ARE YOU DECIVED?
And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Thessalonians 2:10-12
Two Gun Crowley
On May 7th 1931 a sensational manhunt in New York came to a climax. After weeks of searching for a killer named “Two Gun Crowley” the police had him pinned down in his lover’s apartment. 150 policemen surrounded the building. “Two Gun Crowley” had a reputation of being a cop killer. For over an hour shots could be heard going back and forth. After he was captured, the police chief said, “Two Gun Crowley was most dangerous criminal New York City has ever known. This man will kill for any reason.” But what did “Two Gun Crowley” think of himself?
We know because while he was held up in his lover’s apartment he wrote a note for everyone to see just in case he didn’t live. He addressed it, “To whom it may concern.” He said, “Under my coat is a weary heart, but it’s a kind and generous one, a heart that would do nobody any real harm.” “Two Gun Crowley” was sentenced to death by electrocution. When he got to the chair he didn’t say I’m sorry or this is what I deserve for killing people. Instead he said, “This is what I get for defending myself.” “Two Gun Crowley” is not alone today. Most criminals justify themselves by saying, they really didn’t do anything wrong, or that it was because they are poor or were abused.
Self Deception
1. Deceived
Is it possible to deceive ourselves like “Two Gun Crowley” was deceived?
2. Human Nature
One well-known psychologist said,”99 times out of a hundred people never admit to being wrong it may be.” They always find justification for their action.
Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
Genesis3:12-13
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the snake. God blamed them all.
3. Making Excuse Hinders God’s Forgiveness
I wonder if Adam had taken responsibility for his sin and repented right there and asked for God’s mercy if the whole story would be different now? (Example) When going through the “Ten Commandments with people it is often very difficult to get people to admit that they are a liar.
4. The Gospel Goes Against Our Pride
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. " 1John 1:8-10
God says confess and repent because I have paid the price for your freedom. But we want to make excuses for our sin.
How to Stay Deceived
1. Avoiding the Truth
A lot of people prefer to stay deceived. They don’t want to face the truth. They prefer to live in a world that makes them feel comfortable.
If you stay deceived you can never be healed, saved or delivered. The only way not to be deceived is to have a love for the truth no matter how much it hurts.
2. We Choose Friends We Are Comfortable With
For example, we choose friends that have the same weaknesses and faults that we have. Have you ever been around someone that you know to be more excellent than you are? We go to places we will feel accepted. Nobody challenges you because they are just like you.
3. Rejection the Truth
It’s much easier to be deceived sometimes than it is to face the truth. We all want to avoid pain, but if we want truth sometimes it’s going to be painful.
4. Some Like To Be Deceived
Think of “Two Gun Crowley” there are many just like him that live in a moral fantasy land.
How the Truth Will Set You Free
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " John 8:31-32
1. See Yourself In Truth
If you want to see yourself in truth you need the right mirror and you need people around you that their excellence shows up your flaws. Have you ever been around someone that is uglier than you are? Don’t you feel more handsome or beautiful? But how do you feel when you are around someone that is more beautiful or handsome than you are? You go to the bathroom and look in the mirror and you think what’s wrong with you.
2. God’s Mirror
God’s word is a mirror of reality we are to use. This mirror compares us to God’s standard and not our own perverted standards.
" For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. "
James1:23-25
3. God’s Mirror Reveals Where To Wash
It’s when we known the truth that we will go to God for help. Like when you realize you are sick you will see a doctor. Or when you look in the mirror and see a big booger hanging out that you will get some tissue.
4. Truth Sets You Free From The Devil’s Lies
When you know the truth from God’s word or from the preaching of God’s word it is your opportunity to be set free from a lie that has been controlling your life. The only way to be set free from a lie is to believe the truth. Jesus is the truth.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John14:6
5. Truth Bring You To Jesus
Real truth is always based on the word of God. As long as you believe lies from hell you will have hell in your life.
Knowing means believing! In other words it is not good enough to have the truth or hear the truth but you need to believe the truth but you need to believe the truth and act on it so that you can experience freedom.
中譯
你被騙了嗎？
並且在那沉淪的人身上，行各樣出於不義的詭詐，因他們不領受愛真理的心，使他們得救。故此，神就給他們一個生發錯誤的心，叫他們信從虛謊，使一切不信真理、倒喜愛不義的人都被定罪。
帖撒羅尼迦後書2：10-12
雙槍Crowley
在1931年五月7日，在紐約有一個駭人聽聞的殺人事件，發展到最高潮。經過搜索，警察在他情人的公寓圍剿抓到他。他的名字是“雙槍Crowley”，他有個“警察殺手”的稱號。經超過一小時的槍戰，他被警察制服了。警察說Crowley，是紐約最危險的罪犯。他這個人可以為了任何一個理由殺人。但，Crowley 是怎麼看他自己呢？我們知道當他在他情人的公寓，被150名警方圍剿時，為以防萬一，他寫一個留言給所有人；以防他會死。他註名“給所有關心的人；”他寫到：在我外套下是一個疲倦厭煩的心，但也是一顆仁慈和寬容，不願讓任何人受傷害的心。Crowley 被判電擊處死。當他坐在電椅上時，並沒有為他所殺的人感到抱歉，反而說“這是我為自己討的公道。”Crowley 不是個案，許多犯罪的人會為他們自己辯解說：他們沒有做任何不好的事啊！或說因為他們多麼不幸，被人虐待了。
自己騙自己
1、欺騙
我們就像Crowley一樣會騙自己，這是有可能的。
2、人性
有一個很有名的心理學家說：超過100人有99次從不承認自己有犯過錯，他們總是會為自己的行為辯解。
那人說：〝你所賜給我、與我同居的女人，她把那樹上的果子給我，我就吃了。〞耶和華神對女人說：〝你做的是什麼事呢？〞女人說：〝那蛇引誘我，我就吃了。 創世記3：12-13
亞當責怪夏娃，夏娃責怪蛇，神責怪他們。
3、用藉口阻擋神的原諒
我很想知道，如果亞當為他犯的罪負起責任，向神悔改求神的饒恕，故事結果會不會不一樣？
例如：當人們用十誡來審視自己，通常是非常困難讓人承認他們有說謊。
4、福音真理可抵擋我們的驕傲
"我們若說自己無罪，便是自欺，真理不在我們心裏了；我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義；我們若說自己沒有犯過罪，便是以神為說謊的，他的道也不在我們心裏了。" 約翰一書1：8-10
神說：認罪悔改吧！因我已為了你的自由付上代價了。但我們會為了我們的罪來製造很多藉口。
如何繼續被騙
1、逃避真理
許多人寧願繼續被騙，他們不願去面對真理，他們寧願生活在能讓他們感到安逸的世界。
如果你想一直被騙下去，那你就不會得醫治，被拯救和被釋放。唯一的路是去愛真理，不論它會帶來多少的痛苦。
2、我們會跟容易相處的人做朋友
例如，我們會選擇像我們有一樣的弱點或一樣的缺點的人做朋友。
而且我們會去被人所接受的地方，不會有人挑戰你，因為他們就像你一樣
3、拒絕真理
有時我們比較想被欺騙而不想面對真相，我們會想避免引起痛苦。但如果我們要得到真理，有時是會帶來痛苦的。
4、有些人愛被欺騙
想想Crowley，其實有很多人就像他一樣活在自己的“理想”中。
真理如何讓你得自由
耶穌對信他的猶太人說：〝你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒。你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。〞 約翰福音8：31-32
1、用真理審查自己
如果你想以真理審查自己，你就要有對的典範，而且你要有優點的人在你身邊，他能看出你的缺點。你身邊有長相比你差的嗎？讓你覺得自己有比較帥或是漂亮嗎？但，當你身邊都是比你帥氣漂亮的帥哥美女，你會怎麼想？說不定你會跑到廁所邊照鏡子邊想著“是不是哪裡不對？”
2、神的鏡子
神的話語像一面鏡子，能真實的讓我們使用。這面鏡子是神的標準，不是我們自己的標準。
"因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對著鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。惟有詳細察看那全備、使人自由之律法的，並且時常如此，這人既不是聽了就忘，乃是實在行出來，就在他所行的事上必然得福。" 雅各書1：23-25
3、神的鏡子能顯出我們哪裡需被潔淨
當我們了解真理我們會要神的幫助，就像你發現你生病，你會去找醫生。或者當你在照鏡子，發現你臉上有個大鼻屎，你會拿面紙快快擦去。
4、真理會讓你從魔鬼的謊言中得自由
當你了解到神的話語是真理，可以讓你遠離被“謊言”控制生活的機會。唯一能從謊言中得自由，就要相信真理。耶穌就是真理。
耶穌說：“我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉著我，沒有人能到父那裏去。 約翰福音14：6
5真理會帶你到耶穌面前
真的真理基本上是從神的話語來的。只要你相信地獄來的謊言，你的生活就會像地獄一樣。來了解真理，相信真理吧！另一方面，你只是了解真理或只是去聽講真理那是不夠的，你更是要去相信，而且把真理行出來，你就會得到真自由。
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