Creflo Dollar - How To Overcome Self-Deception

August 15, 2025 | S25 E198 | 28:53

Join the dynamic leadership and teaching of Dr. Creflo and Taffi Dollar.

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Creflo Dollar | Creflo Dollar - How To Overcome Self-Deception | August 15, 2025
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: this program is brought to you, in part, by the
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  • Partners and friends of creflo dollar ministries.
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  • Announcer: coming up next on "changing your world."
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  • Creflo dollar: to be self-deceived is to participate
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  • In an act that produces a false view of your circumstances.
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  • To be self-deceived is to be blind to the truth of
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  • A situation.
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  • And this blindness, like i said before, has two characteristics:
  • 00:00:24.904 --> 00:00:28.274
  • Seeing the truth falsely, you see the truth as untruth, and
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  • Then secondly, being blind to the fact that your own act, the
  • 00:00:33.947 --> 00:00:37.917
  • Thing you're doing, the wrong that you're doing has produced
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  • That false view.
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  • So it's a false view because you're actually doing it, so you
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  • Gotta come up with something to feel better about what you're
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  • Doing, self-deception.
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  • ♪ this is your world, so let's vow to make it a better place ♪
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  • Creflo: all of us have been in the position where we've been
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  • Maybe deceived about something.
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  • Self-deception is kind of tricky because we're often not
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  • Aware of it when we're doing it.
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  • I mean that's how good we are with it.
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  • We're not aware of self-deception while we're doing
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  • It, why?
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  • Because, you know, when you're self-deceived, you think you're
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  • Right, but you're wrong, but you think you're right, but you
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  • Can't see it, okay?
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  • And as we grow in the lord and especially in the word of god,
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  • We begin to develop above self-deception's ability to
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  • Blind us.
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  • And so as christian people, there are lots of things we have
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  • Been deceived about, mainly because of what has come through
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  • The pulpit.
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  • And then we bought it and then it became religious in
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  • Our lives.
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  • And then we defended it, and you know, from that point on how we
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  • Listened to the word became a whole lot different.
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  • And so, lives are not really the way they are.
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  • From my study, especially in 2024 and up to now, as i read
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  • The new testament, it appears to me that god is doing his best to
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  • Try to get us to realize who we really are.
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  • This word shocked me.
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  • I don't know if it was on a friday or saturday, but the
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  • Spirit of the lord said to me, and when i say he said to me,
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  • This was really impressed in my heart.
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  • He said, "when you look at the word and when you look at me,
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  • Jesus, i want you to see the reflection of yourself."
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  • He says, "when you look at jesus, i want you to see the
  • 00:03:48.074 --> 00:03:50.977
  • Reflection of yourself.
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  • When you look at the word, i want you to see the reflection
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  • Of yourself."
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  • It's like when you look in the mirror in your bathroom, you see
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  • The reflection of yourself.
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  • And jesus says, "when you look at me, see the reflection
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  • Of yourself.
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  • You--i'm trying to get you to see that you are me."
  • 00:04:06.359 --> 00:04:13.666
  • And that was freaking me out, but i kept reading, reading,
  • 00:04:13.666 --> 00:04:16.769
  • Reading, reading, and i keep coming up with it, your true
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  • Identity, your true self--
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  • And if there's one area, that if it is corrected, we will see
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  • Phenomenal change and differences in our life, and
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  • That is the area of us finally realizing who we really are.
  • 00:04:34.187 --> 00:04:40.293
  • What's happened with us is we are focused so much on sin, sin,
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  • Sin, and bad, bad, bad, we can't see the real--our real
  • 00:04:45.832 --> 00:04:54.073
  • Reflection, because we've allowed our bad behavior and
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  • Sin, sin, sin to determine our identity.
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  • And it should be our identity that determines our behavior,
  • 00:05:00.780 --> 00:05:04.183
  • But religion says, you know, "don't do that, don't do this,
  • 00:05:04.183 --> 00:05:07.653
  • Don't do this--" and then they--
  • 00:05:07.653 --> 00:05:09.021
  • Now they can just say anything because your identity
  • 00:05:09.021 --> 00:05:13.726
  • Is now going to be based on your behavior when god is like, "no,
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  • No, no, no, no, no, no, i am telling you who you are and i
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  • Need you to receive that by faith immediately.
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  • I say to you, you're righteous, and i want you to live out of
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  • That righteousness that i say you are.
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  • Even though your behavior is not righteous, live out of the
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  • Righteousness i say you are.
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  • The behavior is going to change, but not until you accept and
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  • Realize your true identity.
  • 00:05:48.828 --> 00:05:52.732
  • So if deception from the garden of eden was all about deceiving
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  • Adam and eve about who they were--
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  • Somebody says, "oh well, that's not a big deal."
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  • But it's a big deal when jesus shows up, and then instead of
  • 00:06:04.877 --> 00:06:08.915
  • Going to the garden of eden, he went to the wilderness.
