Mar 26 Devotion: The Weapons of Our Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

         I have heard that if you are going to be a good carpenter, you need know-how and skill, but also the right tools for the job. The same is true with a plumber, electrician, mechanic, and soldier. I find in the above verse that the wrong kind of tools (weapons) will not yield the hoped for outcome. So, what are the wrong weapons?

         The Bible describes the wrong weapons as “carnal”. That means they are of our doing, our own ingenuity, our own reasoning, our own strength. We think our willpower is enough to overcome the enemy of sin. Our dogged determination will be enough to get us the victory. Carnal weapons are not spiritual in nature, but instead are products of the flesh. Carnal weapons are steeped in pride. If our sinful flesh is the problem to begin with (and it is) then how can we overcome our problem by using our problem as a weapon. We need something stronger than our sin and from outside of our sin to win the warfare. So, carnal weapons are useless.

         The word “but” in the verse gives us the contrast between the ineffective carnal weapons and the ones that we really need to use, if we will ever be victorious. These other proper weapons are those that come “through God”. These are spiritual weapons that are backed by God’s power. They are holy weapons that are not tainted by the carnal flesh. They are pure weapons of perfect origin. They are God’s weapons. What are they?

         These weapons are faith, trust, reliance, submission, humility, obedience, worship, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. These weapons come from God and are the fruit of the Spirit. When the fruit is being produced, then the flesh is crucified.

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

         You see, when the fruit of the Spirit is active in your life, then the carnal weapons are shelved. Spiritual things are magnified and fleshly things diminish. Your battles are fought through the Spirit and not through the flesh. Please understand, not one “stronghold” has ever been pulled down and completely defeated by anything other than by the weapons of God. The devil wants to fool you into thinking you’re winning in the flesh, but he is a liar and he is lying to you. The strongholds are still there and getting stronger, if you are fighting them with carnal weapons. Jesus said in John 15:5, “…without me ye can do nothing”. As he always is, he is right. So, pack those carnal weapons away and use the spiritual weapons from God. It is then that strongholds begin to crumble “under the mighty hand of God”.

1 Peter 5:6-9

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5