2 Corinthians 10:4 / ESV
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
I am a peacemaker by nature. I do not enjoy fighting or conflict of any kind and do whatever I can to avoid it. However, in my pursuit of peace, I realized there were times I rendered myself ineffective because I chose to stand still or remain silent instead. I have also found that many times fear was the motivating factor and not necessarily the quest for peace. Fear that I might offend someone if I spoke up for something I believed in, when speaking up might have been what was needed in order effect change, or fear that having an opposing opinion could cause the other person not to like or respect me anymore. God calls us to peace, but not at the expense of compromising truth. And isn’t it crazy how fear can disguise itself as something as wonderful as peace? It’s sneaky because once we allow ourselves to be motivated by fear in one situation, it opens the door to easily allow fear to become the motivator in others. It can be paralyzing, keeping us from confronting spiritual situations where we literally have the power to destroy strongholds.
The bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith and that our weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. It’s an intentional fight, with intentional faith. This doesn’t sound like someone who sits quietly and takes whatever comes. This is someone who knows what the target is and engages in the battle with faith and an arsenal of powerful weapons. We are instructed to fight, and this fight is considered by God to be a good fight. How can this be good when we are taught our whole lives not to fight? In this spiritual battle, we are on the very side of good. When we think of a boxing or fighting match, what, in our minds, constitutes a good fight? Isn’t it generally a fight in which our pick fought well, threw some noteworthy punches and defeated the opponent? Sometimes in these “good” fights, there may have been moments in which the opponent had the upper hand, maybe even landed a few good punches themselves. It didn’t come without considerable conflict and struggle, but there was also a clear winner. The one who walked away with the trophy.
Winners don’t win without preparation. They study and become familiar with their weapons so that when the time comes to use them, they are skilled and ready to execute with precision and accuracy. So must we be as we fight this good fight of faith. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal or earthly but they are mighty through God, and it is essential that we become well-acquainted with them and use them often.
The Word of God - it is our spiritual sword (Ephesians 6:17), and the weapon Jesus, himself, used to defeat Satan. Every time the enemy tried to tempt him, Jesus responded by saying “it is written”. We must be familiar with God’s word so that when the time comes, we know what it says and we can speak it over any situation. Being familiar with God’s Word allows us to declare it with confidence and authority.
The Name of Jesus – we were given license to use the Name of Jesus to overcome and take authority over the enemy. It is the Name above every name and has the power to save, heal, protect, redeem and deliver. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Prayer – prayer is part of the process of taking up the armor of God as instructed in Ephesians 6. Prayer has the power to change things and can bring healing, forgiveness and deliverance. (Ephesians 6:18)
Fasting – when combined with prayer, fasting has the ability to loose the bonds of wickedness, free the oppressed and break yokes of bondage. (Isaiah 58:6)
Worship – many times in scripture we see the enemy defeated through the act of worship. It brings confusion to the enemy’s camp and creates a place for the Spirit of God to inhabit. (2 Chronicles 20:22-23)
Our Testimony – our testimony is individually unique. It is the story of our personal experience with Christ. We know what He has done for us, and our testimony empowers us to remember His saving and redeeming power in our own lives, which can also serve as a witness to draw others. (Revelation 12:11)
It is by employing these weapons that we overcome and defeat the enemy that comes against us, our families and our communities. Get ready to put up your dukes!
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