Decisions, Deception, and Divine Restoration
Summary
Every one of us is a decision-making machine, making thousands of choices each day—some trivial, some life-altering. The quality of our lives and the shape of our character are deeply influenced by these decisions. Yet, we rarely make decisions in a vacuum; there are always internal and external influences at play. One of the most overlooked factors is our “inner governing condition”—the state of our hearts and minds when we choose. Often, we believe we’re being objective, but in reality, our motives, desires, and even our wounds are shaping our choices.
We live in a world saturated with deception, from obvious scams to subtle manipulations. The first and most devastating deception happened in Eden, when Adam and Eve were lured into mistrusting God by a non-human intelligence. The serpent’s insinuations were not just about breaking a rule, but about slandering God’s character—suggesting that God was withholding good from them, that He could not be trusted. This is the root of all sin: broken trust with our Creator.
When we make decisions based on deception, the consequences are profound. Adam and Eve’s choice led to shame, guilt, and a sense of nakedness—feelings we all know when we realize we’ve been duped or have made a foolish choice. Our instinct is to hide, to cover up, to blame others, but none of these bring healing. God’s response, however, is not rage or condemnation. He seeks us out, not to punish, but to restore, to clothe us with mercy, and to bring us back into trusting relationship.
When deception is possible, the wise response is to WAIT: consult God’s Word, assess your certainty, ask if it’s truly for the highest good, and ensure it pleases God and spreads good. When deception is proven and we’ve made a bad decision, the way forward is to RETURN: run toward God, express your feelings honestly, tell the whole truth, unload your guilt and shame, receive His comfort and correction, and navigate the future in trusting obedience.
God’s heart is always to restore, not to destroy. He is better, kinder, and more merciful than we often imagine. No matter how far we’ve wandered or how foolish our choices, His arms are open wide, ready to forgive, restore, and lead us into the life we were always meant to live.
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Key Takeaways
- Decisions Are Shaped by Our Inner Condition
We often think we’re making choices objectively, but our inner state—our desires, fears, and wounds—profoundly shapes our decisions. Recognizing this helps us approach choices with humility and self-awareness, inviting God to search our hearts and guide us beyond our blind spots. The more we cultivate an honest awareness of our inner life, the more likely we are to make godly decisions. [02:00]
- Deception’s Power Lies in Slandering God’s Character
The serpent’s strategy in Eden was not just to tempt, but to undermine trust in God’s goodness. Every temptation to sin is, at its core, a temptation to believe that God is not for us, that He withholds good, or that we know better. The antidote is to remember God’s proven character—His sacrificial love and unwavering commitment to our highest good. [10:00]
- When Deception Is Possible, WAIT
In moments of uncertainty, when something feels off or too good to be true, wisdom calls us to pause. The WAIT acronym—What does God’s Word say? Am I certain? Is this for the highest good? Does it Truly please God and spread good?—offers a practical, spiritual filter to avoid impulsive, regretful decisions. This discipline of waiting is a safeguard against the subtlety of deception. [24:37]
- God’s Response to Our Failure Is Restoration, Not Rage
When we’ve made a mess of things, our instinct is to hide, cover up, or blame others. Yet God’s heart is not to punish, but to seek us out, clothe us with mercy, and restore us to relationship. He invites us to bring our guilt and shame into His presence, where we find not condemnation, but grace, correction, and the assurance of His love. [36:02]
- The Path Forward After Failure Is Honest Return
When deception is proven and we’ve fallen, the way back is not through self-justification or hiding, but by running toward God. We are called to express our feelings, confess the whole truth, unload our shame, receive His comfort, and then navigate the future in trusting obedience. This is how we are restored and how we grow into the people God created us to be. [38:19]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Why We Make Dumb Decisions
[03:40] - Living in a World of Deception
[05:18] - The Big Picture: God’s Purpose for Humanity
[10:00] - Genesis 3: The First Deception
[13:32] - The Subtlety of Deceptive Voices
[20:44] - Distraction from Devotion to Christ
[24:37] - The WAIT Principle for Decision-Making
[25:36] - The Consequences of Deception
[27:01] - Innocence Lost: Shame and Covering Up
[29:04] - Hiding from God: The Human Response
[31:45] - Guilt, Shame, and the Need for Restoration
[34:02] - Blame-Shifting and God’s Gentle Confrontation
[36:02] - God’s Heart: Restoration Over Punishment
[38:19] - Returning to God After Failure
[44:29] - The Invitation to Return and Be Restored
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Decisions, Deception, and God’s Heart of Restoration
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### 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.”
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
> Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Genesis 3, what specific tactics does the serpent use to deceive Eve? What does he say about God’s character?
[[10:00]]
2. After Adam and Eve eat the fruit, what are the first things they do and feel? How do they respond to God’s presence?
[[27:01]]
3. According to Hebrews 4:16, what kind of attitude are we encouraged to have when approaching God after failure?
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the “root of all sin” as seen in the Genesis story?
[[10:00]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Adam and Eve were willing to trust the serpent’s words over God’s, even though they had experienced God’s goodness firsthand?
[[11:36]]
2. The pastor says our “inner governing condition” shapes our decisions. What does this mean, and how might it have played a role in Adam and Eve’s choice?
[[02:00]]
3. When Adam and Eve realize their mistake, their instinct is to hide and cover up. Why do people often respond this way after making a bad decision?
