Don't Talk About My Sin

14 Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.

Central Idea/ Thesis:

The central idea of this sermon is that we should be alert and discerning to identify and reject deceptive influences in our lives, take responsibility for discerning truth from falsehood, and embody courage and integrity in standing for truth as guided by God's Word.

Introduction:

We live in a world filled with deception and confusion, making it extremely difficult to know what is true and what isn't. We must be alert and cautious to recognize deceptive influences around us, the goal being to protect ourselves from being deceived.

There are false and deceptive visions placed in front of us at every waking moment. Rarely is our iniquity revealed. Prophets were the messengers faulted in Lamentations 2:14 for mishandling God's message. Today the ear of man is held by the means of Radio, Television, The Internet, these modern day messengers do not submit to God. Man willing gives them the priority that allows them to be our prophets. These prophets see for us false and misleading oracles.

So what can we do to be alert and cautious to discern deception?

I. Recognize deceptive influences in our lives.

To many of us are simple minded

Laziness and the desire for easy living makes us vulnerable to lies and deception

Proverbs 14:15 - “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”

Proverbs 14:15 ESV

15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Life requires wisdom if one is going to be alert and have better fortunes

You have to consider how you choose to navigate in this life

Ephesians 5:15 - “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

Ephesians 5:15 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Only a fool would assume there are no deceptive influences in our lives

I’m not calling for you to be a person who is paralyzed in living because he cannot trust in anything

Understand you have a responsibility to discern truth and then once you have discerned it

Stand for it!!!!!

II. Know that it is our responsibility to discern truth from falsehood and to stand for truth.

Truth is accompanied by honest evidence

Just like faith comes with evidence, so does Truth

Proverbs 12:17 - “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”

Proverbs 12:17 ESV

17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.

Once you have demanded honest evidence to make a decision you evaluate it against God’s word

Once evaluated then you stand on it

Honest evidence is not

emotionalism

political expedience

national rhetoric

financial pursuit

it doesn’t come from government

Honest Evidence comes from lives who foundation is of God

These lives overcome the world

In good times or bad they are successful

Whether short lived or long they are rewarded

The world can punish the lives who stand on God but it cannot cheat them

Wear the belt of truth all your days and you will overcome the deception of the world

Ephesians 6:14 - “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth.”

Ephesians 6:14 ESV

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Deception is easy to achieve when integrity and courage are in slight supply

The truth suffers without common everyday examples

Those everyday examples ought to be you and me

III. Be an example of courage and integrity when discerning the truth.

Hollywood is an example of what happens when fairytales replace truth

when actors are role models

when success equals finances

when entertainment replaces

honest evidence

honorable suffering

Godly Relationships

Educational Maturity

The life always entertained is not straight

it lacks integrity

becomes treacherous

and it leads to destruction

Proverbs 11:3 - “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”

Proverbs 11:3 ESV

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

The Holy Spirit reveals through Paul to the church those things that are worthy of our consideration

We need to have more preoccupation on

honor

justice

purity

love

spiritual worthiness

excellence

praise worthiness

Philippians 4:8 - “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Conclusion:

To combat deception, we must be proactive in our efforts to seek out the truth and stand for it, even when it requires courage and strength. We need to be aware that deceptive influences will try to confuse us and persuade us away from the truth. We must stay alert and be willing to make difficult decisions to protect ourselves from being deceived.

We may not always know the truth, but we can strive to seek it by reading God's Word, asking for wisdom and guidance from Him, and actively listening for His still, small voice. Ultimately, our trust should be in God alone, and He will lead us in the path of truth.

Therefore, let us be alert and cautious to discern deception to live as bold examples of courage and integrity!

In conclusion, being alert and cautious to discern deception is essential to protect ourselves from being deceived. We must strive to seek out the truth and stand for it, even when it requires courage and strength. May we all be examples of courage and integrity in our efforts to discern the truth from falsehood!

May God bless you all! Amen.

Invitation/ Response:

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for revealing Your truth to us. Help us to remain alert and cautious so that we can recognize deception and protect ourselves from it. Strengthen us with Your courage to stand up for what is right and to lead an example of truth and integrity in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

What are some deceptive influences that you have encountered in your life?

When you find yourself in a difficult situation, how do you discern truth from falsehood?

What lessons have you learned about discerning deception?

What can you do to stay alert and be better prepared for deceptive influences?

How does trusting in God help protect us from being deceived?

Are there any areas where you need to take a bold stand for the truth? If so, what will it require of you?

How can we become courageous examples of integrity in our efforts to discern truth from falsehood?

How can you support others when they struggle to discern the truth?

What other reflections have you had about discerning deception and staying alert and cautious?

How will this sermon help shape your life moving forward?

Action Steps

Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal His truth and protect from deception.

Make a list of deceptive influences you have encountered in your life and reflect on how to be alert and cautious when encountering these situations.

Take the time to read God's Word daily, so that you can discern what is true and false.

Seek wise counsel from trusted individuals who can help guide you in discerning the truth.

Create a plan of action to take bold stands for what is true and right, even when it isn't easy or popular.

Reach out to others who may be struggling with deception and provide them with support and guidance in their efforts to discern the truth.

Seek ways to be a courageous example of integrity in your community and beyond.

Spend time reflecting on the sermon and how it applies to your life, so that you can continue discerning deception.

Pray for protection from deceptive influences and for strength to stand up for what is right even when it isn't easy.

Take time to thank God for His truth and for the protection He provides from deception.

Lastly, commit to being vigilant in discerning deception by staying alert and cautious!

Additional Resources after using the Bible

The following sources are helpful but are not the word of God. Chew the meat and spit out the bones.

https://www.fraud-magazine.com/article.aspx?id=4294971184

https://bible.org/seriespage/33-recognizing-false-teachers-matthew-715-20

https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-discernment.html

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