Do not be Deceived

The girls in the ISU Young Group are doing a bible study this semester entitled, "Lies Women Believe." While it is directed towards women, I certainly think that the concept of the study could be applicable to anyone.

The scary part about being deceived is that often times, to be deceived is to be "tricked." That means that we don't necessarily realize that we are believing a falsehood until it's too late. However, there are times when we have that hunch that something isn't right... but because we are evil beings, we continue on in our own ways becasue it is easier and more pleasing to ourselves.

There are 4 main steps pointed out to becoming deceived and believing a lie, paralleled to Adam and Eve's sin in the garden:
1. Listen to the lie- Eve listened to Satan
2. Think/Dwell upon the lie- Eve thought about what Satan said
3. Believe the lie- Eve eventually figured that eating the fruit would be perfectly fine, and wanted to reap its "award"
4. Act on the lie- Eve ate the fruit and in the process, casued Adam to sin, as well

This chapter in the work book talked about how we are often held bondage by sin. Sometimes, there is sin in our life that we are a slave to. This shouldn't be... but the reason we got there is because of the 4 steps listed above. Think about your life and an area that needs work- an area that you may be deceived. Can you apply these steps to the process you went through before falling bondage to that sin?

I found it fascinating... it's such a simple process, yet often it can happen VERY quickly and almost without notice. It is so classicaly true, too. How often do we allow ourselves to listen to something contrary to God's Word or unedifying in nature, even if it isn't necessarily a "sinful thought," and think about it... just a little bit? Pretty soon, our thoughts become our beliefs, and after we believe something, the devil has us. All we have to do then is act the sin that is engrained in our minds as truth, and we are in bondage.

It's kind of depressing, I know. Yet, it is IMPORTANT to recognize this process so that we can stop it while it's taking place or before it does rather than after it is too late! How can we be sure that we don't fall bondage to sin? We search out the Truth. We KNOW that with all our hearts! That way, we will know without a doubt whether something is potentially harmful to us... because of it's not compatible with God's Word, then we need to be VERY careful.

That should make us want to have a passion for the Word! How to recognize the wrong, the evil, the deceitful: by knowing the Truth!

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

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

Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Let God be your guide, and...

Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

tell Satan to get lost.

Love you all!

T