Hey, welcome back here to the Seminarian. Another
week, another episode of our Bible study series.
We call the Bible for Grownups. And tonight,
what we're going to do is begin a couple of part
series, which we look at how often we can fake
ourselves out, that we can put on a mask, that
we believed to be the truth. We look ourselves
in the mirror and we think that it's true, but
everybody around us can see that we're deceiving
ourselves. One of the things that we have to
embrace during these next couple of weeks is
the reality that you don't know what you don't
know. I'll see you on the other side. Do you
guys mind if I go ahead and start? Oh, you should
have said yes. No, sorry, you answered the first
time no. It may have, but we'll never know. Hey
guys, first I want to begin by thanking Eric
and Jordan for the spaghetti tonight. Thank you
guys so much. And thank all of y 'all for coming.
So tonight, I want to, again, I want to say this
as many times as I can for a couple of reasons.
One, reminds myself. Two, hopefully you'll see
this as you and I are in a lot of the same boats
together. And three, maybe you'll realize maybe
you're not alone in this particular struggle
because you've got at least one other person
that you know of that goes through these kind
of struggles. So maybe you can identify with
that struggle as well. And this is one, again,
that while I'm standing at this podium speaking
loudly, this is as much to me, this is a sermon
or a lesson to me as it is to you. So let me
begin by asking, or let me just asking of you.
You don't have to answer, but I'm guessing a
lot of you know somebody who has told a lie so
many times that they actually have started to
believe that that lie is actually the truth.
I'll say it doesn't even matter what side of
the political fence you're on. You probably have
an opinion right now. Somebody you see on TV.
That lies so much that I think they believe it
to be true. Self -deception is what that is,
right? Deceiving one's self. Like, let me do
this experiment. Again, just think. How many
of you would honestly say that for you, battling
self -deception is a significant problem? that
you acknowledge you're really deceived about
a lot of things. Some, maybe closer to none,
certainly not all, right? Let me ask you another
question. I want you to think about not you now,
but other people. People that you know. People
that you know who may think they're good at something,
but they're really not. Hey, I've heard most
of you sing. I can answer that question. They
may think that they don't have a problem, but
they really do, right? I bet everybody here might
raise their hand saying yes. I know at least
one other person that I would say is self -deceived.
That can't be true, right? Because we'd have
a statistical problem. We all know somebody like
that. But I want you to ask yourself, is it a
statistical problem? So few of us think of ourselves
as self -deceived, and yet almost all of us know
somebody else who is. Could it be perhaps that
we ourselves are self -deceived? Well, here's
kind of a thought for tonight I want us to kind
of use to guide us around this lesson. Those
who don't know, don't know they don't know. Those
that don't know, don't know that they don't know.
Self -deception. So many of us... have an inaccurate
view of ourselves because we can't see ourselves
as other people do. And we fake it for so long
we start to believe a lie that's really true.
Two things about self -deceit. The first one
is this. We need to understand that the longer
we view ourselves through a distorted lens, the
more likely we are to begin to believe a distorted
truth. If we wear a mask and we look at ourselves
in the mirror with the mask, the longer we view
ourselves through that distorted lens, the more
likely we are to believe in a distorted truth.
Let me begin in Psalm 36 tonight, verses 2 and
3. David. He's talking about the wicked whom
he says are very self -deceived. This is what
he says. He says, for in their own eyes, they
flatter themselves too much to detect or hate
sin. Let's stop right there. They that flatter
themselves too much. There's, you know. I'm not
that bad at this or I'm pretty good at this.
Or more than likely, we would say, I don't have
a problem with that. I mean, I've got it kind
of going on. They flatter themselves so much
that they can't even detect their own hate. I'm
sorry, they can't detect or hate their own sin.
And why is that important? Because we need to
realize. We cannot hate a sin we don't detect.
This is so true for so many of us. We flatter
ourselves. I don't have a problem with this or
that. That's not that big of a deal. I mean,
everybody else says that it's a problem, but
it's not a problem. I mean, they're the ones
that are all wrong. Not me. And we flatter ourselves
so much that we cannot even detect, much less
hate, our sin. And we flatter ourselves so much,
it's not even on our radar. We don't even realize
that we're lying to ourselves, that we have a
significant sinful problem. We flatter ourselves
so much we can't even detect, much less hate
our own sin. The next verse, Psalm 36, verse
3, says the words of their mouth are wicked and
deceitful. And he or she has ceased to be wise
and to do good. Self -deceit. Many of you know
somebody like that. Often our self -deceit is...
really rather harmless, right? Like I had just
mentioned, but for example, we all, what do we
like often, many of us, what do we like most
about American Idol? The ones who get on stage
completely convinced that they can sing, but
they cannot at all, right? Have we ever noticed
the people that get on a show like that and think
they can, Sing, but they can't? I can at least,
I don't know, this is not an area where I struggle
with self -deceit. I cannot sing, and I own it.
