Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School

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PFHL Course 410-- Deceit and Deception (4 pgs.)

(by Bill Stevenson)
Note: On April 11, 1985, circumstances and the Holy Spirit influenced me to do this paper.
I believe that the Holy Spirit guided me in selection the key verses and the order in which
I typed them for this paper. Deceit is a problem everywhere, in worldly businesses, our
families, and all types of ministries. Don't just relate what you read here to other
individuals; let God point out ways you have used deceit and desire to make immediate
changes in your social habits.
Directions: First study the following information. Determine what does God think of deceit and
deception. Carefully read the following definitions from Noah Webster's 1828
American Dictionary of the English Language. Some of them are for clarification
of some of the definitions and the rest are of words found in the following verses.
Then slowly read the verses, reviewing the definitions of each underlined word.
Doing this will really make the verses much more meaningful. Respond to the three
personal requests at the end, which do not have to be turned in.
Finally, write an essay stating your conclusions about these common sins. Give
specific detailed examples. This assignment is worth 2 units, so write at least 2
quality pages (single spaced lines and no redundancies).

Study About Deceit

Definitions:
1. abhor = to hate extremely; to loath, detest, or abominate; to cast off or reflect.
2. boastful = given to gladness in confident expectation.
3. deceive = to mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false; to cheat; to
cut off from expectation; to frustrate or disappoint.
4. cheat = to deceive and defraud in a bargain; to deceive for the purpose of gain in selling. It’s
application to commerce is when a person uses some arts, or misrepresentations, or withholds
some facts by which he deceives the purchaser. This word also means to deceive by any
artifice, trick, or device what a view to gain an advantage contrary to common honesty.
5. deceitful = tending to mislead or being fraudulent for ensnaring others (usually encouraged by
coveting thoughts).
6. double-minded = individuals who possess many contradictory and hypocritical ideas and
hopes. (My understanding of the Bible meaning.)
7. dwell = to abide as a permanent resident, or to inhabit for a time.
8. evil = any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him or her by
God or by legitimate human authority.
9. deviation = a wandering from the path of duty; want of conformity to the rules prescribed by
God; error; sin.
10. agent = one that exerts power.
11. iniquity = unrighteousness; a deviation from rectitude.
12. rectitude = rightness of principle or practice; uprightness of mind: exact conformity to truth or
the rules prescribed for moral conduct, either by divine or human laws.
13. lie = a criminal falsehood; a falsehood uttered for the purpose of deception; an intentional
violation of truth; that which deceives and disappoints confidence; a false representation
exhibit.
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14. falsehood = Contrariety or inconformity to fact or truth, an untrue assertion; a lie.
15. live = to be greatly refreshed or comforted.
16. lying = telling falsehood.
17. lying lips = untruthful or dishonest speakers. (My understanding of the Bible meaning.)
18. offense = displeasure; angers or moderate anger; scandal cause of stumbling; any
transgression of law (divine or human) a crime; a sin; an act of wickedness or omission of
duty.
19. wickedness = departure from the rules of the divine Law: any act or practice which is not
good or righteous; thinking wrongly or deceitfully.
20. oracle = revelation or special (God-given) understanding.
21. partakers = associates; companions; business partners.
22. prudent = cautious; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures, or actions.
23. redeem = to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage; to deliver.
24. simple = undesigning; sincere; harmless.
25. statutes = permanent rules or laws.
26. unjust = acting contrary to the standard of right established by the divine Law.
27. uphold = to support; to sustain; to keep from shipping.
28. witness = a person who knows or sees any thing (physical or spiritual).

Appropriate Scripture:
Psalms 5:4-6 “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell
with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall
destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

Proverbs 11:18 “The wicked works a deceitful work; but to him [or her] that sows
righteousness shall be a sure reward.”

Proverbs 12:5, 17, 6 20 “The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the
wicked are deceitful…. He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness,
deceit…. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.”

Proverbs 14;8 & 25 “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of
fools is deceit…. A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.”

Psalms 36:1-4 “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked. There
is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his
iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit. He has ceased
to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness and deceit on his bed; he sets himself in a
way that is not good; he does not abhor evil.”

Psalms 20:17 “Bread [or money] gained by deceit is sweet to a man. But afterward [later],
his mouth will be filled with gravel.”

Leviticus 6:1, 2, 4, & 5 “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, ‘If a soul sins and
commits a trespass against the LORD by lying [or deceiving] a neighbor in fellowship [or
business], then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore the thing [or
money] which he has deceitfully obtained.… He shall even restore it in the principal full value
and shall add one-fifth more to it and give it to whomever it belongs on the day he asks
forgiveness from God.’” (selected appropriate phrases)

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Job 27:3 & 4 “As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips
will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.”

1 John 3:7 & 8 “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is
righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of
the devil.”

Romans 16:17 & 18 “Now I urge you brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses,
contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not
serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech
deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Colossians 2:6-8 “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it
with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not
according to Christ.”

Ephesians 5:6-11 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the
wrath of God come upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Word. Walk as children of light (for
the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to
the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose
them.”

Psalms 101:7 “He [or she] who works deceit shall not dwell within My house; he [or she]
who tells lies shall not continue in My presence.”

Psalms 119:113-118 “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your Law. You are my hiding
place and my shield; I hope in Your Word. Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the
commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your Word, that I may live; and do not let
me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes
continually. You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood."

2 Timothy 3:12 & 13 “Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived.”

Psalms 43:1c “Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man [or woman]!”

Psalms 190: 2 “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.”

Psalms 72:12-14 “For He shall deliver the needy when he [or she] cried, the poor also and
him [or her] that has no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the
needy. He shall redeem their souls from deceit and violence; and precious shall their blood be in
His sight.”

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Philippians 4:6-8 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are
pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if
there is anything praiseworthy-- meditate on these things.”

Study About Deception

General examples of deception [lying]--
Genesis 31-5; Joshua 9; Judges 3:15-26; 2 Samuel 13; 2 Kings 5:20-27; Matthew 2:1-18.

The work of deceivers [seducers & false teachers]--

Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 3:13; Titus 1:10-16; 2
John 7; Revelation 18:23.

Religious persons guilty of deception--

Genesis 12:10-20, 20:1-13, 26:1-10, & 27; 1 Samuel 21; 1 Kings 13:11-34; 2 Kings 6:8-33 &
10:1-31; Matthew 26:69-74.

Be not deceived--
Matthew 24:4-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 & 15:33-34; Galatians 6:7-10; Ephesians 5:6-7; 2
Thessalonians 2:1-4; 1 John 3:4-10.

Individuals you now think you should pray for because of deceit problems:
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Ways in which you are deceitful and which you want to eliminate:
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What changes will you do? Find Bible verses to memorize that will help.
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