It seems some people can quote bible verses but have not the fruit of the Spirit "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:" (Galatians 5:22-23)
And we think "Hippocrates".
So why are we encouraged to memorize bible verses?
I will confess, I know many bible verses but have not had the fruit of the Spirit all the time. I may not be quite as good as to tell your where they are located in the bible but I do remember the words. But when I become empower by God with His Holy Spirit, I come to realize the advantage I have by the many bible verses I had memorized. It was easier for me to fight against the enemies temptations and lies.
Empowered by God examples (examples taken from the (NET)
Judges 3:10 The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he led Israel.
Judges 14:6 The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat.
Judges 14:19 The Lord’s spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men.
1 Kings 2:45 But King Solomon will be empowered and David’s dynasty will endure permanently before the Lord.”
Galatians 2:8 (for he who empowered Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)
I am sure Satan laughed when he seen me taking time to memorize bible verses; most likely thinking 'she doesn't have the knowledge of it's use and she is not a threat to me, In them she will think see has eternal life'.
Now, I see God had giving me the opportunity to memorize verses or; as I call it, "Stock-pile Ammunition" for when Satan would became aware that I was a threat to him.
Little did Satan know that through his own deception, God was working.
Just as Satan deceived Judas, God was working.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:". Ephesians 6:17 (KJV) This verse tells us that the word of God is our sword. And we know the word of God will defeat Satan. We are giving this example when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. "And Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan (after being baptized), and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an higher mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I will give it. If thou therefore will worship me, all shall be yours. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan for it is written, You shall worship the Lord God, and him only shall you serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast yourself down from here: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you: And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. And Jesus answered said unto him, It is said, Thou shall not tempt the Lord your God. Luke4:1-12(KJV)
Why memorize Bible verses, because it will become your most powerful weapon of defense against the enemy.
So I encourage you to take time to memorize, memorize, memorize those Bible verses.
Be Blessed To Be A Blessing!