2025_10_26 Satan's Schemes : Deception part 2

Today’s gathering centered on the reality of spiritual warfare, particularly the pervasive scheme of deception that Satan uses both in our culture and in our personal lives. Drawing from Ephesians 6:10-13, we are reminded that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. The call is to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God, so that we can stand firm against the devil’s schemes. Deception is at the root of every temptation, and Satan, the father of lies, has been sowing falsehoods in the world for centuries, often so subtly that we become like the proverbial frog in boiling water—unaware of the danger until it’s too late.

A major area where deception has taken root is in the philosophy of moral relativism, the belief that truth and morality are subjective and can be defined by each individual. This shift, which began in the Enlightenment and was accelerated by postmodernism, has led to a culture where phrases like “that’s your truth, not mine” and “all paths lead to God” are commonplace. Yet, Scripture teaches that truth is absolute, rooted in God’s unchanging character, and that we are responsible to seek and align ourselves with that truth, not invent our own.

Another profound cultural deception is the sexual revolution, which has redefined sexuality, marriage, and even gender. The biblical vision for sexuality is covenantal, faithful, and life-giving, designed for the context of marriage between one man and one woman. Our culture’s redefinition of sex as recreational, marriage as optional, and gender as fluid stands in stark contrast to God’s design. These shifts are not just cultural trends but are spiritual battles, where the enemy seeks to distort what God has made good.

Critical theory was also discussed as a worldview that divides people into oppressors and oppressed, shifting the focus from personal responsibility and sin to social categories and activism. While Christians are called to pursue justice, the root problem is always sin, and the ultimate solution is redemption through Christ, not revolution.

On a personal level, deception manifests in denial, rationalization, blame-shifting, and emotional reasoning. We are all susceptible to these self-deceptions, and the only sure guide is God’s Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The call is to fill our minds with truth, test the fruit of our beliefs and actions, and resist the enemy by standing firm in Christ. Our identity is not defined by our past, our desires, or our culture, but by who we are becoming in Christ Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The battle against deception is not merely intellectual or cultural, but deeply spiritual. Satan’s lies are designed to undermine our trust in God’s truth and to distort our perception of reality. Recognizing that our struggle is against spiritual forces compels us to rely on God’s strength and to be vigilant in discerning truth from falsehood. [28:10]
• 2. Moral relativism is a subtle but powerful deception that erodes the foundation of absolute truth. When we accept the idea that everyone can define their own morality, we lose the anchor of God’s unchanging character and revelation. True freedom is not found in inventing our own truth, but in earnestly seeking and submitting to the truth God has revealed. [35:36]
• 3. The sexual revolution’s redefinition of sex, marriage, and gender is not just a social shift, but a spiritual battle over the meaning of our bodies and relationships. God’s design for sexuality is rooted in covenant, faithfulness, and the creation of life. When we depart from this design, we not only harm ourselves and others, but we grieve the heart of God who created us for something far greater. [46:59]
• 4. Critical theory, while containing elements of truth about injustice, ultimately distorts the Christian understanding of identity, sin, and redemption. It divides people into categories of oppressor and oppressed, shifting the focus from personal repentance and transformation to activism and blame. The deepest change in society comes not from revolution, but from individuals being transformed by Christ and living out justice and love. [61:19]
• 5. Personal deception is a daily battle, manifesting in denial, rationalization, blame-shifting, and emotional reasoning. We are all prone to self-deception, and the only antidote is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, allowing it to expose our false beliefs and guide us into truth. Our identity and future are not determined by our failures or desires, but by the reality of who we are in Christ and the hope of who we are becoming. [65:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Online Community Greeting
• [01:30] - Giving and Service Overview
• [02:09] - Pastors Appreciation and Announcements
• [03:07] - Men’s Flannel Night & Alpha Retreat
• [08:36] - Operation Christmas Child
• [08:50] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
• [10:10] - Prayers for Family and Youth Ministries
• [11:30] - Prayers for Needs and Thanksgiving
• [12:30] - The Lord’s Prayer
• [19:30] - Offering and Thanksgiving
• [26:53] - Introduction to Spiritual Warfare Series
• [28:10] - The Reality of Spiritual Battle
• [32:15] - The Deception of Moral Relativism
• [44:53] - The Sexual Revolution and Its Impact
• [56:42] - Critical Theory and Cultural Deception
• [63:34] - Personal Deception and Self-Examination
• [65:57] - God’s Word: The Only Perfect Rule
• [67:59] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
• [72:23] - Prayer Teams and Final Blessing

Bible Reading

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 6:10-13, what is the real nature of the struggle Christians face? Who or what are we actually fighting against?
2. The sermon described Satan as “the father of lies” and said that deception is at the root of every temptation. What are some examples the pastor gave of how deception shows up in our culture? [[28:10]]
3. What are some of the phrases or ideas from our culture that the sermon identified as examples of moral relativism? [[35:36]]
4. How does the sermon describe the biblical vision for sexuality and marriage, and how does it contrast with cultural beliefs today? [[46:59]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that our struggle is not against “flesh and blood” but against spiritual forces? How might this change the way we view conflicts in our lives? [[28:10]]
2. The sermon says that “deception is at the root of every temptation.” Why do you think Satan uses deception as his main strategy? [[29:27]]
3. How does the belief in moral relativism undermine the foundation of absolute truth according to the sermon? What are the dangers of everyone “defining their own truth”? [[35:36]]
4. The pastor mentioned that personal deception can show up as denial, rationalization, blame-shifting, and emotional reasoning. Why do you think these forms of self-deception are so common, even among Christians? [[01:03:34]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon compared cultural deception to a frog in boiling water—slowly getting used to false ideas without noticing. Are there any beliefs or attitudes you’ve accepted from culture that you now realize don’t line up with God’s truth? How did you come to recognize them? [[31:39]]
2. When you hear phrases like “that’s your truth, not mine” or “all paths lead to God,” how do you usually respond? Is it hard for you to speak up about absolute truth? Why or why not? [[35:36]]
3. The sexual revolution has changed how our culture views sex, marriage, and gender. Have you felt pressure to accept or go along with these new definitions? How do you personally wrestle with God’s design versus cultural messages? [[46:59]]
4. The sermon talked about critical theory and how it shifts focus from personal responsibility to social categories. Have you ever found yourself blaming others or society for your problems instead of looking at your own heart? What would it look like to take more personal responsibility? [[01:01:19]]
5. The pastor listed ways we deceive ourselves—denial, rationalization, blame-shifting, emotional reasoning. Which of these do you struggle with most? Can you think of a recent example? [[01:03:34]]
6. The only sure guide, according to the sermon, is God’s Word. What is one practical way you can “fill your mind with truth” this week? Is there a specific verse or passage you want to memorize or meditate on? [[01:05:57]]
7. The sermon ended by saying our identity is not defined by our past, our desires, or our culture, but by who we are becoming in Christ. Is there an area of your life where you need to let go of an old identity and embrace who you are in Jesus? What step could you take this week to do that? [[01:09:30]]