Deception Defiles: Unmasking the Heart’s Hidden Lies

Devotional

Day 1: Deception Destroys Relationships

Deception is not just about telling lies; it is a force that erodes trust, intimacy, and authenticity, ultimately destroying our relationships with others, ourselves, and God. When Adam blamed Eve for his own choice, he wielded the truth in a way that avoided responsibility, fracturing the trust between them and setting a pattern for all of humanity. Our deceitful hearts convince us that self-preservation is more important than preserving our most important relationships, but in reality, every act of deception—no matter how small—chips away at the foundation of love and trust we are meant to share. [39:59]

Genesis 3:6-13 (ESV)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where deception—big or small—has damaged trust? What is one step you can take today to move toward honesty and restoration in that relationship?

Day 2: The Heart Is Deceitful

Our hearts are not neutral; they are naturally bent toward deceit, convincing us to hide, blame, and manipulate rather than face the truth. Jeremiah reminds us that the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, and this inner reality is what leads us to cover up our shame and avoid responsibility. When we act on the desires of our deceitful hearts, we not only hurt others but also distort our own identity, allowing shame to take root and drive us further into hiding. [39:59]

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense your heart trying to justify or cover up something rather than bringing it into the light? What would it look like to invite God to search that part of your heart today?

Day 3: God Sees and Knows Everything—Yet Still Loves Us

No matter how much we try to hide, God sees every thought, every word, and every motive—yet He pursues us with relentless love and invites us out of hiding. Like Adam and Eve, we may try to cover our shame and avoid God, but His invitation is always to come out, be honest, and experience unashamed relationship with Him. The God who knows us best is the one who loves us most, and He calls us to live authentically before Him, trusting that His love is greater than our failures. [56:04]

Psalm 139:1-4, 13-14 (ESV)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. … For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Reflection: What is one truth about God’s knowledge and love for you that you struggle to believe? How might you respond to His invitation to come out of hiding and be honest with Him today?

Day 4: Authenticity Begins with Confession

Authenticity is not about having it all together, but about being honest with God, others, and ourselves—starting with confessing the lies we’ve believed and the masks we’ve worn. Jesus taught that true transformation begins on the inside, and that the only way to clean the outside is to first clean the inside. When we confess our deceptions and bring them into the light, we begin to dismantle the walls of shame and experience the freedom and acceptance found in Christ. [01:01:03]

Matthew 23:25-28 (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Reflection: What is one mask you tend to wear in front of others or God? What would it look like to take a small step toward authenticity and confession this week?

Day 5: The Truth of the Gospel Sets Us Free

The only way to combat the father of lies is with the truth of the gospel: Jesus knows every lie, every mask, every failure—and still chose the cross so you could come to Him just as you are. His mercies are new every morning, and His love is everlasting; you are not a mistake, but fearfully and wonderfully made. When we trade the deception of the garden for the truth of the cross, we find freedom from shame and the courage to live honestly, knowing that God’s acceptance is not based on our perfection but on His grace. [01:02:38]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Reflection: Where do you most need to let go of shame and receive the truth of God’s mercy and love today? What is one way you can remind yourself of the gospel’s freedom as you go about your day?

Sermon Summary

We all have a tendency to hide—sometimes from others, sometimes from ourselves, and often from God. Like a game of hide and seek, we become experts at concealing the truth, not just with outright lies but with half-truths, omissions, and carefully constructed facades. This impulse to hide is as old as humanity itself, rooted in the very first deception in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve believed the serpent’s lie—“You will not certainly die”—they not only disobeyed God but also introduced shame, blame, and hiding into the human story. Their first instinct after sinning was to cover themselves and hide, not just from each other but from God Himself.

Deception is so destructive because it doesn’t just distort facts; it destroys relationships. It erodes trust, intimacy, and authenticity, leaving us isolated and unknown. Adam’s attempt to shift blame to Eve (and even to God) shows how deception can fracture our closest bonds. Shame quickly follows, convincing us that our failures define us, that we are unworthy of love or acceptance. Instead of seeking restoration, we retreat further into hiding, stacking mask upon mask until we lose sight of who we truly are.

But God’s response to our hiding is not condemnation, but pursuit. In the garden, God’s question—“Where are you?”—was not about location, but invitation. He calls us out of hiding, not to shame us, but to restore us. The gospel is the story of a God who knows us completely—every lie, every mask, every moment of hiding—and yet loves us more deeply than we can imagine. Jesus came to dismantle the power of deception and shame, inviting us to live authentically before God, others, and ourselves.

