The Weapons of Our Warfare
2Corinthians 10: 3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
It seems to have always been in vogue to compare Christianity and the cause of Christ with war. I cringe whenever I hear the near glorification of the wars of men wrapped up in the cause of Christ. The truth is there is not one pro-war verse in the entire New Testament. The world superpowers have always based their might upon their ability to inflict death and suffering. Arms races litter the pages of history as one nation bullies another; time and again. The world measures warfare in terms of might and power but God is different:
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4: 6
And God expects us to be different as well. Our might and power reside in Christ alone. Our key verses spell out very clearly for us that our weapons are not the weapons of this world. We do not wage war as this world wages war. Does this mean God leaves us defenseless? Hardly. It means that we need to redefine war in our finite minds. We have to redefine the battle in our minds:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
The battle is in the heavenlies beloved. Remember that as believers, this world is but a vapor. This lifetime is but a season. Today's conquering tyrant is tomorrow's footnote in history. All will bow before a God that sees all and holds all time within the palms of His hands. THAT is the God we serve. Our transformation begins with renewing our mind. The ways we are used to thinking must cease. We must seek out the mind of Christ. His ways are not of this world. Neither are the weapons He has given us.
The wars rage in the heavenly realms. Eternal destinations of untold millions of people hang in the balance. How we live our life and the victory we walk in hangs in the balance. God has armed us; but with His weapons. With weapons that rely upon Him and Him alone as our source, our portion, our everything. They have divine power as the key verses illustrates. The weapons God gives us tears down the strongholds the enemy sets up in our lives and minds.
