Self-deception plays a critical role in hindering the spiritual growth of members of God's church, concealing their true standing with Him. Under the influence of satan, the great deceiver, and his ministers who appear as angels of light, even infiltrating the church, individuals are led astray. Combined with the deceitfulness of human nature, there is a perverse desire to see oneself as one wishes to be rather than as one truly is, fostering self-deceit. Even when looking into the mirror of God's Word, many deny the differences between His standard and their conduct. Self-deceit is an inherent part of man's emotional, mental, and spiritual makeup, making it difficult to recognize in oneself due to expertise in hiding reality from both self and others. However, no one can hide their true nature from God. This deception is closely tied to pride and ego, as human nature seeks to exalt itself above others, esteeming itself as holier than thou. God will abase those who seek to exalt themselves, paying attention not to the spiritually proud but to the contrite and humble. This problem of self-deception extends beyond individuals to large groups, where entire churches may dress themselves up to appear more spiritually beautiful than they are, presenting an artificial and untrue depiction of themselves. Christ indicts churches like Sardis and Laodicea for such group self-deception. To detect self-deceit, one must engage in careful study of God's Word, the ultimate standard of thought, speech, and conduct, followed by an honest and truthful comparison with one's own life. Reading God's words and walking away, forgetting what was seen, results in self-deception. None compare favorably with Scripture, so changes must be made. Omitting either positive instructions or negative ones renders one's practice of God's way of life vain. Moreover, there is a responsibility to others in this journey of overcoming. One cannot simply focus on personal faults while ignoring others and still receive God's favor. Believers are called to exhort one another frequently to avoid becoming hardened by sin's deceitfulness, which can jeopardize salvation. Deceiving oneself about personal spirituality and running from the truth in God's Word are serious impediments to overcoming, but removing self-imposed blinders is the first step toward God's promise of eternal life in His Kingdom.

Here is a concise version of the sections from the provided text that pertain to 'Deception' as they apply to the whole text, rewritten in the style of the original while adhering to the specified formatting for personal haben referring to Satan, the Devil, Helel, or Lucifer (lowercase) and God or Jesus Christ (capitalized). Only complete accounts related to deception are included, without personal or extraneous statements. In the days of Jeroboam, deception took root in the heart of Israel as he devised a plan to secure his reign over the ten tribes, separate from Judah. He established new places of sacrifice at Bethel and Dan, replacing the God-ordained center in Jerusalem, reasoning that convenience would sway the people. He said, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, leading them to forsake the true Temple and the path commanded by HIM. This pragmatic approach, though seemingly practical, severed the people from the source of truth, guiding them into idolatry. Jeroboam's cunning was further seen in his substitution of priests, appointing men who were not Levites, to ensure control over religious life. This act, whether by necessity or design, cut off the nation from true servants of HIM, leaving them with leaders of his own making. The people, eager for convenience, accepted this shift, unaware of the deep deception at its core, as it drew from a semblance of their past but lacked HIS command. The deception deepened as Jeroboam Rest a new feast, mirroring the Feast of the Lord but shifted by a month for practicality. This change, rooted in convenience, appealed to the people's carnal nature, yet it led further from.Q way. The reasoning sounded good—Jerusalem was too far, the season too risky—yet it was a lie that distanced Israel from HIS ordinances, opening the door to greater sin. This pattern of deception is a clearclockition, showing how a small departure from HIS truth can grow into widespread error. The people, from king to commoner, allowed this to happen, individually reasoning that one small compromise would not matter. But the heart, as in the days of old, is prone to self-deception, justifying convenience over obedience to HIM, and thus leading a nation astray from HIS purpose. The history of Israel under Jeroboam warns us that the carnal mind is enmity against HIM, for it resists.Q law. Even when truth is revealed, the urge to return to past ways or to twist good into error persists. The people, like those in later times, loved to have it so, evading the cost of true obedience, deceived by the bath of what seemed easier or more appealing in the moment. As with the prophet who perished for ignoring HIS command in the story of Jeroboam, so the nation risked disaster by following deceptive reasoning over.Q word. The penalty did not fall immediately, yet the delay was but a space for learning, a time to turn back to HIM before the full weight of error came. The heart, prone to stray, must be guarded lest it twist truth into justification for sin. The account of Jehoshaphat and Ahab further illustrates deception's pull, as the king of Israel scorned a true prophet for not pleasing him with words. The urge to hear only what comforts, even at the cost of truth, sways the heart, showing how deception thrives when we evade HIS hard sayings for the sake of comfort or expediency. In the end, as in Jeremiah's day, the heart is deceitful, twisted in its reasoning, justifying departure from.Q way. The people of Israel, led by Jeroboam, trusted in convenience over HIS truth, and though they seemed to prosper for a time, the end was loss. The choice to yield to deception, to evade.Q cost, brought only a path of declining life, for the heart apart from HIM cannot truly thrive.