Deceiving Deceiving OurselvesOurselves

1 Peter 5:8-91 Peter 5:8-9

1 Corinthians 10:121 Corinthians 10:12

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Self-deceptionSelf-deception

““No man was ever so much No man was ever so much deceived by another as by deceived by another as by himself.”himself.” (Greville)(Greville)

““To be deceived by our enemies To be deceived by our enemies or betrayed by our friends in or betrayed by our friends in insupportable; yet by ourselves insupportable; yet by ourselves we are often content to be so we are often content to be so treated.” treated.” (Francois, Duc (Francois, Duc De La Rochefoucauld)De La Rochefoucauld)

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Self-deceptionSelf-deception

Very difficult to overcome, Very difficult to overcome, but it can be donebut it can be done

Demands honesty & a Demands honesty & a complete investigation of our complete investigation of our heart & life,heart & life, 2 Cor. 13:5 (1 2 Cor. 13:5 (1 Cor. 10:12)Cor. 10:12)

We deceive ourselves by…We deceive ourselves by…

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Thinking too highly of Thinking too highly of our own wisdom, our own wisdom, 1 1 Cor. 3:18-19Cor. 3:18-19

Problem of pride, Problem of pride, Prov. 3:5-7; Prov. 3:5-7; 26:12; Isa. 5:21 (Rom. 12:3, 16)26:12; Isa. 5:21 (Rom. 12:3, 16)– Pride is a deceiver,Pride is a deceiver, Obadiah 3 Obadiah 3Trusting that we know better Trusting that we know better than God, than God, Jer. 37:9-10Jer. 37:9-10– Professing wisdom shows Professing wisdom shows

ignorance, ignorance, Rom. 1:21-23Rom. 1:21-23– One must become “foolish,” One must become “foolish,” 1 Co. 1 Co.

3:183:18– Jer. 10:23; 17:9; Prov. 16:25Jer. 10:23; 17:9; Prov. 16:25

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Being only hearers & Being only hearers & not doers of God’s not doers of God’s word, word, Jas. 1:22-25Jas. 1:22-25Only those who do God’s word Only those who do God’s word will be saved, will be saved, Matt. 7:21-27Matt. 7:21-27– Hear & obey, Hear & obey, Lk. 8:12; Heb. 5:9Lk. 8:12; Heb. 5:9– Not saved by…Not saved by…

•Faith only, Faith only, Jas. 2:24Jas. 2:24•Direct operation of Spirit, Direct operation of Spirit, Acts Acts

10:47-4810:47-48•Moral life only, Moral life only, Acts 11:14Acts 11:14•Unfaithful life, Unfaithful life, Rom. 12:1-2; Lk. 6:46Rom. 12:1-2; Lk. 6:46

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Being only hearers & Being only hearers & not doers of God’s not doers of God’s word, word, Jas. 1:22-25Jas. 1:22-25If we view obedience as a If we view obedience as a burden, we are deceiving burden, we are deceiving ourselves, ourselves, 1 Jn. 5:3; 2:51 Jn. 5:3; 2:5– Is it a burden for you to worship Is it a burden for you to worship

God? God? Malachi 1:12-14Malachi 1:12-14– Is it a burden for you to put God Is it a burden for you to put God

first? first? Nehemiah 13:15-17Nehemiah 13:15-17

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Saying we have no sin, Saying we have no sin, 1 Jno. 1:8 (Rom. 1 Jno. 1:8 (Rom. 3:23)3:23)By saying “sin is not really sin”By saying “sin is not really sin”– Redefine sin: disease, different Redefine sin: disease, different

lifestyle, man’s opinion, etc.lifestyle, man’s opinion, etc.

When we live as if “ignorance is When we live as if “ignorance is bliss” bliss” Luke 12:48Luke 12:48

When we think we can sin & get When we think we can sin & get away with it, away with it, Gal. 6:7-8; Deut. Gal. 6:7-8; Deut. 29:19-20 29:19-20

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Thinking we are Thinking we are stronger than we really stronger than we really are, are, Gal. 6:3Gal. 6:3Must keep humble heart about Must keep humble heart about the power of sin’s temptations, the power of sin’s temptations, Col. 3:12; Rom. 12:16Col. 3:12; Rom. 12:16– Lest we Lest we underestimateunderestimate power of power of

sin & sin & overestimateoverestimate our ability to our ability to resist temptationresist temptation

When we become overconfident When we become overconfident we are ready to fall, we are ready to fall, 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 10:1210:12

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

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Deceiving Deceiving OurselvesOurselvesWe are all targets of Satan, We are all targets of Satan, who is the great deceiver who is the great deceiver (Rev. 12:9)(Rev. 12:9)

We must be strong in the We must be strong in the strength of the Lord, and not strength of the Lord, and not deceive ourselves! deceive ourselves! Eph. Eph. 6:106:10