so faithful for so long you have blessed us , have been so faithful for so long you have blessed us . The knowledge that you've been encouraged keeps encouraging us and keeps us doing this . So thank you so much , and all the letters and encouragement and the gifts that have come our way , truly thank you .

Speaker 4

It wouldn't be the same without the people who listen , especially the people who faithfully listen . We hear so many people who are like I've listened to every single episode . The podcast wouldn't be what it is without you guys , uh , with your support and especially your encouragement . It feels like a two way street . You know , we hear that we're encouraging others , but we definitely are encouraged by all of our listeners , so thank you .

Speaker 2

We still haven't learned yeah .

Speaker 3

Um , no easy . Thanks for carrying this . You do such a great job . You do so much research beforehand and you carry it . You're the host . You have to think deeper than we do .

Speaker 2

So I appreciate it . Well , it's a joy to anchor . You guys make my job easy . I've talked about it before . It's like being a part of a sports team where you have incompetent teammates but you just press on through it .

Speaker 3

You're the anchor with the hooks .

Speaker 2

No , but it is . It is like being a part of a team where you can trust your teammates . You can kick them the ball and I wish everybody could see Mark's eyes with that mustache .

Speaker 1

No , it is an absolute great time , though , to subscribe , leave a comment yeah , those sort of things . Those are so important with the analytics . We don't just do it because we like to see what people say , though Obviously it's very encouraging to us , but when you leave a review , it does something to the algorithms , yeah , it pushes it in front of other people that think that , hey , if you like this , well , then maybe they'll like this . So it gets it out there .

Speaker 3

Very important . Someone define algorithms for me .

Speaker 2

Al-gorithm .

Speaker 3

He was a criminal from the 1930s .

Speaker 4

Al-gore Itham Dancing . That's where it came from , al-gore-itham .

Speaker 3

He invented the internet , that's funny .

Speaker 2

Yeah , an algorithm is basically a term that's used to describe the ability of computers to detect trends and make predictions and stuff like that Now we all know , or it's a step-by-step procedure or set of rules used to solve a problem or perform a task .

Speaker 1

It's like a recipe that defines a series of actions or calculations to achieve a specific result . Thank you , Al .

Speaker 4

Wow , merci beaucoup Al Gore . It's a former vice president Democrat on a dance floor .

Speaker 2

Remember we were on a plane with Al Gore once . Remember that .

Speaker 3

Yes , I took a picture .

Speaker 2

The guy was looking underneath the sea . Yeah , I walk in and there's a guy lying across the aisle on the plane they're looking for . You know it's a secret service looking for explosives or whatever and they let you on the end of doing even your arab accent goes indian right , yeah .

Speaker 2

so anyhow , as I was saying before , I was rudely interrupted , my life was changed again recently . Friends , os , oscar , don't look at my notes Because I went to my friend Bill Daniels' house and a fly came into the house and he pulled out the coolest gadget .

Speaker 1

I was just talking to you about our love for gadgets .

Speaker 2

No better than that it electrocutes flies . It looks like a tennis racket . I've seen pictures of that they work , oh gloriously so . And so I go oh , that is so cool . I go , I am getting that . And he goes oh , here , take this , we've got two .

Speaker 1

Really yeah .

Speaker 2

And so now I get so excited when a fly comes .

Speaker 3

I get excited when a fly comes into the house Sunday afternoon at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon is fly time .

Speaker 2

Oh , is that ?

Speaker 3

That's when I'm going to have to snooze , I'm just drifting .

Speaker 2

You know , Rachel must have your syndrome . A fly flew into our bathroom last night and she just about lost it , Did she ? Yeah ?

Speaker 4

Hey , it's going to get me . Hey fly . Did she chase it ? We're sorry , rachel . No , I had to use my foot .

Speaker 2

I didn't have my zapper with me in the bathroom .

Speaker 1

I like the idea .

Speaker 3

It landed on the ground . I squashed it . Can you send me a link to that zapper ? I want to get it .

Speaker 4

Oh yeah , I like the idea of PETA getting like a DM , like a message like hey , can you believe they're making this to attack flies and their response is like , actually , we're good with that .

Speaker 2

We hate . Fine , I think that's hypocrisy on PETA's part . Yeah , anyway , it's so funny , peta , it's like it's the bread I eat .

Speaker 1

With meat in it , yeah with meat .

Speaker 2

I like PETA .

Speaker 1

Is that ?

Speaker 2

it .

Speaker 4

Mark , is that it ? Yeah , I think that's it . Yeah , yeah , that's it , that's it , that's the exact one .

Speaker 2

You should . Yeah , so anyway . But man , all this stuff they've come out with with flies over the years , yeah , Satan's called Lord of the Flies .

Speaker 3

Ooh Beelzebub .

Speaker 2

So swat him with that thing . Oh , it's a good way to think Spiritualize everything , Ray .

Speaker 1

Way to go , Ray yeah .

Speaker 2

Even flies .

Speaker 3

Even flies . You ever seen a fly clean itself ?

Speaker 2

Oh gross .

Speaker 3

They're very clean creatures . Why they do their wings they lick this and that , and then you think what a clean little creature the fly is , until you follow him . That's true . And see what his desires are really for . And man looks incredibly clean with his deodorants and his soaps and aftershaves . See , you follow the dirty little creature and you find out what he's really like .

