Confronting Self-Deception: Embracing Truth in Faith

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the theme of self-deception and the importance of living in truth. We began by acknowledging the ongoing challenges of the pandemic and the need for responsible actions like wearing masks as a demonstration of love and stewardship. Transitioning into our study of the book of James, we delved into the concept of self-deception, a recurring theme in both James and other biblical texts. We often deceive ourselves by trusting our own thoughts and feelings, which can be misleading and not aligned with God's truth.

The Bible warns us against self-deception, emphasizing that our minds are deceitful and that we often rationalize our actions with "rational lies." We explored several common ways we deceive ourselves, such as believing that our success is solely due to our efforts, thinking that merely hearing God's word equates to obeying it, and assuming our viewpoints are identical to God's. We also discussed the dangers of judging others, the influence of wrong friends, and the misconception that we can sin without consequences.

To combat self-deception, we must seek clarity from God, ask for help from our community, and invite Jesus to transform us. By living closer to Jesus, who is the truth, we can move away from self-deception and into a life of authenticity and freedom. This journey requires humility, openness to change, and a willingness to confront our blind spots.

Key Takeaways:

- The Deceptive Nature of Our Minds: Our thoughts and feelings can often mislead us, as they are influenced by biases and past experiences. The Bible teaches that our minds are deceitful, and we must seek an objective authority beyond our own intuition to guide our decisions. [05:51]

- The Illusion of Self-Made Success: Believing that our achievements are solely the result of our efforts is a form of self-deception. Everything we have is a gift from God, and recognizing this truth fosters gratitude and humility. [12:18]

- The Danger of Hearing Without Doing: Listening to God's word without applying it in our lives is self-deceptive. True blessing comes from acting on the truth we hear, not merely accumulating knowledge. [15:21]

- Judging Others and Self-Deception: Assuming we have the right to judge others is a significant form of self-deception. We often misjudge others' motives and actions, and God alone is the rightful judge. [27:37]

- The Influence of Wrong Companions: Believing that we are immune to the influence of negative companions is self-deceptive. Bad company can corrupt good character, and we must be mindful of the relationships we cultivate. [29:35]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Pandemic Update
- [01:36] - The Importance of Wearing Masks
- [02:27] - Introduction to the Book of James
- [03:33] - The Challenge of Self-Deception
- [04:39] - The Deceptive Nature of Our Minds
- [05:51] - Biblical Warnings Against Self-Deception
- [07:23] - Cultural Misconceptions About Truth
- [09:32] - Rationalizing Our Actions
- [11:04] - Common Self-Deceptions
- [14:48] - Hearing vs. Doing God's Word
- [19:29] - Assuming Our Viewpoint is God's
- [26:46] - Judging Others
- [28:26] - The Influence of Wrong Friends
- [30:20] - Sin and Consequences
- [32:36] - Steps to Overcome Self-Deception
- [37:14] - Prayer for Deliverance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 16:25 - "People always think they're doing the right thing, but in the end it leads them to their death."
2. Jeremiah 17:9 - "The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is."
3. James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. You must do what it says."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what are some common ways we deceive ourselves? ([09:32])
2. How does the Bible describe the nature of the human mind in Jeremiah 17:9? ([05:32])
3. What does James 1:22 say about the relationship between hearing and doing God's word? ([15:21])
4. What example did the pastor give about the illusion of self-made success? ([12:18])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might people often trust their own thoughts and feelings, even when they are warned against it in the Bible? ([07:23])
2. How does the concept of self-deception relate to the idea of living in truth and authenticity? ([32:36])
3. In what ways can the influence of wrong companions lead to self-deception, according to the sermon? ([29:35])
4. How does the sermon suggest we can combat self-deception and move towards a life of authenticity? ([32:36])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you believed your success was solely due to your efforts. How can recognizing God's role in your achievements change your perspective? ([12:18])
2. Consider the last time you heard a sermon or read a Bible passage. Did you apply it in your life, or did it remain just knowledge? How can you ensure you act on what you learn? ([15:21])
3. Think about your current circle of friends. Are there any relationships that might be negatively influencing your character? What steps can you take to address this? ([29:35])
4. Have you ever judged someone without knowing their full story? How can you remind yourself that God is the only rightful judge? ([27:37])
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be deceiving yourself. What practical steps can you take to seek clarity and truth in this area? ([32:36])
6. How can you invite your small group to help you identify and work on your blind spots? What might be some challenges in doing this, and how can you overcome them? ([34:30])
7. What does living closer to Jesus, who is the truth, look like in your daily life? How can this help you move away from self-deception? ([35:42])

