1. Deceiving Ourselves 1 Peter 5:8-9 1 Corinthians 10:12

2. 2 Self-deception “No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.” (Greville) “To be deceived by our enemies or betrayed by our friends in insupportable; yet by ourselves we are often content to be so treated.” (Francois, Duc De La Rochefoucauld)

3. 3 Self-deception Very difficult to overcome, but it can be done Demands honesty & a complete investigation of our heart & life, 2 Cor. 13:5 (1 Cor. 10:12) We deceive ourselves by…

4. 4 Thinking too highly of our own wisdom, 1 Cor. 3:18-19 Problem of pride, Prov. 3:5-7; 26:12; Isa. 5:21 (Rom. 12:3, 16) –Pride is a deceiver, Obadiah 3 Trusting that we know better than God, Jer. 37:9-10 –Professing wisdom shows ignorance, Rom. 1:21-23 –One must become “foolish,” 1 Co. 3:18 –Jer. 10:23; 17:9; Prov. 16:25

5. 5 Being only hearers & not doers of God’s word, Jas. 1:22-25 Only those who do God’s word will be saved, Matt. 7:21-27 –Hear & obey, Lk. 8:12; Heb. 5:9 –Not saved by… Faith only, Jas. 2:24Faith only, Jas. 2:24 Direct operation of Spirit, Acts 10:47-48Direct operation of Spirit, Acts 10:47-48 Moral life only, Acts 11:14Moral life only, Acts 11:14 Unfaithful life, Rom. 12:1-2; Lk. 6:46Unfaithful life, Rom. 12:1-2; Lk. 6:46

6. 6 Being only hearers & not doers of God’s word, Jas. 1:22-25 If we view obedience as a burden, we are deceiving ourselves, 1 Jn. 5:3; 2:5 –Is it a burden for you to worship God? Malachi 1:12-14 –Is it a burden for you to put God first? Nehemiah 13:15-17

7. 7 Saying we have no sin, 1 Jno. 1:8 (Rom. 3:23) By saying “sin is not really sin” –Redefine sin: disease, different lifestyle, man’s opinion, etc. When we live as if “ignorance is bliss” Luke 12:48 When we think we can sin & get away with it, Gal. 6:7-8; Deut. 29:19-20

8. 8 Thinking we are stronger than we really are, Gal. 6:3 Must keep humble heart about the power of sin’s temptations, Col. 3:12; Rom. 12:16 –Lest we underestimate power of sin & overestimate our ability to resist temptation When we become overconfident we are ready to fall, 1 Cor. 10:12

9. 9 Not controlling our tongues, James 1:26 Worshippers of God do deceive themselves this way, Jas. 1:16 A widespread problem, Jas. 3:2-8 –False teaching, Jas. 3:1 –Bitterness & malice, Jas. 3:10 (Eph. 4:31) –Profanity, Ephesians 4:29 –Gossip, Proverbs 20:19 –Backbiting, Proverbs 16:28 –These things must not happen! Jas. 3:10

10. 10 Deceiving Ourselves We are all targets of Satan, who is the great deceiver (Rev. 12:9) We must be strong in the strength of the Lord, and not deceive ourselves! Eph. 6:10