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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