The Power of "It is Written"

The helmet of salvation is one of the most crucial pieces of our spiritual armor as it is used to protect our identity in Christ, our thoughts, mind and beliefs. It helps anchor the believer in the reality of their salvation through Christ. We have all heard of the battlefield of the mind, this is where lies, condemnation, fear and doubt attack the soil of our hearts. It is written as a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Prov. 23:7). If the enemy can keep us confused about who we are he doesn't have to worry about us ever doing anything more than living a depressed, desperate and defeated life.

The helmet of salvation reminds us that we are saved, forgiven, a new creation and sealed by Holy Spirit. This allows us to war against shame, accusations and identity confusion. The helmet of salvation is essential and allows us to war against doubt, despair and discouragement. In Isaiah 59:17 we see that even Christ uses the armor of God.

 The helmet also strengthens us with confidence in a future hope, allowing us to think with eternity in view. We see this is 1 Thess. 5:8 when Paul tells us " but let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Paul is describing sanctification and glorification this means that salvation is past tense when we accepted Christ we were saved, we are being saved daily through sanctification and we will be saved at His return, glorification.

Heb. 4:12 for the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  In Eph. 6:17  we are instructed to take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and to use it to stand. The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon we have without it we are unable to gain ground for the kingdom by pushing back darkness or strike back at the enemy.

We are instructed in 2 Cor. 10:5 to cast down every imagination and high thing that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God. What then are high things and imaginations? High things are anything that tries to compete with or override God's truth in our minds like belief systems, thought patterns, arguments or prideful mindsets. Imaginations are a faculty of our soul. When used correctly we are creative and prophetic when used incorrectly we are given into fantasies and the spirit of error.

We see how to strike back against the enemy in Mtt.4:1-11 and here is the power of it is written. When we cast down imaginations and high things we are to do so by identifying the imaginations or high thing that it’s not ours and that it goes against God. We then replace it with truth, apply the Word of God to that thought by declaring  "It is written...." and in turn we have then submitted the high thing or false imagination to Christ's authority fulfilling His command to us. You might be wondering what that looks like so let’s look at a few examples. 

Lust is an issue that we all face in those moments we need to utilize the fruit of self-control. Rather it’s strongly desiring new clothes, shoes houses or cars, an out-of-control appetite or an issue with our eyes lust is there. Let's say a man and his wife are out at the track jogging and a couple groups of young girls come by a lustful though pops up in his head he would then recognize that the instruction to look at her but is not of God and say to himself or aloud it is written and repeat Job 31:1 it is written I made a covenant with my eyes not to lust after a woman", 2 Tim. 2:22 "it is written flee youthful lusts, follow righteousness" or even summarize my favorite 1 Cor.6:18-20. So, his declaration would be 'it is written flee fornication, know ye not that ye are the temple of God and not your own."

Some thoughts or high things seem harmless like being used by God. It doesn't really stand outright as wrong to think of being used by Him but what about when its constantly there all day and all night?  This looks like you daydreaming about being used to heal someone or bring forth a word or even fantasizing about the last days and working with Christ to save others etc. these fantasies are wrong they appear harmless but the enemy uses it to gain ground in the mind and those thoughts begin to grow into other thoughts after the enemy sees that we allow him to just have that area of thought.  In a situation like this we might say "it is written I am the vine ye are the branches apart from me ye can do nothing" or "it is written God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Below I have given a chart of it is written declarations with more common thoughts that typically bomb our minds as well as a prayer to regain control of our minds.

Abba,

I place on myself the whole armor of God according to scripture. I surrender every thought and imagination today whether good, false or righteous looking under the power and authority of Christ. Purge my thoughts with your Spirit. Align the faculties of my soul to do Your will. Holy Spirit let nothing take root in my mind unless it’s from You guard my heart and renew my mind with Your Word. Guide me to take back areas of my mind that have been surrendered to the enemy in Christ name I pray Amen.