Devotional

Day 1: The Deceptive Nature of Our Minds
Our minds are powerful yet fallible, often leading us astray with biases and past experiences. The Bible warns us that our thoughts and feelings can be deceitful, urging us to seek guidance beyond our own intuition. This self-deception can manifest in various ways, such as rationalizing our actions or assuming our perspectives align with divine truth. To navigate this, we must seek an objective authority, like God's word, to guide our decisions and actions. By acknowledging the limitations of our minds, we open ourselves to divine wisdom and truth. [05:51]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself relying solely on your own understanding? How can you invite God to guide you in these areas today?


Day 2: The Illusion of Self-Made Success
Many people fall into the trap of believing that their achievements are solely the result of their efforts. This mindset fosters pride and self-reliance, neglecting the truth that everything we have is a gift from God. Recognizing this truth fosters gratitude and humility, reminding us that our successes are not just personal triumphs but blessings from above. By acknowledging God's role in our achievements, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness and a spirit of humility, aligning ourselves with a more truthful and fulfilling perspective on success. [12:18]

1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"

Reflection: Reflect on a recent success or achievement. How can you express gratitude to God for His role in this accomplishment today?


Day 3: The Danger of Hearing Without Doing
Listening to God's word without applying it in our lives is a form of self-deception. Many people accumulate knowledge of the scriptures but fail to act on it, missing the true blessing that comes from living out the truth. The Bible emphasizes the importance of being doers of the word, not just hearers. This means actively applying biblical teachings in our daily lives, allowing them to transform our actions and decisions. By doing so, we move beyond mere knowledge and into a life of authentic faith and obedience. [15:21]

James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Reflection: Identify one specific teaching from the Bible that you have heard but not yet applied. What steps can you take today to begin living out this truth?


Day 4: Judging Others and Self-Deception
Assuming we have the right to judge others is a significant form of self-deception. Often, we misjudge others' motives and actions, forgetting that God alone is the rightful judge. This tendency can lead to misunderstandings and strained relationships, as we impose our biases and assumptions on others. By recognizing our limitations in judgment, we can cultivate a spirit of humility and compassion, allowing God to be the ultimate judge. This shift in perspective encourages us to focus on our own growth and understanding, rather than critiquing others. [27:37]

Matthew 7:1-2 (ESV): "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you judged someone harshly. How can you seek to understand their perspective and extend grace instead?


Day 5: The Influence of Wrong Companions
Believing that we are immune to the influence of negative companions is self-deceptive. The Bible warns that bad company can corrupt good character, highlighting the importance of being mindful of the relationships we cultivate. Our companions can significantly impact our values, decisions, and spiritual growth. By surrounding ourselves with those who encourage and uplift us, we align ourselves with positive influences that support our journey of faith. This requires discernment and intentionality in choosing the company we keep, ensuring that our relationships reflect our commitment to living in truth. [29:35]

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'"

Reflection: Evaluate your current relationships. Are there any that are negatively influencing your character? What steps can you take to foster more positive and uplifting connections?

