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"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
We are at war with an enemy; he is very strong but is an ultimately defeated foe. Our battle is a spiritual one played out in our minds that affects us in every way. For today's devotion, let us take a deeper dive into the Word of God. These verses in 2 Corinthians contain so much truth.
What are our weapons of war? What do we use in this most intense and unique spiritual battle with darkness? Our weapons are not physical; they are so much more powerful! We do not use Howitzers, M-16s, Nuclear warheads, etc., but our weapons are Jesus living in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, prayer, the full armor of God, as recorded in Ephesians 6, and the Church. We are more than conquerors, as Romans 8:37 teaches us, and God has given us all we need to win every spiritual battle that we face.
In verse 4, "mighty" is the Greek word dynatos, which is the root word for the English words dynamic, dynamism, and dynamite. The weapons God gives to His people to fight spiritual battles enable us to win each battle. We have the power within to pull down, to literally demolish the enemy. Do we realize the power within us that is ours in Jesus Christ? I do not think we do, or else we would not just survive but thrive in our walk with God and in our battles against Satan and every temptation he throws at us.
"Paul . . . likens his opponents to mutinous resistors holed up in the city of Corinth and miscalculating that their ramparts and battlements will protect them. Everyone in the ancient world knew, however, that the advantage was always on the side of the attacker with his siege engines and not with the fortified city. No matter how well defended cities might be, they would eventually fall to the resourceful and determined general. How much more is this the case on the spiritual level when "the city" is up against God's weaponry. Human bulwarks and parapets, no matter how high and lifted up, can never withstand God's power." (Garland, D. E. (1999). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 29, pp. 435–436). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
In verse 5, "casting down" is very similar to the Greek word for pulling down; it means to remove or destroy. "Exalts itself" is the work of the Devil. The knowledge of God is pure and freeing. James 3:14-17 clearly defines what is of the Devil and what is of God: "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
How are you doing in your battle in your mind? Take courage in our Lord and apply His truth as revealed in this awesome biblical text. We will look at this passage more tomorrow.
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