31/08/2025
WHEN THE TEMPTATION IS SCRIPTURAL
A common parlance in the body of Christ is to be rooted in scriptures or we sometimes brand ourselves as Bible based Christians. This is commendable and good, as the Scriptures should be the basis of all we do as believers.
Yet, we must also understand that the enemy - the devil is wise and knowledgeable, which is why we are warned to not be ignorant of the devices/tactics of the enemy. He wouldn't have tactics if he doesn't have a level of knowledge or wisdom, even though it negates God's wisdom!
Hence, we must also understand that sometimes the temptation wherewith we are tempted can often be scriptural! This is because the enemy knows that you wouldn't want to fall for anything cheaply, especially when such negates clearly your knowledge of the word of God. So, he can begin to use the same word of God to twist your perspective until you find yourself fallen for his tricks.
Then the devil taketh him up, into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge,, concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up,, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:5-7|KJV)
The devil came to tempt Jesus, as you know, but the fascinating thing here is that among the tools of his to use, was also the word of God!
Notice that he wasn't saying anything that was contrary to God's word, but what was contrary to God's will and context of application!
I have heard of situations where a sister demanded in prayer to be married to a man who was already married to another, and the basis of the boldness to ask in prayer, was that the Bible said, ask and it shall be given unto you - Matthew 7:7. Yes, it's the scripture, but it's not the correct application of the same.
So, often times, it is not enough to be a student of the Bible but you must also seek to know the Spirit of God behind the written word! This is how you come into discernment and able to overcome the wiles of the enemy. It was the fraternity of Jesus with the Spirit of God that enabled him to know at that instance that while Satan quoted Scriptures, it was not the will of God for him.
Take note, God will not give you what is good, rather what He gives you is life! In the Garden, there were two major trees mentioned, the tree of knowledge of good and evil which God asked man not to touch, and the tree of life! Man took the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but it was not God who gave them!
May God give you understanding!
