Weapons of the Spirit: Standing Against Deception

Series: United States of Corinthians II Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1–11:15 Anchor Flow: The Battle We Fight → The Way We Fight → The Lies We Confront Big Idea: We don’t fight people with fleshly tactics; we fight lies with Spirit-empowered truth, humble authority, and a Christ-centered gospel.

Introduction

They have for centuries that Christianity would die

In 1760, Voltaire predicted it would die within 100 years

About 50 years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used his former residence and printing presses to make and produce Bibles

In 1800, Thomas Paine suggested reason would destroy it

Reason has strengthen the church

In 1844, Marx said communism would crush it

Communism has failed everywhere it has tried and the Church has thrived after every time it tries to kill the said church

In 1882, Nietzsche declared “God is dead”

Nietzsche is long dead and God is still showcasing His power and glory

In 1939, Hitler believed force could erase it

Confessing Church kept the true Gospel alive in Nazi Germany… Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In 2006, Dawkins said science discover God was a delusion

Evolution theory still remains a theory as they can’t explain why we are here or other major things

By 2020, many predicted Christianity would die with the next generation

The question you should ask yourself is… how do i fight back?`

Not every fight is your fight, but there’s one battle you cannot avoid: the battle for your mind.

Corinth is flooded with “super-apostles”—charismatic, impressive, manipulative. Paul looks ordinary, speaks simply, and refuses their games. Yet he wields something they don’t: the weapons of the Spirit.

We don’t fight with louder volume, sharper insults, or better branding. We fight lies with truth; formed by Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and centered on Jesus.

Read key lines: 2 Cor 10:3–5; 11:13–15.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NIV

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Point 1: The Battle We Fight (10:1–6)

The real war is spiritual, and the frontline is the mind.

(v.1) Christlike Posture

“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ I appeal to you.”

Meekness = power under control, not passivity. Paul’s tone matches Jesus’ heart.

(vv.2–3) Not According to the Flesh

“We walk in the flesh but do not war (στρατευόμεθα, strateuometha) according to the flesh.”

We are embodied and limited, but our tactics aren’t fleshly (sarx = merely human means).

(v.4) Weapons with Divine Power

“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (ὀχυρώματα, ochyrōmata).”

Strongholds: entrenched patterns, ideologies, addictions, and narratives that resist God.

(v.5) How We Fight

“We demolish arguments (λογισμούς, logismous) and every lofty opinion… and take every thought captive (αἰχμαλωτίζοντες, aichmalōtizontes) to obey Christ.”

Not rage, not mockery—reasoned truth under Christ’s Lordship.

“We take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Monarchs of old, such as the kings of Assyria and Babylon, when they subdued a country, removed the people to a distance away from their old haunts to find new homes. When the Lord captivates the thoughts of our mind, he leads them away, conducting them to another reason altogether. The thoughts of the mind he guides into the spiritual realm, wherein they delight in the Lord and bow themselves before him. The person who, being made conscious of sin, believes in Jesus Christ and submits all the thoughts of his judgment and understanding to the obedience of Christ. Before he called evil good and good evil, he substituted darkness for light and light for darkness, he substituted bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Is 5:20)—but now, when he is in difficulty about a moral question, he asks his Lord. Now, if pleasure tempts him, he judges whether it is sweet to his Lord. If a certain doctrine is stated, he weighs it not in the balances of his own thoughts, much less in the scales of popular opinion, but asks, “What did my Master say? What would the Lord Jesus think of this?” He suspends his own judgment for his Master’s judgment. His powers of meditation and consideration keep within the circle of truth and holiness, finding green pastures there. Even when thinking about common things, matters that have to do with affairs of this world, he seeks to serve the Lord, for he knows that “every thought,” not some thoughts, is to be humbled into the obedience of Christ.

Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1571.

(v.6) Obedience in Community

Paul’s authority will address persistent disobedience—church discipline for the sake of health and witness.

Fighting Back Against Spiritual Strongholds:

Strongholds look like: cynicism, secret sin, endless comparison, deconstruction without reconstruction, algorithms discipling you more than Scripture.

Practices: Scripture saturation, honest confession, prayer/fasting, wise community, Sabbath from the feed.

Knowing the battlefield isn’t enough. Paul shows us the way we fight, and it won’t look like the super-apostles’ playbook.

Point 2: The Way We Fight (10:7–18)

True authority is humble, builds people, and boasts only in the Lord.

(v.7) See What’s Right in Front of You

“Look at what is before your eyes.” Don’t be dazzled by the platform; discern the pattern (doctrine + character + fruit).

(v.8) Authority for Building Up

Paul’s authority is for oikodomē (edification), not ego. Real leaders strengthen the church.

(vv.10–11) Consistency Over Charisma

Critics: “His letters are weighty, but his bodily presence is weak.”

