1. Introduction
   1. Throughout my Christian walk, I’ve journeyed on with many different Christians.
   2. As far as I can see, and what I truly believe, many churches are more concerned with having the people stay and be a part of their church and program, than they are about indoctrinating people with the Word of God and also being led by the Spirit.
   3. John 12:48: He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
   4. Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
   5. From the time I’ve been a Christian since 1981, I’ve discussed with more Christians about the principles of God’s Word and how our lives should be led as an example to others so they can be encouraged to know that someone else who is close to them is standing on a firm foundation.
   6. You and I should always be an example to each other, and be encouraging each other,

 

1. not just drifting through life knowing a couple of scriptures and when all hell breaks loose trying to use one or two scriptures to justify the means that really doesn’t have any means or an end result.
2. Maybe I’ll re-think that last thought and say there is an end result. It’s a life of complacency inconsistency, incompetence, irresponsibility, unreliability, and going nowhere.
3. Christians we have to rise up today more than ever to take our rightful positions to stand for the truth. John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Not only will the truth set you free, but those who are standing with you.
4. We can’t just be passive, one that says “whatever”. We must be saying “however.” We must stand for truth. Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
5. There are people who have been Christians for 30-50 years and drift through life knowing nothing about God’s Word, knowing not how to win a person to Christ which is the most important thing,

 

 

1. They are too afraid to say something because of embarrassment, but really the embarrassment is to Christ because they won’t stand, because they allow their emotions to supersede the Spirit of God that dwells within you that encourages you to step out and to be all you can be.
2. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Jesus said this in Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
3. New Hampshire has a motto “Live Free or Die”. Freedom has been provided for us. We either liveand share the gospel, or many will die in their sins,
4. Let us now look into our message today, why are we deceived?

 

2. What is Deception?
   1. The word deceive has the following definition.
   2. 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.
   3. So deception is any information or teaching that causes one to err and to believe what is false, or to not believe what is true.

 

3. Why are people deceived?
   1. They may not have been born again and had the scales fall from their eyes. Paul talks about them this way in 2nd Corinthians 4:4: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. When someone finally does believe and turn to Christ, the scales fall off their eyes and they can better understand God’s Word.
   2. Another reason people are deceived is that they may not be studying the Word. 2nd Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Those that don’t study are easily deceived, and are not able to rightly divide the word of Truth as we all should do as Christians.
   3. They may just hear a message, and believe what is said because it sounds good, but they don’t check it out against scripture to see if it is accurate. Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
   4. We’ve discussed the Bereans before. These people were not deceived because they didn’t just take what they heard as truth. They checked it out in scripture.

 

4. Who is trying to deceive them?
   1. The one who is ultimately deceiving people is Satan, the Devil. Here’s what Jesus had to say about the Deceiver. John 8:44: 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. The Devil doesn’t wantyou to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, get born again and live a life of service to Jesus! He will do anything to keep you sidetracked from God’s Plan.

 

5. Why do they deceive themselves?
   1. They may engage in self-deception out of anxiety, neediness, desire, or other powerful emotions. If you fall into this category, the bible says this in Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. You can cast those needs, desires, and anxieties before the Lord and let His Word clear away any deceiption that came with those things
   2. As humans, we have emotional attachments to many beliefs, some of which may be irrational. Paul gives us this warning in Ephesians 4:14: 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; Your beliefs must line up with God’s Word. If they do not, you are deceiving yourself.
   3. As we studied in James, we are also deceiving ourselves if we just hear the word and do not do it. James 1:22-23: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: I don’t want to stand up here and give a message, and have you not applying it to your life. Think about what we’re studying here, and apply it to your life.

 

6. Why do they deceive others in the process?
   1. They really don’t know God, and they don’t stand for truth. We see this in Jeremiah 9:3: And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.

Those that don’t know the Lord and are deceived, are likely to spread that deception to others.

1. Some who are deceived, have heard the truth of God’s Word, but twist it into a lie. Paul says this in Romans 1:25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Paul is speaking of a person who is both deceived, and is deceiving others.

 

7. Is it enough to say “I’m saved”? Is it enough to say “I believe and have faith?”
   1. You can say “I’m saved” but Jesus said we will know our brothers and sisters by the fruit they bear. Matthew 7:20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Is your life showing that your salvation is genuine?
   2. You can say that you believe, but the devil himself believes. James 2:19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Just believing doesn’t cut it. Your life should demonstrate your beliefs.
   3. Do you show your faith by your works, or do you just say “I have faith”?James 2:18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Our good works are done out of gratitude, and demonstrate that our faith is true.

 

8. Are you truly living for Christ?
   1. Are you picking up your cross daily? Luke 9:23: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Living for Christ involves denying our own desires, interests, and agenda to follow after Jesus and His Desires for your life, and the lives of others.
   2. Are you praying regularly? Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Don’t be full of care about anything, but pray about everything, giving thanks along with making your requests to God.
   3. Are you regularly attending church and being a part of the church? Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. We go to church to worship God, receive God’s Word, and let it provoke us to good works.  This is Very important in these last days.
   4. Are you spending time regularly in worship? Psalm 91:1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. That secret place is God’s Presence. You should have a time every day when you are alone with God, not only praying and reading, but worshipping Him. He deserves our praises Amen?

