Memorize Scripture to Fight Sin

Memorizing the Bible is a powerful weapon against sin and temptation. David memorized scripture as a means of fighting sin (Ps 119:11). Jesus also used His arsenal of memorized verses to fight temptation.

Often, when struggling with sin we are encouraged to memorize specific verses. Such as memorizing Philippians 4:6, “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” when we battle fear or anxiety.  

While quoting scripture is an incredible weapon, we often wield it the wrong way in our fight against sin and temptation.

Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor in communist Russian who was imprisoned and tortured for his faith, was asked which scripture verses had helped him endure his years of torture and resist the temptation to renounce his faith. He responded that no Bible verse could help. Only the Spirit of the Lord Jesus could help. 

In this post, I said that our motive to memorize scripture must be seeking to know God and that the purpose of memorizing scripture is to meditate on God. 

Memorizing scripture is only effective in our fight against sin when we memorize to take our eyes off our circumstances, off lies, off feelings and direct them to our amazing God because we believe that only our Lord Jesus is enough to overcome our sin. 

This is how quoting scripture works as an effective tool to fight sin. Meditating on God by memorizing scripture is the means of fighting sin. 

 

Sin & temptation

Sin, at its core, is desiring anything more than we desire God – believing that something will make us happier than God.

Satan tempts us to sin by lying to us, saying that there is something better than God, or that God is not good and satisfying. 

Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit God had told her not to eat by telling her that God was not fair, that God was withholding something good. “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:4-5) Eve sinned when she believed the lie of Satan and desired the fruit of the tree more than she desired a perfect relationship with God.

When we are tempted to scroll through our phone instead of reading our Bible, or gossip about someone, or eat too much food, we are battling a desire for God over a desire for other things. Simply quoting scripture isn’t going to defeat our temptation. We still want to gossip. We still want chocolate cake. We still love our sin more than we love God.

 

Memorizing to fight sin

The only way to fight sin is to fight for satisfaction in Jesus. One powerful way we fight for satisfaction in God is by memorizing scripture. We memorize to know God, and we quote to meditate on God. As we think about our God’s character, the lies of Satan fall to the ground powerless against the goodness and justice of our God.

Belief that God is better than everything else is the stage for victory over all sin.

Jesus gave us an incredible example of how to put this into practice: 

 

Now when the tempter came to [Jesus], he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ “

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “

Then the devil left Him.

– Matthew 4:3-11

 

Satan tempted Jesus to believe that God wasn’t enough and enticed Him to desire something more than God.

• You’re hungry – create bread for yourself. You need food more than prayer.
• Perform a miracle and prove to the city of Jerusalem that you are the son of God. God’s approval isn’t enough, you need their approval as well.
• All the kingdoms of the world can be yours if you just worship me. Your relationship with God isn’t enough, you need these kingdoms too.

How did Jesus come through victorious? He quoted the word of God hidden in His heart. 

• The words of God are better than food.
• That is a lie, you should not tempt God.
• God is the only One worthy of worship. 

 

Fight for satisfaction in God

By all means, quote scripture to fight sin! But recognize that simply quoting memorized words won’t bring victory. Instead, memorize to know God and quote to remind yourself that He is good, all satisfying, and powerful. 

When your mind is tempted to fantasize over a crush, or daydream about your uncertain future, quote scripture. Draw your mind away from daydream and fantasy and fully satisfy yourself with God and the future He has in store for His children.

When you are tempted to indulge your flesh by overeating, or binge-watching Netflix, or cracking open an ungodly book, instead, quote scripture. Indulge your spirit in the goodness and pleasure of God. 

When you are tempted to give in to fear, worry or despair, quote scripture. Remind yourself of who your God is. 

 

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• Think about the last time you sinned. Can you trace the root of your sin back to a belief that God isn’t enough, or back to a desire for something more than God?
• Have you ever memorized the Bible to intentionally meditate on God? 
• What’s one benefit you’ve seen in your life from making memorizing the Bible a priority?