“The Weapons of Our Warfare!” Pt 2

1 Timothy 1:18 CSB

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight,

NKJV – “…that by them you may wage the good warfare”

There is a cosmic war between God and Satan, and we are a part of that fight (on one side or the other)!

Satan’s primary means of attack is TO DECEIVE!

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 CSB

3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

And it is not just Satan that blinds; SIN ITSELF results in spiritual blindness!

1 John 2:11 CSB

11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Which is very important for us to understand as we consider the “weapons of our warfare”

READ TEXT (2 Corinthians 10:1-6) – PRAY!

2 Corinthians 10:1–6 CSB

1 Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. 2 I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are living according to the flesh. 3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

To focus our thoughts, I would like to divide this passage into two sections:

Last week we looked at…

I. THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO FIGHT – (10:1-3)

Paul gives three characteristics of the way or manner in which we are to fight:

1. We fight with HUMILITY – (v.1a)

Paul is not COMMANDING them, but rather he is ASKING THEM!

“Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you...”

2. We FOLLOW the EXAMPLE of CHRIST – (v.1b)

“…by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—”

3. Humble and Meek; yet CONFIDENT when NECESSARY – (v.1c-2)

(CEV) – “Some people have said that we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don’t make me treat you that way.”

Paul is not talking about a physical confrontation!

(v.3) – “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we do not war (fight) according to the flesh.”

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

II. THE WEAPONS GOD HAS GIVEN US TO WIN – (10:4-6)

A few GENERAL comments about these weapons before we look at the SPECIFICS:

· They are SPIRITUAL as opposed to CARNAL (fleshly) – (v.4a)

· They are POWERFUL through GOD! – (v.4b)

What are the WEAPONS?

1. DELIVERANCE – (v.4-5)

They “…but are powerful through God for the demolition” (lit. “overthrowing”) of three things:

“…strongholds” – (v.4b) Only place this word is used. Lit. “prison or stronghold”

Proverbs 21:22 CSB

22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.

What does strongholds refer to? – Most common answer: SIN, or more specific, HABITUAL SIN!

If I am addicted to something, it said to be a “stronghold” in my life.

“…arguments” – from λογισμούς – ‘reasonings’ (philosophies)

“…every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God”

There are NUMEROUS cultural or philosophical ideologies that either set themselves against God (atheism) or attempts to replace God through a false religious system (everything from Hinduism to the New Age Movement)!

AND because some atheist countries teach that God does not exist, it is considered foolish, or in some cases illegal to study, or teach the knowledge of God!

“How am I delivered?” (i.e., How is deliverance a weapon?)

“What demolishes STRONGHOLDS, REASONINGS, HIGH or PRIDEFUL THINGS?”

1) The WORK of CHRIST in SALVATION!

2 Corinthians 3:14–16 CSB

14 but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ. 15 Yet still today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

2 Corinthians 4:2–6 CSB

2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. 3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

2) The WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT in SANCTIFICATION!

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 CSB

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

“Liberty” = FREEDOM! - It is the OPPOSITE of a prison or stronghold!

3) The WORD of GOD!

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

4) PRAYER and FASTING!

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

2. SELF-CONTROL – (v.5b)

These weapons bring “…take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

NOTICE THE WORDING—it is not by accident—that you first capture your thought process in order to obey of Christ!

I believe the greatest example of this is Jesus!

John 5:19 CSB

19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.

In other words, SALVATION, the HOLY SPIRIT, the WORD OF GOD, PRAYER and FASTING, WILL TEACH ME TO THINK LIKE CHRIST!!

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Think of your mind as having two realms: one run by Satan, and the other by Christ!

Where you spend your time (mentally) will determine your conduct (physically)!

What do you spend your time thinking about? Which of the two places captivates your thought processes?

By the way, I believe that the stronghold is not a particular sin, but rather the way I think about sin (which is what makes it habitual)!

Beloved, you can pray 24/7, read your Bibles till the cows come home, pray till Jesus returns, and yet you will STILL have sin in your life!

Paul was so adamant about this fact that he writes in (Romans 7:21)

Romans 7:21 CSB

21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.

You cannot change the presence of sin in your life, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT THAT SIN!

You, through the weapons of our warfare, bring your mind into the captivity of the obedience of Christ!

Through the wonderful work of salvation, the presence of the Spirit, the Word of God, through prayer and fasting, you can CHANGE the way you think, and thus be TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST!

Now you might be thinking, “THAT’S A LOT OF WORK! How am I going to make it?”

3. ACCOUNTABILITY – (v.6)

Paul held the Corinthians accountable…He didn’t just say, “You folks need to do what’s right.” He was ready to “punish all disobedience!” He held them accountable because he loved them!

By they way, that’s why you need to be a part of a church body!

You need folks in your life who will hold you accountable!

Hebrews 10:19–25 CSB

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.