Enlightened Hope

Continued on from ‘Deceiving Ourselves’

The Devil doesn’t have to work hard to deceive us, we do a great job all by ourselves!

Sin

Another big area where we deceive ourselves is with sin.  Deliberately doing things we know are wrong in the eyes of the Lord.  We deceive ourselves because we pretend God does not exist or that He can’t see or hear in those moments.

Gal 6:7 says:
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (NIV)

God cannot be mocked!

Secret and deliberate sin by a believer is mocking God!  It’s treating God like a fool, it’s treating God with contempt.  “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” [Prov 15:3].   We cannot fool God!  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” [Heb 4:13]  In our moments of sin we cannot pretend God does not exist!  “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” [Luke 12:2]  We deceive ourselves bigtime!  “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.“ [Luke 12:3] And then, this dishonesty with God and with ourselves leaves no room for repentance because we are in denial and self deception. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” [Luke 12:4-5]

Friends, we need to get honest with ourselves and repent!

It’s only when we get honest with ourselves that repentance and revival will flow.  It’s only when we see ourselves in the light and purity and the majesty of our Lord Jesus that our masks will fall to the ground and shatter into a million pieces.

In the light of Christ, we need to examine ourselves

2 Cor 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? (NIV)

1 Cor 11:27-30
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. (NIV)

Lam 3:40
40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. NIV

Jer 17:9-10
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” NIV

Ps 26:2-3
2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. NIV

Ps 17:3
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. NIV

Ps 11:5-7
5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulphur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. NIV

Heavenly Father, I am so sorry, I have treated you like a fool.  Thank you for showing me the areas in my life that need your touch and restoration.  Lord I have been deceiving myself, I have been playing games with myself.  Lord, today, I can see my sin and I repent of my sin.  Holy Spirit keep examining my ways to find any further sin and deception and dishonesty.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Deceiving Ourselves Part III