  • 00:06:08.915 --> 00:06:12.585
  • And that same devil came with the same trick, attack
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  • His identity.
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  • "if thou be the son of god."
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  • Jesus said, "wait a minute, you hadn't learned yet?
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  • I am the son of god."
  • 00:06:24.630 --> 00:06:26.265
  • He says, "no, but if thou be the son of god, turn
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  • This stone into bread."
  • 00:06:29.268 --> 00:06:30.636
  • Jesus says, "i can turn this stone into bread.
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  • I can turn the stone into a waffle.
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  • I can turn the stone anything i wanna turn the stone in, but
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  • I'm not going to turn the stone in because you're questioning
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  • My identity.
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  • I know who i am.
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  • If i would have turned the stone into bread, i would be doubting
  • 00:06:43.082 --> 00:06:47.520
  • My identity when god said, 'this is my beloved son, in whom i'm
  • 00:06:47.520 --> 00:06:51.724
  • Well pleased.'"
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  • Why is he constantly after our identity?
  • 00:06:54.293 --> 00:06:59.532
  • Because he knows that our identity determines our
  • 00:06:59.532 --> 00:07:03.436
  • Behavior, and if you ever get a hold of who you really are, then
  • 00:07:03.436 --> 00:07:08.641
  • Your behavior is going to change.
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  • Let me say one more thing before i start teaching this.
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  • In looking at this, it seems like we're always--we're
  • 00:07:17.183 --> 00:07:22.321
  • Christians, but we're always referring to sin.
  • 00:07:22.321 --> 00:07:24.724
  • We give too much credit to sin.
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  • We give no attention to what jesus has done for us.
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  • We give most of our attention to sin, "better watch out, better
  • 00:07:32.231 --> 00:07:35.935
  • Not pout, better not do that, better not do that.
  • 00:07:35.935 --> 00:07:38.538
  • If you do that, you're going to hell.
  • 00:07:38.538 --> 00:07:40.006
  • That's going to send you to hell, that's going to send
  • 00:07:40.006 --> 00:07:41.474
  • You--" got dog, hell everything.
  • 00:07:41.474 --> 00:07:43.309
  • It's just, why all the attention on sin?
  • 00:07:43.309 --> 00:07:47.346
  • And the last thing i saw was, i don't know where i heard this
  • 00:07:47.346 --> 00:07:51.751
  • From, but it was like, "sin separates you from god."
  • 00:07:51.751 --> 00:07:55.721
  • And i thought, "well, yeah," and god said, "no."
  • 00:07:55.721 --> 00:07:59.592
  • I'm like, "well, it does separate you from god."
  • 00:07:59.592 --> 00:08:02.194
  • He says, "listen to me."
  • 00:08:02.194 --> 00:08:05.498
  • He said, "what separates you from me is when you neglect to
  • 00:08:05.498 --> 00:08:09.902
  • Have daily contact with me."
  • 00:08:09.902 --> 00:08:14.206
  • He says, "you know what separates you from me?
  • 00:08:14.206 --> 00:08:16.576
  • When you're not talking to me, when you're not spending no time
  • 00:08:16.576 --> 00:08:19.512
  • With me, when you're not having contact with me, when you
  • 00:08:19.512 --> 00:08:22.882
  • Don't--when you ain't letting me have no contact with you.
  • 00:08:22.882 --> 00:08:25.351
  • And what's happened is the separation has come because of
  • 00:08:25.351 --> 00:08:28.087
  • Lack of fellowship and communion."
  • 00:08:28.087 --> 00:08:32.525
  • I said, "okay, i get it."
  • 00:08:32.525 --> 00:08:33.893
  • He says, "so what happens is when the separation takes place
  • 00:08:33.893 --> 00:08:36.462
  • Because of lack of fellowship and communion, then sin
  • 00:08:36.462 --> 00:08:39.532
  • Comes in."
  • 00:08:39.532 --> 00:08:41.500
  • And sin comes in to try to keep you separate from god.
  • 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:47.139
  • 'cause when sin comes in, the shame comes in, and the guilt
  • 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:50.643
  • Comes in, and the condemnation comes in, desperate to keep you
  • 00:08:50.643 --> 00:08:54.614
  • Separate from god, don't want you to reestablish your
  • 00:08:54.614 --> 00:08:57.650
  • Communion and your fellowship.
  • 00:08:57.650 --> 00:08:59.418
  • But now that's where grace comes in.
  • 00:08:59.418 --> 00:09:02.154
  • Grace says, "even though you got separated from god, and even
  • 00:09:02.154 --> 00:09:05.891
  • Though sin is trying to keep you separated from god, because of
  • 00:09:05.891 --> 00:09:09.228
  • His grace, you can go right back, right back close to god."
  • 00:09:09.228 --> 00:09:13.332
  • Draw right back close to him, and leave the guilt and the
  • 00:09:13.332 --> 00:09:18.938
  • Shame and the condemnation there.