What I don't understand, though, is how all their
moms think they can sing. And that their best
friends think they are great singers. I don't
get, that's the part I don't get. That's insanity.
But it's really how many of us are. the way we're
self -deceived, even though it's rather harmless.
But when it comes to sin, if we cannot detect
our sin, that sin which we cannot detect, we
can't hate. If we can't detect it, we can't hate
it. As a result, we live lives in such a way
that destroy us and destroy the people around
us. Many of us flatter ourselves so much we don't
even realize we're living in sin. Right? And
people will warn us. Really, you know, you kind
of battle with pride. No, I don't. I'm not proud.
Right? I mean, it's just the simple truth that
I'm better than everybody else at this. And the
reason why I'm telling you is because this person
is so messed up. They've got it completely wrong.
Right? This is the way God made me. So what's
wrong with being prideful? I can't help it if
I'm just simply better than everybody else around
me. Or someone might say, you know, you gossip
a little bit. I don't gossip. I mean, I can't
help it if everybody else comes to me to tell
me all the news. And the only reason why I'm
telling you is because That situation's so messed
up, you need to be praying for them. Oh, and
by the way, I forgot to tell you this other juicy
bit of news. The gossip? I don't gossip. People
might say, and I'm not looking at anybody specific,
you know, you're kind of rude. I'm not rude,
I just tell it like it is. The bottom line is
you've got problems, and if I point them out,
It's only because I care about you. I'm not being
rude. It's just that you're kind of, well, you're
a lot messed up. And I'm just telling you because
I want to tell you. People flatter themselves
too much to detect our own sin, even hate it.
And the longer that we view ourselves through
a distorted lens, the more likely we are to believe
distorted truths. Second thought about self -deceit
is this. Often, not always, But often, the more
convinced you are that you're right, the more
likely that you're wrong. Great example of this
we find in Christian scripture in the New Testament
would be the Pharisees. I mean, the Pharisees
really, really, really, really, really, really,
really believed that they were right. And they
said, we dot every I. We cross every T. We follow
the law. Everybody else is wrong, but by golly,
we're right. And Jesus basically says to them
this. He says, you know the law, but you don't
know the God who made the law. So, you're wrong.
And they fought with Jesus throughout scripture
over and over and over and again because they
believed they were convinced that they were right
about this. Another one, we talk about this one
all the time. This is kind of one of my favorites.
Another example was Peter, one of the 12 disciples.
And Jesus says, I'm going to have to die on the
cross. And Peter was adamant that he was going
to stand by Jesus to the bitter end no matter
what. And in Matthew 26. Verse 33, Scripture
records these words. Peter replied, even if all
the others fall away on the account of you, I
never will. Jesus looked at him and said, if
I tell you the truth, Peter, this very night
before the rooster crows, you'll disown me three
times. Peter was convinced he was not going to
disown Jesus. And he declares even, even if I
must die with you, I will never disown you. I'm
your man. I got your back. I promise. And sometimes,
often, not always, but often, the more adamant
you are, you're right, the more likely that you
are to be deceived, right? Why? In this story,
cock -a -doodle -doo. Before the rooster even
crowed, Peter denied Jesus three separate times
because he was self -deceived. When do we see
it? We see it oftentimes when everybody else
will say, you know, You really have a problem
with this or that. And then the person responds,
maybe you. I don't have a problem with this or
that. I could quit at any time. I don't know
what you're talking about. Well, we really think
you have a problem trying to control everything.
I'm not a control freak. You just don't understand.
Everybody else does things wrong, and I don't
like the way that you said that. You should have
said it this way, and I'll just do it my own
way. I'm not a control freak. What's your problem?
Sometimes the more adamant, the more defensive
we are about this, the more likely we are to
be self -deceived. Scripture teaches us, in his
eyes he flatters himself too much to detect hate
or hate his sin. So what I want to do is really
challenge you and me. Because I know some of
you right now, it's so easy to think, oh, I hope
so -and -so will hear this. Or I so hope so -and
-so was with me right now. I wish my teenage
daughter could hear this right now. But what
I really want to do is have you listen to this
from your perspective and ask God, what do you
want this to specifically say to me? I want to
give you three steps, three biblical truths to
live in the truth in a way in which we might
overcome deception. The first thing that I would
encourage you to do, number one, is pray. To
really ask God. Is there anything in me that
I don't see as truth? In fact, David in the Old
Testament says this. Many of you have heard this
verse before. Some of you might even have it
up on a little plaque in your bathroom or something.