Speaker 4

Do you know what you call a fly with no wings ? Fly with no wings , it's still a fly .

Speaker 2

It's just ironic , a walk is really the punchline to that , from a fly to a walk . But the things they've come out with for bugs , you guys remember that one where it's like a suction , it suctions the bug .

Speaker 3

I use it all the time it's called the thing .

Speaker 2

Oh , the vacuum .

Speaker 3

Yeah , where you get a bite from a mosquito . Oh , no , no , no , I'm talking about the thing where you don't have to touch the bug . Oh , that's right , it just sucks it up .

Speaker 2

Yeah , they got all kinds of things . I want to get one of those . That thing the sticky stuff that catches flies .

Speaker 3

Yeah , that works .

Speaker 1

Works are those sticky bits of paper . I used to have a bug octagon and I'd put two different bugs on two different sides . I'd release the center wall and then they would attack each other .

Speaker 2

I'm waiting for the miniature fly nuclear bomb . That's what I want To kill and destroy . Flies Ray , do you have flies in New Zealand ? No , probably isn't a spider Snakes are flies .

Speaker 3

We do have flies . We've got one in 57 . I remember it . Yeah , we've got one in 57 .

Speaker 2

I remember it . Yeah yeah , all right , friends Time as usual for a cool , classy comment . This is from Leigh , leigh or Lee . I'm sorry , I want to be honest , I don't know how to pronounce it . L-e-i-g-h .

Speaker 3

Aren't you always honest ?

Speaker 2

Lee . No , not always Lee Lee . Okay , sorry if I may have written a cool , classy comment . Okay , maybe not really , but I just wanted to say thanks for all you do at Living Waters and especially for the podcast . Though I'm a new listener , so many times the podcast has both made me laugh out loud and given me food for thought , challenging me to be more like Christ . Keep up the good work , guys . On another note , I have yet to find a podcast you all have done about singleness or addressed to singles . I realize that all of you guys are married , but what biblical wisdom can you share with us singles , especially those of us who sense God calling us to lifelong singleness ? You got it , lee or Lai . We're doing one .

Speaker 3

I can four guys talk . I thought we do Four married guys talk . Oh , we will . No , we haven't done one in singleness .

Speaker 2

Really , I don't think so I searched my notes . Oscar , oh , you did , but thank you for the idea . We will do that and thank you for listening . We're blessed that you are a new listener . We hope you remain a listener . We'll see you after today and now . A radically revolutionary resource . This podcast is brought to you by tough questions , apologetics made simple , it is a five session video study available now , at least an mp4 digital download you guys remember when we did that I do at the coffee shop yeah , I drove by it the other day .

Speaker 1

Restoration roasters is it still ?

Speaker 2

there . Um , yes , yeah , anyway , that was fun friends . We answer a lot of apologetics , questions and uh I remember it because of what happened .

Speaker 3

I had a a one-hour interview about something I'd published and I couldn't get away from the traffic noise because I went around the corner and I had to do it in a closet in some restaurant oh really I said to this can I closet in a restaurant yeah , they said you can go in that closet .

Speaker 2

So I did the whole thing in this little closet with a broom . When you were done , did you come out of the closet ? Yeah right , friends , all right . Oh yeah , don't forget the Living Waters of Mug , the Unstudied Bible , all the Living Waters ? Yeah , all right , hang on Examining Just Promotion's . Very important to actually say what the website is Livingwaterscom . Yes , all right , friends . Today we are going to examine the six things that God hates . Ray , god and hate are not oftentimes associated with each other in this world .

Speaker 3

When you said the six things , I thought of the six sleek sheep , six , six .

Speaker 2

You could get in trouble with that one , yeah be careful , that's the hardest tongue twister .

Speaker 3

Yeah examining six things God

God's Hatred and Love Explored

Speaker 3

hates . I hate people that aren't loving . I've always felt that way . I hate them too .

Speaker 2

You do . I hate those that hate those you do that are not loving .

Speaker 3

Yeah , here's a question for you . Someone says God hates all the workers of iniquity . I think it's Psalm 5 .

Speaker 1

How do you ?

Speaker 3

answer that in the light of , for God so loved the world .

Speaker 2

Right , yeah , I think it's an understanding of the fact that God works in ways that we can't comprehend and there are things that I can say I love but that I hate certain aspects of related to them .

Speaker 4

Like Mark and his mustache , oh the mustache .

Speaker 3

I hear it once put really succinctly and that is it's a judicial statement when it's God's a judge and there's no emotion coming . He just hates things that are wrong and are unjust .

Speaker 4

I think one of the misnomers is that the opposite of love is hate , and so if God is love , how could he hate ? But the reality is that the opposite of love is not hate and the opposite of hate is not love . The opposite of love is really indifference , because God is a jealous God . He hates sin , he hates people who rebel against him , and he is a jealous God in the sense that he longs for you . So when I say indifference , imagine this . Imagine that my daughter brings home some drug addict that I know is bad for her , that I know is gonna lead her down a wrong path , that I know with absolute certainty she's gonna end up in jail , on the streets , addicted to something right .

Speaker 4

And if my response as a father is to go eh whatever it's her choice , I , my response as a father , is to go . Whatever it's her choice , I don't really care . That's indifference . That's not love . But if I hate the path my daughter's going down , if I seek after her good , if I desire to reconcile her back to the family , that's love . In other words , the hatred that God has puts him into motion to take action , to do something about the things that are pulling us away from him , and that something is going to the cross . That's really good .