  • 00:09:18.938 --> 00:09:21.540
  • So that's why coming to a church that teaches the
  • 00:09:21.540 --> 00:09:23.843
  • Word is so vital.
  • 00:09:23.843 --> 00:09:25.177
  • Spending time looking at at least one scripture a day.
  • 00:09:25.177 --> 00:09:28.214
  • You ain't got to be there no hour, but some contact, some
  • 00:09:28.214 --> 00:09:32.084
  • Contact with god, some contact with his presence, some contact.
  • 00:09:32.084 --> 00:09:36.822
  • Listening to a song and, "oh i like that," lift my hands up.
  • 00:09:36.822 --> 00:09:39.592
  • Have some daily contact with the presence of god so that it wakes
  • 00:09:39.592 --> 00:09:44.096
  • Up something on the inside of you, to let you know, i am a
  • 00:09:44.096 --> 00:09:48.234
  • Christian, i am a son of god, a child of god, belong to god.
  • 00:09:48.234 --> 00:09:52.271
  • So when sin comes in to try to separate you, you too close to
  • 00:09:52.271 --> 00:09:56.142
  • God in communion to pay it any attention.
  • 00:09:56.142 --> 00:10:00.846
  • Y'all don't hear what i'm saying, i'm just--
  • 00:10:00.846 --> 00:10:09.455
  • I'm gonna share something with you today which is radical, it's
  • 00:10:09.455 --> 00:10:14.460
  • Probably going to go viral because it's wrong.
  • 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:19.932
  • What we've learned--i thought the same way
  • 00:10:19.932 --> 00:10:22.468
  • I thought about you.
  • 00:10:22.468 --> 00:10:23.803
  • And i sat there and i looked at 1 john, chapter 1, i read a few
  • 00:10:23.803 --> 00:10:27.773
  • Scripture, then i went back and read it from the top to
  • 00:10:27.773 --> 00:10:29.642
  • The bottom.
  • 00:10:29.642 --> 00:10:31.143
  • And then i wondered how did they translate this, because the
  • 00:10:31.143 --> 00:10:33.946
  • Bible is not an american book.
  • 00:10:33.946 --> 00:10:36.449
  • The bible was not originally written in english.
  • 00:10:36.449 --> 00:10:40.453
  • The bible was originally written in the original languages, old
  • 00:10:40.453 --> 00:10:43.989
  • Testament in hebrew, and some of the new testament, most of it in
  • 00:10:43.989 --> 00:10:47.426
  • The greek.
  • 00:10:47.426 --> 00:10:49.161
  • And when you want to find out what it really means you have to
  • 00:10:49.161 --> 00:10:52.098
  • Go to the original language.
  • 00:10:52.098 --> 00:10:54.667
  • I'mma see if i can explain this to you.
  • 00:10:54.667 --> 00:10:56.502
  • I said i wasn't gonna do it, but i'mma try it.
  • 00:10:56.502 --> 00:11:00.372
  • What happens is, if i take the english bible, that's not the
  • 00:11:00.372 --> 00:11:03.909
  • Original language, and i say, "oh, i want to take the greek
  • 00:11:03.909 --> 00:11:07.146
  • Word for some word in the english bible."
  • 00:11:07.146 --> 00:11:10.416
  • And then i take the greek word for that, you know, like the
  • 00:11:10.416 --> 00:11:12.685
  • Greek word for, you know, pharisee or whatever.
  • 00:11:12.685 --> 00:11:15.588
  • And then--and it'll give me, and i'll translate it from english
  • 00:11:15.588 --> 00:11:19.125
  • To greek.
  • 00:11:19.125 --> 00:11:20.459
  • But i'm not--english is not the original language.
  • 00:11:20.459 --> 00:11:23.162
  • So the only thing that's going to happen is when i translate it
  • 00:11:23.162 --> 00:11:25.831
  • From english to greek, when i go back from greek to english, it's
  • 00:11:25.831 --> 00:11:28.701
  • Still going to mean the same thing.
  • 00:11:28.701 --> 00:11:30.669
  • Did everybody see that?
  • 00:11:30.669 --> 00:11:33.339
  • But if i translate it from the original language to english,
  • 00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:41.147
  • Mm, i'm going to find out what they really meant because
  • 00:11:41.147 --> 00:11:45.050
  • Context is important.
  • 00:11:45.050 --> 00:11:49.555
  • Why they say what they say?
  • 00:11:49.555 --> 00:11:50.890
  • What was going on at the time?
  • 00:11:50.890 --> 00:11:52.558
  • Who was saying that?
  • 00:11:52.558 --> 00:11:54.026
  • Because most of the time when the scriptures in greek refer to
  • 00:11:54.026 --> 00:11:57.830
  • The holy spirit, most of the time it is "she did that."
  • 00:11:57.830 --> 00:12:06.338
  • In the book of john it was she, "when the comforter shall come,
  • 00:12:06.338 --> 00:12:12.278
  • She shall lead you into all truth."
