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Deception a Bible word Study and self deception

D
deltadom

Matthew 2:16
Massacre of the Innocents
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

Matthew 24:5
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Matthew 24:11
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 27:63
saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’

Mark 13:5
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

Mark 13:6
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.

Mark 13:22
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Luke 21:8
And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

John 7:12
And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good”; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”

John 7:47
Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived?

Romans 7:11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

Romans 16:18
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Corinthians 3:18
Avoid Worldly Wisdom
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

1 Corinthians 6:9
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.”

2 Corinthians 6:8
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Galatians 6:3
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 2:4
Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

1 Timothy 2:14
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Titus 1:10
The Elders’ Task
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

James 1:16
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 2:26
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

2 John 1:7
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Revelation 12:9
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 13:14
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

Revelation 18:23
The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Revelation 19:20
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:3
and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Revelation 20:8
and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:10
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Deception
What I find so interesting is that so many people do not see the obvious when looking at verses.

I have been thinking when whether god is covering their eyes or that they can't see it.

I think the greatest deception is self-deception and I am probably deceived the most as like paul I can say I am the greatest of sinners and I need a saviour.

That's why there is grace and truth because if we see our true sinful condition we are all deceived to some degree as sin blinds our eyes.

It is amazing that God can show

G
ginnyrose

Deltadom,

I find your conclusion confusing.

Scripture warns people against being deceived. To suggest that "if we see our true sinful condition we are all deceived to some degree as sin blinds our eyes" is contradictory.

I see your conclusion confusing.

Deception occurs when people deliberately abandon TRUTH and choose something else more to their likening thus denying reality. Do this often enough will result in deception because a new norm will have replaced TRUTH.

My thoughts.

Sandra

R
rookie

2Th 2:10
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.


What do you make of this Scripture? What does it mean by "they did not receive the love of the truth"?

A
AJM_REV2220

Brother & Sisters, when reading 2 THESS 2:10, I understand the following:

1) the lawless one seeks to deceive in every manner

2) yet people have a choice to believe a lie (deception) or truth

3) those who believe the lie of the great deceiver will perish (a consequence consistent with other scripture)

4) those who "receive the love of the truth" are those who are making a choice to believe the truth. IMO, I think "love of the truth" could be translated as "strongly embrace the truth". Agape (Greek for love) is used throughout the NT in a manner of emphasis especially in relationship to Jesus (John 15:9-10 is one that comes to mind). Therefore, I perceive this statement as "those who strongly cling to the truth (Jesus, God, His commandments, His truth) then you will not be deceived and perish". The "receive the love" could be infer the influence of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) when discerning the truth.

Paul writes this to exhort the Thessalonica church to be watchful and grounded in truth because of the ongoing hostilities and falsehoods (verses 1-3). He would know as having been run out of that town (ie. the power of the gospel is truth which always threatens the powers, principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places which respond in such a manner).

Hope and pray this is edifying. If not, please respond or reprove.

P
passerby

Deception involves the deceiver and his agents, the falsehood or misrepresentation, and the target of deception. It is a real spiritual battle and a real battle against our own self.

Susceptibility to prophetically marked deceptions could have happened to us long ago because of our own obstinacy and vanities.

The bible told us to meditate on the precepts of God day and night. To render our lives submissively and humbly before Him. Trusting for His care, protection, and supplication.

A
AJM_REV2220

Zac Poonen teaches on 2 THESS 2 "love the truth"

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myvideo/photo.php?lid=3334

J
JFW

What do you make of this Scripture? What does it mean by "they did not receive the love of the truth"?

not "receiving” bespeaks it was offered to them yet receiving is itself a choice and an action.
(for me) the reading of this passage suggests the option or ability to receive is native to us all and as such we are accountable as to wether we chose to receive a love of the truth when it was offered.

