The Spirit of Deception (Hivites)
Josh 3:10; Genesis 3:1-5
Hivite: To live a lie openly shown; a serpent.
Deception: To mislead by giving a distorted impression or false sense of
reality. To trick; to cheat; to beguile. The ancient Greeks used the word to
describe the pleasure that comes from watching the theater. Deception is
being pacified and placated by unreality. Pain and confusion result from
trusting false promises or believing a lie.
***How many times have you ordered something from a catalog that looks
like just what you wanted, but when the product arrives, it doesn’t look
nearly as good as it did in the catalog?
Deception is a very scary thing. Why? Because it’s deceptive.
Interestingly, deception is only an option for the Christian believer. Non-
believers are “led astray.” In order to be deceived you must have some truth
to measure the error by.
Gen. 3:1-5
The subtle attempt of Satan has always been to undermine the authority of
the word of God. Deception compromises Divine provision and protection.
Why does Satan deceive? Satan cannot create anything. All he can do is
manipulate and maneuver what has been created. Since he cannot match
God’s power, Satan has to maximize the power he has, and deception is his
strong suit. He has turned deception into an art form.
The greatest guard against deception is revealed, not communicated,
knowledge. This knowledge concerning the tree had been communicated
through Adam to Eve...not revealed to Eve from God. Adam was created
received God’s instructions and then Eve was formed. She was operating
on second-hand information. (If all you ever receive is second-hand truth,
you’re in trouble...you are in deception already...and don’t even know it. If
you are into second-hand knowledge then the enemy is filling your ears
continually.)
Satan’s weapon is his mouth. “Serpent” = nachash - “one who whispers,
hisses, suggests.”
Satan’s deception always causes distrust for spiritual authority and doubt of
the truth. Not only did he cause Eve to rebel against God, but to
misconstrue and misinterpret the words of her earthly authority in Adam.
Why do people have rebellion in their hearts today? Why won’t children
naturally obey parents?
The strategy of deception:
1. Distort what God says by changing the emphasis
2. Bring into question God’s motive (always the result of twisted meaning)
3. Introduce reason that ultimately leads you to question God’s goodness
and integrity.
....Once that’s accomplished it’s easy to turn you against God’s
authority.
Satan made God look like a taker instead of a giver. “God’s holding out on
you. You don’t have to put up with this. You deserve something better. Go
ahead and do what you want. God won’t do anything to you...He hasn’t
done anything yet, has He?”
Question: How many of you think that you probably have some deception in
your lives? Don’t forget – Satan led 1/3 of the angels astray from the very
presence of God in heaven, and caused Eve to disobey in a perfect
environment (she had never been abused by a husband, frustrated by kids,
used by a pastor, or mistreated by a boss).
Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked.”
Turn to James 1 –
James 1:16-17
Be not deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no
variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.
James is saying that if you believe there is any good outside of God’s
provision, then you can be deceived, just like Eve. No matter how good it
tastes, looks, feels; no matter how rich, abundant, wise, or successful it may
make you, if it is not from God, it will eventually lead you down a path of
sorrow, regret, and in the end, death.
Look at James 1:22-24
When a person hears the Word of God yet does not obey, deception enters
his heart and mind. This person lives thinking he’s on target when actually
he’s in error.
But, look at v. 25. This is the solution. If revelation knowledge is the key
to being free then I must learn to meditate on the word of God.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2)
The one who trembles at His word will instantly obey Him whether he sees
the advantage or not.
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him, and he will show
them his covenant.”
(Psalm 25:14).
Psalm 119:165 - “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing
causes them to stumble (be offended).”
If you’re stumbling, offended, and have no peace...then you don’t love
the word.
“Attending to”the word, Prov. 4:20-22;
“Delighting”in the word, Ps. 1:1-3
“Meditating”in the word, Josh 1:8
***Chewing the Cud; Ruminating the word. The word has to come out of you somewhere else besides your mouth. It must be digested and processed. When you walk the word, live the word, work the word, express the word, etc. Then it is properly digested in your spirit.
Conclusion: What have you ordered out of the catalog that didn’t look right
when it came in the mail? Every good and perfect gift is coming down from
the Father of lights.