  • 00:12:12.278 --> 00:12:15.347
  • She--somebody say, "well why it ain't a he?"
  • 00:12:15.347 --> 00:12:17.616
  • Because it wasn't translated in he, it was translated in she,
  • 00:12:17.616 --> 00:12:21.020
  • Because that word is exemplifying the word ezra,
  • 00:12:21.020 --> 00:12:25.891
  • Which is the great, the high rescuer, the strong rescuer.
  • 00:12:25.891 --> 00:12:31.931
  • Ezer means strong rescuer and it was referring to a woman, ezer,
  • 00:12:31.931 --> 00:12:38.904
  • And the holy ghost, the helper, ezer, glory to god.
  • 00:12:38.904 --> 00:12:43.008
  • So it's in the gender of a she, and now you have a problem with
  • 00:12:43.008 --> 00:12:46.579
  • That--so you just go change it to a he.
  • 00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:52.585
  • And so in king james it's translated into he, but in the
  • 00:12:52.585 --> 00:12:55.721
  • Original greek it was ezer, strong rescuer, "she shall lead
  • 00:12:55.721 --> 00:13:02.127
  • You into all truth, and she shall show you things to come,
  • 00:13:02.127 --> 00:13:06.699
  • And she--"
  • 00:13:06.699 --> 00:13:10.002
  • And you think i'm crazy, "well, where he got that from?"
  • 00:13:10.002 --> 00:13:12.171
  • I got it from how it was said in the original language.
  • 00:13:12.171 --> 00:13:17.877
  • You went to the american bible when they said, "nah, i don't
  • 00:13:17.877 --> 00:13:20.880
  • Think we want to say that in our culture 'cause i don't want
  • 00:13:20.880 --> 00:13:24.083
  • Women to think they all that where rank is concerned."
  • 00:13:24.083 --> 00:13:31.924
  • But that's what happens when you unite with a woman.
  • 00:13:31.924 --> 00:13:34.660
  • It's not your woman is your helpmeet or your helper.
  • 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:40.566
  • Your woman is your strong rescuer.
  • 00:13:40.566 --> 00:13:45.137
  • [speaking in tongues]
  • 00:13:45.137 --> 00:13:47.072
  • And you know you need a strong rescue with your
  • 00:13:47.072 --> 00:13:49.408
  • Hard-headed self.
  • 00:13:49.408 --> 00:13:51.043
  • Some men need a strong rescuer, but because you see them as weak
  • 00:13:51.043 --> 00:13:55.314
  • And you minimize who they are, they're the only one--that
  • 00:13:55.314 --> 00:13:58.884
  • Gender is equal to the holy spirit.
  • 00:13:58.884 --> 00:14:02.454
  • And the holy spirit, you can't live your life without the holy
  • 00:14:02.454 --> 00:14:06.025
  • Ghost, and he's saying you can't live your life without a ezra.
  • 00:14:06.025 --> 00:14:09.828
  • That's why your business ain't working, 'cause you don't have
  • 00:14:09.828 --> 00:14:12.064
  • A ezra.
  • 00:14:12.064 --> 00:14:13.399
  • That's why you're not happy, 'cause you don't have a ezra.
  • 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.101
  • That's 'cause your money acting funny 'cause you don't have
  • 00:14:16.101 --> 00:14:18.137
  • A ezra.
  • 00:14:18.137 --> 00:14:22.474
  • You don't--you want--you don't wanna say nothing.
  • 00:14:22.474 --> 00:14:28.814
  • That all slipped out.
  • 00:14:28.814 --> 00:14:30.182
  • I didn't mean to say none of that, excuse me.
  • 00:14:30.182 --> 00:14:38.257
  • And so when i read the american translation of the bible, i am
  • 00:14:38.257 --> 00:14:44.997
  • Wondering, is this what it really meant?
  • 00:14:44.997 --> 00:14:50.202
  • Now, here's what's helping me.
  • 00:14:50.202 --> 00:14:52.271
  • The more contact i have with god, i read stuff in that
  • 00:14:52.271 --> 00:14:56.508
  • American translated bible, which, mostly okay to get
  • 00:14:56.508 --> 00:15:00.212
  • You through.
  • 00:15:00.212 --> 00:15:01.547
  • But i read stuff and i say, "oh lord, is that what you meant?
  • 00:15:01.547 --> 00:15:06.185
  • Because now i know you.
  • 00:15:06.185 --> 00:15:09.054
  • Now i know you're not trying to dominate any human."
  • 00:15:09.054 --> 00:15:11.557
  • So when i see that, when i see that and somebody tells me,
  • 00:15:11.557 --> 00:15:16.128
  • "the bible says the man is the head of the woman in rank,
  • 00:15:16.128 --> 00:15:20.099
  • And dominant," no, no, no.
