60 | Guarding Your Faith: What Every Christian Should Know About Deception In Today's World

Feeling bombarded by conflicting spiritual messages? Wondering how to separate truth from subtle deception? Your spiritual discernment has never been more vital than in today's complex world.

Satan's tactics haven't changed since Eden – questioning God's words, contradicting truth, appealing to desires, and misrepresenting God's character. What has changed is how these deceptions appear, often wrapped in language that sounds enlightened, progressive, or even spiritually enriching.

My personal wake-up call came when a friend shared her experience from what seemed like a Christian-aligned spiritual seminar. As we unpacked the teachings, those subtle discrepancies with Scripture became alarmingly clear. This experience reinforced what Scripture has always taught: deception thrives wherever vigilance wanes.

This episode dives deep into biblical understanding of deception, exploring its origins and manifestations while providing practical strategies for protection. We'll examine Satan's encounter with Eve as a case study in manipulative tactics that continue today, and unpack the powerful protection found in each piece of the armor of God described in Ephesians 6.

You'll discover how consistent engagement with Scripture, cultivating spiritual discernment, walking in the Spirit, practicing integrity, and maintaining accountability create multiple layers of defense against deceptive influences. As Jesus promised, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Ready to strengthen your spiritual discernment? Download your free Bible study resources at faithbuildingclub.com and join our growing community of believers committed to standing firm in God's truth. Share this episode with someone who might be struggling to navigate today's spiritual landscape – because in a world full of deception, we need each other more than ever.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:00):
Are you prepared to defend your beliefs against
the constant challenges ofmodern society?
Do you know how to identify thesubtle deceptions that can
shake your faith?
Ready to uncover the truth andstrengthen your spiritual armor?
Join us in this episode as weexplore, Guarding your Faith:
What Every Christian Should KnowAbout Deception in Today's
World.
Are you feeling a bit swampedwith your weekly Bible study

(00:21):
prep, wondering how to make yourlessons both engaging and
impactful, searching for freshinsights to inspire and
spiritually nourish your group?
Well, you are in the rightplace, our Sound Wisdom Bible
study lessons are here to makeyour preparation easier, revive
your teaching and profoundlyenrich your group's faith
journey.

(00:44):
Before we get started, I'd liketo give a shout out to Kloee O4.
She writes, "Excellent, t hereis so much to be learned by the
consistency alone, butespecially consistency in your
alone time with God.
Paula is such a blessing tothose who are hoping to deepen
their spiritual walk with theLord and create a consistent
habit of time with the Lord.

(01:05):
" Thank you so much, Kloee.
I appreciate your words ofwisdom.
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(01:25):
Share your thoughts with ustoday and your review could be
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What a joy it is for me to hearfrom our listeners.
Let's embark on this adventuretogether, but first let me tell
you about my Faith Building Club.
You'll find over eight monthsof printable resources crafted
just for Christians.
These include everything fromprayer and devotional journals

(01:47):
to detailed Bible study lessonsand reading plans, all designed
to deepen your connection withthe Word and bring fresh
perspectives on your weeklystudies.
You can find these valuableresources at faithbuildingclub.
com (no spaces).
Hi.
I'm Paula, a follower of Jesus,a grandma of six and a retired
pastor with a heart forempowering believers.

(02:09):
Ready to get started?
Grab your Bible, your printableresources and prepare your
heart for insights from God.
Let me begin with a personalstory that reinforced my
commitment to protecting myfaith from deception.
A few years ago, a close friendshared her experience from a
seminar that was advertised as apath to spiritual enlightenment

(02:30):
.
Initially, the seminar appearedto align perfectly with
Christian values, which piquedmy interest.
However, as we delved deeperinto what she learned and the
teachings she recalled, I beganto notice subtle discrepancies
that did not resonate withbiblical teachings.
This experience served as astark reminder of how deception

(02:50):
can subtly infiltrate our lives,often cloaked in appealing
language and the allure of newrevelations.
It taught me the criticalimportance of remaining anchored
in Scripture and seeking God'struth diligently through prayer
and discernment.
By consistently engaging withGod's Word, we can equip
ourselves with Holy Spiritwisdom and the courage necessary

(03:13):
to navigate and resistdeceptive influences in an
increasingly complex world ofspiritual distractions and
misleading teachings.
Exploring Deception Through aBiblical Lens, that's our Bible
study today.
It's about understanding itsorigins and finding solutions.
As followers of God's Word, weare called to discern truth from

(03:36):
deceit, to walk in the light ofhis wisdom and to guard our
hearts against the snares offalsehood.
In this lesson, we will learnwhat deception is, how it
manifests and the path toovercome it.
Deception strikes at the coreof our faith and integrity.
It corrupts relationships,distorts reality and veils the
path to righteousness.

