Overnight, I had a dream in which an enemy was quoting Scripture to me in an attempt to manipulate me away from doing the will of God. The man doing the devil’s bidding was quoting me this passage.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV)

Why would the devil use a love passage to dishonor God’s heart? In the dream, it was being used in an attempt to silence my voice against the false doctrines and false teachers. It was as if the enemy was saying that I wasn’t very loving if I dared to speak out against wrongs and injustices. In other words, a loving person would remain silent and do her best to get along.

Of course, I asked God why He gave me that dream. He said that I should recognize the enemy’s schemes because it is a technique that pastors who are intimidated by me will use to try to make me look bad. Then God and I had discussions about the many Scriptures that recorded Jesus’ justified anger against the Pharisees. Matthew 23 contains some pretty hot words against the teachers of the law. Jesus overturned tables of the money changers in the temple courts. And of course, the devil tried to manipulate Jesus (God while in human flesh) with the words “It is written…”

“‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” (Matthew 4:6 NIV)

So, enemy, if you’re reading this, I’m not impressed with your ability to manipulate Scriptures against God’s heart. God sees it and hates it. I’m on to you.