Deceitfulness

Healing of The Heart

DO NOT BE DECEIVED OR DECEIVE OTHERS

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Galatians 6:7

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9

In order to identify and guard ourselves from the deceitfulness of others, we first must clean out the deceitfulness in our own heart. If we can see it in us, we can discern it in them. However, if we can’t see dishonesty in ourselves, then we won’t be able to see it in others and we become deceived.

Discerning deception in another should NEVER lead us to criticalness or accusations, but to prayer and prudence.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

It costs us nothing to sit behind a computer and point fingers at “all of the false teachers.”

To be a self-proclaimed “Watchman” of the flock and tear down the characters of brothers and sisters, puts us in a position of self- righteousness, criticalness and accusations.

So God is saying, “YOU first. Let Me show you where falseness lies deep within your own heart, that you may take responsibility of your own sin and refrain from looking at the sin in others. I will take care of their sin, but you take care of yours.”

Remember the verse which says the heart is deceitful above all things? The Word is not pointing us to look at other people’s hearts, but our own.

May Jesus show us first where WE have deception so that we may possess clean hearts, filled with wisdom and righteousness to discern our own deceit and a true wolf in the midst of the flock.

So this section is NOT to be used to tear down others, but to discern what is in our OWN hearts that we may see clearly with the eyes of Jesus. To see good and evil, not for the purpose of condemning, but for contending.

Often times we follow the crowd, get into a relationship or closely befriend those who appear good and trustworthy, because we trust what we see, hear and feel.

It is easy to spot a wolf, but it is very difficult to recognize a wolf hiding in sheep’s clothing and even more difficult when we ourselves are the ones masquerading. We lack the wisdom to discern the warning signs of deception in us and in them. The more we discern and repent and become wise and transparent about our own deceitfulness then we are able to more easily discern the deception in others.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:15

RELATIONSHIPS

If we are forming close relationships with those who are deceitful, then more likely we behold deception as well. We attract those who are like us.

Our relationships are a reflection of who WE are.

QUESTIONS TO ASK OURSELVES FIRST

Below are good questions to ask ourselves to uncover any deception that may be lurking in the deep places of our hearts. With great care, they can also be used for prayerfully discerning the deception in others.

Our hearts are deceitful, and beyond cure, but JESUS’ RIGHTEOUSNESS is our cure! May He reveal deception and bring what is hidden into the light, that He may give us holiness,protection and discernment against the enemy.

Here are a list of questions:

Am I bearing spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, slow to anger, long suffering?
Do I believe the Bible is the Word of God and it is without error? The Word is described as being perfect. We should not search the Word for error, it is meant to search our hearts for error?
Do I believe that Jesus is the Word of God?
Do I confess that JESUS CHRIST came in the flesh?
Are my words confusing and do they contradict my actions?
Do my lips match my hands and feet? If our lips are moving and our words do not match what we are doing, then we are lying to ourselves and others. Our actions must be the same as our words.
Do I present myself to one group differently than to another?
Do I treat family/close friends differently at home than in public?
Do I wear a mask? (Not for sickness)
Can others count on my word?
Is my yes, yes and my no, no?
Do I welcome the opinion of others?
Do I make myself accountable to others?
Can I be trusted?
Do I talk excessively?
Do I receive or seek out wisdom, counsel, advice from trusted individuals for my growth?
Am I able to receive constructive criticism?
Do I receive correction and discipline with humility and repentfulness?
Do I possess a spirit of forgiveness and repentfulness?
Am I willing and actively taking responsibility for my actions and confessing my wrongdoing to God and others?
What is the character like of my close friends?
Am I involved in sexual immorality, pornography, drunkenness, drugs or profanity?
How I act with my boyfriend or girlfriend, is it the same in front of my parents?
Do I cause strife or division in others?
Am I angry, manipulative, violently manipulative or have control issues?
Am I hateful?
Do I physically, emotionally, sexually or verbally abuse others?
Do I desire to isolate myself or others?
Do I avoid adults or godly people?
Am I secretive?
Do I gossip, slander or criticize others?
What time of the day do I like to hang out or chill?
Do I resist or disrespect authority?
Am I easily angered when confronted or questioned?
Do I pressure or push others into what I want?
Do I delete material or histories from electronic devices so others won't see?
Do I waste time at work?
Have I stolen from others?
Do I confess my sin to others or try to keep it hidden?
Do I tell white lies?
Do I lie to others?
Am I transparent in my relationships?
Do I sneak food or eat in secret?
Do I make purchases and hide them from others or my spouse?
Do I accuse or blame others of wrongdoing?
Do I accuse or blame others of the same thing I am doing?
Do I accuse or blame the church of wrongdoing?

HEALING

Jesus is our righteousness. He makes our hearts healed from deception. We are called to repent of our specific deceptive ways and declare His blood over our heart. We proclaim, "Jesus you are my righteousness. I cannot overcome this sin of deception by my own good works or strength, but through your forgiveness, your blood washes me clean and makes me righteous so that I may be transparent and truthful in all that I say and do."

If deception is evident in others, then seek Jesus' wisdom and His Word. The LORD will direct us to pray fervently, declaring the blood of Jesus and His righteousness over us and them. He may call us to distance ourselves, walk way from the relationship/situation or wisely confront them and call out the deception. He will also teach us about the sin that has been produced in our own heart caused by the deception of others and why we were so easily deceived in the first place. We may need to seek counseling or Recovery, but His Word is the first place in finding truth and healing.

In Proverbs, the Word calls us to leave our simple mindedness (those who lack judgement) and seek His wisdom in His Word. When we fail to let God judge the deceiption in our own heart, we will fail to discern the deceitfulness in others.

Remember Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, "You will recognize them by their fruit." But if we do not recognize the fruit in us, we will not be able to recognize the fruit in others.

Healing comes when we no longer tolerate deceiving or being deceived.