“Scripture power keeps me safe from sin. Scripture power is the power to win!”
We believe there was a war in heaven between Satan and his army and God and his army (us). 1/3 of the hosts of heaven were cast down to earth to become our "opposition" which would prove vital to our individual progression. This battle is something we are all engaged in whether we want to acknowledge it or not.
Recognizing Satan's strategies can be one of the most difficult things. I will probably write more about that another day but when we hear the voice of confusion, discouragement, doubt, this is often Satan and his army. It is their attempt to derail us from feeling the Savior's love and the hope of His saving atonement.
God has given us the Armor of God to use in this battle against the adversary. (Eph 6). One of these pieces of armor is actually a weapon.
“We should wield the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17; see D&C 27:18). A sword is a weapon used to strike at the enemy. The word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), and the power of the Spirit can “carry [the truth] unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1), help people to “know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5), and even “thrash the nations” through the preaching of the gospel (D&C 35:13). With our testimony and the power and peace of God’s Spirit, we can strike against and conquer the enemy of all righteousness.” (Full article here).
CHRIST DEMONSTRATES HOW TO USE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT AGAINST SATAN
David O. Mckay says:
“As soon as [Christ] was baptized and received the Father’s approval, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” [Matthew 3:17] Jesus [went] to what is now known as the mount of temptation. I like to think of it as the mount of meditation where, during the forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father, and contemplated upon the responsibility of his great mission. One result of this spiritual communion was such strength as enabled him to say to the tempter: “… Get thee hence, Satan..””
Let’s go there:
Matthew 4:3-4
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
By this point, bread probably sounded pretty good to him.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
He doesn’t argue with Satan or think it over. He doesn’t reason with Satan. He simply uses the Sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:17). He quotes scripture…a related scripture. He fights Satan with the power of TRUTH. The POWER of the WORD!
Let’s look at the next one.
Matthew 4:5-7
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Satan tries to use this power of the WORD or TRUTH to tempt Christ.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, Christ simply quotes a related scripture. Could He be giving us a weapon and then demonstrating how to use it?
Last temptation.
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Finally, Christ shows us again how to cast out Satan using the power of His WORD. He quotes scripture. Each scripture he quotes matches the temptation Satan offered but I believe any scripture you quote could dispel Satan and his army. Particularly if you use the name of Christ as a part of it.
I recently discovered a Christian artists named Ellie Holcolm. Her music is beautiful and the lyrics are full of truth. One of her songs is called “Fighting Words.” It perfectly teaches this concept of using God’s word as a sword to defeat the enemy.
Fighting Words
By Ellie Holcomb
[Verse 1]
Fear is like a broken record, same old songs of accusation play
Like, "who are you to speak the truth, just look at all your failures and mistakes"
And "If they really knew you, there's no way they could love you anyway"
Oh-oh-ohh, but I will...
[Chorus]
Fight the lies with the truth, oh-ohh
Keep my eyes fixed on You
I will sing the truth into the dark
I will use my fighting words
Oh-oh-ohh, fighting words
[Verse 2]
The enemy keeps talking, telling me to hide my face in shame
Whispering that everything I've done will drive the Father's love away
Saying, "It's too late for hoping, that something in your heart could ever change"
Oh-oh-ohh, so I will...
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
My debt is paid up
I've been set free and
You gave Your life up to rescue me
You say that I am
Worth fighting for and
Grace is like waves that keep crashing on the shore!
[Chorus]
[Outro]
I'm so tired of forgetting what I'm worth
So I will use, my fighting words
Her other music is amazing too. My favorites are “Find You Here” and “He Will”.
She recognizes the tactics Satan often uses against her and determines to use the word of God to fight the doubt, shame and hopelessness.
HOW CAN WE USE THE S(WORD)
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37
37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Treasuring His words is more than just reading. (D&C 84:85)
Richard G. Scott said:
“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.
Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.” (Go here for the full talk).
If we study and memorize the scriptures we can use them at any time as a weapon against the power of the destroyer.
Let’s talk about some examples. I would say these out loud when I recognized Satan's tactics or temptations. This was mine when I would have anxious thoughts:
D&C 101:16
16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
Or if I was in a hurry and felt stressed or overwhelmed:
Mosiah 4:27
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
When I feel upset, depressed, or abandoned I say this scripture. (MY FAVORITE):
D&C 6:36
36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Notice the bolded words above are all tactics of Satan to lose hope in our Savior. We must fight him with God’s powerful sword!
Notes:
PONDERIZE talk
Elder Scott’s talk about how scriptures are packets of light and friends that we can call on at any time.
Howard W. Hunter’s talk about Christ’s temptations: