Introduction: Does it seem like DECEPTION is becoming more and more accepted these days? Lies. Deceit. False information… Satan’s plan from the beginning. Does it seem more and more difficult to distinguish falsehood?

How can we keep from being DECEIVED?

1. We must Know the origin of DECEPTION! (John 8:44-47)

“44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

Jesus made it clear. The devil sinned from the beginning. He is the father of lies. Is he lying to you today? 

2. We must identify the Truth! (John 1:14-17)

“14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ is TRUTH!

His Word is TRUTH!! It is God’s plumb line. 

3. We must measure DECEPTION with the TRUTH! (2 John 1:7-11)

“7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Jesus said many deceivers are here and many more will arise. 

4. We must be aware that in the last days DECEPTION is going to intensify! (2Thess 2:7-9)

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

We shouldn’t be overly surprised with all the DECEPTION in our day. Why? Because the Bible forewarns us. Look out!

Conclusion: Jesus told His disciples that even the very elect could be DECEIVED. (Matt 24:24)

“24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Remember, this is in the context of His second coming.

Bottom line: We are living in days of DECEPTION; however, unless we are saturated and walking in the TRUTH, we could be DECEIVED.

Watch out!