Speaker 2

Yeah , and we have to understand that . You know that hatred is associated with the nature of God , which is love . So when you're a God who possesses within your nature a love that is so intense and extreme because you are the definition of love , to where Scripture goes so far as to say that God is love right , that's one of the ways that he's defined Then you can understand how , when something rivals that love , which is ultimately evil and wickedness , why it would elicit hate . But again , it's in a way that we can't fully grasp and comprehend it . Obviously , god has demonstrated his own love toward us and that , while we were yet sinners , christ died for us . So even those of us that have been redeemed , who have been regenerated , there was a time when we were outside of redemption , we were in rebellion , we were in sin . God demonstrated love in that time , but there was still that element of hatred involved that is in keeping with judgment and wrath . Does that make sense ?

Speaker 3

Yeah , it's a sinless hatred .

Speaker 2

Yeah , absolutely . That's a good way to put it , ray . Yeah , so let's break this passage down here . We'll take it bit by bit . Proverbs 6 , 16 , 19 .

Speaker 2

These six things the Lord hates , and I love it when God gets specific like that , you know , highlights things , like I've often told people . You know , look , you're looking for God's will in emotions . You're looking for God's will in keeping with , you know , things that might rise up on a whim , but there are certain things in Scripture that tell you what God's will is . I think this is one of those things where we can look and say look , god has clearly defined the things that he detests and the things that he hates , and he lists out these six things . And then , right , it says yes , seven are an abomination to him , abomination that carries with it that deep sense of detestation towards sin . And , ray , we can pause here for just a moment and say God finds the violation of his law an abomination and that's why , for years , you've encouraged believers hold up the law of God , otherwise people aren't going to see their sin as being as abominable as it is .

Speaker 3

Yeah , it's human nature to trivialize sin , and I can't believe how predictable human beings are when you say have you lied ? How many have you told ? And they always go . Yes , when I was two , I told these tiny , tiny little , wee little white lies Wow , and did you ever steal ? Yeah , yeah , when I was a little tiny kid , I stole some tiny candy from a tiny store . It's just ridiculous .

Speaker 2

And like when I lusted after a woman .

Speaker 3

She was just tiny .

Speaker 4

I like Ray's response . I am a tiny man telling you that , that is no tiny sin .

Speaker 2

That nullifies all your tiny excuses .

Speaker 3

But the issue is brought clear with that wages of sin is death . That's the payment God's giving you for your sin . You trivialize it , but God takes it very seriously to a point where he's given you the death sentence . You're on death row and your death will be evidence to you that God is deadly serious about sin . And so then you can bring up lying lips are an abomination to the Lord , to a point where the wrath of God spilled over from heaven over on one couple that told one lie .

Speaker 2

Wow , yeah , that's big . I've highlighted that before A man and a woman eating a piece of fruit in a garden thousands of years ago , and here we are today . I mean the ramifications of sin and how serious it is in the sight of a holy God , and yet he's not beyond mercy today . I mean the ramifications of sin and how serious it is in the sight of a holy God , and yet he's not beyond mercy . Right ? I mean , you've got David committing adultery , committing murder , and Nathan says to him when David showed repentance , and God has put away your sin . So don't trivialize sin and don't see it beyond God's ability to forgive and wash away . But I think for our purposes today , we really have to look at these sins that God lists and , as believers say , I want to get as far away as I can .

Speaker 3

Abomination really is an archaic word . We don't really use it in today's language , unless we're talking about mustaches from an Arab point of view yeah . But it means extremely detestable to God I like your mustache Mark extremely detestable lying lips and they're not to us . I mean , who doesn't lie ? It's no big deal that's right .

Speaker 2

We all do it .

Speaker 3

That's one of the biggest excuses yeah , and it's amazing how many people you say how many lies are you told ? And I had this happen yesterday . A guy says how many lies have I told ? And so I pointed this happen yesterday . A guy says uh , how many lies have I told ? And so I pointed out to him the way to know a liar is repeat . They repeat the question because they're abiding time to find an answer , and it made him smile .

Speaker 2

It's so true when you , when you get the question repeated , you always know that something , something's happening . They're stalling . They're trying to pull something out of the hat .

Speaker 3

They're stalling , stalling , or they're trying to pull something out of a hat , yeah something 300 . Mark's the director of the Department of Annoyance . Yeah , thank you , mark .

Speaker 2

So let's kick this off here . So God hates these things and seven are an abomination , says to him . First of all , a proud look , mark , you were in the world of sports and I caught myself doing this the other day . There was a basketball player . He did this big dunk or something he did on the screen . I can't remember exactly what it was , but I looked at him and I experienced this disgust . I'm sorry , I'll never dunk again .

Speaker 2

I told you Oscar , don't dunk on the kiddie basketball hoops . How many times . But that arrogance grieved me and then it convicted me because I thought how many times have I had that at some point in my life ? But what is it with sports , specifically Mark , that brings that out ?

Speaker 1

They are the elitists . They are able to do something that none of us are able to do . Remember , we have been hardwired within our DNA to stand in awe of that which is greater than ourselves . So when we see people exemplify that and do things that we think are just impossible , like dunking on a rim right , some people will never be able to experience that right .

Speaker 1

I knew that was coming with some dunk dunk , no listen , I mean look , I'm not able to do it either , but people are able to not just be great athletes , but the top of the great athletes , known as the GOATs . They're just the greatest of all time , and they accomplish something that not only a common man can't do , but other professional athletes cannot do . The only thing they're going to hear is praise , right , so we throw our tithes at them on Sunday morning when we go to their games . Right , we're singing their praises and we lift them up to a place of deity . They're going to begin to believe it , because nobody is better than them .

Speaker 1

I think it was . Was it ? I'll say Dwight Howard ? I don't think it was , but there was somebody who was part of like an all-star team with Kobe Bryant and he said you know , I'm going to get up before everybody gets up and I'm going to go practice and he goes out there and he's practicing and then he's out there , I think it's for like a couple hours , but when he gets out there to go practice before the rest of the team practice , he saw that Kobe was finishing his first workout . It was Chris Bosh .

Speaker 3

Chris . Bosh yeah , it was . You're absolutely right , it was .

Speaker 1

And look , in order to be in this position of deity , you have to be able to put in the time . They put in the time and now everybody is thinking the best of them and yeah , they live in a weird world where , of course , their pride is going to be put up .

Speaker 1

But listen to what Thomas Manton said in his book the Complete Works of Thomas Manton . He said Pride is the first chapter in the book of folly . Ooh , pride is the first chapter in the book of folly . Pride is the first chapter in the book of folly . When you begin to read your headlines and then think that they're true .

Speaker 2

You know , I just had a thought come into my mind that pride was also the first act in falling and that was Satan's downfall , and he uses it as his constant lure toward people . Oscar , I want you to touch on this , if you would . I've heard the saying that , look , you don't have to be rich to be a person who's my girl Talking about . That was good .

Speaker 1

Thank you , that's good , that's Prince .

Speaker 2

Oh , I'm thinking of another one .

Speaker 4

You don't have to be rich to be my girl Boy . Prince had a weird voice Anyway , so Oscar , what do you think of Prince's voice I got ?

Speaker 2

purple rain on the brain right now ? No , but they talk about .

The Dangers of Pride and Lies

Speaker 2

You don't have to be necessarily rich to be greedy or whatever , but you don't have to be someone like Marx has described , who's an elite in the world , to deal with pride . What's at the root of it ? What makes us have that ?

Speaker 4

proud . Look Well , what's funny ? Is that ? What's interesting if you look at what CS Lewis says about pride . He says that people often think that pride is only for those who think highly of themselves . But he points out , pride is for anybody who thinks too much of themselves . So he says , like somebody who thinks highly of themselves , I'm the greatest , I'm the best . But somebody who thinks too little of themselves still struggles with pride . If they think , man , I can never do it , I'm never good enough , I never , I , never . You're still at the center of your own story , and that's the thing about pride is that pride makes you the hero of your story , the center of your own story . And the beginning of humility comes when we recognize that this life is not about us , that this story I am not the main act , I'm not the main character Jesus is this is .

Speaker 4

God's story , and I'm blessed to play my part in it . That's where humility starts is not by thinking too much of yourself , but by thinking less of yourself .

Speaker 2

Amen , oh that's good , all right . A lying tongue no , all right . Were you going to say something ?

Speaker 3

No , no , no , no , all right , it's not just sport that we see that proud look . It's those skinny models that walk down that walkway with that look of arrogance , they're like strutting cocky roosters . It's just horrible . What do they ?

Speaker 4

do , how do ?

Speaker 3

they do it .

Speaker 1

I'm just too humble to do that . Is that the noise roosters ?

Speaker 2

make . Ray , I'm so glad you pointed that out . What I'm often blown away by is they can have that look and they oftentimes you guys have seen the ridiculous things they wear .

Speaker 1

look absolutely stupid and we're an absolutely stupid .

Speaker 2

It's like they're trying to counter and who in the world would bite ? Like hey , get up there and look like a buffoon . They're walking around .

Speaker 1

It's just crazy .

Speaker 2

Yeah , but there is something about that right . We can all discern that haughty look , that proud look . I mean we talked about arrogance on the previous podcast recently , but we can discern it , we can see it Like that is not something that is in keeping , it's like a universal thing . It's not in keeping with humility .

Speaker 3

Also rock musicians . They have a deal still shot . They don't all smile , oh yeah .

Speaker 2

They look arrogant . Wow , that's so true .

Speaker 4

How about pastors from the pulpit ? Ooh .

Speaker 3

Rock musicians that are pastors , that are models from the pulpit , yeah that's true .

Speaker 2

No , Oscar , that's a good point to make too . It never looks uglier than on a man of God . You guys remember that video we talked about that pastor that went at one of his congregants , walked out from the pulpit and just said hey , look at me , I'm somebody .

Speaker 1

That was wild man .

Speaker 2

Yeah , that's terrifying to think that we as people can get to that place when we're unchecked and where our hearts can go , our wicked , fallen hearts . Yeah , all right , a lying tongue . How many lies have you told ?

Speaker 3

Ray , you're the lying expert investigator . The Ken Ham picks on me about that .

Speaker 4

He's been all like that . He has been harassing you about that .

Speaker 2

Yes , he has . You had to show him that he lied because he was accusing you of asking have you ever told a lie ?

Speaker 3

You don't say that anymore . I haven't said that for about 15 years . Yeah , what do you say now , ray ? How many lies have you told ? And Anna Jackson gave me that one .

Speaker 2

She said this would be a better one . I remember that . Yeah , I thought she's right . That really , really helped . So we're going to have to go through all your questions , ray , and revise them . Wasn't it hard , though , at first , to like break away from something you've said so many times ?

Speaker 3

Oh yes , I remember when I backslid from using biblical evangelism . I was in Australia just in a seminar and I was walking down , I think just a pathway , and back in some country area and people came up behind me and I started witnessing a man-centered gospel . You know , you'll never find peace without what am I talking about and it was because I was in that groove and I had to shake myself out of it .

Speaker 2

Yeah , wow , yeah . So a lying tongue . God hates a lying tongue .

Speaker 3

White man speaks with forked tongue Forked tongue .

Speaker 2

Where's that from ? Is that from Cowboy movies ?

Speaker 3

That's what the Indians used to say he big um , like whatever .

Speaker 1

Yeah , have you noticed as you look at these six things , or seven things , that God hates ? Wait ?

Speaker 2

wait . Sorry , mark , real quick . This is the first time Ray does an Indian accent without an Indian . Well , it was a red .

Speaker 3

Indian . Why do they call red Indians ? It was an American Indian , native American . Do it again , ray . What ? What are you talking about ?

Speaker 2

A white man speaking with a white tongue .

Speaker 1

Sorry , mark , no great Two of the six things that God hates . They deal with lying right . There's something to be told there how important truth is to God . God desires truth in the inward parts . Flying lips are an abomination to the Lord . No liar will inherit the kingdom of God . Lying is wrong because God is always , always honest , and so be careful with that right . Lying lips and abomination of the Lord and it was Spurgeon who said a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its Socks Shoes . How about this , richard Nixon ? I don't live too far from where he was born . Richard Nixon , his downfall with the Watergate scandal , all had to deal with a lie , saying that he didn't have any insight as to what was going on with it , and his attempt to cover up the truth . That led to his resignation and forever tarnished his legacy . But he said , the greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker . But those who sow lies reap a bitter harvest .

Speaker 3

Did he say that before I was going to ask ?

Speaker 1

No , this was after Watergate . He said that after Watergate .

Speaker 2

After Watergate Wow .

Speaker 3

Really hard for him to redeem himself . I'm not a crook .

Speaker 2

It's funny . I said that the other day because Rachel and I were walking by .

Speaker 1

You're not a crook .

Speaker 2

Yeah , we're walking by the Richard Nixon Library and I saw that helicopter that's there , the famous one where he's holding up the peace signs . So that's the museum , just by your house , yeah he was born there , but also buried there more too .

Speaker 4

JI Packer has this great line because I think also we lie about what a lie is . Ji Packer has this great line where he says a half-truth masquerading as a whole truth becomes a complete untruth , which I love that .

Speaker 2

That's good , oscar . I wanted to ask you this you know , when Ray's out on the streets and he's asking people that question , you know how many lies do you say you've told ?

The Deception of Lying

Speaker 2

The way that most people answer is almost like a giveaway that they think lying is fine . It's like oh , thousands , you know . But it's not like oh , like with shame , right when he gets into . Have you ever looked with lust ? There's more of like kind of shame or stolen . But with lying , what is that Like ? Oh yeah , everyone just does it . Is it just kind of desensitization ?

Speaker 4

It's definitely desensitization . I can't say that word .

Speaker 4

Thank you so much ? It's definitely that thing . I think we well . And then we also compare ourselves to other people . You know , you think like well , yeah , I've told lies , but my lies are you know , air quote white lies . My lies are small lies , not compared to the kind of lies that politicians tell the Bernie Madoffs of the world tell these are big lies . These are lies that hurt other people .

Speaker 4

They look at the main issue with lying . They look at it as a horizontal issue and that's why you make the excuse of like well , if I lie to protect , if I lie to not hurt , then it's okay . But lying all sin for that matter is not first and foremost a horizontal issue . The way it affects the people around you , the way it affects your lives , Lying is first and foremost or any sin for that matter is first and foremost a vertical issue . It defames the glory in the name of God . You were created to image a God who always tells the truth and when you lie , you defame his image . You fall short of your calling to honor your creator by always telling the truth .

Speaker 2

Wow , I was thinking about how these body language experts have gotten to a place where they can usually tell if someone's lying . It's like these telltale signs that the majority of people do . I thought , man , how crazy to get to a place where that can't be discerned , because you've gotten so good , you've so honed your craft that you're an expert liar . That's terrifying , and the effect that has on you to live that fake life . But yeah , I mean , everyone goes around today just with this expectation that , yeah , this is just kind of what we do .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 2

Ray , you hate lying .

Speaker 3

Yeah , it's horrible . It breaks down trust . Some wise man once said taking the easy path is what makes men and rivers crooked . Ooh , and it's so true . Taking the easy , that's what lying does for you . It's an easy path gets you out of things If you just lie about this , you're not going to face the consequences . I think the greatest verse in all the Bible without question leaves everything else in the dust is it's impossible for God to lie . Because if he could lie , then John 3.16 can't be trusted .

Speaker 3

So , everything rests on that great truth that it's impossible for God to lie .