It (for me) has the same feel as Hebrews 4:16 where we seek to "obtain” mercy... that word isn’t the same but is often translated as receive as well, the point being in both cases we find an active participle which again requires us to choose and act.
In John 17, Jesus prays (vs26b) asking "that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus did this so that we may know the "one true God " vs 3

the "love of the truth” is, if not the same, a precursor to the "love of God” found here in Romans 5:8
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

So we have Jesus’s prayer in John 17 where He asked that the love wherewith God loves His son, would be in us-
The means by which God the Father answered that prayer in Romans 5 and the consequence of not having "received” this love in 2 Thess 2
Where in Hebrews 4 we see how to maintain or abide in this love/communion, namely by obtaining mercy on behalf of others which is the fruit of the "love of truth/God” 🙏🏻

R
rookie

Thanks for the Zac Poonen sermon. His words were edifying. He spoke of many different experiences that he has had as he walked the path of faith. So it must be with all who profess Christ.

He spoke of liberty at one point, this is part of what I have experienced over the process of time.

R
rookie

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us..."

I am poorly equipped concerning the knowledge of language structure. I appreciate your knowledge in discerning the content of Scripture. Zac Poonen mentioned the noble Bereans and that we should seek to be like the Bereans.

You quoted the Scripture above and I agree this speaks to what I have experienced in my own life concerning "receiving the love of the truth." For me, the word "hope" is the evidence of God's grace, the fruit created by God's workmanship in our lives. This fruit creates in us "hope." For we know that faith is the substance of what is hoped for, evidence of what is not seen.

So then, "substance" creates hope. How do you understand "substance"?

J
JFW

So then, "substance" creates hope. How do you understand "substance"?


Substance, in this case, is that which is real, actual... something that is founded. Yet this founding is not in itself done by us but by our forerunner-

(In my understanding), Jesus demonstrated what/how the substance of faith towards God lives and in doing so, laid the foundation and function of faith for all whom will follow after Him.

The substance or confidence that is produced by faith is the "hope” or action whereby we persist in our faith, itself being demonstrated or evidenced by joy 😇

again (for me) this substance is the evidence that the "love” was received, finding good ground, took root and produced fruit unto God. Which is to say that the faith that comes from having received the "love” will produce hope and this hope produces joy, all of which occurs by grace.

Peter comes to mind, when he stepped out of the boat on faith, his faith was indeed an actual substance capable of supporting him, until which time he lost focus on the object of his faith and answered the door where doubt/fear were knocking, at which point the "substance” lost its " stance”
Whereas later, after Peters faith had been refined and tested, we see this "stance” was restored, being evidenced by hope and producing joy 🙏🏻

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ✝️

R
rookie

"Peter comes to mind, when he stepped out of the boat on faith, his faith was indeed an actual substance capable of supporting him, until which time he lost focus on the object of his faith and answered the door where doubt/fear were knocking, at which point the "substance” lost its " stance”
Whereas later, after Peters faith had been refined and tested, we see this "stance” was restored, being evidenced by hope and producing joy 🙏🏻 "


I am in one accord with what you have posted. The example you have given us of Peter is a timely illustration of what we are working out here in this thread. We are given another example of how God worked in Peter's life concerning the testing and refining process found within the precept of faith.

This event in Peter's life is given to us in Scripture. We are given a testimony of a sequence of events which Peter experienced when he rejected Christ.

Jhn 13:37

Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

Jhn 13:38

Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Also....

Luk 22:31

And the Lord said,[fn] "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Luk 22:32

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”


We have this testimony of Peter's experience with God. We know from other examples given us of Peter's story that over the process of time, through the workmanship of God, Peter would carry out what God had ordained for his life.
Peter's weakness, his failings, his lack of understanding, is given to us as an example so that we might too learn how faith changes us, how faith causes us to enter into His rest.

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for..."

I missed this earlier in trying to work out this thought... "substance of things hoped for": would you consider "things" to encompass Peter's experiences given to us in Scripture?

J
JFW

You wrote: "I missed this earlier in trying to work out this thought... "substance of things hoped for": would you consider "things" to encompass Peter's experiences given to us in Scripture?”

Yes indeed and that’s an interesting "thing "...