  • 00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:21.767
  • When i see "head of the woman," all my life i thought
  • 00:15:21.767 --> 00:15:23.802
  • Head means you the boss and you get to tell everybody what
  • 00:15:23.802 --> 00:15:27.673
  • To do while you sit around, eat popcorn, while everybody
  • 00:15:27.673 --> 00:15:30.476
  • Else doing what they do.
  • 00:15:30.476 --> 00:15:32.244
  • And just decided, "well, let's see what that is."
  • 00:15:32.244 --> 00:15:37.816
  • And i saw the greek word for it, kephale.
  • 00:15:37.816 --> 00:15:42.254
  • And kephale means the source, the source for which everything
  • 00:15:42.254 --> 00:15:47.259
  • Comes from.
  • 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.128
  • Says god is the source of every man, and every man is the
  • 00:15:49.128 --> 00:15:53.766
  • Source of every woman, and every woman the source--
  • 00:15:53.766 --> 00:15:56.602
  • And it goes on.
  • 00:15:56.602 --> 00:15:57.970
  • And then i say, "well source of what?"
  • 00:15:57.970 --> 00:15:59.371
  • He says, "the source of love, the source of a man's love
  • 00:15:59.371 --> 00:16:02.541
  • Comes from god.
  • 00:16:02.541 --> 00:16:03.876
  • The source of a woman's love comes from a man," and so forth
  • 00:16:03.876 --> 00:16:07.212
  • And so on.
  • 00:16:07.212 --> 00:16:08.580
  • And i'm thinking, it ain't got nothing to do with rank and
  • 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:10.416
  • Who's the boss.
  • 00:16:10.416 --> 00:16:11.784
  • It ain't got nothing to do with that.
  • 00:16:11.784 --> 00:16:13.719
  • But you read the american bible, they say, "creflo,
  • 00:16:13.719 --> 00:16:16.722
  • Creflo just messed up."
  • 00:16:16.722 --> 00:16:18.090
  • No, no, no, no, you has been deceived.
  • 00:16:18.090 --> 00:16:28.133
  • And i am telling you, one day you're going to get tired of not
  • 00:16:31.470 --> 00:16:37.042
  • Knowing the truth.
  • 00:16:37.042 --> 00:16:42.247
  • Everything in your marriage flows right when you understand
  • 00:16:42.247 --> 00:16:46.018
  • What was said.
  • 00:16:46.018 --> 00:16:48.687
  • And now you see it's equal partnership.
  • 00:16:48.687 --> 00:16:52.858
  • Everybody playing their role, but not according to the world's
  • 00:16:52.858 --> 00:16:58.597
  • Roles but according to the anointings, to search for
  • 00:16:58.597 --> 00:17:06.805
  • Equality, that on jesus we stand on equal grounds.
  • 00:17:06.805 --> 00:17:14.446
  • And do you know, most church people won't hear what i
  • 00:17:14.446 --> 00:17:19.485
  • Just said.
  • 00:17:19.485 --> 00:17:22.054
  • This is--y'all, hear me, i can't preach no too many places
  • 00:17:22.054 --> 00:17:24.823
  • But here.
  • 00:17:24.823 --> 00:17:26.158
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:17:26.158 --> 00:17:29.862
  • If i say this stuff outside, half the church
  • 00:17:29.862 --> 00:17:32.131
  • Be empty in five minutes.
  • 00:17:32.131 --> 00:17:33.499
  • "now this joker done lost his got doggone mind.
  • 00:17:33.499 --> 00:17:37.002
  • I don't know what just happened to creflo.
  • 00:17:37.002 --> 00:17:38.470
  • What the world?"
  • 00:17:38.470 --> 00:17:43.041
  • Now, listen to me carefully.
  • 00:17:43.041 --> 00:17:48.380
  • Let's have a little review.
  • 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:50.949
  • Self-deception, it's when someone convinces themselves of
  • 00:17:50.949 --> 00:17:55.921
  • Something that isn't true.
  • 00:17:55.921 --> 00:17:59.158
  • They convince themselves of something that isn't true or
  • 00:17:59.158 --> 00:18:02.661
  • Avoids acknowledging the truth they find uncomfortable.
  • 00:18:02.661 --> 00:18:09.635
  • Now, i said, now wait a minute, it's time to deal with this.
  • 00:18:09.635 --> 00:18:12.271
  • What is truth?
  • 00:18:12.271 --> 00:18:13.972
  • What is truth?
  • 00:18:15.574 --> 00:18:18.810
  • All right, let's take it from a general place.
  • 00:18:18.810 --> 00:18:22.614
  • At its core, truth is reality, the way things actually are.
  • 00:18:22.614 --> 00:18:29.755
  • Regardless of the perception or regardless of the opinion, truth
  • 00:18:29.755 --> 00:18:33.759
  • Is reality, the way things actually are.
  • 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:38.230
  • But biblically speaking, truth is closely tied to god's nature.
  • 00:18:38.230 --> 00:18:45.871
  • Remember in john 14:6, jesus said, "i am the way."