Quotes

"Why is it when I feel like it's the right thing to do and then I do it, but then it ends up not being the right thing to do? Well, first you rarely have 100% of the facts and the information you need and you get in a hurry and second, because you're not God, you can't always see the unintended consequences of your actions, but there's a third reason, is that not everything that you think and not everything that you feel is true." [00:03:57]

"Now, three times in the book of James, he says, don't deceive yourself. He's talking about self deception. Don't deceive yourself. He says it three times and in many other places in the book, he warns you against trusting your own fallible thinking. In fact, self deception is a major theme of this book and now almost 600 years before James wrote his book in the Bible, God told us the same thing in Jeremiah 17 verse nine." [00:05:11]

"The fact is what you tell yourself is not always the truth and what you feel is not always true, feelings lie, your thoughts and your feelings can be created by a whole lot of un-trusting and untrustworthy causes. You know, I've often pointed out to you that we lie to ourselves far more than we lie to anybody else. Sometimes we tell our selves that things are worse than they really are and sometimes we tell ourselves that things are better than they really are." [00:06:16]

"First, God says I am deceiving myself. Listen, when I think that all I've earned and deserve is what I have. In other words, when I think I've earned and I deserve all that I have. You say, what do you mean by that, Rick? Well, in today's culture, we admire, we even idolize what we call the self made person. The guy who supposedly pulls himself up by his own bootstraps makes a success of himself." [00:11:24]

"Now, this is a real common one too. When I think that just hearing God's word, like you're listening to me right now, means that you have obeyed it, that you've done it, that you've applied it in your life. You know, we may attend a worship service or watch online, like we're doing right now, or even take notes on what we hear. But that doesn't mean we've actually applied it in our lives that we have obeyed what, what God said to do and that we've actually done anything about it." [00:14:48]

"Number four, God says I'm deceiving myself when I assume my viewpoint is what God thinks. Well, God says, no, no, no, you got this all wrong here. When I assumed that my viewpoint, what I think, my opinion, my political view, my spiritual view, my theological view whatever, when I assume that my viewpoint is the same thing as God's viewpoint, that it's identical. You ever met anybody who thinks they're right all the time or almost all the time?" [00:19:29]

"Over and over and over again in this book, in scripture, God says that judging others is a sin. James says it. Chapter four, verse 12. 'God is the only law giver and judge and he alone can save and destroy. So who do you think you are to judge somebody else?' It's self deception. In other words, every time I judge somebody else, I'm deceiving myself. Every time you judge somebody else, God says you're deceiving yourself." [00:27:37]

"First Corinthians 15:33. 'Don't fool yourself.' In other words, don't deceive yourself. 'Bad companions will ruin good character.' Bad companions will ruin good character. Now, that verse doesn't just apply to teenagers. It applies to young adults and middle aged adults and even senior adults. The wrong friends can bring you down at any stage in your life. If you don't believe that, then God says you're deceiving yourself. Self deception." [00:29:35]

"When I think I can sin without consequences. You know, we think that if nobody knows about our sin then we're getting away with it. But God says that's a self deception. We always, always, always reap whatever we sew. It's a universal law. Galatians 6:7 says, 'Don't deceive yourselves. No one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you've planted.' So, if I plan to seed the gossip, then people are going to gossip about me." [00:30:20]

"Number one, ask God for clarity. That's what, that's where you start. When I, when I know that my heart is deceitful, that I often tell myself things that aren't true about me, okay? I'm playing tapes that were sent to me by my parents or my peers or partners or friends or whatever on the school yard, ask God for clarity. In Jobe chapter 34, verse 32, Jobe says this. He's talking to God, 'Teach me what I cannot see and if I've done wrong, I will not do so again.'" [00:32:36]

"Number two, ask my small group for help. Yeah, God puts other people in your life to help you by they see things in you that you can't see. They can see your blind spots, just like you can see there's. Proverbs 12 verse 15. 'Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.' If you think, oh, I can just work on this by myself. I don't really need anybody to talk to me about my blind spots, really? That in itself is a blind spot." [00:33:33]

"Number three, I asked Jesus to change me. We all know that Jesus said, I am the truth and he said, the truth will set you free. So the closer you live to Jesus, the more your life will be filled with the truth. Now, what does that mean? It means you're going to be less vulnerable to being, to self deception and it means that you won't give into it as much because you're walking in the light of God's truth and the more you walk in the light of God, which helps you and helps me see myself as I really am and helps me see others as they really are, the more we're going to move out of self deception into reality." [00:36:36]

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Transcript
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