Psalm 139, 23 and 24. David prayed this very
dangerous and very piercing prayer. David prayed,
search me, O God. And know my heart. Test me.
And know my serious thoughts. Verse 24, this
is so powerful. He prayed, see if there is any,
any, any offensive way in me and lead me in the
way of everlasting. But I want to challenge all
of us to do this week. When we're thinking about
this, when we're talking perhaps to our friends
or family about this, I would challenge you to
make this prayer part of your daily prayer life.
Just pray Psalm 139. Just ask God, is there anything
in me? Is there anything in me that I don't know
about? Is there anything? Is there something
that everybody else has been trying to tell me?
And for whatever reason, I just haven't heard
it. God. Will you reveal it to me? Search me,
O God. Know my heart. Show me. Is there any offensive
way in me? Lead me in the way of everlasting.
Pray and sincerely ask God if he would show you
anything that is displeasing to him. And this
is one of my favorite things to do whenever I
talk about sometimes specific prayers to you
because one of my favorite things to do is to...
is to tell you to pray for things I know for
sure God will answer you. I love that. You know,
I don't know about your prayers about grandma.
I don't know what he's going to do. It's his
plan. I don't know about your marriage, with
your prayers for your marriage. I don't know
what's in God's hands, right? I don't know what
the answer is going to be or if an answer comes.
I love telling you about some prayers you can
pray, pray that if you actually do it, I can
guarantee you. For example, pray to God to give
you a generous eye. Pray sincerely every day
for God to give you an eye for generosity to
share, to provide, to give something to someone
else, to live an other -centered life. I can
guarantee you that if you pray that with actual,
honest sincerity, God will answer that prayer.
Now, you're selfish, you. might not like the
answer to that prayer, but you will get one.
And this is another one. This is another prayer.
I can guarantee you that if you pray with honest
sincerity, God will answer. You might not like
the answer, but you will get one. Search me,
O God. Know my heart. Is there any offensive
way in me? And lead me in the way of everlasting.
The reason why I can make that promise to you
is because every single one of us, we are all
self -deceived in some way. Every one of us,
we are all flattering ourselves too much to detect
or hate some sin in our life. And if you ask
God this on the reg, search my heart, oh God,
show me any offensive way, you watch as God will
provide the truth to you. So pray. Second thing
that I would like to encourage you to do is listen.
Don't just listen to God, but listen to God speaking
through people. People who love you and care
about you. Scripture says in the book of Proverbs
15 and 31, Scripture says, He who listens to
a life -giving rebuke will be at home among the
wise. He or she listens to a life -giving rebuke.
That's a beautiful phrase to me, life -giving
rebuke. Now, there are people who have almost
a spiritual gift in rebukes that sound rude and
of none of your business or concern. There are
also people in our lives, because they love,
because they care about us, can offer us, God
working through them, life -giving rebukes. In
fact, many of us need to obey God's direction
and love that someone else loves us enough to
give us that rebuke. Right? We might be on the
other end of that. We might need to honestly
add to our prayer that this life -giving rebuke
is claimed. There's someone you care about that's
doing something stupid. Maybe it's affecting
their marriage. Right? They've got a problem.
Because you love them, right? You have to go
to them. You can't go down this road. Right?
I love you too much to see you destroy this thing
that God has put together to see you destroyed.
That's a life -giving rebuke. Right? There are
people who have all kinds of messed up marriages
because we create a family because of some hope
of a dream, right? And then we end up looking
around for somebody else. Sometimes we just pray
for those people. No, sometimes we need to get
in the middle of it and love them enough to say,
I'm going to stand between you and your stupidity.
Because I love you enough, I'm going to try to
stand between you and this sin. I love you too
much to go down this road. I love you too much
to allow you to destroy your life. In the body
of Christ, there are times that God will call
us to love someone enough to give them a life
-giving rebuke. Some of you need to give one.
Others of you, all of us, a time or another,
need to receive one. Scripture says this as we
go on, verse 32. He or she who ignores discipline
despises themselves. But whoever heeds correction
gains understanding. Pray, number one, and listen.