  • 00:18:45.871 --> 00:18:50.309
  • Jesus said, "i am the truth."
  • 00:18:50.309 --> 00:18:52.945
  • Jesus said, "i am the life."
  • 00:18:52.945 --> 00:18:56.315
  • Meaning, truth is both a person, christ, and the foundation of
  • 00:18:56.315 --> 00:19:01.820
  • All existence.
  • 00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:09.661
  • It even goes deeper than that.
  • 00:19:09.661 --> 00:19:10.996
  • The things that are seen, are temporal or temporary.
  • 00:19:10.996 --> 00:19:15.100
  • The things that are unseen are eternal.
  • 00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:19.104
  • Truth goes beyond what you
  • 00:19:19.104 --> 00:19:21.373
  • Can see, 'cause it's god.
  • 00:19:21.373 --> 00:19:24.743
  • And anytime you try to discover truth and omit god, then you're
  • 00:19:26.078 --> 00:19:35.354
  • Not going to get what full truth is all about.
  • 00:19:35.354 --> 00:19:38.223
  • Now, here's why i wanted to say that.
  • 00:19:38.223 --> 00:19:41.693
  • Because it's essentially, self-deception is essentially
  • 00:19:41.693 --> 00:19:46.331
  • Lying to yourself.
  • 00:19:46.331 --> 00:19:48.800
  • And a lot of times when you lie to yourself, you do it
  • 00:19:48.800 --> 00:19:50.936
  • Unconsciously to preserve a certain self-image or avoid
  • 00:19:50.936 --> 00:19:55.774
  • Emotional pain.
  • 00:19:55.774 --> 00:19:59.211
  • When you're deceiving yourself, you're denying evidence.
  • 00:19:59.211 --> 00:20:03.282
  • When you're deceiving yourself, you're denying reality of what--
  • 00:20:03.282 --> 00:20:07.185
  • How it really is.
  • 00:20:07.185 --> 00:20:09.187
  • When you--for example, if you're 400 pounds and i say you're fat,
  • 00:20:09.187 --> 00:20:15.827
  • That's not popular.
  • 00:20:15.827 --> 00:20:18.530
  • And you say, "no i'm not," you're denying reality.
  • 00:20:18.530 --> 00:20:24.236
  • What do you got to be, 800 pounds, before you realize that
  • 00:20:24.236 --> 00:20:27.072
  • That was real?
  • 00:20:27.072 --> 00:20:29.975
  • You're denying reality.
  • 00:20:29.975 --> 00:20:31.343
  • And then you start rationalizing and you start trying to explain
  • 00:20:31.343 --> 00:20:36.448
  • Or justify your behavior, your attitude and--wow.
  • 00:20:36.448 --> 00:20:43.989
  • That's what deception is.
  • 00:20:43.989 --> 00:20:46.258
  • Deception is there to serve a false narrative.
  • 00:20:46.258 --> 00:20:49.361
  • We're not seeing or viewing things accurately.
  • 00:20:49.361 --> 00:20:53.565
  • Self-deception can involve denial of sometimes hard truths.
  • 00:20:53.565 --> 00:21:01.506
  • Minimizing the painful matters, so i'll deceive myself.
  • 00:21:01.506 --> 00:21:07.079
  • Projecting the fault on somebody else, so i'll deceive myself.
  • 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:11.650
  • I know it's my fault, but i feel better by saying it's
  • 00:21:11.650 --> 00:21:14.486
  • Your fault.
  • 00:21:14.486 --> 00:21:16.855
  • And you tell yourself to believe that, that's self-deception.
  • 00:21:16.855 --> 00:21:22.160
  • And so what i want us to do today, 'cause we got good news,
  • 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.764
  • But i want to show you how far we've come.
  • 00:21:25.764 --> 00:21:27.199
  • We're gonna talk about how to get out of it,
  • 00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:30.102
  • Snd then next week we're gonna talk about the consequences
  • 00:21:30.102 --> 00:21:32.471
  • Of you ignoring everything i done said for the last four
  • 00:21:32.471 --> 00:21:34.773
  • Weeks and continuing to go into self-deception.
  • 00:21:34.773 --> 00:21:38.677
  • There are dark consequences.
  • 00:21:38.677 --> 00:21:41.813
  • Self-deception is more than a term that describes someone who
  • 00:21:41.813 --> 00:21:45.484
  • Does not see the truth.
  • 00:21:45.484 --> 00:21:46.852
  • It is a concept that accounts for how it is possible to be
  • 00:21:46.852 --> 00:21:51.656
  • Blind to the truth.
  • 00:21:51.656 --> 00:21:53.191
  • How is it possible to be blind to the truth?
  • 00:21:53.191 --> 00:21:55.427
  • Being blind to the truth is the condition of people who refuse
  • 00:21:55.427 --> 00:21:59.431
  • To live by the truth they have been offered.
