Be Not Deceived

Have you ever been taken in by a smooth talking salesman ?

Even nations get deceived.

God’s enemy is the most deceitful of all John 8: 44 It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

I Timothy 2: 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. ( Rom. 5: 12 .. introduced sin in the world )

Deception is his most effective tool. Revelation 12: 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The Christian must remain vigilant. Romans16: 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. That we may not be the unsuspecting, our lesson will consider the command : Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1: 16

not to allow themselves to be deceived. I. Christians are commanded not to allow themselves to be deceived.

Paul repeated this same command. Galatians 6: 7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Ephesians 5: 6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

John also repeated this command I John 3: 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; ….

John repeatedly warned us : I John 2: 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. II John 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.

Satan’s deceptions have been a problem since the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw : 1} that the tree was good for food, 2} and that it was a delight to the eyes, 3} and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Satan still uses the same deceptions I John 2: 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

It is a problem ! Why do James and two of the Apostles emphasize not being deceived ? It is a problem !

us in many different ways. II. Satan attempts to deceive us in many different ways.

Satan deceives with flattering words. II Timothy 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Romans 16: 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Satan uses bad company to deceive I Corinthians 15: 33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.“ Psalms 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wickedness, nor stand in the paths of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.

Satan uses sin to deceive people. Romans 7: 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. Sin is addictive and the penalty is death … Romans 3: 23 – the wages of sin is death

Satan deceives people into thinking wrongly of God. James 1: 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone

We must all heed the warning. Hebrews 3: 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

III. None is so deceived as he who deceives himself.

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?   James 1: 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

Apostles John and Paul both warn : I John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. Galatians 6: 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

I Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. Some think themselves too sophisticated to believe in an unseen realm.

Matthew 7: 21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'

John 11: 47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

IV. How can a man (woman) of God prevent himself from being deceived ?

Christians must develop a mindset which requires us to prove what is the will of God in all things.

Christians identify fake “truth” the same way a clerk spots fake money.

Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 5: 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

We must develop this attitude. Acts 17: 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Faithfulness = applied truth. John 8: 31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ( cf – John 17: 17 )

James, John and Paul all gave us this command because we need it.

We can only be deceived if fail to measure everything by the one true standard.

If we allow ourselves to be deceived, like Eve was, we will be accountable for our errors.

Jesus is the real thing. Do not be deceived. He is the way, the truth and the source of life. Come to Him now.

Remember His Love

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Psalm 1: 1