Deception keeps you focused on a distraction so you won’t see what is really going on. The main problem with deception is you don’t know you are being deceived. Let’s look at the source of all deception.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Notice disobedience is mentioned in context with deception. God’s desire is for His creation to know Him. That is the purpose of Scripture.
Jeremiah 9:6 You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me, (Berean)
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Refusing to get to know God through His Word causes your mind to be void of judgement – making wrong decisions.
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 I (Paul) am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. (Berean)
How did the devil deceive Eve? By calling into question God’s word.
Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
ANYTHING that changes your focus off of Christ is anti-Christ. Greek = antíxristos from antí, “opposite to, in place of” and Xristós, “Christ” – opposite to Christ; someone acting in place of Christ.
The devil wants to get you to act in place of Christ as your own lord, making your own choices, doing what you think is best.
1 John 2;15-18 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. (Berean)
1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 This man (the Antichrist)* will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. (NLT) * my note for clarity
Proverbs 14:8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows. (GWT)
Trusting in man’s efforts instead of God’s is a curse.
Jeremiah 17:5,7 “This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the person who trusts humans, who makes flesh and blood his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wilderness. He will not see when something good comes. He will live in the dry places in the desert, in a salty land where no one can live. 7 Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD. The LORD will be his confidence.” (GWT)
Psalm 91:9-10 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; (NKJ)
Don’t let deception and disobedience make you a prisoner. Dare to believe God’s Word and expand your faith.