Listen to those people who love you enough or
are trying to tell you something. Here is the
deal. If you're looking for a rule of thumb in
your life, take my word for it. Honest Jim up
here, right? If more than one person that loves
you tells you you've got a problem with something,
you've got a problem with something. If more
than one person who loves you tells you you have
a problem with this or that, you have a problem
with that. You need to listen. It could be all
sorts of things. Maybe, you know, the first thing
we kind of jump to is pornography or substance
abuse. gambling stuff, the really ugly stuff,
right? You might have a couple people that love
you come up and say, you know what? You're tanning
too much. You look like a suitcase. You think
that looks good? It doesn't. You smell like burnt
toast. Listen to people who love you. And what
you have to do is you have to create an environment
where Someone will tell you the truth because
maybe you've been stiff -arming them for so long
that they don't even want to tell you that anymore.
Pray, search me, oh God, show me an offensive
way in me. Listen also to what others say. And
then, what is a God or a loved one, what is God,
sorry, or a loved one trying to tell you? What
is God trying to show you? What is God trying
to show you perhaps through someone else? Some
of us could, if we had pen to paper, we could
answer that right away. I know my problem. I
know. I acknowledge it in this moment of clarity
and of individual integrity. I see it. I'm deceived.
I'm wearing a mask and I need to take it off.
Maybe for some of you others, maybe you can't
quite see it, but you're going to be a little
bit. More like me, maybe a little bit more hard
-headed. This is going to take a little longer.
And that's okay too. The answer to these questions
tonight do not have to be automatic. For some
of us, they very well might be. But others, we're
going to need a little bit more work. And as
you pray and as you listen, over time, God will
show you. And for those of us that are a little...
Thick -headed, God will show you again and again
and again different ways that you're wearing
this mask. So let's drop the mask. And number
three is this. When God shows whatever it is
to you, change. Change. When God shows you an
area of your life that you've been living a lie
so long you've even fooled yourself, change.
Now, again, here's some good news. For some of
you, this might happen today. You're going to
make a decision. I see it. This is going to be
different from right now. And boom. And you know
what? Your life might never be the same again.
You're going to be more intimate with God. People
around you are going to be like. This is great.
You've made a great decision. Others of us, it's
a process. Because we've been believing that
lie for so long. But that change, even though
it's a process, that change can start today.
Here's the key. Scripture says this. No one says
it better than James in chapter 1, 22 of his
letter. Do not merely listen to the word and
so deceive yourselves. You know how we kind of
do that. Man, if we could just get that one thing
right. This is one of those. Great. If we could
just get this one thing right. Don't just merely
listen to this. I'm looking around and I've just
about seen everybody at some point go in agreement,
right? Okay, then we're pretty much agreeing
that what we're talking about here, we agree
to be true. Well, don't just listen to this and
feel better about yourself. That's not how it
works, right? And if you do, if you listen to
this and go, oh, that was great. I feel so much
better about myself. And keep on living the lie
and allowing yourself to be deceived. That's
exactly what you're doing. You're continuing
to lie to yourself. And many of us, the Spirit
of God might just be about ready to speak to
you. Revealed truth. The truth of God. And maybe
the truth of God in your life is that you have
areas in which you are living in direct rebellion
to that truth of God. And you have been faking
it. You have been thinking it is okay. But it's
not okay. And God might be pulling that mask
off. Why is it? Why is it that we are so afraid
to drop that mask, to stop living behind the
lie? Because I think, because we're often afraid
of what the truth is. And it's ironic. Because
in John 8 and 32, Scripture says, you'll know
the truth and the truth will set you free. The
truth is a person. Risen Son of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who said, I'm the way, the truth,
and the life. And you've heard us talk about
here on Wednesday nights that our spiritual enemy
is the father of lies. He wants us to hide behind
the lies so long that we begin to believe those
lies as if they're actually true. As it will
affect our lives as if it really is true. But
it's fake. It's a fraud. We need to remove the
lies. Embrace the risen Son of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ, because He is the truth. And this
truth will set us free. Amen? Amen. Thanks, guys.
Any questions? Thanks. Well, what do you think?
Are we stuck with a statistical problem? Are
we stuck with a reality that somehow or another,
everybody around us is self -deceived except
for us? Or if we're adult and we're rational
and we're logical, we react with a personal integrity,
aren't we really? seeing that maybe each and
every one of us struggles with self -deception
and as a result maybe we have deceived ourselves
so long that we continue to sin in areas of our
lives and yet we have convinced ourselves somehow
or another that it is okay. Because a sin that
we can't detect, we can't hate. As a result,
we continue to live with it. Sometimes, very
often, leading us down various paths of personal
and communal destruction. I know that it sounds...
overdramatic, melodramatic maybe, but it's real.
Whenever we look back on our lives as we see
our past mistakes in ways in which we've actually
contributed to the destruction of our lives and
the relationships of those around us, do you
not suspect that we at that moment won't think
that it's real? Anyway, It's something to certainly
think about. Until next week, friend. Be blessed.