  • 00:21:59.431 --> 00:22:01.967
  • Somebody offered you the truth, but you didn't want it.
  • 00:22:01.967 --> 00:22:06.438
  • How is it possible to be blind to the truth?
  • 00:22:06.438 --> 00:22:08.340
  • Somebody offered you the truth, but i ain't trying to hear that
  • 00:22:08.340 --> 00:22:10.575
  • Right now.
  • 00:22:10.575 --> 00:22:12.477
  • You meddling, you trying to be messy.
  • 00:22:12.477 --> 00:22:15.013
  • No, i'm trying to tell you the truth.
  • 00:22:15.013 --> 00:22:20.519
  • To be self-deceived is to participate in an act that
  • 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:23.555
  • Produces a false view of your circumstances.
  • 00:22:23.555 --> 00:22:28.527
  • To be self-deceived is to be blind to the truth of
  • 00:22:28.527 --> 00:22:31.696
  • A situation.
  • 00:22:31.696 --> 00:22:33.765
  • And this blindness, like i said before, has two characteristics:
  • 00:22:33.765 --> 00:22:37.135
  • Seeing the truth falsely, you see the truth as untruth, and
  • 00:22:37.135 --> 00:22:42.808
  • Then secondly, being blind to the fact that your own act, the
  • 00:22:42.808 --> 00:22:46.778
  • Thing you're doing, the wrong that you're doing has produced
  • 00:22:46.778 --> 00:22:51.183
  • That false view.
  • 00:22:51.183 --> 00:22:52.651
  • So it's a false view because you're actually doing it,
  • 00:22:52.651 --> 00:22:55.420
  • So you got to come up with something to feel better about
  • 00:22:55.420 --> 00:23:00.325
  • What you're doing, self-deception.
  • 00:23:00.325 --> 00:23:04.529
  • Given the kind of blindness, it seems that if i am
  • 00:23:04.529 --> 00:23:07.466
  • Self-deceived, if i am self-deceived, i cannot access
  • 00:23:07.466 --> 00:23:11.903
  • The knowledge that would set me free.
  • 00:23:11.903 --> 00:23:14.372
  • So, i cannot escape self-deception because i won't
  • 00:23:14.372 --> 00:23:19.244
  • Take the knowledge that'll set me free.
  • 00:23:19.244 --> 00:23:22.113
  • You're denying the very thing that'll set you free, "i don't
  • 00:23:22.113 --> 00:23:26.184
  • Wanna come to church, i don't wanna have nothing to do with
  • 00:23:26.184 --> 00:23:27.886
  • God, i don't wanna hear the word."
  • 00:23:27.886 --> 00:23:29.654
  • Well, you're just going to stay the same.
  • 00:23:29.654 --> 00:23:32.757
  • You're going to be 65 years old and deceived, why?
  • 00:23:32.757 --> 00:23:39.264
  • 'cause you completely, totally deny the truth that's offered.
  • 00:23:39.264 --> 00:23:45.937
  • I don't wanna live like that.
  • 00:23:45.937 --> 00:23:49.441
  • I don't wanna wake up at 80 years old and i still think
  • 00:23:49.441 --> 00:23:53.011
  • Something is true when i--it's false, and i know it's false.
  • 00:23:53.011 --> 00:23:57.215
  • But if you stay around fake and false so long, it looks like
  • 00:23:57.215 --> 00:24:00.552
  • The truth.
  • 00:24:00.552 --> 00:24:02.020
  • Male announcer: self-deception leads us to believe lies,
  • 00:24:05.824 --> 00:24:08.827
  • Hardens our heart, and keeps us from the truth.
  • 00:24:08.827 --> 00:24:11.229
  • In his insightful five-message series, "defining
  • 00:24:11.229 --> 00:24:14.132
  • Self-deception," creflo dollar
  • 00:24:14.132 --> 00:24:16.201
  • Shows how to overcome the trap
  • 00:24:16.201 --> 00:24:18.069
  • Of fooling ourselves and see
  • 00:24:18.069 --> 00:24:19.704
  • Things from god's perspective.
  • 00:24:19.704 --> 00:24:21.473
  • This life-changing teaching is
  • 00:24:21.473 --> 00:24:23.108
  • Available as digital downloads for a love gift of just
  • 00:24:23.108 --> 00:24:26.077
  • $15 us or more.
  • 00:24:26.077 --> 00:24:27.913
  • Visit creflodollarministries.org and click e-store, scan the qr
  • 00:24:27.913 --> 00:24:31.983
  • Code, or call the number on your screen to get yours.
  • 00:24:31.983 --> 00:24:35.587
  • Creflo: hopefully, you're gonna choose to let
  • 00:24:37.689 --> 00:24:39.491
  • Heaven determine your thinking because whatever choice you
  • 00:24:39.491 --> 00:24:42.827
  • Make, then that's gonna be your mentality for the day.
  • 00:24:42.827 --> 00:24:45.964
  • Creflo: can you say that he's a way-maker?
