Weapons of warfare

With a great battle going on for our souls, it sometimes can be difficult to be caught in the middle of the Spiritual warfare that is going on without having knowledge of the war.  We cannot assist the Lord in winning our souls without knowledge.  I pray that this message speaks to someone, somewhere, someday..  God bless you and yours.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (New King James Version)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (emphasis added)

In other words, we are here in this world, walking in the flesh, while a Spiritual battle is going on for our souls.  For those that would prefer to be on the side of God Almighty, the weapons of our warfare are not things of this world, but things that are of God. These weapons of warfare are used to pull down strongholds, which are summed up as a disobedience in accordance to His Word..  especially the 10 Commandments. These weapons of warfare are also used to cast down arguments and every other high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  The things that Christians are battling with are things of the flesh/self.. I.e. selfishness, wickedness, schemes, motives rooted in evil, etc.

How does the battle begin?  “..bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..” As soon as we start thinking of thought, and examining where the root of our thoughts are coming from, the battle begins.  We either have our minds set on things above or things of this world.  Tactics are used by the evil one/the flesh to blind us, deafen us and harden our hearts so that we can not see, cannot hear and/or cannot receive Truth from God.  Weapons used by the evil one are things such as distractions, deceptions, confusion, lies, self, pride, and even emotions can fool us.  A full examination of ourselves, our motives and our roots are important.

For instance, if someone asks me: “Are you doing/saying that because you are fearful?”  My immediate response is “Of course not.  I’m not afraid of anything.”  Ah.. what a fool I would be if I gave such a knee-jerk response without any thought behind it.  No examination or putting the time into thought will usually mean I am being prideful, I am fearful of Truth, or I am hiding something (or, I very well could be a righteous individual fully in-Christ and know myself well).  In the example of my quick response, I’m fearful of spending real time in examining myself because something wicked may be uncovered and OH NO, it’s far from me to show any weaknesses!  Society in general says that weakness is bad.  I must not investigate further “just in case”.  Or, I may have chosen to not fully examine and blurt out a quick response without examination because of pride, ego, etc.  When I can’t be true.. when I can’t examine and discover true roots/motives, etc, then the flesh has won….I am being foolish because of pride, because of the self.  I  can’t show a weakness… I am merely a very foolish man.  I’ve been deceived, tricked..  The evil one’s tactics and weapons have worked.

But, I am blessed with weapons of warfare from our Lord –

Ephesians 6:10-18 (New King James Version)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

My weapons of warfare are: His Mighty Power and the Armor of God, which includes: Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, the Word of God, and Prayer. There is another piece of armor, Love.  Here’s a few scriptures related to Love.  1John is a good book to read as well when it comes to Love –

1 Corinthians 13:2-8 (New King James Version)

The Greatest Gift

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Galatians 5:19-23 (New King James Version)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Romans 5:5 (New King James Version)

⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

When I examine my thoughts and am being watchful (Eph 6:18), I can recognize when the evil one is attacking.  When I see clearly, I can be in battle with a protection of His Armor: Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, and Salvation (see above). My weapons of warfare are: the Word of God and Prayer. When I am down and out, I pick up the Word of God and He slices through the thoughts of the evil one. His Armor will also protect me.  All I must do is realize that the fiery darts are launched, and I am protected.  Peace will come over me.  If it doesn’t, all I have to do is Pray and read the Word of God.  He wins every time these 2 things are done.

God bless,

joseph

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