Speaker 1

Yeah , and let me add , if you are not meditating on God's Word , which is true , you're going to believe . Lies are true , and this is why it's so important to be found day and night , meditating through God's word , going through God's word and allowing God's word to go through you .

Speaker 2

What's that saying , mark ? I read the Bible every day . I read the Bible every morning because I know I'm going to be lied to the rest of the day . That was a Kent Hughes quote . Was that Kent Hughes ?

Speaker 1

Yeah , he was asked the question , and it was like this , from our pastor , Bruce Garner , who asked him the question you've written 22 books commentaries on the Bible . What has motivated you to do that ? And in the midst of him giving that answer , he had said well , I start off by reading God's word in the morning , knowing that it's true and because I know the rest of the day I'm going to be lied to .

Speaker 3

Wow , so good , and it's so true and I've mentioned this before and I'm so pleased I've gotten to the habit of doing this is I look at one star when I'm convinced that something is . I've just got to buy this . I saw this thing where you can put it on your stomach , and it's been invented by a scientist and it makes your abs , come up .

Speaker 3

It's that thing that like pulsates and it's just all these guys around with these six packs and that . So check it out and the one star says the stupid thing's made of plastic . I wouldn't even stick to my stomach . Don't get it , it's a waste of money . So always go to those one stars , because lying , love of money , is the root of all evil and lying gets people money . If you can get anyone to come on camera and say this is the best thing I've ever had I sleep better because of this you can sell it .

Speaker 2

I remember you in the airport once taking a picture of the burger or the breakfast sandwich , something we got . You took the picture of it up on the yes on the thing and then you took the picture of it looked nothing like it was just a little slop on the thing .

Speaker 3

And then you took the picture of it and it looked nothing like what they were advertising . It was just a little slop on the plate . It was just nothing like the picture they had .

Speaker 2

Yeah , and that's a good point , you know , because it's become common , it's just become justified , like we don't look at those and go , that's a lie , and we get worked up . It's just like oh yeah , that's just what they do , and those pictures aren't even real .

Speaker 3

They've spent all day spraying this burger to make it shine in the light . It's not even real cheese .

Speaker 2

I remember seeing how they it's all like , yeah , they're sort of almost putting costumes on .

Speaker 1

You guys are making me crave winter stencil .

Speaker 4

What are you doing around one o'clock ?

Speaker 2

Horrible , All right . So we got a few more to hit here . I think we've hit the tongue with false witness who speaks lies , those kind of coincide Hands that shed innocent blood

Abortion, Gospel, and God's Wrath

Speaker 2

. Abortion Expound on that Mark .

Speaker 1

Well , people are pregnant . They should deliver . They don't , they deserve the wrath of God , right ? I mean , you consider what we have to vote for here with the next election . We have two presidents one who is for the killing of babies all the way up until the due date , and then another potential president who is changing his tune and giving these caveats for abortion more and more right . This voting for the lesser of two evils has just become the place where the United States of America is at right .

Speaker 1

God hates the shedding of innocent blood and we are a society where I think it was 60 million babies are killed every year worldwide . Babies are killed every year worldwide . In the United States alone , it's like 63 million babies since Roe v Wade , january 20 , 1973 . There is nothing greater than abortion inside of our day and age , where we snub our nose up at God and say , no , we will take this into our own hands , right ? We harm the innocent , we defy the God who created them and we challenge God not to do anything about it . We are experiencing the wrath of God and , it's been said , the first step to God pouring out his wrath upon a people group is simply to look the other way and to allow the people to do what they want to do , because they will self-destruct All the time waiting for God's hammer to come down and to judge the people . We don't deserve Kamala or Trump . What do we deserve ? We deserve to be embers in the pit of hell . That's what we deserve and that's where America's heading . Unless a revival is sent and God's people humble themselves , they repent and they turn to him . So Genesis 4.10 says the voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground . God sees when the innocent suffer , so we need to do something about it .

Speaker 1

I think it's William Wilberforce who said that lack of better words that abortion mills should have a sign out front that say open by the permission of the local church , because the local church is not doing anything about abortion in our day and age . And if I had the ability and the time to stand in front of a pulpit , I would plead with all pastors to have a benevolent closet where it's filled with formula and food , maybe a crib , things of that nature , diapers , so that single mothers would know that this is a place where you can come and to receive help . But no , I mean , what are the churches ? The churches by and large are're hungry to build bigger buildings and have greater programs . And these celebrity pastors who just don't care about these outcasts right . We need to be careful . Martin Luther said life is the gift of God and he alone has the right to take it away . We can't act as God .

Speaker 2

That's a good word , Mark .

Speaker 3

Very heavy Ray , you were going to say Speaking to these issues that are like a tornado that rushed through the country . We can't act as God . That's a good word , mark . Very heavy Ray , you were going to say Speaking of these issues that are like a tornado that rushed through the country . We can't do anything about it except the gospel . So we have a Trump-Harris million yes , with great AI pictures , graphics of Harris and Trump with boxing gloves .

Speaker 2

Red boxing gloves . Blue boxing gloves . Brad did a great job on that track and yeah , wonderful , wonderful artwork .

Speaker 3

So use them . You can give them out to anyone . Everyone loves them because it's both sides . Yeah .