[[29:04]]
4. The sermon describes God’s response as seeking to restore, not to punish. How does this challenge or confirm your own view of God’s character?
[[36:02]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon introduced the WAIT principle for decision-making: What does God’s Word say? Am I certain? Is this for the highest good? Does it truly please God and spread good? Think of a recent decision you made—did you use any of these filters? How might your decision have changed if you had?
[[24:37]]
2. The pastor shared that our motives, desires, and even wounds can shape our choices. Can you think of a time when your inner state (like fear, insecurity, or desire) influenced a decision you later regretted? What would it look like to invite God into that process next time?
[[02:00]]
3. When you realize you’ve made a bad or foolish choice, what is your usual instinct—do you hide, blame, or try to fix it yourself? How does this compare to Adam and Eve’s response in Genesis 3?
[[29:04]]
4. The sermon says God’s heart is to restore, not to destroy. Is there an area of your life where you feel too ashamed or guilty to bring it to God? What would it look like to “run toward God” with that today?
[[36:02]]
5. The RETURN principle after failure is: Run toward God, Express your feelings, Tell the whole truth, Unload your guilt and shame, Receive His comfort and correction, Navigate the future in trusting obedience. Which of these steps is hardest for you, and why?
[[38:19]]
6. The pastor mentioned that sometimes we sense something is “off” before making a decision but ignore it. Can you share a time when you had that feeling? What happened, and what did you learn?
[[13:32]]
7. God’s invitation is always to come back, no matter how far we’ve wandered. Is there a specific step you feel God is inviting you to take this week to restore trust in your relationship with Him?
[[44:29]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to be honest with God, to trust His heart of restoration, and to seek His wisdom in every decision.
Devotional
Day 1: Beware of Deception—Decisions Are Not Made in a Vacuum
Every day, we are bombarded by choices, both big and small, and often we underestimate the influence of our inner condition on the decisions we make. Deception is a constant reality in our world, and it rarely comes with a warning label; instead, it often arrives cloaked in charm, subtlety, and even apparent authenticity. The story of Adam and Eve reminds us that even in the best of circumstances, with every reason to trust God, we can be swayed by voices that question His goodness and motives. Before making significant decisions, especially when something feels “off,” it is wise to pause, examine our hearts, and ask whether we are being influenced by deception—internal or external. [05:18]
Genesis 3:1-5 (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 the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat 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.”
Reflection: Think of a recent decision where you felt uneasy or pressured—did you pause to consider whether your inner condition or outside influences might be clouding your judgment? How can you build in a habit of pausing and seeking God’s perspective before making significant choices?
Day 2: God’s Character Is Slandered—Trust Is Broken, But God Seeks to Restore
When trust in God is broken, as it was in the garden, the result is not just disobedience but a deep sense of vulnerability, shame, and a desire to hide. Yet, God’s response is not rage or condemnation; instead, He seeks out His children, asking gentle questions and inviting honesty. Even when we have made foolish or rebellious choices, God’s heart is to restore, not to punish. He wants us to run toward Him, not away, to confess our failures, and to receive His comfort, correction, and forgiveness. [36:02]
Psalm 107:17,19 (ESV)
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel exposed, ashamed, or regretful because of a past decision? What would it look like for you to run toward God with your vulnerability today, trusting Him to meet you with mercy?
Day 3: The Decoding Mechanism—What Draws You Toward or Away from God?
Not every “good” opportunity is truly good, and not every “bad” circumstance is truly bad. The real measure of a decision is whether it draws you closer to God and shapes you into the likeness of Christ, or whether it pulls you away and deteriorates your character. This “decoding mechanism” helps us discern the true value of our choices, beyond profit, pleasure, or immediate gratification. God’s ultimate goal is to form us into Christ-like beings who live in union with Him, both now and forever. [07:40]
Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Reflection: Think about a decision you are facing or have recently made—does it draw you closer to God and help you become more like Christ, or does it pull you away? How can you use this “decoding mechanism” to guide your next step?
Day 4: When Deception Is Possible—WAIT Before Deciding
When you sense the possibility of deception, the wise response is to WAIT: What does God’s Word say? Am I certain about this? Is this clearly for the highest good? Does this decision please God and spread good? In a world that pressures us to act quickly, especially when something seems urgent or enticing, slowing down to seek God’s wisdom and clarity can protect us from regret and harm. God’s Word and Spirit are faithful guides when we are willing to pause and listen. [24:37]
Proverbs 12:5 (ESV)
The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
Reflection: Is there a decision in front of you right now where you feel rushed or uncertain? Take time today to walk through the WAIT process—what step do you need to focus on most?
Day 5: When Deception Is Proven—Return to God for Restoration
Even when we realize we have been deceived and have made a poor decision, God’s invitation is always to return to Him. He calls us to run toward Him, express our true feelings, confess honestly, unload our guilt and shame, and receive His comfort and correction. God’s mercy is greater than our failures, and He longs to restore us to trusting fellowship and guide us forward in obedience. No matter how far we have wandered, His arms are open wide, ready to clothe us with forgiveness and help us navigate the future with hope. [38:19]
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Reflection: Where do you need to return to God today—perhaps in an area where you’ve been hiding, blaming, or carrying shame? What would it look like to bring your whole self honestly before Him and receive His restoring grace?
Quotes
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