How to Avoid Deception

 

Intro: No one is exempt from being tempted and deceived.   Christians who are not prepared are being swept into the streams of deception that are being spewed out by many different voices.  Many believers are filled with fear and worry.  They are following deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. (1Timothy 4:1) Here are 4 keys you can use to avoid falling into the trap of the enemy.

1. Be Alert and Watchful. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong”. Romans 13:11, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”  And Jesus encouraged us to, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) In other words, as followers of Christ we need to wake up and be on guard.  Too many of us have become apathetic and complacent.  We are asleep.   It’s time to wake up and be aware of what is going on around us and sensitive to what spirit is at work.  We need to be aware of the tactics and devices of the enemy, so we are not out witted and become a victim of deception.  (2Corithians 2:11)

2. Know and Do the Word of God. You must know God’s word. You will be susceptible to being deceived if you do not know what God has said. The Word is the plum line. It establishes true north in our life. Jesus said, “Man is not to live on bread only. Man is to live by every word that God speaks” (Mt 4:4).  We must feed upon God’s word every day – read it, meditate upon it, speak it, hear it. Then, we must do what God’s word says to do not be just hearers only. James makes this very clear, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  (James 1:22) So, stay immersed in the word and walk in all the light God gives you, and you won’t have to worry about being deceived.

3. Guard your heart. Deception usually begins in the heart as a result of honoring one’s personal will above the will of God. The will of man by nature does not love the truth.  Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Even those who are religiously minded can have their hearts deceived (Jas. 1:26).  The heart can be polluted by pride, greed, apathy, unforgiveness, and offense.  These are all breeding grounds of deception. Not only can the devil deceive us, but others can deceive us, and we can be self-deceived – if, we don’t guard our hearts.

4. Stay in right relationship. God created us for relationship.  Relationship with Him and relationship with others.  It starts with our relationship with the Lord.  You will not be deceived if you commune with the Lord, pray, and worship Him.  You will remain sensitive to His voice and the leading of the spirit. Then, we need to be in right relationship with other believers.   We need each other.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  (Proverbs 27:17)   Fellowship provides encouragement and strength.  We need people in our life to hold us accountable and to help us grow. One of the biggest traps and dangers for deception is going it alone.  When a believer becomes isolated, separated from God and others they become and easy target for deception. This is what church is all about, fellowship with other believers!

Invitation: If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins, you are being deceived by the devil because without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will be eternally lost in hell. God wants you to spend eternity with Him and has provide the way to heaven through Jesus Christ His Holy Son. Ask Jesus to forgive you and save you from hell. Invite Him into your life right now if you have never done that before its eternally to late! Then you will spend eternity with God and His Son Jesus!

The Joys of Trusting God

 

Psalm 40:1-5

Intro: We see so many Christian people that seem so sad and they feel beat down by the pressures and the problems of this life, facing trials and temptations on every hand. God wants us to trust Him with all these things. King David gives us a firsthand personal witness of the benefits and joys of trusting God with all the problems and trials of life. No matter what he faced, David had the privilege of taking everything to God and then fully trusting Him with everything he faced in his life. David gives his joyful report to the congregation about his deliverance and an encouragement to them to trust the Lord.

I. The first benefit is patience! Psalms 40:1 (NKJV) I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. David says he had learned to pray and wait on God to move and help him. David could even have patience while waiting for God to help him. Then David says God turned to face him and inclined His ear (bent down to hear) his request. God promises that He will hear us when we continue to ask, seek and knock, with continuous praying. (Mt.7:7)

II. The second benefit of having trust in God is His answer. Psalms 40:2 (NKJV) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. David says he was going through (mud and mire) a time of despair and hopelessness. He felt the pressure of his many problems and He felt helpless in his situations in life. But when he prayed to God out of his pitiful state, God answered him and changed his situation. God changed his helplessness into victory, and turned his despair to joy. God had now set David’s feet on solid ground by giving him power over his problems and circumstances to where he could walk steadily in the paths of God’s leading.

III. Third benefit of trusting in God. He gives a new song of praise and admiration for His goodness. Psalms 40:3 (NKJV) He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord. God will bring a new song to your heart when He delivers you. We are to tell others about God’s mercy and grace in delivering us from our hopeless problems and troubles. When we do we will see another benefit of our trusting in God and that is people will see what He has done and they will put their trust in God as well.

IV. Fourth benefit of trusting God is joy. Psalms 40:4 (NKJV) Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. David gives us encouragement to commit our troubles and our lives to God. We will have no confidence in arrogant people (those who are full of self and think they know it all) and those that lie and brag about what they can do; God says the arm of flesh will always fail you. Jeremiah 17:5 (NLT) This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. Neither will we trust in idols. Idols are anything that takes up more of our time then God does! People look to everything the world has to offer (idols) trying to escape from their despair and hopelessness. We Christians will look only to God and trust Him!

V. Fifth benefit is confidence in God. Psalms 40:5 (NKJV) Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. God has no equal. When we remember the wonders God has performed for us. Count your many blessings, name then one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Look at the wonders of creation, the vastness and order of the universe and beyond. Look at the beauties and wonders here on earth. God gives us food, clothing, houses, cars, TVs, luxury items! Nature itself is a wonder of God. God’s wonders happen every day. I have seen many miracles and wonders that God has performed in my life and other people’s lives. They are too numerous to mention, we would forget some. The joy and blessings of trusting God is confidence and assurance. There is no one equal to Him. Many people give glory to the devil by fearing him instead of God. The devil is not omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He cannot create. He came to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy. Let’s take David’s personal witness and take everything to the highest authority there is. God has no equal and He invites us come to Him day or night. He has given us a High Priest who understands our need and presents our case before Him. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin .¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Invitation: Have you experienced the joys of trusting God lately? Take your worries, fears and doubts to God right now as He gives you this invitation to come to Him. Cast all your cares on the Lord if you have not already. You can never have joy till you fully trust Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Come to Him while He is near and experience the joys of trusting God!