1) Self-delusion is a characteristic of the wicked where prosperity leads them to believe they will never face adversity and their ways are right. 2) The obstinately wicked are often given over to their own hearts' lusts and deceitful beliefs that they are pure, better than others, and can have peace in sin. 3) Those who are self-deluded hold beliefs like gifts or privileges entitle them to heaven and that God will not punish their sins, preserving such delusions until the end when the fatal consequences are realized.

1. SELF-DELUSION
Jer 5:12 They have belied the LORD, and said,
It is not he; neither shall evil come upon
us; neither shall we see sword nor
famine:
• A characteristic of the wicked
(Ps 49:18) Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to
thyself.
• Prosperity frequently leads to
Ps 30:6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
Hos 12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they
shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
Luke 12:17-19 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to
bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will
I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for
many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
• Obstinate sinners often given up to
Ps 81:11-12 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Hos 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
2Thess 2:10-11 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
• Exhibited in thinking:
- Our own ways are right
(Prov 14:12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
- We should adhere to established wicked practices
(Jer 44:17) But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense
unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our
fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had
we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
- We are pure

2. (Prov 30:12) There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their
filthiness.
- We are better than others
(Luke 18:11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other
men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
- We are rich in spiritual things
(Rev 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
- We can have peace while in sin
(Deut 29:19) And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his
heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to
thirst:
- We are above adversity
(Ps 10:6) He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
- Gifts entitle us to heaven
Matt 7:21-22 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- Privileges entitle us to heaven
Matt 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that
God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Luke 13:25-26 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to
stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say
unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our
streets.
- God will not punish our sins
Ps 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Jer 5:12 They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we
see sword nor famine:
- Christ will not come to judge
(2Pet 3:4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
- Our lives shall be prolonged
Isa 56:12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow
shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

3. Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease,
eat, drink, and be merry.
Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year,
and buy and sell, and get gain:
• Frequently preserved in, to the last
Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Luke 13:24-25 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall
not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand
without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto
you, I know you not whence ye are:
• Fatal consequences of
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 24:48-51 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall
begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall
come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him
asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose
shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
1Thess 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
• Exemplified
- Ahab
1Kgs 20:27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and
the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
1Kgs 20:34 And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore;
and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will
send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
- Israelites
Hos 12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they
shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
- Jews
John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how
sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have
one Father, even God.
- Church of Laodicea
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

4. - Babylon
Isa 47:7-11 7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart,
neither didst remember the latter end of it. 8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures,
that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a
widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: 9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in
one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the
multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. 10 For thou hast trusted in
thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee;
and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. 11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee;
thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put
it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.