Detecting Deception

Have you ever been fooled? Has anyone close to you deceived you? Have you believed teachings that were inaccurate? Did you tell yourself, “I’m never letting anybody fool me again!”  That’s good but not good enough. We don’t have to go around being suspicious of every person we know.  What we do need is discernment! That’s the key to avoiding deception as much as we are able to. 
​
Deception is a very dangerous thing because it can lead us astray. It leads us into error. It can also be devastating when done by somebody you trust and love. We never expect those we love and trust to deceive us, yet it happens all too often. Here are ways we can be deceived:
 

• Trusting people even when we have a gut feeling about them
• The pride of your heart (Obadiah 1:3)
• Trusting in futile (vain, empty, false) things (Job 15:31)
• Bearing false witness against an innocent person (Prov.  24:28)
• False prophets (Matt. 24:11)
• Sin (Rom. 7:11)
• Smooth words and flattering speech (Rom. 16:18)
• Yourself – wise in your own conceit (I Cor. 3:18)
• Evil company (I Cor. 15:33)
• Thinking too highly of yourself (Gal. 6:3)
• Seducing spirits (I Tim. 4:1)
• Thinking you do not reap what you sow (Gal. 6:7)
• People who speak empty (vain, devoid of truth) words (Eph. 5:6)
• Persuasive (speech that leads into error) words from others (Col. 2:4)
• When you hear the gospel but do not do what it says (Jam. 1:22)
• If you consider yourself religious but do not bridle (control) your tongue (Jam. 1:26)

 
So how do we guard ourselves from being deceived? Here are some ways:

1. Ask God for an understanding heart (I Kings 3:9)
2. Observe God’s laws (Prov. 28:7)
3. Listening to the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:14)
4. The Word of God (Heb. 4:12)
5. Testing ALL things, holding fast to what is good (I Thess. 5:21)
6. Test every spirit (I Jn. 4:1)
7. Learn God’s precepts (statutes) to gain understanding (Ps. 119:104)
8. Pray, be sober and vigilant (Col. 4:2 and I Peter 5:8)
9. Through wise counsel (Read Proverbs and seek out wise counselors)
10. Examine the fruit that is produced by a person or organization (Matt. 7:15-16)
11. Submit yourselves to God (James 4:7)
12. Do not compromise

 
It is crucial that we do everything we can to learn how to discern deception because of how dangerous it is. The Bible clearly warns us time and again to not let ourselves be deceived because MANY will be deceived in the last days. If possible, even the elect will also be deceived IF they are not careful.