  • 00:24:45.964 --> 00:24:48.133
  • Yes!
  • 00:24:48.133 --> 00:24:49.501
  • Can you say that he's a god that sits high and looks low?
  • 00:24:49.501 --> 00:24:53.271
  • Yes!
  • 00:24:53.271 --> 00:24:55.307
  • Announcer: get the message of grace any way you want.
  • 00:24:55.307 --> 00:24:57.642
  • Stream service live, 10 a.m. eastern time on sunday,
  • 00:24:57.642 --> 00:25:01.646
  • With re-airs at 2 p.m., 6 p.m.,
  • 00:25:01.646 --> 00:25:04.316
  • And 10 p.m. eastern time.
  • 00:25:04.316 --> 00:25:05.884
  • Creflo: i think you would be amazed at what creflo dollar
  • 00:25:07.285 --> 00:25:09.788
  • Ministry does every day around the world.
  • 00:25:09.788 --> 00:25:12.624
  • Testimonies come in from all over about the impact we have,
  • 00:25:12.624 --> 00:25:17.228
  • And i wish you could see the kids we feed.
  • 00:25:17.228 --> 00:25:19.864
  • Their lives are changed and impacted for the better because
  • 00:25:19.864 --> 00:25:24.169
  • Of you, our givers.
  • 00:25:24.169 --> 00:25:26.171
  • The seeds you sow into this ministry make a mark that can
  • 00:25:26.171 --> 00:25:30.575
  • Never be erased, and i want to thank you so much for your
  • 00:25:30.575 --> 00:25:34.045
  • Financial contributions into the kingdom of god and into
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  • This ministry.
  • 00:25:37.782 --> 00:25:39.117
  • Announcer: if god has placed it on your heart to support the
  • 00:25:39.117 --> 00:25:41.219
  • Vision of this ministry to reach the world with the gospel of
  • 00:25:41.219 --> 00:25:44.322
  • Grace, you may call in to make your financial donations or log
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  • On to creflodollarministries.org.
  • 00:25:47.692 --> 00:25:49.961
  • God bless you.
  • 00:25:49.961 --> 00:25:51.696
  • Announcer: creflo and taffi dollar love connecting with you
  • 00:25:53.765 --> 00:25:56.434
  • And understand the importance of using technology to do
  • 00:25:56.434 --> 00:25:59.371
  • Just that.
  • 00:25:59.371 --> 00:26:00.705
  • We're constantly working to bring the gospel of christ to
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  • Thousands of viewers and followers all around the world,
  • 00:26:02.907 --> 00:26:06.011
  • And we want you to get involved.
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  • Follow us on facebook, instagram, and x, and subscribe
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  • To creflo dollar ministries on youtube for live services
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  • And more.
  • 00:26:14.386 --> 00:26:15.720
  • Together with you, we are making
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  • The word of grace available
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  • Throughout every voice of social media.
  • 00:26:18.556 --> 00:26:20.825
  • Creflo: salvation is the beginning of a new life for
  • 00:26:23.328 --> 00:26:25.764
  • A believer.
  • 00:26:25.764 --> 00:26:27.098
  • It is from this point that we can move into the fullness of
  • 00:26:27.098 --> 00:26:30.602
  • Who god has called us to be and see the manifestation of the
  • 00:26:30.602 --> 00:26:35.006
  • Finished works of jesus.
  • 00:26:35.006 --> 00:26:37.275
  • It is one of my greatest pleasures to help people to
  • 00:26:37.275 --> 00:26:41.613
  • Understand who christ is and to lead people to christ.
  • 00:26:41.613 --> 00:26:44.449
  • If you would like salvation today, pray this prayer with me,
  • 00:26:44.449 --> 00:26:47.419
  • Very simple prayer.
  • 00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:48.787
  • Heavenly father, i believe in jesus.
  • 00:26:48.787 --> 00:26:52.490
  • I believe that he died, that he rose again, and that he
  • 00:26:52.490 --> 00:26:56.728
  • Lives today.
  • 00:26:56.728 --> 00:26:58.229
  • Come into my life, save me.
  • 00:26:58.229 --> 00:27:00.965
  • I receive you as my savior.
  • 00:27:00.965 --> 00:27:03.268
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:03.268 --> 00:27:06.371
  • Listen, if you prayed that prayer with me, that's how
  • 00:27:06.371 --> 00:27:08.773
  • Simple it is.
  • 00:27:08.773 --> 00:27:10.175
  • Welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:10.175 --> 00:27:12.210
  • Announcer: thank you, partners and friends.
  • 00:27:14.145 --> 00:27:16.214
  • Your love and financial support makes it possible to bring this
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  • Message into millions of homes all across the globe.
  • 00:27:19.784 --> 00:27:24.122
  • The preceding program was brought to you in part by the
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  • Partners and friends of creflo dollar ministries.
  • 00:27:26.624 --> 00:27:29.010