Paul: I’ll be the same in person as in print—integrity over image.

(v.12) No Self-Comparison Games

Those who measure (μετροῦντες, metrountes) themselves by themselves “lack understanding.”

Disciples aren’t made by chasing metrics; they’re formed by faithfulness.

(vv.13–16) Stay in Your God-Given Lane (κανών, kanōn)

Paul won’t boast beyond his measure; God assigns fields of labor.

As Corinth’s faith grows, the mission field expands—not his ego.

(vv.17–18) Boast in the Lord

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (Jer 9:24 echo)

Approval that matters: the Lord’s commendation, not the crowd’s.

How And Why We Fight:

Fight with truth + tenderness, clarity + humility.

Build people, not brands.

Measure success by obedience, fruit, and faithfulness, not applause.

With our posture and weapons clear, Paul unmasks the real threat: counterfeit gospels and counterfeit apostles.

Point 3: The Lies We Confront (11:1–15)

Satan doesn’t only oppose the church; he impersonates it.

(vv.2–3) Godly Jealousy & Pure Devotion

Paul’s “godly jealousy”—he promised them to one husband, Christ; he fears the serpent will corrupt minds from the simplicity/sincerity (ἁπλότης, haplotēs) of devotion.

(v.4) Another Jesus, Different Spirit, Different Gospel

Beware “another Jesus” (life coach, mascot, therapist—without Lordship),

a “different Spirit” (vibes without holiness),

a “different gospel” (self-help or legalism, but not the cross).

(vv.5–6) “Super-Apostles” vs. True Knowledge

Paul admits he’s not a rhetorician—but he knows Christ and refuses manipulation.

(vv.7–12) Money, Motive, and Integrity

Paul refused payment from Corinth to avoid being a burden—undercutting the accusation that he’s in it for gain.

“I robbed other churches” = hyperbole; he chose sacrifice over strategy.

(vv.13–15) Unmasking the Counterfeit

“Such men are false apostles… disguising (μετασχηματιζόμενοι, metaschēmatizomenoi) themselves as apostles of Christ. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

The problem isn’t obvious darkness—it’s plausible light without a cross.

Discernment Illustration:

Bank tellers learn to spot counterfeits by handling the real currency for hours.

The more we abide in the real Jesus (John 15), the faster we detect the fake.

Test every teacher:

Scripture: Does it square with the Word in context?

Savior: Does it exalt the crucified and risen Lord, not just “inspirational Jesus”?

Spirit: Does it produce holiness, not hype?

Fruit: Is there humility, love, integrity, service?

Community: Are they connected and accountable, or unteachable and untouchable?

Christ-Centered Wrap

Jesus is not just our example of meekness—He’s our victorious King.

At the cross He disarmed rulers and authorities (Col 2:15) and rose as Truth embodied (John 14:6).

Colossians 2:15 NIV

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. \

Our weapons work because He already won. We don’t fight for victory; we fight from victory.

Conclusion: We don’t fight people with fleshly tactics; we fight lies with Spirit-empowered truth, humble authority, and a Christ-centered gospel

In a world of deepfakes and counterfeits, the church doesn’t panic or posture. We demolish strongholds with Scripture, take thoughts captive to Christ, and build up God’s people with humble authority.

They have for centuries that Christianity would die

In 1760, Voltaire predicted it would die within 100 years

About 50 years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used his former residence and printing presses to make and produce Bibles

In 1800, Thomas Paine suggested reason would destroy it

Reason has strengthen the church

In 1844, Marx said communism would crush it

Communism has failed everywhere it has tried and the Church has thrived after every time it tries to kill the said church

In 1882, Nietzsche declared “God is dead”

Nietzsche is long dead and God is still showcasing His power and glory

In 1939, Hitler believed force could erase it

Confessing Church kept the true Gospel alive in Nazi Germany… Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In 2006, Dawkins said science discover God was a delusion

Evolution theory still remains a theory as they can’t explain why we are here or other major things

By 2020, many predicted Christianity would die with the next generation

But every single prediction has proven to be worthless

Matthew 16:18 NIV

And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

After 20+ years of religious decline, the number of US citizens who claim Jesus as Savior has risen, LED BY GEN Z

UK Gen Z attendance quadrupled in six years

Revival murmurs have been whispered, like at Asbury, but what if the revivial starts with us, Gen Z, once we as a generation decide to fight, because God has called us his warrior?

Three questions this week:

What stronghold do I need to name and demolish?

What thought must be taken captive to obey Christ?

Where can I build up (not tear down) with my words, leadership, and service?

Response Options:

To skeptics/deconstructing: Try Jesus as Lord, not a brand. Start with the Gospels for 30 days.

To believers battling: Name the lie; replace it with Scripture; invite accountability.

To leaders/influencers: Choose edification over image; boast only in the Lord.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (10:17)