Here is a place where Jesus points to the same hopeful thing-
Mat 18:19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing G4229 that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.


You posted ;

" Luk 22:31

And the Lord said,[fn] "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Luk 22:32

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

There is quite a lot in this particular passage, that may require its own attention and maybe it’s own table even.


( Jeff )
Something that you posted several years ago regarding the eternal image of the Godhead, gridding out the tribes by their location/population, arriving at the cross with the temple in the middle, had a significant impact and was a particular blessing to me. It was a discovery worthy of the grace it took to work it out ✝️
...in fact that ☝🏼 is a "thing G4229”

R
rookie

Thank you for highlighting G4229. I fail much to often in seeking out word meanings in the concordance. G4229 adds clarity to our discussion.

So meditating on this passage...

"Now faith is the substance of things..."

Now drilling down further, "...substance of things..."

As we examine Scripture, and in particular, the testimonies given to us of faithful individuals, we are given "things" that the individual experienced as God worked.

This is hard to properly word this question...for me the word "substance" is exploding as I contemplate the implications.

How are we to understand "substance" in light of "things"?

J
JFW

" This is hard to properly word this question...for me the word "substance" is exploding as I contemplate the implications.

How are we to understand "substance" in light of "things"?”

(for me) oil and flame (light) serve well to illustrate substance/thing relationship-

...and yes the potential for "substance” abounds in scripture, and what’s more, in our experiences or testimonies 🙏🏻
It is difficult (for me) to express without inspiration (Holy Spirit) because no matter how clear it may be, without Him there is no life in it, no (flame) light.

Having said that, in one sense, He is both the oil and the flame.
The oil as the substance or potential and the flame as the thing or light, ours is to co-labor with Christ in bringing that light to a lost world fishing for men.

Once while at a house church service, the Lord spoke to me about prophecy-
He gave me both an illustration and a commentary;
The context was utilizing prophecy to reach the lost, He illustrated this by seeing myself out in the woods with a lamp attempting to attract moths,... He said that’s what I had been doing asking if it was profitable... He then told me to go back to the house and simply turn on the porch light and they would find me.

we could spend a month of Sunday’s parsing out the nuances of this but (for me) the plain instruction was to rest in faith, trusting Him-
In this case the substance is prophecy and the thing is the light it brings to the hearer .

R
rookie

You wrote:

"In this case the substance is prophecy and the thing is the light it brings to the hearer . "

Yes, yes.. the predestined work of Christ to gather all whom the Father has given Him. I believe the following verses speaks to the transforming work that is made evident in those who continue gatheingr the oil...

1Jo 2:12

I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

1Jo 2:13

I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.

1Jo 2:14

I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.


I believe the "substance" of the "things", the underlying purposed interactions of the Holy Spirit with each individual, is meant to transform us into the image of Christ. This is the most prevalent and central prophesy given to us in Scripture.

In your personal experience of the "things", what has the "substance" caused in what you hope for?

J
JFW

"I believe the "substance" of the "things", the underlying purposed interactions of the Holy Spirit with each individual, is meant to transform us into the image of Christ. This is the most prevalent and central prophesy given to us in Scripture.”

Yes 🙏🏻

The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.


/ In your personal experience of the "things", what has the "substance" caused in what you hope for? /

Life,... the birth or subsequent nurturing or development of eternal life in Christ.
wether planting, watering, pruning, or harvesting,.. the work must be done with Him, tho the temptation to do it for Him remains a snare.

Recently, after noticing a deficit in my two youngest son appetite for the things of the Lord, I prayed and it never left the room... (realizing I was out of fellowship in their lives) , l prayed for mercy for my sons, that my negligence wouldn’t relieve them of the opportunity to see and know Him. I also confessed that I didn’t rightly know what to pray to bring remedy, asking Him to direct my prayers that they might be profitable to this end -
He answered me, telling me to pray that I wouldn’t miss the opportunities that He had already placed before me. So that was my prayer and within two days my boys (without any mention from me) dug out their old bible from a box in their closet and placed it on the table between their beds so that when I tucked them in, I saw it and asked if they’d like me to read a story to them and their excitement over the prospect was surprising. This has become part of our daily routine and because this version is below their reading level it provides ample opportunities for me to fill in the gaps and actually minister to them the word 🙏🏻

So would this be (for you) an evidence of the substance of things hoped for?


