DEVICES OF THE DEVIL-DECEPTION

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 KJV  10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;  11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

1 Timothy 2:14 KJV And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 KJV But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Difference between temptation and deception

If I tempted you, you would know it. If I deceived you, you wouldn’t know it. If you know you are being deceived, then you are not really being deceived since you are aware.

Why was Eve deceived?

Eve was deceived because she believed the lie that God did not want what was best for her, but didn’t know it was a lie. We can see from Genesis 3 that deception was the primary strategy of Satan from the beginning. Perhaps some of us look down on Eve for being deceived by the serpent in the garden? But each time we sin we’re deceived by the same kind of lies.

DECEPTION, n.

1. The act of deceiving or misleading. All deception is a misapplication of the established signs used to communicate thoughts.

2. The state of being deceived or misled. Incautious and inexperienced youth is peculiarly exposed to deception.

3. Artifice practiced; cheat;

DECEIVE, v.t. [L to take aside, to ensnare.]

1. To mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose on; to delude.

2. To beguile; to cheat.

3. To cut off from expectation; to frustrate or disappoint;

4. To take from; to rob.

Deception is the art of taking a little bit of truth and artfully weaving around and into it a tangled web of lies, so that truth becomes indistinguishable and the victim becomes caught in the web of lies, resulting in somewhat disastrous consequences to him and those close to him.

Many of us live a totally messed up life based on deception, composed of a web of lies. The student does not want his or her friends to know what type of background they are from if their parents are poor, hard working and unable to provide the fancy stuff their friends have. So they lie and pretend, and then come home frustrated with their parents and their life. The parents do not want their children to endure the shame and stigma of being the poor child so they spend beyond their means to make their children level up with their peers, and at the same time end up instilling in their children's minds that the life style at home is undesirable and evil.

Deception again occurs through three areas...the world, the flesh and the devil.

In speaking of the world we obviously are not referring to the natural world but the world system that presents its allurements to achieve power, fame, fortune and knowledge hidden from common man.

Deception abounds through religion...not just obviously false religions, but also false rituals, teaching, doctrines and practices in Christianity

BEWARE THE MASTER OF DECEPTION

 Revelation 12:9 KJV And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

It can be noted that in all his devilish plans and intentions towards us, the devil's aim is to destroy. Paul reminds us that we are not ignorant of his plans, thoughts and intentions towards us. It can be said that his primary tool in this respect is DECEPTION! Deception enshrouds all his activities in getting you to sin and stray from God to ultimate destruction. It is his foremost tool in getting you to doubt God's Word and losing out with God's will. It is his natural tool to cause you to open a crack in the door for him to get in his deceptive foot, in order to release his evil poison into your soul. It is you who takes it from there! 

He makes us see what our base self wants to see. We interpret what we hear in the sense he wants us to...and we act accordingly, since once we are deceived we proceed by ourselves to destruction.

Satan deceives by expert and effective use of lies, by painting a picture that is alluring and glowing and seemingly harmless.  He subtly puts a lie to the Word of God, puts a hook in your nose, and gently tugs you on to commit and to indulge in that which God commanded and warned against.

Jesus speaks of the devil thus: Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. John 8:43-45 KJV

1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

BEWARE OF DECEITFUL MEN

Look at the warnings we have against such who lie in wait to deceive:

Jeremiah 29:8 KJV For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

Mark 13:5 KJV And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Mark 13:6 KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Ephesians 5:6 KJV Let no men deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

1 John 3:7 KJV Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Matthew 24:4 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Matthew 24:5 KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:11 KJV And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24 KJV For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Romans 16:18 KJV 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.

2 Timothy 3:13 KJV But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

This is why Christ:  …gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  13  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:  14  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;  15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  16  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. Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV 

BEWARE OF SELF DECEPTION

1 John 1:8 KJV If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Galatians 6:3 KJV For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

James 1:22 KJV But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:26 KJV If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

We are all prone to self deception having a tendency to believe our own thoughts to the exclusion of others even if we believe a lie. The end result is not at all encouraging!

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 KJV

DECEPTION IS NEVER A GOOD THING

In Deception you are made to believe something that is not true.

1. Deception involves lies and more lies, making you a liar which is an abomination to the Lord.

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.  Proverbs 12:22 KJV

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV 

Titus 3:3 KJV For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

2. Deception also makes you a servant of sin and the devil.

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  John 8:34 KJV

Romans 6:16-18 KJV  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

2 Peter 2:19-22 KJV While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

3. Deception brings death and separation from God

Galatians 6:7-8 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 Romans 7:11 KJV For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21:27 KJV

 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

FAILURE TO CONSULT AND OBEY YAHWEH LEADS TO DECEPTION

The original deception practiced was on Eve:

1 Timothy 2:14 KJV And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Genesis 3:1-7 KJV 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?  2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  3  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.  4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  5 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.  6  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.  7 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.

The Gibeonites practiced deception on the Israelites:

Joshua 9:3-6 KJV And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Joshua 9:14 KJV  And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

Joshua and his men never checked out the story and they never consulted with the Lord, their Commander-in-Chief. "No problem," they reasoned. "How can it be wrong when it seems so right?" Here we see good people and godly people faithful to the Lord can be deceived. They were deceived by appearances.  They would have done well to have known what God told Samuel years later: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 

Paul said: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV

John said do not just believe them but try the spirits: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  1 John 4:1 KJV

Of course this is in no way exhaustive but I trust it serves to give you a fair idea of what we are up against and to understand that we cannot hope to defeat this enemy by ourselves. It is important that we recognize the time tested battle proven weapon of choice against deception: THE WORD OF GOD!

Jesus made use of it effectively against the enemy and it makes up part of the Spiritual warrior’s arsenal.

Matthew 4:1-11 KJV Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.  3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

To use a weapon effectively we must know the weapon and be trained in its use. To use the Word we must know the Word and be trained in it use! Therefore we need to:  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 KJV 

John said: I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:14 KJV 

Remember it is the one weapon that we can maneuver and wield:  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 KJV 

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 KJV

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV 

Remember: Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5 KJV