Authenticity is not about perfection, but about honesty. It’s about bringing our whole selves—our brokenness, our failures, our fears—into the light of God’s love. When we confess the lies we’ve believed and the masks we’ve worn, we begin to experience the freedom and healing that only truth can bring. God made each of us with reverence and honor, and He invites us to step out of hiding and into the abundant life He offers. The journey from deception to authenticity is ongoing, but it begins with the courage to answer God’s call: “Where are you?”

Key Takeaways

1. Deception Destroys Relationships Deception is not just about telling lies; it’s about eroding the trust and intimacy that relationships are built on. When we hide, blame, or manipulate, we create distance between ourselves and others, often wounding those we love most. True restoration begins when we own our actions and choose honesty, even when it’s costly. [39:59]
2. Shame Drives Us Into Hiding Shame convinces us that our failures define us, leading us to cover up and withdraw. Unlike guilt, which can prompt us to seek reconciliation, shame isolates us and distorts our identity. The more we hide, the more disconnected we become—not just from others, but from our true selves. [43:03]
3. God Invites Us Out of Hiding God’s question, “Where are you?” is an invitation to step into the light, not a demand for explanation. He already knows our failures and our shame, yet He pursues us with compassion. Authentic relationship with God begins when we stop hiding and allow ourselves to be fully known and fully loved. [54:30]
4. Authenticity Begins with the Gospel The gospel assures us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, even in our brokenness. Jesus bore our shame and defeated the power of deception, making it possible for us to live honestly before God and others. As we confess and dismantle our masks, we discover the freedom and acceptance that only Christ can give. [58:27]
5. Even Small Lies Have Big Consequences Little white lies may seem harmless, but they can create dark, destructive patterns in our hearts and relationships. Choosing truth, even in small things, is a spiritual discipline that shapes our character and deepens our intimacy with God and others. [59:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Hide and Seek: Childhood and Beyond
[03:10] - The Nascondino World Championship
[05:30] - The Abandoned Town of Consono
[07:00] - The Heart Matters: Series Recap
[09:00] - Jesus on the Source of Evil
[11:30] - The Many Faces of Deception
[14:00] - The First Lie in Genesis
[17:17] - The Destructive Power of Deception
[19:59] - Deception and Broken Relationships
[22:03] - Shame: The Aftermath of Deceit
[25:22] - Hiding from Ourselves and God
[28:26] - Personal Story: Living a Lie
[32:54] - Jesus Confronts Hypocrisy
[35:30] - God’s Invitation: “Where Are You?”
[38:27] - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
[41:07] - The Call to Authenticity
[44:25] - Trading Deception for Truth
[47:29] - Walking in the Light
[51:03] - Responding to God’s Pursuit
[53:33] - Closing Prayer and Thanksgiving Wishes

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

---

### Bible Reading

Genesis 3:1-13 (ESV)
> Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
>
> And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14 (ESV)
> O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
>
> For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

---

### Observation Questions

In Genesis 3, what was Adam and Eve’s first reaction after eating the fruit, and what did they do to try to deal with their new awareness?

[[37:17]]

According to the sermon, how did Adam respond when God asked him about eating the fruit, and what does this reveal about his attitude?

[[38:27]]

What does Psalm 139 say about how well God knows us? What are some specific things God knows about us, according to these verses?

[[57:07]]

The sermon mentions that Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves. What is the significance of this detail, and how does it connect to the idea of hiding?

[[45:22]]

---

### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Adam and Eve’s first instinct was to hide from God and each other after they sinned? What does this say about the effects of shame and deception?

[[37:17]]

The sermon points out that Adam shifted blame to Eve (and even to God) instead of taking responsibility. What are the relational consequences of this kind of blame-shifting?

[[38:27]]

According to Psalm 139 and the sermon, how does God respond to our attempts to hide? What does God’s question, “Where are you?” really mean?

[[54:30]]

The sermon says that authenticity is not about perfection but about honesty. How does the gospel make it possible for us to be honest about our brokenness?

[[58:27]]

---

### Application Questions

The sermon says that even small lies can have big consequences. Can you think of a time when a “little white lie” affected a relationship in your life? What happened, and what could have been different if you had chosen honesty?

[[59:07]]

Shame often leads us to hide parts of ourselves from others, from God, and even from ourselves. Is there an area of your life where you feel tempted to hide or put on a mask? What would it look like to bring that into the light?

[[43:03]]

God’s question, “Where are you?” is described as an invitation, not a demand. How do you sense God inviting you out of hiding right now? What would it take for you to respond honestly to Him?

[[54:30]]

The sermon talks about how deception destroys trust and intimacy in relationships. Are there any relationships in your life that have been affected by deception or lack of authenticity? What steps could you take toward restoration?

