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Deceit
May 22, 2021
Deceit is sadly a normal part of our everyday life. It permeates every part of our existence. When we check our email or text messages, we have to be careful not to respond to messages where deceit is the intent. There are many who try to deceive you into providing your personal information so that they can commit financial crimes. Up close and more personally, there are people around us who try to deceive us.
Deceit is not a modern phenomenon. Deceit has been with humanity since the Garden of Eden. The serpent, Satan the Devil, deceived Eve by purposefully misrepresenting what God had told Adam and her. Civilization as we know it stems from that first act of deception.
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Satan, as the serpent, is the first recorded to use deceit on earth. It should not be a shock to us that deceit is something we need to avoid in our lives. When we are a victim of deceit, we suffer the consequences. When we are the perpetrator of deceit, not only do we suffer, we add to the sufferings of others. We need to be aware that God will destroy the wicked in the land, including people who practice deceit, knowing that people who practice deceit will not dwell in the house of God.
Psalm 101:1-8
I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
Deceit is more than a lie. Deceit is a lie based on hate. It follows a typical pattern where carefully chosen words are used to redirect attention from the hate.
Proverbs 26:24-28
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Deceit is used in spiritual matters and there are some who will use deceit to knowingly lie to others. Through carefully chosen words, not that far removed from Satan in the Garden of Eden, some will try to separate people from faith and these deceivers typically pursue easy marks, people more likely to believe their deception. As we are aware that a person’s purpose is to remove us from faith, the prudent action is to avoid these people and alert other believers to these deceivers.
Romans 16:17-18
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
As we live our life of faith, we need to remember we live a life of faith that transcends the human experience. What we believe and how we believe cannot be based on the tradition of men and life on earth as we know it, but on Jesus Christ. When we allow ourselves to base our faith on our human experience, the traditions of men, and life on earth as we know it, we put ourselves in a position to be deceived.
Colossians 2:6-10
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
As Christians, we are to have compassion with each other and we are to refrain from using our tongue for evil, including the evil of speaking deceit. Instead, we are to do good and pursue peace so that we might be counted among the righteous.
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Jesus taught that deceit is just one of many evil things that can defile a person. He explained that it is what comes from a person that defiles the person. In a long list of evil, deceit is one of the many forms of evil that defile people listed by Jesus.
Mark 7:14-23
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
In writing to the Ephesians, Paul explained that the sins of this world need to be absent from the congregation of the faithful, and warned them not to be deceived with vain, or empty words. There are many who may speak with us using flattering words and the words spoken to us are meaningless and given without genuine thought and concern. As we allow ourselves to be deceived with flattering words we set ourselves up to be separated from the love of God.
Ephesians 5:1-7
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
The Bible and Gospel of the Kingdom of God is not based on deceit. There is no need to use trickery when proclaiming the truth of God’s word. Equally, when proclaiming the truth of God’s word, there is no need to use flattering words or to present the teachings of the Bible as something secretive in nature to create a desire to learn that is based on greed and self-interest rather than faith.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
To the church and to the faithful everywhere, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts. It’s normal for us to focus these spiritual gifts on the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the different offices of ministry. The gifts of the Holy Spirit should also protect us from deceit. We are not to be like this world, but transformed by the Holy Spirit to be focused on spiritual matters.
Ephesians 4:7-17
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Evil is associated with deceit, and that should not come as a surprise as deceit was introduced by Satan in the Garden of Eden. More importantly, from Proverbs we learn that deceit is part of the fabric of the character of people who imagine evil, who also lie. Instead, we are to speak the truth in righteousness.
Proverbs 12:16-21
16. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Jeremiah the prophet wrote about deceit during his time. He explained how people preferred deceit, or the lie, over the truth. He added that this extended to people who would hold on to wickedness instead of turning to righteousness. People who cling to deceit forget that there is a judgment coming by God.
Jeremiah 8:4-7
Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Deceit can come from without, by other people, or from within, from our own mind. It makes no difference where the deceit comes from. We need to avoid deceit. Deceit is tied to the wicked and originated with Satan in the Garden of Eden. Deceit is linked to hate. It is the hate that spurs the deceit. In love there is no need to be deceitful. Deceitfulness leads to bad being called good, and deceitfulness is often a premeditated act.
Psalm 36:1-4
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Deceit has been around since the time of Satan’s rebellion. Satan’s heart deceived him and since that time Satan has been engrossed with deceit. Satan seeks to deceive all of mankind to believe the lie rather than the truth, and while in the end some will believe Satan, many, many more will follow God into righteousness into the Kingdom of God.
The world that we live in today is a world of deceit and is not much different from the time of Jeremiah who also lived in a world of deceit. What has changed is not the character and heart of man, but the technology available to us. As we live in this world of deceit today and encounter people who seem to be lying in wait to find us make a mistake, just so they might accuse us, we can take comfort in the same knowledge that David had, that we are blessed when our sins are forgiven, knowing that it is God who delivers us from all forms of trouble, including deception.
All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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