(03:57):
The Bible warns us in Proverbs,chapter 12, verse 22, saying,
"The Lord detests lying lips,but he delights in people who
are trustworthy.
" Deception undermines trust,both in our relationships with
others and in our relationshipwith God.
It impedes spiritual growth andit leads us away from the truth

(04:18):
that liberates us.
Deception is the act ofmisleading or causing someone to
believe something that is nottrue.
It encompasses a spectrum offorms, from outright lies to
subtle manipulation, leaving outinformation and half-truths.
The Apostle Paul admonishes usin Ephesians, chapter 4, verse

(04:38):
25, saying, "Therefore, each ofyou must put off falsehood and
speak truthfully to yourneighbor, for we are all members
of one body.
" Deception operates in darkness, but as children of light, we
are called to walk in truth andintegrity.
Deception often preys on ourvulnerabilities and desires.

(05:00):
It tempts us with a promise ofgain, power or pleasure, while
also concealing the consequencesof our actions.
The book of James cautions ussaying, "but each person is
tempted when they are draggedaway by their own evil desire
and enticed.
Then, after desire hasconceived, it gives birth to sin

(05:21):
, and sin when it is full grown,gives birth to death.
" That's James, chapter 1,verses 14 through 15.
Deception capitalizes on ourweaknesses, blurring the lines
between right and wrong andleading us astray.
Satan, identified by Jesus asthe father of lies, has been

(05:42):
orchestrating deception sincethe dawn of creation.
His cunning and craftiness werefirst unveiled in the Garden of
Eden, when he assumed the formof a serpent and deceived Eve
with subtle words, distortingGod's commandment and leading
humanity into sin.
From that moment onward, Satanhas continued his relentless

(06:04):
campaign of deception, seekingto ensnare humanity in his web
of lies.
Let's take a closer look atSatan's deceptive encounter with
Eve in the garden.
In Genesis, chapter 3, verses 1through 6, we witness Satan's
cunning deception as he engagesEve in the Garden of Eden.

(06:24):
We hear, "Now the serpent wasmore crafty than any of the wild
animals the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman.
Did God really say you must noteat from any tree in the garden
?
The woman said to the serpent,we may eat fruit from the trees
in the garden, but God did sayyou must not eat fruit from the
tree that is in the middle ofthe garden and you must not
touch it or you will die.
You will not certainly die, theserpent said to the women.
For God knows that when you eatfrom it your eyes will be
opened and you will be like God,knowing good and evil.
" Let's break down Satan'sdeception.

(07:06):
Satan begins by subtlyquestioning God's commandment to
Eve, casting doubt on itsvalidity and implying that God
might be withholding somethingfrom her.
B y asking, "did God really say?
," he plants the seed of doubtin Eve's mind regarding the
truth of God's instruction.
After Eve confirms God'scommandment, Satan directly

(07:29):
contradicts it by declaring youwill not certainly die.
Here he distorts the truth,presenting a blatant lie in
opposition to God's cleardirective.
Satan then appeals to Eve'sdesires by suggesting that by
disobeying God and eating theforbidden fruit, she will gain
knowledge and become like God.
This appeal to pride enticesEve to consider the possibility

(07:53):
of disobeying God's commandment.
Finally, Satan implies that Godis withholding something good
from Eve, suggesting that God isnot trustworthy or benevolent.
This misrepresentation of God'scharacter further undermines
Eve's trust in God and leads herto doubt his intentions.
Download your resource now toexplore four key tactics that

(08:17):
Satan uses to try to deceive thefollowers of Christ.
Let's talk about a few otherthings, like overcoming
deception.
I mean this is an ongoingthreat to walking with God in
truth, but we know that nothingis impossible to overcome or too

(08:37):
hard for our God to deliver usfrom.
So here are a few things weneed to put into practice.
First, we need to really beconsistent on reading,
meditating and embracing God'sWord daily.
The Bible stands as the bedrockof truth and wisdom,
illuminating the path torighteousness and guarding
against the subtle deceptions ofthe enemy.

(08:59):
Psalm, chapter 119, verse 105,affirms this truth, saying "your
word is a lamp for my feet anda light on my path.
" By immersing ourselves inscripture, we gain clarity and
insight into God's will,enabling us to discern truth
from falsehood in all situations.
Then think about cultivatingdiscernment daily.