Speaker 4

Amen . Speaking of gospel , getting back to Proverbs chapter six , or continuing to expound , I should say , on Proverbs chapter six , scholars would point out that in this chapter the gospel is found in verse 17 , which is hands that shed innocent blood . And you might think like how is that the gospel ? Well , proverbs 6 is referencing the story of Cain and Abel and the story of Cain and Abel . Of course it's very interesting when you look at the story of Cain and Abel and the story of Cain and Abel . Of course it's very interesting when you look at the story of Cain and Abel because Eve thought that Cain was going to be the savior . Remember the proto-evangelion the first time the gospel is ever mentioned is in Genesis 3 , when God says to Adam and Eve you will have a descendant that will crush the head of the serpent . And so then , chapter four , verse one , eve says about Cain I have gotten a man with the help of the serpent . And so then , chapter four , verse one , eve says about Cain I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord . Scholars point out this isn't a worshipful celebration , this is a brag . This is , look , what I have done . I've created a firstborn and this man is going to save us , and you can almost hear the way Eve might raise Cain . Go out there and prove yourself . You're gonna be the one that's gonna save us . You're gonna be the one that's gonna crush the head of the serpent , which Cain . Ultimately , he thinks that he can earn salvation through his works and ultimately , his works aren't good enough for God . And Genesis 4.10, .

Speaker 4

Here's where the gospel starts to come into play . God goes to Cain and he says to him what have you done ? The voice of your brother , brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground . And Cain's response is very similar to his father , adam's response , where he you know it was Adam . Well , one Jesus goes to him in the same way they went to Adam where are you ? He goes to Cain and says what have you done ? And in the same way Adam was like it was my wife , cain goes what am I , my brother's keeper ? He's repeating these sin issues .

Speaker 4

And so here's where the gospel is . How was that gospel ? Good news , because Hebrews 12 , 24 puts it all together . It says and Jesus , the mediator of the new covenant , into the blood of sprinkling , that speaks out better things than that of Abel . In other words , our sins are crying out for the ground . Abel's blood cried out guilty , guilty , guilty murderer , but our sins that put Jesus on the cross . His blood cries out . Forgive them . They know not what they do . He is the better Cain , who was able to master sin and crushed the head of the serpent . And he is the better Adam whose blood does not cry out for our guilt but provides a way for salvation .

Speaker 4

And so here's the big thing is is the gospel ? Good news is , as we look at this list , we can walk away going man , I got to do better , I got to do better , I got to do better , but we don't obey so that we earn God's favor . We see that we have unmerited favor , so we obey . So , christian , take heart . It's not about this list , is not about what needs to be done , but it reminds you of all that has been done for you , amen .

Speaker 2

He gives us the power to obey . And one thing that's often overlooked is what is part and parcel with the fruit of the Spirit , and that is self-control . And the only way we can walk in self-control is if we've been quickened and made alive , because a dead person can't control anything . And so that's a great great point , oscar . That's a great great point , oscar . All right , ray , a heart that devises wicked plans , a reminder that God sees right into our hearts and knows exactly what's going on in there . But that's a big highlight he sees that .

Speaker 3

Huge revelation to understand that God sees the heart , the intents and thoughts of the heart . And I often ask people so how does it make you feel that God knows you by name ? And they say , oh , really good , how does it feel to know that God sees your thoughts ? Okay , and then you bring out the fact that he sees lust as adultery . He hated his murder . And the Bible says our hearts drink and drink like water . Our eyes are full of adultery and the heart is deceitfully wicked . Who can know it ? So all of us devise evil plans . Before we come to Christ , we've got these imaginations that are continually evil , that have a propensity towards sin . I know my heart was like that , especially sexual imaginations , until God gives us a new heart and causes us to walk in his statutes and desire the things that God desires . And there's a great living Bible verse which says that God will . Of that verse , god will cause us to do the things he wants us to do , without him even telling us to do it . That's what happens when you come to Christ .

Speaker 2

Yeah and Mark , there's a difference between doing evil on a whim not that it minimizes it in terms of its seriousness or effect , but there's something about devising , planning premeditating .

Speaker 1

Yeah , yeah , your eyes are full of hate . 41 .

Speaker 3

That's good , kate keeps a man alive , it makes him strong . We keep you alive to serve the ship Row well and live .

Speaker 4

Do that in an Indian accent Wow , ray , you're straight from your roots .

Speaker 3

It just doesn't sound . The same .

Speaker 1

That's from Ben Hur . It's just a wonderful thing .

Speaker 3

That's bravely spoken .

Speaker 1

Premeditated anything is terrible . Our courts of law , we recognize that . We do something about that , and this is why , when somebody devises and plans out , it's even worse . So we need to be careful in the midst of that . The Christians do not in any way plan out , devise , plan to do something that is evil . We fall into sin , we walk into sin , we do things that we shouldn't do , but we certainly don't plan to make something happen .

Speaker 3

That is a first sign of what the world does . Walking into sin should be to us like walking into a spider web .

Speaker 1

Ooh no , it's good . That's a great sign . That's how you get your aerobics done in the morning . That's funny Walking a spider web , you'll get that spider web off .

Speaker 2

This morning , for the first time in my life , I got just this little tidbit of wisdom . I go to my car and it's parked between a wall and the driveway . I usually run into spider webs . This morning I actually put my arm out and checked first . Duh .

Speaker 4

Don't you have a video of your daughter running into a spider web ? Oh Duh .