 

9. Who in the bible was deceived and lost their lives?
   1. Ananias and Sapphira were deceived, and were trying to deceive the Apostles into thinking that they had given the whole price of the property. Acts 5:3-5: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Both Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives as a result of deception.

 

10. Who in the bible was deceived and then redeemed?
    1. Apostle Paul was deceived at first. He thought he was doing God a favor by going after the Christians. Acts 9:1: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Saul, who became Paul, was on his way to Damascus seeking authority to go after more Christians, but on the way, he was redeemed and became a great voice for the Lord.

 

11. Who in the bible went astray, and then found favor with the Lord?
    1. A great example of this, is the Prodigal Son. He had asked for his share of the inheritance, went and squandered it all. Let’s look at how his father responded to him when he came back. Luke 15:20-22: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: Just like the Prodigal, if you have gone astray, you too can come back, and your Heavenly Father will run to you with open arms.

 

12. What can you do to get off the maddening course?
    1. Make sure you’ve truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and are born again. 2nd Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? We’ve learned at one of our recent Thursday night services that God’s Word is a mirror. Just as you look in the mirror when shaving or combing your hair, look in the mirror and make sure you are truly a born again child of God.
    2. Ask the Lord to search your heart, whether there is any area where you are deceived. Psalm 139:23: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: He knows our hearts and His Spirit can illuminate any area where we need correction.
    3. Allow God to transform you as you yield to Him. Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Are you letting God transform you? Is your life a living sacrifice every day?

 

13. Are you able to change? Are you able to let God change you? If your answer is no, I believe your salvation is questionable. You can say “Pastor Wayne, you’re judging.” 2nd Timothy 4:2: says Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. But when I look at the world and the Christian world and where it is today, it’s not free. The rope is getting tighter. There’s more complacency, less unity, more individualism, more independence, and so much more self-reliance.

 

14. Story – When Sheep Go Astray
    1. The writer of the story says, “Sometime around 4 years ago, God used what I was going through to give me a big wake-up call!”
    2. Thanks to the Great Shepherd for seeking His lost sheep and helping to restore me.
    3. If you have gone astray remember The Great Shepherd, Jesus leaves the flock to seek you. He loves you that much!
    4. When Sheep Go Astray they can get lost easily. They will gain more and more wool and it will weigh them down. Just like a sheep who gained around 90 pounds of wool that had to be sheered when he was found.
    5. We as Christians do the same thing, we go astray from God’s Will. We often call this a Backslidden Christian.
    6. We will often wonder from our flock and easily get lost and into the world just like the lost sheep. We’ll get into things like sin and the sin will weigh us down.
    7. The good news is the Good Shepherd will leave the flock to search for the one lost sheep. Remember none is seeking God (Romans 3:11), God is seeking us.
    8. There is no greater love than one that lays down their life for another (John 15:13). Jesus Christ.
    9. Not only will the Good Shepherd be wiling to risk his own life for the sheep. He will go seeking the one lost sheep.
    10. He knows the lost sheep is helpless on its own. It knows it cannot do anything without the shepherd.
    11. Just like us we cannot do it on our own, but we need the strength of God. (Philippians 4:13)
    12. He will make sure you are protected from the wolf. The wolf here is the devil.
    13. The Wolf can come as a wolf in sheep clothing, being a false teacher to make you think he is the one.
    14. The sheep knows the voice of the shepherd. This is a good reason to stay in the Word of God too so you will know the voice of God.
    15. Plus, God knows each and every one of His sheep by name. He cares and loves these sheep.
    16. But that one that goes astray, the Good Shepherd will go and seek that lost one. When he does, he will treat it if it has wounds.
    17. It it cannot walk, the Good Shepherd will carry it back to the flock. He will take care of and tend to it. Christ does the same to us. He will tend to us.
    18. He will treat us and heal us. If we gained 90 pounds of sin (wool). He will sheer us and get that off us.
    19. This sheering is a way of correcting us and also to show our sins are forgiven. When you go astray from God, He will seek after you.
    20. We are the ones that turn away from Him. that get away from the flock you can say.
    21. God cares for us and doesn’t want us to stay in that condition or lost. He knows that the devouring wolves are seeking us. He wants to come get us and restore us.
    22. The old saying is so true, “I once was lost but now I am found!” I am glad to have Jesus Christ as my Good Shepherd.

 

15. Are you willing to change and let God change you. I have three questions for you today.
    1. Do you know who Christ is?Do you know why he saved you?
    2. Are you living the fruitful life that everyone can see who doesn’t know Christ?
    3. Or are you just going along with anybody and everybody that makes you feel good?