[[39:59]]

The pastor shared about his own struggle with living a lie and how it affected his self-image. Have you ever believed a lie about yourself that led you to hide from others or from God? How did that belief shape your actions?

[[53:33]]

Psalm 139 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” How does believing this truth help us step out of shame and into authenticity? Is there a specific truth from this passage you need to claim for yourself this week?

[[58:27]]

The sermon encourages us to confess the lies we’ve believed and the masks we’ve worn. What is one practical step you can take this week to live more authentically—with God, with others, or with yourself?

[[01:01:03]]

Sermon Clips

The real problem in your spiritual life isn't your behavior, it's your heart. Because while our outward behavior gets most of the attention, it's the inward reality of the heart that produces the behavior, good and bad. And so we've taken an honest assessment of some of the darkest corners of our hearts to see what's hiding in those shadows: pride, anger, lust, and today we're going to talk about deceit. Our list comes from chapter 7 of Mark where Jesus said what comes out of a person is what defiles them. [00:32:31] (36 seconds) #HeartOverBehavior

The prophet Jeremiah wrote this: the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Adam's deceitful heart convinced him that saving his bacon was more important than preserving his relationship with his own wife. And when we act on the desires of our deceitful hearts, we cause destruction in our most important relationships as well. [00:40:28] (26 seconds) #DeceitfulHeart

Guilt tells me that I did something wrong. Shame tells me that there's something wrong with me. Guilt compels us to seek restoration by entering into a relationship: I did something wrong to you and I want to make it right. Shame convinces us to hide from relationships: there's something really wrong with me and I don't want any of you to know about it. And so we cover up our shameful parts, we withdraw from people physically, we retreat emotionally. [00:42:07] (33 seconds) #GuiltVsShame

For years, the polish on the outside covered up the pollution on the inside. I didn't live authentically with anyone in my life, so that's how I defined myself, as a liar, a deceiver. And I really kind of hated myself for it. Not only had my deception caused destruction in the most important relationships of my life, but it had devastated my relationship with myself. I was drowning in shame. [00:53:35] (26 seconds) #HidingFromGod

I convinced myself that as soon as people saw the truth of who I really was, I'd be left all alone. Now, I didn't know it at the time, but I was hiding from everyone in my life, including God. And what a silly goal that is, right? Like, how do you hide from someone who sees and knows everything? Like, about everything. Which means he sees and knows everything about you and about me. [00:54:02] (27 seconds) #InvitationToHonesty

God was inviting Adam to come out of hiding. But this wasn't primarily an invitation for Adam to stop hiding physically. It was an invitation to stop hiding relationally. God knew what had happened. He knew the depth of the shame that Adam and Eve felt, and he invited them out into the open with him, to be honest with him, to enter back into unashamed and authentic relationship with him. And the creator was pursuing his beloved creation. [00:55:00] (34 seconds) #UnconditionalLove

``And that's the heart of the gospel, the story of the one true God who loves us no matter how many times we mess up. The one true God who came down from heaven to rescue us from our own corrupted hearts. The one true God who knows every lie you've ever told, every half-truth that's escaped your lips, every manipulative word you've uttered to bring about a desired outcome, every person you've betrayed, every mask you wore into this building this morning, and yet who chose the cross so you could come to him just as you are, broken, stained, beautifully imperfect. [00:55:35] (46 seconds) #KnownAndLoved

The one who knows me best is the one who loves me most. Man, I love that line. Think about that. The one who knows more about you than anyone else, knows it all, loves you more than anyone else. Like, it doesn't logically make sense. If you have a hard time believing that, maybe you've never believed it, maybe it's the first time you've ever heard something like that before. The Father's invitation to Adam and Eve is for you as well. Where are you? He's saying. You don't have to hide from me any longer. [00:56:27] (39 seconds) #CreatedToShine

God who is familiar with all your ways, and I mean all of them, made you with great reverence and honor to be distinct and set apart. Every single person, not only in this room, but in the world. And his works are wonderful, not shameful, not something to hide, wonderful. But just like David and just like Adam, we have to be willing to live honestly before God, before others, and before ourselves. [00:58:22] (31 seconds) #FreedomInTruth

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the ways your deceitful heart has caused destruction in your life. What does it look like to trade in the deception of the garden for the truth of the cross? Well, if your heart has convinced you that God is holding out on you, that it's okay to take what you want, no matter the consequences, that you need more stuff to be whole, rest in the words of Psalm 23, the Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing. [01:01:27] (31 seconds) #Psalm23Promise

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the destructive power of deception?

How does shame differ from guilt?

Why does God invite us to come out of hiding?