2 Strategies the Devil Uses to Misuse Scripture

In most action movies it’s pretty obvious who the enemy is. Aside from an occasional plot twist, the evil villain is easy to identify. Whether it be a daunting laugh or an obnoxious hunger for power, characteristics of the bad guys are usually clear to see...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLES HERE

This isn’t the case for Satan, the villain in God’s story and the enemy of our souls. His tactics are deceitful and hard to spot if we don’t know God’s word for ourselves. Without a grasp on what God’s word says about us, we are subject to the schemes of the devil. Here are ways Satan tries to use Scripture against us.

1.Satan Uses God’s Word to Cause Impatience.

Using a similar strategy as the one in the garden, Satan tried to influence Jesus to act prematurely. In Matthew 4 he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, took Him to a high place on the temple, and had the audacity to use Scripture against Him.

Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 and said, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Likewise, God wants us to wait on Him to refine us. He can use both the good times and the bad times to grow us and make us better, and He will raise us up in His perfect timing. The enemy wants us to forsake that process so that we never become all God wants us to be.

The enemy wants you to believe there’s a way to gain success through him. Look at what he said to Jesus in Matthew 4:9. “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.

2.Satan Uses Scripture to Cause Doubt. Had Jesus been unsure of His identity, this would have made Him question whether or not God had sent Him to be the Savior of the world.

Satan wants us to doubt our identity. God says we are His (Psalm 100:3).Satan wants us to doubt our salvation. God says we are redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1:7).

Satan wants us to doubt our purpose. God says we were created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).Satan wants us to doubt our future. God says He has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11).