Title: When Evil Looks Like Love
---
00:15 Why Is It Hard to Turn From Foolishness?
01:31 Another Reason: Evil is Tactically Flattering
04:33 Reading Proverbs 7
04:59 Adultery as a Picture of Temptation
05:32 Write God's Commands on the Tablet of Your Heart
08:55 Don't Just Treasure God's Promises. Treasure His Commands
09:58 Make Wisdom Your Intimate Friend
12:03 The Power of Imagination for Our Fight Against Sin
15:37 The Victim: A Foolish Simpleton
19:20 The Predator: A Cunning, Guarded Prostitute
25:03 The Tactic: Targeted Flattery
29:51 The Rationalization: Piling On Reasons
38:01 The Fall: The Simple Gives In
39:39 The Remedy: Pursue God's Good
41:28 Three Steps to Fighting Temptation
42:01 One: Quit Flirting with God. Marry Him.
43:29 Two: Don't Stray into the Path of Temptation
44:39 Three: Keep Your Eyes on the End
---
Proverbs 7
---
In this message from Proverbs 7, Jed Gillis unpacks why turning from foolishness can be so difficult, even when its consequences are clear. The text warns that evil often doesn’t come looking like a threat; it looks like love. It flatters, appeals, and seduces by targeting our deepest desires, especially the longing to be loved and valued.
The passage uses the image of a cunning adulteress to show how sin disguises itself as something beautiful, but leads to death. Gillis draws out how this kind of “tactical flattery” works: it’s calculated, it plays on our insecurities, and it persuades us to act on impulse while dismissing the consequences. At the heart of the problem is the uncommitted person (the “simple” one) who flirts with temptation rather than being anchored in God’s truth.
The remedy is clear: treasure God’s commands, engrave them on your heart, and marry wisdom like a lifelong partner. Wisdom, not flattery, offers real intimacy rooted in God’s goodness and protection. Believers are urged to quit flirting with God, avoid the paths where temptation prowls, and keep their eyes fixed on the tragic end of foolishness.
---
Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.
