Deceiving Humanity

Led Astray

We live in a time which is increasingly losing its grips on truth, what is good and what is evil. Deception inside of the body of Christ is more evident than ever before.

Matt 24 warned that in the coming time (which is now at hand) many false prophets and teachers would rise. They would lead many astray even those who have been set apart.

This tactic of leading humanity astray is a story that is as old as time.

The deception that comes upon humanity appeals to our senses, individuality, and desire to be God to ourselves…

Peter then tells us “in the last days… scoffers longing after their evil desires”

Paul warns about those who will no longer endure sound doctrine but will follow after their own desires… they have not only

given themselves but have come into agreement with the teaching of demons...

And this is where we begin the work on understanding the deception of humanity by the very enemy of our soul

There are five (5) basic lies employed by the enemy that aim to distort our view of our God.

Knowing the tactic of the enemy we are called to allow the word of God guide our path

Genesis 3:1–6 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.

We will spend some time unpacking the deception that has come to humanity

Great importance to understand the beings

Nechash - is not a made up being he was created by God but is now found corrupted

The implication of each being in their role of either being deceived or being the deceiver.

more to follow

This exchange in the garden speaks

more than one assault on humanity

assault on our intellect, reasoning, spirituality

The deception is not just some rand contrived story premised on a deliberate made up story.... the deception is premised on a a semblance of truth which is what makes it believable.

Lie #1 God is a Sadists and Believers Masochists

Genesis 3:1 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’?”

The opening question from this being is with regards to depriving Eve the pleasure of nourishment.

Distort the View (Giving Rise to Philosophy)

Immediately plays on Eve view of God (distort God as sadist)

Distort identity of Self (human as masochist

God is a sadist who thrills in denying them the pleasure of this garden

There is only one (1) moral law given to Adam and Eve (Gen 2:16-17)

One tree was prohibited (knowledge of Good and Evil)

One rule to follow and somehow God is the bad guy

Partial truth is there is a prohibition but the serpent distorts it to make God look like a being who wants takes pleasure seeing creation suffer.

If this is not enough to dissuade you then the challenge is to what God actually said.

Lie #2 God is a Liar

The advent of philosophy is brought on by theologians write a check so big they cannot cash it and philosophy takes precedence

Did God really say…

challenges the written word

challenges the spoken word

challenges what God has promised you

Genesis 3:2–3 ESV

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.’ ”

Her response tells you her theology fails to answer so she reasons with philosophy

Identifies one of two trees in the midst of the Garden (Life, Good/Evil)

Adds to the command “neither shall you touch it” consider how we read and want to add more

Bible

Qualities

Most sold

Most attacked

Historical accuracy

Philosophical attack

No actual prohibitions… no truth only good sayings

Relativism… no absolutes

direct correlation to culture, societal, historical

Denies there can be objective truth

Subjectivism

You do you, believe in yourself, follow your heart, Live your truth

Hedonism- if it feels good

Existentialism

Fathered by Jean Paul Sartre

Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.

Lived believing he was god to himself untethered from any god mere accident

In his philosophy finds it appropriate to steal battle honor of men who died a valiant death

His deathbed confesses:

“I fear the presence of God has always been with me and it is too late for me to believe

Empirical Necessity

Dictated by my 5 senses

If I cannot see, touch, smell, feel, hear, taste then it cannot be true

Platonic Idealism

reality is an illusion and dies with us when we die

good and evil dont actually exists

The partial truth is not so much God being a liar (You wont surely die) rather He speaks truth we manipulate like Eve until it fits our intellect

Lie #3 This Life is All to Our Existence

Genesis 3:6 ESV

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.

Not only will you not die you become master of your own destiny

Coveted to become wise in her own understanding

God was no longer enough

What are you living for

punching the clock to build your own kingdom?

majority of your time is given to gain and you lose family self God -

We are not gods in ourselves

Sad reality at the end of life 60 70 80 realize you lived for Gain and missed out on God

Partial lie is God doesnt want you to know to “help yourself for God will help you?”

Lie #4 God Should Not Reign in Your Life

Genesis 3:5 ESV

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Borders on the ethics of humanity… ends justify the means (who cares who is hurt)

Behave as your philosophy - master of your own life

Ideologies have consequences

nietzsche perfect race we dont need God we killed him…

deathbed confession

Miserable death blaming God

Partial truth you can choose for yourself.. reality God remains God… Who is God in your life?

Lie #5 You Can Be Your Own God

Finally you can be god to yourself…

You can be god to yourself; You can make your own rules; you can live for yourself without consulting God

You dont consult with your family; your work; your finances; your relationships… after all you are your own god

Man quote and manipulate scripture to say we are gods

Psalter refers to the sons of God or angelical hosts who held themselves as gods and died as mere mortals

This morning you are here not by chance or random act the Lord who is calling you into His kingdom asks each one of us to lay down the deception that has beset the church…

You must choose which God you will serve. Just as Joshua stood before the nation of Israel… So stand we here knowing the tactic of the enemy

Serve the Lord with sincerity put away the idols and deception, but if it is evil to serve the Lord the go and serve your gods....