Friday, May 27, 2016

Non-Flesh Weapons


2 Corinthians 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.”

I read an uplifting message related to Memorial Day, that this verse above introduces a famous apologetic charge to the saints (those sanctified in Jesus Christ). The key to the whole passage is the qualifier “we do not war according to the flesh.”

the article pointed out that we must conduct spiritual warfare with non-flesh weapons, since “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places- Ephesians 6:12. Fleshly wisdom often is nothing more than a “snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:26) and may well deceive us if we are not very careful. The objective, of course, is to bring every intellectual argument captive to the truth of Scripture. This is done by the pulling down of strongholds and “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” - 2 Corinthians 10:5. Always stand upon and point to God’s plan of salvation. This warfare, if not done according to the flesh, is “mighty through God”.

Ephesians 6:13-16 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 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.”


Nowhere in these verses is there permission or an implied need to learn the thoughts of the enemy before we can bring them into captivity. Biblical data insist that the flesh has “no good thing” (Romans 7:18) and cannot understand the things of God. The weapons we have are not fleshly (i.e., natural thinking, natural emotion, human reasoning, etc.). Our weapons in Ephesians 6 are the “sword of the Spirit” (offensive) and the “shield of faith” (defensive), and we’re protected by the full armor of God—praying always. It is not possible to learn all the subtle arguments of the enemy. What is possible, however, is a knowledge of the truth through our having the “mind of Christ” that will make us sufficient for “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). 

Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend. All gave some; some gave all.

In Christ, Brian

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