2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Winning the Spiritual War

Intro:

Debra Announcement

Thursday morning I got a call from Debra’s brother telling me that Debra had passed on Wednesday

It was a shock that I’m still processing

We will be holding her memorial this Thursday at 11:30 here at the church

It’s been a hard week

Started with the Building announcement last Sunday

Exhausted on Monday

Tuesday we discovered that there is no suitable office space for the church to rent

Thursday morning found out about Debra

Thursday evening I ended up in the emergency room for a blood clot in my leg

Let me tell you that I wouldn’t have made it mentally and emotionally without this church

I was overwhelmed with all of the concern you had for me after the building fell through

So many texts, emails, and calls

It continued all throughout the week

It showed me that when God knows you’re going to go through it, He provides you with what you need for the journey

Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Transition:

Chapter ten is a new section of the book of 2 Corinthians

It is so different from the previous 2 sections that some people think it is a different letter

The thinking is that letters were written on parchment, which is lamb utter dried out, and expensive so they would combine letters

Some people think this is the second letter that Paul talks about in chapter 7 that grieved them to repentance

While there is some merit to those claims, this is Paul changing the emphasis

He goes on the offensive to protect the people of the church against the false prophets

This morning Paul shows us how to win the Spiritual war

I. Be Bold in the Spirit vs. 1-2

The first way to wind the spiritual battle is to be bold in the Spirit

You are a soldier in the army of the Lord

He has equipped and empowered you to fight against anything Satan throws at you

You don’t need to have a spirit of fear because you have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind

You don’t fight these battles with your own strength, but with the heavenly weapons given to you

It’s time to stand firm and a be a bold warrior for Christ

vs. 1 Be Humble in Person

Paul was humble toward people but bold in the Spirit

He could’ve gotten bold with the Corinthians, but he remained humble

This is how we are to operate as Christians

Our boldness comes from an almighty God who has empowered us with His Spirit

This allows us to be humble in person because we realize its not us, but Jesus

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Being humble is realizing your nature as a sinner but the power of grace

vs. 2 Walk in Confidence

The second aspect of being bold in the spirit is to walk in confidence

Paul didn’t want to be bold with the congregation of Corinth because he knew he was going to be that way with the false apostles

While he was humble, he also walked confidently

He knew that he was called to be an Apostle

He also knew that his witness was backed up by His walk

Eph 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

You can be bold in your spirit when fighting the spiritual war

Walk humbly, but with confidence and use the divine weapons available

II. Use Divine Weapons vs. 3-4

The second way that Paul shows us how to win the Spiritual war is to use divine weapons

This is the main thrust of the text

God has equipped us with the divine weapons necessary to win the spiritual war

vs. 3 Don’t Wage War in the Flesh

If you’re going to win the spiritual war you need to make sure you’re fighting the opponent

We live our life in the flesh everyday

But the real battle isn’t with other people but in the heavenlies

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

What are these divine weapons?

Ephesians 6:13-18

These weapons help us withstand evil

Every weapon is anchored by the belt of truth

You have the Shield of faith to fight off the attacks

You have the sword of the Spirit

You have prayer

vs. 4 Power to Demolish Strongholds

These weapons have the power to demolish strongholds

A Stronghold is a fortress the enemy has been able to establish in your life

He then uses that to attack and advance on your heart

Think of Saving Private Ryan

They sent thousands and thousands of troops to attack the beach at Normandy, all to establish a beach head to fight Germany

Satan does the same with you

He throws temptation, doubt, deceit, and discouragement all to establish a stronghold

If we try to battle it with our flesh we will lose

We need to fight with our divine weapons

Think of the battle between David and Goliath

1 Sam 17:44-45 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

III. Take Every Thought Captive vs. 5-6

The toughest part of winning the spiritual war is to take every thought captive

The battle for the mind has

vs. 5 Destroy Arguments

Isaiah 54:17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

vs. 6 Bring Discipline