Deceived By Me

			Prayer Times & Directions Member Login Contact Give Online
HomeOur Frontpage Get To Know Uswho we are & what we are about New To Southeast Times & Directions Meet the Pastor & First Lady Leadership Team Mission & Vision Our History Our Beliefs Ministriesfind ways to get involved Youth Adult Women's Ministry Men's MInistry Sensational Seniors Sabbath School (Bible Study) Family Life Worship Mirage Production Drama Music Ministry Outreach Community Food Giveaway Deaf Ministry City Mission Outreach Ministry Media Ministry Community Outreach Message To Go Ministry Visitation Ministry Social Committee Give $5 to Keep Ministry Alive Evangelism News & Eventscalendar, newsletters, announcements Calendar Newsletter (Southeast iMpact) Latest Announcements Event Registration E-Bulletin Listen to Worship Service by Phone Media & Resourcessermon archives, bible search, galleries Watch Live Sermons Photo Gallery Church Blog Bible Search Contribution Statements Policies and Procedures Church Service Online - Facebook Live! YouTube Live! ROKU Live! Southeast's Mobile App

Deceived By Me

(0 votes)

alisa hood 1 “I’m going to put on my robe, tell my story, how I made it over. Soon as I get home. I shall wear a crown.”

Elder Alisa Hood, First Lady of Southeast SDA, continued the sermon series “Strange Tears” with the powerful message, “Deceived by Me.” This appeal to recognize how Satan deceives us into deceiving ourselves fell on hearts, opened minds and blessed souls. The message made it clear how important it is to wrestle with God until we recognize our own complicity in self-deception. When we become honest with ourselves, we are open to receive the blessing of redemption and eternal life.

Elder Hood shared a glimpse into her own self-deception sparked by Pastor Hood’s sermon, “Killed by the Call.” In this message, Pastor Hood spoke on Jeremiah and covetousness (Ex. 20:17 and I Cor. 3:3). Elder Hood appreciated the depth of the sermon but did not recognize the trait in herself. “That’s not me,” she said. “I don’t see covetousness in me. I’ll be the first one to esteem my sisters…I know how to step back so my sister can step forward.” But God did reveal that covetousness found in her.

In a moment of transparency regarding the care of her mother, Elder Hood realized, “you’re stuck in the house with your mama, while your sister can come and go as she please and you are kind of angry about it. It’s in you, don’t deny.” That was a moment of honest clarity. In the case of Jeremiah, he recognized that if he didn’t get honest with himself, he could lose the calling on his life. According to Elder Hood: “Bottom line. There is a cost that comes along with the call. The devil doesn’t want us to get honest with ourselves.”

Elder Hood further emphasized the lesson on deception with the story of Issac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob and Laban. Everyone conspired in self-deception, compromising and the selling of their inheritance for mere crumbs. The deception stems from believing that we can do it ourselves and we take our eyes off Jesus. If we’re struggling to come to Jesus now, Elder Hood stressed, what is going to happen when the “Jordan swells?” If I can’t handle the trials going on in my life now, what will I sell my inheritance for? If I’m compromising now, what am I going to do when the times get rough? To be liked? To get in where we fit in?” Elder Hood advised that we need Jesus to clean us up, “take this covetousness, take this appeasement.”

When Jacob wrestled with the angel, he was determined not to let him go until God blessed him. Jacob recognized, just like Jeremiah, that he had to become honest with himself to be open to redemption. Christ knew that we would have to wrestle. He knew we would have the victory. He knew he had to go to the Cross. According to Isa. 53:11, “He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” The fruit of his suffering was not in vain.

Elder Hood had a word of encouragement for everyone having the Jbok experience like Jacob to not let go, don’t stop trying. She ministered everyone, including the youth. “Don’t let the Devil isolate you. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).” You have the same power the adults have. Resist the devil and he will flee.”

Elder Hood declared, “I’m speaking life back into me. I’m reclaiming everything that I’ve allowed the locust, the caterpillar, the canker worm; everything that that I let him take from me, I want my stuff back in Jesus’ name. I’m not going let you go until Southeast is what it is meant to be. I’m not going to let you go until we are blessed.” “I’m going to put on my crown. I’m going to give my testimony—tell my own story. I shall wear a crown.”

--Cecily Bryant, Communication Leader

Content Navigation