OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS -- Tomorrow:
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
Devotion 30 of 44
" . . . but mighty through God..."
Paul will now contrast the true nature of his spiritual weaponry with weapons that are "carnal." This is not a characteristic that the weapons OUGHT to have, but one which they do possess. This is not a philosophical point, but a declaration of a reality that is settled in heaven.
MIGHTY
" . . . but mighty . . . " Other versions read, "but . . . powerful" (NASB), "they have . . . power" (NIV), "but are strong" (BBE), "enormously powerful" (NAB), and "they have the power" (NJB).
Here is an aspect of religion that has been largely lost in our generation. Spiritual Babylon has introduced and brought into prominence a "form of godliness" that "denies the power thereof," or a religion that allows its constituents to "deny and reject and remain strangers to the power of it" (AMPLIFIED).
Convenient to this rejection of Divine power, special doctrines have been created that explain the absence of spiritual potency. Some affirm that the extraordinary aspect of spiritual life was intended to exist only at the inception of "Christianity" – to sort of kick-start things until they could run on their own. Thus, we are really not to expect any Divine intervention, or any working that is itself transcendent to nature. That kind of thing, they aver, is not intended for our day. It all sounds convenient enough, but it allows men to settle down in mediocrity – and that is contrary to the very nature of God's great salvation.
However, if this blasphemous doctrine is true, we must take Jehudi's penknife (Jer 36:23), and cut this section of Scripture from our Bibles. This affirms that spiritual weaponry is above the order of man. It is transcendent to nature. How can such weapons be employed by the redeemed if, according to the will of God, the supernatural aspect of religion has been brought to a grinding halt? The very position betrays a heart that is corrupt, and thinking that is flawed to the core.
The word "mighty" means, "able, powerful, strong . . . preeminently mighty" (THAYER), "be able, capable . . . being in a position to do something" (FRIBERG), "capable of" (UBS), and "deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it" (LOUW-NIDA). Here is weaponry that is thoroughly adequate for the purpose for which it was given. It is completely superior to all that is aligned against it. There is no deficiency in it, so that if it is used properly by the proper person, it will surely do what it is intended to do.
The weapons of our warfare cannot be employed by ungodly people. They cannot be used in an unholy enterprise. They are reserved exclusively for "our warfare" – the "good fight of faith" – so that those who are NOT actually engaged in the battle have no access to these weapons. Further, if those who are engaged in the fight dare to use other weapons, their defeat is unavoidable.
PRAYER POINT; Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to take up the weapons You have provided, and stop my ears to the words of those who deny they are for me.