“IT IS WRITTEN!” 5 Ways to Use Scripture as Defense
Your life as a follower of Christ is certain to be one of trials and tribulations. In fact, Jesus Christ, Himself, made that promise when He said, “…in this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33) and “because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, the world therefore hates you.” (John 15:18-19) And then?
“Be of good cheer,” Jesus said. “I have overcome the world.” But what does that really mean when you’re walking through fire, being tossed and turned by the wind, drowned in the waves, persecuted, rejected and worse by the natural world and under constant assault from the spiritual realm?
God has an “It. Is. Written.” for Everything You Need
You can trust Jesus. If He said it, He meant it and His words are backed by the spiritual power of His Word and God watches over His Word to make sure it is carried out. (Jer. 1:12) The world is trapped in sin and darkness, manipulated and influenced by spiritual principalities and powers that are legally allowed to traffic in the darkness, so it is crucial in your spiritual battle that you fight the right enemy and use the right weapons. When Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN,” He established a spiritual pattern that you have the legal authority to follow to cause the enemy to flee!
Remember, it is written that your, “fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12) and remember that, “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:3-4) And remember this: Because your enemy is relentless, you must also be relentless.
You will experience many difficulties in life- everyone does! “But do not be surprised concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you,” Peter wrote. (1 Peter 4:12) That is why you need an “It is written!” for every situation you face.
Your battles will take many shapes – a devastating health diagnosis, kids addicted to drugs and alcohol, infidelity, divorce, a car accident. Maybe you have to make an impossible decision. Maybe your home is being foreclosed on. Maybe someone has rejected or abused you. Maybe you have a loved one who is missing. The list goes on. Life is filled with these trials, so what do you do now? When the battle is raging?
The battle is, first within you, and so is your victory. Why? Because the battle is always spiritual, first, in the life of a Christian. Satan wants to “steal, kill and destroy” (1 Peter 5:8) anything he legally can, and where he has no legal, spiritual access he will still try to overtake because his desire to do evil has no boundaries, so you must prepare yourself to defend your territory and take back what he has stolen.
Jesus said “IT IS WRITTEN” and the Enemy Fled
When Jesus was in the wilderness being attacked and tempted by Satan, He did allow Himself to fall into fear, even though He was amid a trial. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you do not have to give the spirit of fear any permission or access into your mind. Remember that if Satan wants to get to you, he will have to step into the light, where you have hidden yourself- and he hates that!
Your primary weapons will be the Word of God, worship, intercession and your brothers and sisters in Christ! When you take the people of war into your fight of faith, they will help defend you, show you their victory strategies and fight alongside you!
“Because your enemy is relentless, you must also be relentless.”
~Alicia Purdy
When Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN...” to Satan, He knew exactly what He was doing! He understood the Scripture in Isaiah 55:11 which says, “…so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Jesus knew that speaking the Word of God invited a spiritual power into His situation because the Father was watching over His own Word. (Jer. 1:12)
Follow that pattern in your situation! Speak the Word! When you agree with what the Lord spoke in His Word and refuse to speak anything but that Word, you are speaking your faith and inviting your miracle into reality.
Here are 5 ways to use Scripture as defense in your battle:
1. Use fighting words.
The reason why Satan hates humanity so much is because humankind is crafted after the image of God, whom he hates. Every time Satan looks at people, he sees God- that is why he wants to hurt you- because really, he wants to hurt God, who loves you deeply. You are a clear and present danger to Satan because you represent his ultimate demise.
You are an integral part of God’s plan to defeat the enemy and save the lost so if Satan can get you to give up, he wins. Ask the Holy Spirit for an “It is written” from the Word to use against the enemy so speak that Word of God in faith.
Read: Psalm 18 and get into battle worship. This was written by a man under attack and his response was to remind his spirit of who God is- mighty in battle, a strong tower, a refuge, the Lord of Heaven’s armies! Speak it aloud so your spirit hears your voice- and so Satan can hear you too!
It is written: “The Lord lives! And blessed be my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me and subdues the people under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You lift me up above those who rise up against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 18:46-49)
2. Speak the Truth, not the Facts
The world wants you to own your truth, but God wants you to own His truth. His Word is the source of truth and the truth is that, “It is written” that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31) Satan wants to trap you into thinking what what you see, feel and experience is the truth, so that you don’t walk by faith. He wants to tear down your spiritual identity as a beloved child, adopted into His family so you always feel alone and orphaned.
