“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds”
(2 Corinthians 10:4)
The dictionary tells us that “carnal” refers to the physical
As far as God is concerned
We are not meant to fight our battles with physical weapons
Now I am not referring to actual war
When real weapons are used
Like guns, bullets, tanks, missiles and the like
But battles where we may use our words
Or even our tongue, as the Bible would say:
“Even so the tongue is a little member
and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.”
(James 3:5 – 6)
Fighting with physical weapons
Be it people throwing punches…
Or slinging words around…
Is NOT God’s way
As it says clearly in 2 Corinthians 10
The weapons of our warfare
Are NOT carnal – NOT physical
BUT mighty IN God for pulling
Down strongholds
So why do I mention strongholds?
We are living through a time
When we are faced with a stronghold
Not simply COVID-19 itself
But with the restrictions on movement
That have come with the virus
And how are we meant to cope with
These things, these changes in our lives?
Part of the answer
At least the Christian, biblical answer
Is to use the weapons of God
Some of these are found in Ephesians 6
The Whole Armour of God:
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith
with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit,”
(Ephesians 6:14 – 18)
Most of us are familiar with this passage
But have we ever looked at it in this way?
Jesus said in John 14:6
I am the way, the TRUTH and the life.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Tells us that we are the
RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Christ
Isaiah 26:3 says:
“You will keep him in perfect PEACE,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
Ephesians 2:8 says:
“For by grace you have been
saved through FAITH”
Now the helmet of salvation
May refer to Romans 12:2
Which talks about us renewing our mind
Since a helmet protects and sits on our head
All of these parts of the armour
Have been for defensive purposes
They protect us in our walk with God
Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Faith
But the change comes with Salvation
Which is both protective and aggressive
We use our minds for everything
No Head and we are truly LOST
Our brain tells us to take up our sword
The Word of God, the Bible
Not to attack people with
But speak out its truth
And again our brain motivates us to PRAY
And to pray specifically in the Spirit
Which includes praying in tongues
So whatever battles you may be facing…
Whatever strongholds may be against you…
Look to Jesus and put on His armour
Depend on Him and fight His way
Lean on Him and rest in His strength
And see an end to strongholds, God’s way