Sources of DeceptionJames 4:1-10A source is a point of origin, of initiation. A stream has a source, and we understand that as its beginning. When we hear a news report, or we’re seeking information on a certain subject we talk about “going to the source.”  By that we mean, going to the person who is closest to the report or the one with the most accurate and reliable information.Deception is defined as “the act of deceiving; the fact or condition of being deceived.” It is the process by which you and I are led to believe things that are not true. They may appear to be true, legitimate, or even honorable, but they’re not.So, sources of deception are things someone uses to lead you and me to believe what isn’t true. Today there are many devices Satan uses to promote deception, but there are only a few basic sources of deception. We could spend the next half hour talking about some of those devices. The problem is, we’d probably miss the specific devices that influence you.If we focus on the tools or devices Satan uses, we will only deal with the symptoms. Instead, I want you to join me in looking at the sources of deception, so we can recognize them no matter how they present themselves to us.If you can, open your Bible to James chapter four. I’ll begin reading verse one and read through verse ten. Let’s Read James 4:1-10.In our text, James reveals three foundational SOURCES of deception.The First Source of Deception is,Our Humanity                  Verses one through three establish a very basic truth. Our fleshly appetites are the source of much evil. The words, lust, pleasure, desire, and consume express the drive of our passions and they lead to covetousness, strife, war, and murder. The evidence of this reality begins in the Garden of Eden. The Biblical terminology for this is “the lust of the flesh,” I John 2:16. Our fallen humanity has one overarching desire – to gratify itself.But how can that lead to deception? Think of someone you know who once walked with Christ, but no longer does. Or someone who professes to know Christ, but their lifestyle continues to move them farther and farther from God’s commands. What caused them to start down that path? Many people take their first step away from God because they want to fulfill a fleshly appetite or desire. They set their heart on something they cannot legitimately have.It often begins with a legitimate appetite that God designed to be fulfilled within clear limits. But our flesh doesn’t want limits, it wants gratification! Think of Mother Eve, free to eat from every tree in the Garden except one! What does she do? I picture her walking around the forbidden tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, looking at it, and saying, “my that looks like it would be good to eat.” That’s the beginning of deception; we believe the lie that looking won’t hurt.Paul says in First Corinthians 9:27; “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Just prior to this he used a boxing metaphor and spoke of giving his flesh, knock-out punches! This battle with our humanity is not a game; it is a deadly serious business because eternity is at stake.Years ago, I worked in a large manufacturing plant and there was...

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