D
deltadom

Hebrews 11
King James Version
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

I am just interested in how this relates to the idea of self deception

R
rookie

"So would this be (for you) an evidence of the substance of things hoped for?"

Mat 11:28
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Yes (for me) this is an example of evidence of things not seen. As one learns to enter into His rest, as the above promise given to us by Scripture, one then is released from the bondage of the law.

Paul cautions us in this:


Gal 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,[fn] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.


Would you then say that the "substance" brings us to realize the following Scripture more fully each and every day that we seek to enter into His rest?

1Jo 4:19
We love Him[fn] because He first loved us.

R
rookie

JFW and I are working out what it means to 'receive the love of the truth"

Isa 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”

This is an exercise based on the Scriptural truth stated above.

R
rookie

You testified:
Recently, after noticing a deficit in my two youngest son appetite for the things of the Lord, I prayed and it never left the room... (realizing I was out of fellowship in their lives) , l prayed for mercy for my sons, that my negligence wouldn’t relieve them of the opportunity to see and know Him. I also confessed that I didn’t rightly know what to pray to bring remedy, asking Him to direct my prayers that they might be profitable to this end -
He answered me, telling me to pray that I wouldn’t miss the opportunities that He had already placed before me. So that was my prayer and within two days my boys (without any mention from me) dug out their old bible from a box in their closet and placed it on the table between their beds so that when I tucked them in, I saw it and asked if they’d like me to read a story to them and their excitement over the prospect was surprising. This has become part of our daily routine and because this version is below their reading level it provides ample opportunities for me to fill in the gaps and actually minister to them the word 🙏🏻


Sorry, I got ahead of the discussion and failed to describe what was understood in mind but not developed in writing. So this is what I thought prior to my last post.

Based on your testimony above, how many times do we hope for the "things" of God, yet in our own strength we set about an action plan to accomplish what we hope for. We know what is right, but yet not know how to do it. Whether it is for us or for others, we create burdens that are not the way God would do it. Your testimony brought the thought of struggling in the flesh to my mind. Oh what burdens we create. Yet, the struggle often times is used by God as a teaching moment, where God gives increase to the "substance". The "substance" of what is learned is that I must decrease, so Jesus can increase.

J
JFW

Yes Amen ✝️

He knows how to keep those who belong to Him, even the mule headed donkeys.
He has been so good to us, so patient and merciful, and has answered a bunch of prayers.
We are thankful 🙏🏻


Regarding the OP and the love of the truth & substance of things hoped for-

The substance of things hoped for comes from a love of the truth, which itself is antithetical to deception, self imposed or otherwise.

Deception is like a yeast...
our Lord used the written word at every point where deception came to Him-
wether body (hunger/physical need)
wether soul (safety/rest)
Wether spirit (authority/peace)

His faith in the written word was the substance of the (thing) deliverance He hoped for (Gods will be done) and that was because He loves the truth -

Deception seeks to tempt us to do business with it rather than with God and it’s currency could be likened unto a yeast, whereas with God the currency is a love of the truth.

the foolish virgins were instructed to hurry and "go buy” some oil...
Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to "buy from Him”...

These were to be the "cures” or substances of the things hoped for... remedy for deception-

How and where do you understand this business to take place?


Bruisedreed (from Nigeria) recently characterized this exchange as "trading with heaven” (in another thread) which serves well -


R
rookie

You wrote:

"The substance of things hoped for comes from a love of the truth, which itself is antithetical to deception, self imposed or otherwise."

Psa 119:49

Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.

Psa 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.

Hebrews 11:1 is commentary for verse 49 above. And to be more precise the entirety of Psalm 119 describes in great detail how God creates "the love of the truth" in those who live by faith. Now as you have said in the past, I believe that Psalm 119 is a table set for a banquet for another time.

