THE GOOD NEWS MISSION

What is deceit?

Deceit

Deceit is the act or practice of intentionally misleading, cheating, or hiding the truth to gain an advantage or cause another to believe falsehoods. It involves dishonest behavior, such as lying, distorting facts, or omitting information. Deceit is often used to manipulate situations or to defraud others. 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. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Proverbs 6:16-19 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

What does the Bible say about deceit?

We have to be careful with the deceit. Colossians chapter 2, verse 4 says so: "I say this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech".

There is a difference between error and deceit. It is very easy to jump out of a mistake, but deceit always looks like the truth. In faith there are people who are being deceived. The Lord himself said, "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven."
There are pastors with such a wrong life; pastors who are not pastors. There are so many deceivers out there; but how can we know?
Knowing the truth by the Word. Pay attention to the warning that says: "Let no one deceive you with false reasoning". Let no one deceive us with things that will lead to destruction.

God hates lying and therefore does not support the presence of liars. God's enemy (satan) is described in the Bible as the father of lies.

We also know that Jesus described Himself as being the truth. We also know that it is possible to be truly free through knowledge of the truth.

God's people must be known as a people who live in truth and for truth. Therefore, we must flee from the lie and not allow the liars and deceivers.

Satan's goal is to turn people away from God, he came to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). This satanic project consists of destroying life in the present time (emotional and physical life) and also in eternity (spiritual life). For each person, he has a specific action strategy.

I – This spirit acts from the beginning of the story to the end

  1. Eve was tricked in Eden (Gn 3:13; 1 Tm 2:14; 2 Co 11:3). Then Adam let himself be carried away.
  2. The spirit of deceit characterizes the end time (1Tm 4:1-3; Mt 24:4, 5, 11, 24; Mc 13:6; 2Ts 2:8-11; 1Jo 2:18-26; 4:1-6; 2Jo 7; Ap 13:13-14; 19:20; 2Tm 3:13; 4:3-4; Lc 21:8.

II – Some deceit strategies

The enemy uses the most different means to introduce deceit:

  1. Transform himself in a "angel of light" (2Co 11:14-15).
  2. "Prey" (Cl 2:8), holds, captivates, with philosophies and vain subtleties. The enemy is subtle and uses firmness, delicacy to introduce evil. The Bible warns: “Let no one enslave you”;
  3. He uses trickery, cunning, and vain words (Eph. 4:14; 5:6), snares, wiles. This happens with the opposite sex, with business, friendships, societies;
  4. Deceit is very strong within churches: false piety, rivalry, jealousy, competition, envy, false prophecy, false revelation.
  5. The enemy is called "the seducer", which means: one who attracts, who delights (Ap 20:10; 12:9). This happens today with spiritism, black magic, umbanda, candomblé, new age, tarot cards, astral charts, crystals, pyramids, numerology, elves, oriental sects, Jehovah's witnesses, Mormons, Rosicrucian, Freemasonry, Messianic. Novels, films, magazines, esoteric books, the writings of Paulo Coelho, secular music. All segments of society are under the influence of satan. The Bible is clear (Rev 12:9) when it says that he, the devil, is "the seducer of everyone". Cultured, wealthy nations, men of high society, people with scholars, the financial system, the whole world is caught up in the evil one (1 John 5:19).

III – How not to be fooled?

  1. With vigilance and prayer (Mt 26:41; 1Pe 5:8);
  2. With firmness in the Word. The Word of God (Bible) is the reference, the compass (Ps 119:105). Nothing beyond or below the Word;
  3. Have a life of witness and coverage of the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus (Ap 12:11).
  4. Seeking the gift of discerning spirits (1Co 12:6, 11);
  5. With life in the Holy Spirit: walking in the Spirit, being guided by the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13).

Conclusion:
The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44), the deceiver, the seducer. The time we live in is very complex, difficult; the watershed, the dividing line between deceit and truth is a fine one. The devil has deceived us since the beginning of history, but we, the children of God, will not be prey to him. Jesus Christ said: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12), and our Savior manifested Himself to undo all the work of the devil (1 John 3:8).

God bless you!