The Deception of Distance: Finding Our Way Back to the Heart of God
- The Chapel Ministry
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
A Sunday Message with Pastor Scott McCracken at The Chapel
This past Sunday at The Chapel, guest speaker Pastor Scott McCracken delivered a timely and thought-provoking message on the subtle yet dangerous nature of deception—and how the enemy works overtime to create distance between us and the God who calls us by name.
Rooted in the familiar but powerful text of Genesis 3:1–3, Pastor Scott unpacked the serpent’s first move in the Garden of Eden: a seemingly innocent question, “Did God really say…?” That one moment of doubt was all it took to interrupt perfect communion with the Creator. And the truth is, the enemy still uses the same tactics today.
The Strategy of Deception
Drawing from his background in sales, Pastor Scott shared four common persuasion techniques—icebreakers, the yes ladder, mirroring, and indirect approach—revealing how the enemy cleverly employs similar strategies to shift our perception of God.
The serpent didn’t show up with a blatant lie. He mirrored Eve’s thoughts, questioned her understanding, and subtly distorted truth until doubt took root.
“Deception,” Pastor Scott explained, “rarely feels like rebellion—it often feels like reason.”
What makes deception so dangerous is its ability to mask distance as closeness. And if we’re not careful, we can mistake familiarity with God for intimacy with Him.
Reclaiming Our Identity in Christ
One of the key takeaways from Pastor Scott’s message was the reminder that identity is everything. The enemy will always attack the truth of who God is—and who we are in Him.
Depression, anxiety, fear, insecurity—these are not just emotional battles. They are spiritual attempts to cloud our reflection in God’s mirror.
But Scripture tells a different story:
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…” — 1 Peter 2:9
When we anchor ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, we regain clarity.
We are not what culture says we are. We are not what our past says we are.
We are who God says we are—redeemed, beloved, appointed, and free.
The Names That Matter
Pastor Scott also brought a powerful insight into the names of God. In Genesis, the serpent refers to God as Elohim (Creator), distancing Him from the more personal name Yahweh (the covenant-keeping God).
This subtle shift reframed God in Eve’s mind—not as someone she walked with daily, but as a distant deity.
The enemy’s goal hasn’t changed. He wants us to forget the God who walks with us and convince us He’s watching from afar.
Our God is personal, present, and deeply involved in our everyday lives.
Resisting the Enemy: Three Keys
Pastor Scott closed with three practical and powerful ways to push back against deception:
🔹 Prayer – Not just something we do in crisis, but a lifestyle of communion with God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
🔹 Community – Don’t isolate. Stay rooted in church life and spiritual friendships that sharpen and strengthen. (Proverbs 27:17)
🔹 Scripture – Know the Word. Speak the Word. Believe the Word. God’s truth is our greatest weapon against the enemy’s lies. (Ephesians 6:17)
A Call to Reflection
At the close of the service, Pastor Scott invited us into reflection—on our thoughts, our beliefs, and the spaces we may have unintentionally allowed the enemy to speak into. But even more, he reminded us of the open invitation of grace.
God isn’t standing off in the distance—He’s ready, arms open, to welcome us back into truth.
Final Thoughts
This message wasn’t just a warning—it was a wake-up call. In a world full of subtle lies and spiritual distraction, Pastor Scott’s message helped us realign with what matters most:
Staying close to the Father.
Walking in truth.
And standing firm in our identity in Christ.
We gather to grow strong.
To pursue truth.
To remember who we are—and whose we are.
🎥 Want to rewatch this powerful message?
Visit our YouTube channel or go to www.chapelministry.com to view the full service and explore more teachings.
Comments