The transition to the topic, the nature of deception is to me highlighted in verse 50 above...

"This is my comfort in my affliction...."

Also referring to biblical instruction "line upon line, here a little there a little"

Isa 7:15
"Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Also

Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

Affliction is the fruit of deception in God"s creation. The power behind deception is ascribed to powers and principalities of the air.

This is how I would attempt to answer your question:

How and where do you understand this business to take place?

Back at you....my brother In Christ.

J
JFW

(For me) it’s comes down to "whom you obey”
Indeed it is the business of obedience and we cannot serve two masters -
Deception seeks to entice us to "spend” our lot bargaining with the world (kingdom of darkness) in "hopes of the substance” of that which is seen being better than what God offers which is not seen.

The currency of this world is itself deception, and the willingness (on our part) to give life to it - hence it is like a yeast, it only needs a viable host.
The scriptures record this tendency as "being friendly with or loving the world” where over a period of time host will be conformed into its image.
It’s the flavor that gets us, just like Esau-

We’ve all sold our birthright to satisfy our needs apart from God and more often than not, think ourselves clever in our initial success. However when discipline comes we mistake it for an attack from the enemy and yield not unto the Lords hand. Then because our desires are themselves for self-preservation we lose sight completely and are spiritually blind.

Conversely, the word of God is as unleavened bread, and it is forever settled in heaven (no worldly yeast). This is the refined gold that must be obtained (proactively) by doing business with heaven. Then this same gold (currency) can be used to buy from the storehouse of heaven, namely Jesus,... which is to say we obtain a greater capacity to host Him till He be fully formed in us- this is the business of heaven. As we increase in our knowledge of Him, His spirit can more fully inhabit us conforming is into His image.


(For me) this is the where & how 🙏🏻

R
rookie

you wrote:

"The scriptures record this tendency as "being friendly with or loving the world” where over a period of time host will be conformed into its image. "


Rev 12:9
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

1Jo 2:16
For all that is in the world””the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life””is not of the Father but is of the world.

Would you say that through the spiritual power of Satan that all men are deceived into striving to acquire what appeals to the flesh, eyes, and pride of life?

ie...Jesus was tempted in these three aspects.

J
JFW

"Would you say that through the spiritual power of Satan that all men are deceived into striving to acquire what appeals to the flesh, eyes, and pride of life? "

Yes and though this is often facilitated locally it can also occurs en masse
because they are each governed over by specific principalities-
Baal - eyes
Ashtoreth - flesh
Moloch - pride

These three, as Reidhead describes them, are all the spiritual tools that Satan has or needs to convince us to do business with him.

R
rookie

"These three, as Reidhead describes them, are all the spiritual tools that Satan has or needs to convince us to do business with him."

Spiritual tools of Satan, applied by him and received by man leads to the destruction of those who continue in the path of corruption. The tools are used to appeal to self and self fulfillment. The tools focus on the promotion of self. The great deception of Satan foments desire in each individual to seek for self fulfillment which opposes God's intended purpose for man; to find Him and the substance promised before creation; all that is Jesus Christ.


J
JFW

Yes it is interesting, when we look at the source code for every deception, in every case it’s a lie- wether one we told, heard, or believed...

In my experience/observation, one of the best gauges for deception is how easy is it for a person to lie, how familiar is that language vs the truth....

There are some differences in how/why people lie to deceive others, often the lying itself has been mistaken as a virtue... as if it is morally incumbent upon a person to lie and when they do so, they think themselves good even godly for sparing someone undue stress or hurt.

For many, the truth is itself as a foreign language... where they cannot speak nor discern it clearly, with some even believing there is virtue in lying to spare another persons feelings.

Have you observed these (or other) effects of lying?

D
deltadom

I wrote this for me as I know that I can be deceived and that god can wake me out of my own personal deception that is why I need brethren to convict me as Iron sharpens iron

I know I can be deceived

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