Speaker 3

Don't you have a video of your daughter running into a spiderweb ? Oh , I do

Fighting Sin and Promoting Unity

Speaker 3

Outside your house . You shouldn't rejoice in that , oh yeah , no , that's bad , that's devising evil Oscar , what he does . I remember you said that If you're ever walking in the dark , cross your arms if you have to walk in the dark , Don't go like this . I've learned that I do that actually because end , if you just go like this in the dark , you can go straight into a door that's open .

Speaker 2

Ray , you've written so many how-to books how to overcome insomnia , how to overcome panic attacks .

Speaker 1

You need to do one on how to not kill yourself , because you are the expert .

Speaker 2

You should have died long ago . Oscar , feet that are swift in running to evil Not that run to evil swift . God hates that . Those that are just . They love to run into sin .

Speaker 4

Yeah , it reminds me of a book that's currently in the top 10 , fight Like a man .

Speaker 3

Oh , oscar , you as agent . Yeah , he gives me $20 every time I mention it in public .

Speaker 2

I didn't say a word .

Speaker 4

No , but I mean we do need to put up a good fight . I mean the scriptures , over and over again , talk about this war on sin . I mean , in one way , the war has been won in our justification , that is , that our right standing before the Lord is taken care of on the cross . However , once that's handled , jesus has this ongoing desire for us to pursue sanctification , becoming more like Christ , and that is a synergistic battle . While justification is monergistic , sanctification is synergistic . It's something that we do with the strength of the Lord to fight sin , to run from evil , to not make compromises . Sin is crouching at your door . It desires to have you , but you must master it . There is this intentionality , not this passive falling into it , thinking it's not that big of a deal , assuming that God's got it taken care of . You know that's antinomianism . That was a major problem in the early part of the church . The Lord desires for us to pick up our cross and follow him .

Speaker 2

Amen , that's good , yeah , and whereas you know , we used to run swiftly into doing evil , now , as believers , we have the power to run away from evil , to flee from sin , as Scripture talks about in different places , to be that Joseph who runs right . We run to righteousness . Now , ooh , amen , yeah , all right . And then Mark , close us out with one who sows discord among brethren , ouch .

Speaker 1

Yeah , how beautiful and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity .

Speaker 4

You know , scripture says that's not what you said about easy earlier . Hey , tell them what you said . Hey , I can't Not on air .

Speaker 1

Yeah , discord and division God hates . It's a terrible thing to intentionally cause a fraction amongst God's children . You know , we should obviously be against what the world stands for , but within the church it should not be the case . We see the Apostle Paul in , I think , 2 Corinthians , chapter 11 , where he says all of these things that came down upon him but the least of which he did not expect it was the wars within the church . Right , it was the backbiting , it was the gossip , it was the malicious slander that was coming up against him within the church , right ? So we need to be very careful when we start talking evil and devising plans and causing discord amongst , especially , the believer , because God takes it very personal .

Speaker 1

These people creating the image of God are worthy of dignity , honor and respect . You don't know what they're going through . You have half the story . Oftentimes , it's been often said that there's three points to the story . You have his version , you have his version , the other version , and then you have the true version of what actually happened . You know it's best just to be quiet and allow things to pan out . What do we do ? We often disguise that in a prayer request . Hey , listen , we need to pray for easy because of this , Because of what , what Right , and we share it by way of a prayer request , but in reality , it's just gossip and slander .

Speaker 3

That didn't need to be said , yeah right , just in closing , absalom needs to be studied by every associate pastor , assistant pastor or any staff because of what he did . I mean , the local church is like dry grass and gossip is like a lighted flame , and before you know it like that , how's it go ?

Speaker 1

Do it in an Indian accent .

Speaker 3

Absalom went to the main gates and won the hearts of Israel by saying I'd do it this way if I was king . And that's what you can do . You say I pastor so-and-so's great teacher . But if I was pastor , this is how I'd do it and that'll divide a church .

Speaker 2

Yeah , he divided a kingdom , wow , yeah , and the Scripture talks about he who repeats a matter right divided a kingdom , wow , yeah , and you know the scripture talks about .

Speaker 2

You know he who repeats a matter right separates friends . And why don't we go on the opposite end ? You know someone saying something about someone else interject hey , maybe they meant this or highlight the positive aspects and elements . You know , when you know that something that could be said could cause an issue or you hold it back , you don't repeat . You try to do your best to create peace between brethren and not I like that word sow discord .

Speaker 1

You're planting the seeds that are going to sprout into these destructive .

Speaker 3

You know giant , horrible trees , and so and it can be done without noise sowing .

Speaker 2

Yeah , quietly , but the destruction is all the same . So there you have it , friends . The six things God hates , and even seven , are an abomination to him , and so we hope that this has encouraged you

Milestone Celebration on Living Waters Podcast

Speaker 2

. I was stupid to try to take all of these on in one episode , but we did it . We went a little long , but there you have it , friends . Yes , 300 . And I'm going to help you celebrate by not annoying you . So thanks for joining us . We'll see you next time here on the Living Waters , just kidding . Podcast .

Speaker 1

Poor friends .

Speaker 4

Poor friends .

Speaker 2

All right , friends , We'll see you next time . Thanks for joining us on the Living Waters podcast when , yes , still for the 300th time we have no idea what we're doing .