Exposing Deception

Deception builds on a lack of truth.  Jesus wasn’t deceived because there was no foundation for the enemy to build on.1  What lies have I believed that the enemy is building on?‭

‭‭The truth displaces lies like light displaces darkness; there is no argument, truth and light prevail.  To be victorious we must remain in the truth.  Jesus is the truth, it is his character and identity, he cannot be separated from who he is.2

‭‭The enemy wants to redefine our identity and trash our character.  If we press into God who created our identity, and restores our character, we are victorious.3  4  5

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.‭ 6

 

If Jesus had sinned, his identity would have been lost.  If we sin we deny our identity however, in Christ, we are not lost.  My identity comes from God, sin obscures my identity; being created in God’s image, how can I understand my identity without growing in the knowledge of God?

Consider:‭ How does sin deceive?  For sin to deceive it must appear as good on some level; the greater the appearance of good the greater the deception.  Eve saw the fruit as good, took some and ate it.7 The enemy uses what God has made in a sinful way; let us not forget that the root of deception is hiding what is bad to create an illusion of good.‭

Further Consideration:‭ Repentance, though Christ Jesus, trumps sin and death.  I have no power except to agree or disagree with God.  I have the opportunity to agree before, during, and after participating in sin.  Maturity, though the Holy Spirit, agrees with God and avoids sin altogether. ‭

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.‭8

 

My Prayer: God, thank you for providing a way of escape from sin.  My love of sin prevents me from seeing a way of escape, please soften my heart, give me a hatred for sin and open my eyes to the way of escape you always provide.  I humble myself before you, confess my sins in agreement with you and by faith take hold of the righteousness of Christ who died for my sins.9  10 Thank you for loving me.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.‭ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.‭ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.‭11

Strong Man

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are at peace.12

 

If there is no peace in my home….

My Prayer:  Lord forgive me for not standing strong and not being fully armed.  Forgive me for neglecting time with you.  You are faithful, You are my strength.  Forgive me for not holding tightly to Your teachings for they prepare me.  Forgive me for not trusting You and taking you at Your word; in faith I am armed for victory.

Heal me from the effects of my sin that I may fulfill the role of husband and father that You created me for.  Please in Your mercy heal my wife and children from the effects of my sin.  Amen

02.02.12

Trapped in Sin

How can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?2

 

TRAPPED IN SIN – “I’m tangled up in lies and can’t find my way.  I hope for change so I can embrace the truth that never changes.  Stability, consistency, faithfulness and a longing to love and be loved are calling out to me.  I find myself an empty shell, living an empty life, clawing and scratching for more of the same.  What can I do outside of myself?  Am I destined to continue this collision course with damnation?  Who will save me?  Who can help?  Who is not caught in this mire of despair?”

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?2

 

TESTIMONY – “He who was raised from the dead.  The one who is the way the truth and the life.  The one who knows my weakness, my greatest failures and willingly embraced the punishment I’ve earned.  The one with the name above all names.  The Son of a merciful God who prepared a way for me and all who desire life.  The one who sits at the right hand of God interceding for me and all mankind.  The one who gave His life in exchange for mine.”

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.3

 

TRAPPED IN SIN – “Who is he?  Tell me his name.  From where does he come?”

TRUTH – Jesus is his name.  He is the only begotten Son of God.  God sent him to die for the sins of men as an expression of His love.  If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

TRAPPED IN FREED FROM SIN – “I called on the name of the Lord today and have been set free!”

01.31.12