(09:21):
This is very important as well.
Discernment is a spiritualgift and discipline essential
for navigating the treacherouswaters of deception.
Proverbs, chapter 2, verses 3through 6, extols the value of
seeking wisdom and understanding, saying, "Indeed, if you call

(09:41):
out for insight and cry aloudfor understanding, and if you
look for it, as for silver, andsearch for it, as for hidden
treasure, then you willunderstand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
" Through fervent prayer and asincere desire for discernment,
believers can sharpen theirspiritual senses and recognize

(10:04):
the subtle nuances of deception.
And then always, of course,walk in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, our helper andcomforter, empowers believers
to navigate deception withwisdom and discernment.
John, chapter 16, verse 13,assures us of the spiritual role
in leading us into this truth,it says, "but when he, the

(10:28):
Spirit of truth, comes, he willguide you into all the truth.
He will not speak on his own,he will speak only what he hears
and he will tell you what isyet to come.
" By surrendering to theguidance of the Holy Spirit and
cultivating a sensitive ear tohis promptings, believers can
navigate the webs of deceptionand remain firmly rooted in

(10:51):
God's truth.
We should also practiceintegrity.
Integrity serves as a bulwarkagainst the erosion of truth and
righteousness in a worldfraught with deception.
Proverbs, chapter 11, verse 3,underscores the importance of
integrity in our conduct,saying, "the integrity of the
upright guides them, but theunfaithful are destroyed by

(11:13):
their duplicity.
" By upholding honesty,transparency and moral
uprightness in all aspects oflife, believers reflect the
character of Christ anddemonstrate their commitment to
walking blamelessly before Godand others.
And of course, we should alwaysseek accountability.
Accountability within thecommunity of believers serves as
a safeguard against deceptionand spiritual drift.

(11:36):
Proverbs, chapter 27, verse 17,emphasizes the importance of
mutual edification andcorrection, saying, "as iron
sharpens iron, so one personsharpens another.
" By surrounding ourselves withtrustworthy companions who are
committed to truth andrighteousness, we invite
accountability into our lives,ensuring that we remain grounded

(11:57):
in God's Word and accountableto one another.
Overcoming deception requires amultifaceted approach, rooted in
the truth of God's Word andempowered by His Holy Spirit.
As we journey through life, letus remain vigilant against the
schemes of deception that seekto entangle us.
Let us heed the words of Jesusin John, chapter 8, verse 31

(12:19):
through 32, where Jesus said tothe Jews who had believed him,
"If you abide in my word, youare truly my disciples and you
will know the truth, and thetruth will set you free.
"Next, let's talk about the armor
of God found in Ephesians 6,and how effective this is in
overcoming deception.
First, the belt of truthrepresents a commitment to God's

(12:42):
truth as revealed in scripture.
By embracing and standing onthe truth of God's Word,
believers are equipped todiscern between truth and
deception.
When faced with lies ordeceitful ideologies, the truth
acts as a foundational anchor,keeping believers grounded in
reality and guarding against thesubtle distortions of the enemy

(13:03):
.
Second, the breastplate ofrighteousness guards the
believer's heart and emotions.
Living a life of righteousnessand obedience to God's commands
helps cultivate spiritualdiscernment.
When believers prioritizerighteousness, they develop an
inner sense of integrity andmoral clarity that enables them
to recognize and rejectdeceptive influences that seek

(13:25):
to lead them astray.
Third, the shield of faithserves as a defensive barrier
against the attacks of the enemy.
By placing their trust in God'spromises and character,
believers shield themselves fromdoubts, fears and falsehoods
propagated by the enemy.
Faith acts as a shield thatdeflects the fiery darts of

(13:46):
deception, enabling believers toremain steadfast in their
convictions and resistant to theschemes of the enemy.
Fourth, the helmet of salvationprotects the believer's mind and
thoughts.
By anchoring their identity inChrist and the assurance of
salvation, believers fortifythemselves against doubts and

(14:06):
deceptive ideologies that seekto undermine their faith.
The helmet of salvationprovides clarity of mind and
assurance of God's truth,enabling believers to discern
between the lies of the enemyand the truth of God's Word.
Fifth, the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God, is
both an offensive and defensiveweapon against deception.

(14:29):
By wielding the word of God,believers can counteract
falsehoods and expose the liesof the enemy.
When faced with deceptiveteachings or ideologies,
believers can use the word ofGod to discern truth, refute
error and proclaim the gospelwith boldness and clarity.
And finally, the shoes of thegospel of peace equip believers

(14:51):
to stand firm in their faith andshare the message of salvation
with others.
By embodying the gospel andliving lives of integrity and
peace, believers become beaconsof truth in a world shrouded in
deception.
The shoes of the gospel enablebelievers to walk confidently in
their identity as ambassadorsof Christ, spreading the truth

(15:14):
and light of the gospel whereverthey go.
Okay, so I've included a fewdiscussion questions for those
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reflection questions forindividual use.
You can download your resourcenow at faithbuildingclub.
com.
So grab your pen and paper orstylus and embark on your

(15:37):
personal journey of discoverywith God.
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(15:57):
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