There was a time when being deceptive would not be tolerated...but any more, it seems to be the norm in advertising...encouraged on some dating sites...permissible in politics...overlooked in some workplaces...but none of that makes it right, ethical or moral. In fact, it's scripturally wrong and displeasing to God.
So let’s look at deception. . .where it began, how to recognize and overcome it.
First, we need to understand the enemy ONLY has three weapons he can use against us…the ability to tempt; accuse and deceive.
Second, deception according to the British Dictionary.com means:
“the act of deceiving or the state of being deceived; something that deceives; trick”
The first case of deception and false advertising began in the Garden of Eden.
Everything was perfect…a perfect place to live….great food to eat…perfect husband….perfect wife … God even told them where all the gold and jewels were…
But deception entered the garden. The serpent deceived Adam and Eve.
We’re going to expose the three cunning characteristics of deception.
# 1 Satan wants to create doubt and unbelief in the promises of God.
Genesis 3:1 in the Amplified Bible says:
“NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made.”
The New Living Translation says the serpent was the shrewdest of all the animals.
The Contemporary English Version of Genesis 3:1 says:
“The snake was sneakier than any of the other wild animals that the Lord God had made. . .”
Genesis 3:1 in the Message Bible says:
“The serpent was clever, more clever than any other wild animal God had made. . .”
Satan brought evil into the earth…it was a smart wild animal…he worked through the animal.
# 2—The enemy tries to create confusion over what God has said.
Genesis 3:4-5 in the Amplified Bible says:
“But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity.”
The New Living Translation says: “One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
Have you wondered what He meant when he said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden…there was only one tree she wasn’t to eat from…?
The trick of satan is to try to confuse the word of God…
Confusion and doubt are two of the enemy’s greatest weapons…
He’d love to keep us confused and doubting the promises of God.
# 3—Satan tries to imply that she is being deprived by God…that something was missing in her life.
Genesis 3:4 says:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:”
The devil said: You’re being deprived of this…what does television advertising do?
Your life would be so much better if you drive this car, wear that perfume, stay at this resort, wear these diamonds…you know what I’m talking about….
The “set up” for deception and what to watch out for:
Do you know when you’re being deceived…would it be deception if you knew it…?
Bottom line, don’t put yourself in a place where you can be deceived.
What is the set up for deception?
1. Exaggerating or overstating the facts.
2. Understating the consequences; not connecting the dots or completing the picture.
3. The fruit looked good, pleasant, and desirable – it had all the ingredients for addiction…
Buying that big screen TV might be good for a season…football season.
The boat you bought…fun for a while, until you find out how much it costs to operate it.
The pleasure of sin is good for a season but then you die.
Hebrews 11:25
Two destructive ways to respond to sin and guilt:
“The devil made me do it,” Flip Wilson, the comedian, used to say. If the devil can make you do it, that means that he has authority over you and that is direct conflict with the Word of God
When you blame somebody else, you will never experience true repentance.
But then you do foolish things when you’re living in deception.
18 Things You Need To Know About Deception…..
- When you’re being deceived you don’t recognize the deception.
Jeremiah 9:6 in the New International Version says:
“You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me," declares the LORD.”
- Deception always betrays those who live in it.
James 1:22 in the Amplified Bible says:
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”
3. How do you become deceived?
2 Corinthians 4:4 in the Amplified Bible says:
“For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.”
4. Jesus even warned about being deceived.
Mark 13:6 says:
“And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:”
- God won’t give a minute’s thought to those living in deception.
Proverbs 22:12 in the Message Bible says:
“God guards knowledge with a passion, but he'll have nothing to do with deception.”
- Who deceives you?
Genesis 3:13 says:
“Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”
- People who are deceived are not smart.
Proverbs 20:1 says:
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
- What feeds deception?
1 Corinthians 15:33 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.”
- God does not like deception.
Proverbs 8:7 in the New Living Translation says:
“. . .for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.”
- Deception will keep you traveling down the wrong road leading to a dead end.
Jeremiah 8:4 in the New Living Translation says:
“[Deception by False Prophets ] “Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says:“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?”
- Deception links with other sins.
Romans 1:29 in the New Living Translation says:
“Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.”
- Sin is the child of deception.
Ephesians 4:22 in the New Living Translation says:
“. . .throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.”
- Pride creates deception
Obadiah 1:3 says:
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”
- Deception will destroy your life
Romans 7:11 says:
“For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”
- Deception puts you in bad company
1 Corinthians 6:9 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality.”
- There is no deception among those who move in Godly authority.
John 7:18 in the Amplified Bible says:
“He who speaks on his own authority seeks to win honor for himself. [He whose teaching originates with himself seeks his own glory.] But He Who seeks the glory and is eager for the honor of Him Who sent Him, He is true; and there is no unrighteousness or falsehood or deception in Him.”
- Only the truth will lead to your salvation
2 Thessalonians 2:10 in the Amplified Bible says:
“And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.”
- Out of the abundance of your heart you will speak.
Job 15:5 in the New Living Translation says:
“Your sins are telling your mouth what to say. Your words are based on clever deception.”
Let us be wise to the wiles and deceptions of the enemy and we will not fall for his tactics. It is the only way to live a righteous and victorious life in God.
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Harold Herring