All right, open up your Bibles to the book of Psalms, Psalm 12. We're gonna read verse eight there to begin with, but hold on to that because we'll be coming back to Psalm 12 at the end of the message. The title of the message tonight is Evil People Take Pleasure in Sinful Conduct. Evil people take pleasure in sinful conduct. It has become appalling to me to see how openly sin is flaunted in our world today. There's many things that you see that, at least at one time, if they were, and they exist, they were going on, they have been forever, but, you know, people made an effort to try to cover it up or hide it or something, but today, people just openly flaunt outrageous sin against God. Terrible contradiction to what God's Word has to say. So we're going to look at a few points about this here tonight for this message. Before we begin reading, let's have a word of prayer. Let's bow our heads. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we again come to you thankful to be here on this day in this evening service. We thank you for each one who has come out here. Lord, I pray your blessing upon the reading of your Word. bring to our minds those things that you would have us to think about and to consider as we carefully look at your scripture, oh Lord. Write your scripture upon our hearts that we might not sin against you, we pray. Lord, direct our paths. We just pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. Psalm 12, verse eight says, the wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. You know, the wicked will walk all around the poor and suffering, even to the point of laying traps for them to bring them to further misery. So this first point is simply this, the wicked prosper and good people suffer. And we see it all the time, the scripture talks about this. Now we know in the end that will all be changed. We get a good glimpse at that with the story of the rich man and Lazarus and Abraham's bosom and so forth. One of the parables in the Gospels, but we see it happening. We see people constantly being taken advantage of and their suffering increased. because there are wicked people around them. Unfortunately, this sometimes gets extended up into those people who are in positions of leadership above us, that govern over us. Proverbs 29 in verse two says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. And then a few verses on down, verse 12, if a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. You know, it seems like people lie today and think nothing of it. I mean, they'll lie before Congress. Congressmen will lie in hearings and in press statements and so forth, and people just accept it as the norm, as, you know, that's just, you know, the way it is. Well, that's not the way it is, or the way it should be. That's evil, and evil seemingly triumphing in our society. In Malachi 3, verse 15, we read, and now we call the proud happy, yea, they that work wickedness are set up, yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. And so we find these people who are saying ungodly things or attributing evil things to God in what they say, and it seems like they're getting away with it. People will go out of their way to avoid the name, mentioning the name of Christ. People will go out of their way to revile Christians and to persecute Christians and uphold others who are evil, other religions who are evil. And so it seems as if the wicked prosper in the good or people are suffering. Second thing I want to point out about all this is the wicked choose a path that is opposed to or the opposite of God's commands. I want you to go ahead and turn to Isaiah right now, Isaiah chapter 66, verses three and four. Isaiah chapter 66 verses 3 & 4. I want you to take note of what the Lord is saying here in this passage. Isaiah 66 verse 3, He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man, he that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a dog's neck, he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swine's blood, he that burneth incense as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions and will bring their fears upon them, because when I called, none did answer. When I spake, they did not hear, but they did evil before mine eyes and chose that in which I delighted not. Now the first, it might be a little confusing what he's saying there in this first part of verse three, but basically what he's saying is wicked people will offer up their own version of religion And that's what he's referring to in these sacrifices. They have their own way of offering a sacrifice that is not according to God's commandments in the way he says that it should be. And evil people will do this and be satisfied in their religion. as if that somehow balances their scale, as if that somehow takes away their evilness, their idolatry, or whatever it may be. The key thing, I think, in verse three is that last sentence, yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abomination. The wicked will choose their own way and they will call good that which God calls evil. They will even go so far as to call evil that which God calls good. You know, we can go all the way back to Cain and see this. Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve, had been raised and taught how to make an offering to God. And apparently they did so on a regular basis, and they had a set place for doing so. We discovered some of these things in our study in Genesis. That was a while back. But they did offer, and they knew how to offer sacrifices. Well, they come to a particular sacrifice, and Abel offers up an animal in the shedding of blood. And Cain, who was a man of the field, a man who grew crops, not animals, offered up an offering of what he grew. And he, I think, believed that that should be as satisfying as the other offering. The only problem with all that is God had declared, and the main offering he looks for is the sacrifice of an animal. Without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sins. That points to the ultimate sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ, okay? And God did not receive Cain, Cain's sacrifice. He did not accept it. Cain thought it was acceptable because Cain thought in his own mind that it should be. And that's what happens with the evil men. They come up with their own form of religion, expecting that to be satisfying to God. God's not interested in man's religion. God has no care for what man, religious things man comes up with. He's already told us what religion is, what real worship is, and what he's looking for in people. And the evil people choose that which is the exact opposite of that which God has prescribed. Well, in Cain's case, it ended up eventually with him being in a murderous rage and killing his own brother. because he was angry at God and God's refusal of his sacrifice. Some people would try to teach doctrines that would make it seem like God is satisfied with anything we do, as long as it's with good intentions. He's not. He's not. There's only one thing God is entirely satisfied with when it comes to sacrifice, and that was the death of his own son on the cross for the sins of his people. Nothing else will satisfy God. I don't care how many times you have a religious service. I don't care how many things you do that you think are good and expect that to add up to your account. None of that is acceptable. The only thing acceptable to God is the sacrifice of Christ. But the evil don't see it that way. The evil wanna go out and make up their own. And what God will do is not only will he not accept their religion, but he will in fact bring judgment upon them by turning their fears on them. Verse four we read says, I will also choose their delusions and will bring their fears upon them. Because when I called, none did answer. When he called for people to respond to him, nobody answered. They were busy doing their own thing, expecting God to come to that. You know what, when God calls, we go to him. and we go the way that he has said to go to him. We should never expect God to come to us in the sense of he's our servant, because that's not the way it works. We are his servants. We go to him. That should be our attitude, the attitude of our heart. But evil people don't see it that way because they're hung up on themselves and their own pride and elevating themselves up. And ultimately what they really want to do is elevate themselves above God anyway so that they are not accountable to God. Problem with that is it ain't gonna work. They will never elevate themselves above God. And they will never get God to accept their man-made ideas and ways of religion. And God will actively work against them by bringing their fears upon them and bringing them under his judgment. Turn now to 2 Peter chapter two. Second Peter, chapter two. In verse nine. Second Peter, chapter two, verse nine. We're gonna read a few verses there. This third point is this. The wicked indulge themselves openly in evil. In 2 Peter 2 verse 9, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations. Now aren't you thankful that God knows how to do that? Because you and I don't know. You may, I don't. I don't know how to. Seems like everywhere I turn there's some sort of temptation. Only God can get me out of it. How to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve, note this, the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. God knows how to do that. Nobody has to tell him. He doesn't have to take a class on it. He doesn't have to go out and learn how. God knows how to reserve the wicked for the day of judgment. And that's established, okay? Verse 10, but chiefly, them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness and despised government. That right there wraps up man's problem. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden and the sin nature which we inherit, and because, therefore, of our own bent will and our own choices to sin, Mankind is left in a place where they walk after the flesh and not after the spirit. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their spirit died, if you will. They died. Physically, they were still alive. Spiritually, they could be resurrected and made alive again, as it is with all of their posterity. But from that point forward, mankind walks after the flesh and the lust of uncleanness and despise government. They despise ruling. They despise God who reigns over them. Every person has that problem. The only way that problem is dealt with or goes away is when a person is given spiritual life. when they are quickened by the grace of God, and they are no longer slaves to that bent will of their sinful nature. Doesn't mean they won't sin, because we do, and we'll still walk in the flesh, but we now have spiritual life, and in that spiritual life, we walk in a way that's pleasing to God. But man has this problem. He goes over saying, presumptuous are they. They presume to know what's right. They presume to know what's best. They presume to know better than God. Self-willed. Now, I don't get these people that worship the will. And by the way, that's what you're doing when you say your will is what saves you. You're worshiping your will. And I don't get that. Because the scriptures clearly say, as it does here, that we are self-willed. In other words, our will is very selfish and very focused on us and not at all upon God. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power, might bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these is natural, brute beast, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not. and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. To those evil people who seem to be getting things going their own way right now here on this earth, who seem to be prospering here now on this earth, judgment day is coming. And they will not prevail. These people in this world today that take Christians and bring harm to them and even kill them in the name of their religion will give answer for that before God. And it won't be pretty. God's judgment will be sure and it will be final. And it will be more than they can bear. whereas God's people will be delivered. Verse 13, and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. They count it pleasure to riot, meaning they're out in the light doing their evil things. And they really don't care what people say or think about what they're doing. They think they've got it all figured out. I've seen some just ugly video clips of people who are protesting, if you will, in the face of Christians and in the face of believers. You'll see this a lot with abortion and those who stand up for life, okay? You'll see people get in their face and just say and do ugly things towards them. And they don't care. They think they've got it all figured out. But what they are worshiping is not the God of creation, not the God of life. What they worship is the God of death and destruction. And that God is no God, really, and cannot stand up before the Lord God Almighty. They'll receive the reward of unrighteousness. goes on and says, spots they are, and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you. They brag on themselves while they deceive others. Proverbs 10, 23 says, it is as sport to a fool to do mischief. Evil conduct is like a game to them, a toy even to be played with. And they take such great delight and pleasure in doing evil. Proverbs 14, nine says, fools make a mock at sin. Someone has said in regards to that that they make a jeer of sin, when they should be fearing sin. They make a sport of sin, which will prove for them to be a matter of eternal judgment. They make a pastime, a game of sin, which is just gonna end up making them miserable for all eternity. They make a mock of sin on earth, They're only gonna have an eternity of the devil mocking them and throwing their sin right back in their face. The devil seems to be their friend here. He will be their foe even in hell. Because they will all be miserable. They'll all be spewing hate as they are punished for their sins for eternity. All unbelievers are such fools, for they delight and they take pleasure in sin. And that is the most dangerous and corrupting thing there is in the world. Turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter two. 2 Thessalonians chapter two. in verse 11 and 12. Verse 11, 2 Thessalonians chapter two verse 11, and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness. You see in the end, sin, as someone has said, is the poison of the soul, the curse of the soul, the disease of the soul, the burden of the soul. And if God in his mercy does not prevent it, sin will prove to be the eternal bane of the soul. Oh, how terrible, how horrible, how hopeless it will be for the fool who chooses sin over obedience to God. Hope you held your place at Psalm 12. That's where we're gonna close out. Turn to Psalm 12. If you're not, don't have it already marked. We're gonna back up, and there's eight verses in the Psalm. We read the last one. moments ago at the beginning of the message. We're gonna read all eight verses now. This is a psalm of David who says, Help, Lord, for the godly man seeth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity, every one with his neighbor. With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Who have said with our tongue will we prevail? Our lips are our own. Who is Lord over us? And I'm gonna tell you something, that to me smacks so much of the attitude of many in our society today. They're proud of what they say. I don't reckon I've heard more foolish things uttered from people in authority as I have over the last six months or so. It's ridiculous. But they're proud of themselves. They flaunt it. It's that they're really doing something and accomplishing something. And the scary thing is people are lining up to follow them. And here's what's gonna result from these people. Verse five, for the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy. That's what's gonna happen. But let me try to help them out if they should listen to these words. Because the Lord We'll do something about all this. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. At some point, when the Lord is ready, he will come to the defense of his people. And they will be saved from people such as this. Verse six, the words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. The words that I was referring to moments ago that I've heard so much of over the last several months, it seems, are words that drip with rottenness, with death. They are putrid. But God's words aren't. and those rotten words will in the end fall apart. God's words never will. They're so pure and they're so holy that they indeed can stand forever, and they do. Verse seven, thou shalt keep them, O Lord. Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. They may walk now, but God will stop their walking someday. They may talk now, but God's gonna stop their talking someday. They may seem to win now, but in the end they lose. For God will prevail. And as God prevails, so will his people. Be thankful if you're counted among God's people. And if you're uncertain of that, flee to the Lord now and seek him while he may be found. Let's bow our heads for prayer. Our kind and most gracious heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you again for these words that we've read here. And Lord, for what your word clearly says about those who are evil and who pursue evil and who deliberately and willfully disobey you. And Lord, we count and trust in you to uphold your righteous reputation to ultimately withstand this evil, not just withstand it, but triumph over it in an astounding way, in a glorious way. Lord, be with your people through these difficult and desperate times. Draw us up close to you and protect us if it pleases you to do so. And Lord, may your will prevail. May your might prevail. May your name prevail for all eternity. Oh Lord, we come before you now at this moment as well, seeking your wisdom and guidance as we conduct our business meeting. Lord, if there be any decisions for us to make here tonight, may they be in full accordance with your will. And may they be pleasing to you and may you use them to accomplish your purpose as you see fit. Or we pray these things all in Jesus name, Amen.