Don’t fall for it! You have the spiritual inheritance and authority paid for by Jesus Christ! Worship will keep you connected to the Spirit of God, prayer will keep your ears open and the Word will keep you rooted and on solid ground.
Read: Romans 8:31-39—Remind yourself that you are not who you say you are, you are not who the world says you are- you are who God says you are. He created you to worship. You are called with a purpose and that is irrevocable. You are accepted. Your victory was paid for. Use your weapons and DO NOT GIVE UP. Resist the enemy- for however long it takes- and he WILL flee!
It is written: “…in all these things [I am more than a conqueror] through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
3. Walk in Faith, not Fear
In the battle against the enemy, words are empty and powerless, unless they’re God’s Words, because Satan is afraid of God, who protects you, guides you and resides within you. That is why you need an “It is written” to use in your fight of faith, and it is why you can call on the name of the Lord and He will rescue you. (Romans 10:13). Hard times will come, but you’re never alone. (Heb. 13:5-6)
His angels surround you. (Psalm 34:1) The fact is that you cannot control the world around you, but you can control the world within you- and you can control your response in faith to whatever comes your way.
“You cannot control the world around you, but you can control the world within you, and you can control how you respond to whatever comes your way.”
~Alicia Purdy
Satan wants to convince you that you’ve lost, but HE IS A LIAR (John 8:44) and you do not have to be his victim! He will try to tempt you into giving up, but if you resist him, and submit to the Lord, he will eventually leave, when he realizes you will not give up! (James 4:7) Who will hold out longer- you or him??
Read: Psalm 118:5-18 — You need a victorious, powerful, declarative reminder that your God is able! You need to remind your spirit that He is one your side, fighting for you! This is your word! Use it to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God! Your faith is the first evidence of your miracle!
It is written: The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord is valiant. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord is valiant.” I shall not die, but I shall live and declare the works of the Lord. (Psalm 118:15-18)
Your enemy, Satan, traffics in darkness and fear. He wants you to be afraid of his “power” and he will attack anything he can to frighten you- your family, your health, your finances, your hopes and dreams and everything else! Then, you’ll fear that he might win and you’ll doubt that God is able. Remember that Satan is the father of lies!
You need an “It is written” for defense because Satan will try to twist the Word. He’ll try to contradict it. He’ll try to override it. He’ll try to get you to doubt it– and then he’ll gain ground in the fight.
4. Take Authority in Jesus’ Name
You have the spiritual power and authority to cast down imaginations and “every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5) But if you’re going to use “It is written“, it’s important that you know what things constitute the “knowledge of God” and what things are exalting themselves above that knowledge!
Then, it’s time to attack every imagination, fear, anger, doubt, trauma, every regret and bad memory, all guilt, shame, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry and anything else that didn’t originate from the God who loves you!
Read: Revelation 12:1-12 — Satan will suffer in the end. The ultimate fate of the Adversary and his demons, is assured. Don’t believe the lie that that he cannot be defeated or that he’ll take everything you care about. The truth is, he already has been defeated. Don’t be trapped by what you see- even if it’s horrible! Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith! Read this chapter and glimpse how it all will end. God will have the ultimate victory!
It is written: “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18)
It is written: “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)
It is written: “Look, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
5. Refuse to Back Down
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:8, “If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?” It’s time to let Satan know you are on the warpath! You are going to storm the gates of hell and stand firm! You may not feel ready, but you are. It’s time to deny how you feel and deny the enemy’s lies and use your weapons to win for your family, your friends, your health, your finances, your career, your home, your future.
God promised you life, health and peace and He will help you obtain those promises, but you can expect a fight! God is your Deliverer and His Word is true now, and into eternity. Stand on that firm foundation and use the Word to win!
Read: 1 Timothy 6:11-12 — When your faith is being challenged, run to the Lord and walk in the light, as He is in the light. That means that part of the battle will be to “flee from [sin], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.”
It is written – PERSONALIZE THESE WORDS:
I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I will put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, I take up the whole armor of God that I may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:10-13)
Whatever battle you are in right now, there is an “It is written” for your situation and there is supernatural power to accomplish the things God sent His Word into your situation to accomplish. DO NOT BE MOVED. You are in a fight that can be won because God’s Word is the most powerful thing in heaven and on earth. Believe it, use it, and keep fighting. God has the victory!
Keep Fighting!
“The Strong Take it by Force and Refuse to Retreat!”
“Take the People of War With You Into Your Battle Season”
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