SCRIPTURE:
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.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
OBSERVATION:
The old adage goes “never bring a knife to a gunfight.” When it comes to the battles you are fighting right now, are you fighting with the right weapon?
In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. Although “we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does” (2 Corinthians 10:3). We are not citizens of Earth; we are simply sojourners just passing through this temporary world. Our purpose, our destination, and our lives point toward eternity.
Because we are citizens of Heaven, we must not be naive to believe that the battles that we face are merely in the physical. On the contrary, many of the battles we face are not because of what is seen, but rather because of what is unseen. For as Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12). Because our struggle is due to the spiritual––that which is unseen––“the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
APPLICATION:
Are you fighting your battles with the right weapons? Today, God reminds you that you are a citizen of Heaven. You may live in the world, but you are not of this world. Therefore, do not fight as the world does. Perhaps you’ve been losing the battle not because God isn’t on your side, but rather, because you’ve been fighting with the wrong weapons.
In the same way that “you shouldn’t bring a knife to a gunfight,” you shouldn’t use physical weapons to fight a spiritual battle. If you try to fight a spiritual battle with physical weapons––cunning strategy, brute force, and sheer will––you will fail. Yes, you may temporarily win the battle, but you’ll eventually lose the war. Fight your spiritual battles using the right weapons, for God has fully equipped you with an artillery that will annihilate the enemy. What weapons do you have?
1. WORSHIP (2 Chronicles 20:21-22 21)
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
2. PRAYER (James 5:13-16)
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
3. SURRENDER (James 4:7)
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
4. THE NAME OF JESUS (Philippians 2:10)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
5. THE ARMOR OF GOD (Ephesians 6:13-17)
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
These are just five of the many weapons God has equipped you with to fight your spiritual battles. As you go into battle, armor up, choose your weapon wisely, and know your real enemy.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for thoroughly equipping me for every spiritual battle. More importantly, thank You that I do not go into battle alone, for You are with me. Give me discernment to choose the right weapon, spiritual eyes to see the real enemy, and endurance to fight the battle, fully depending on You as my strength. I will not fight as the world does, for I know that I war not against my brother or my sister, but rather against an enemy that is unseen. God, I’m ready. Let’s fight on together.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
