“(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” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Discouragement, despair, defeat, and many other similar shattering experiences often occur, not because of what we remember, but because of what we forget. Straight away in this passage we are reminded that we are in a fight; we are battling against the current of the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is no easy course which God has chosen for us. The whole world lieth in the wicked one, and ” … the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For 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.” If we are to avoid defeat and the disquieting experiences which accompany it, we must ever have in mind that we are at war every day (even on vacation!). ” … the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). There can be no letup. The struggle will go on until Jesus rends the heavens and comes down. Paul, writing to Timothy, says, “Fight the good fight of faith … ” (1 Timothy 6:12).
WEAPONS IN OUR HANDS
However, not only have we a warfare on our hands, but we have weapons in our hands. These weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty. How inspiring is the contrast given to us in these few words, ” … not carnal, but mighty … ” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Not only the natural man, but the carnal Christian also is utterly helpless in such a warfare. The hymn writer wrote these words, The arm of flesh will fail you; Ye dare not trust your own.
Here we are told distinctly that we have weapons which are ” … mighty through God … ” (2 Corinthians 10:4) or “mighty to God.” These weapons are given to us by God; they are used only in His power; and one of them at least, the weapon of prayer, is directed to God. We are not told in this passage what the weapons are, but we are left in no doubt as we read the Scriptures. Two of our most powerful weapons are the weapons of prayer and the Word of God. ” … take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6: 17) says the apostle, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… ” (Ephesians 6: 18). Here are the weapons which are given to us in this tremendous fight; weapons which are not useless because they are carnal, but are mighty through God. When the tempter came to the Lord in the wilderness, and said to Him, ” … If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread,” He replied, ” … It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:3-4). What a clear testimony this is both to the authority and to the strength of the Scriptures! Fellow Christian, we have, or should have, a sword in our hand – it is the Word of God. We may have something in our heart prayer- that is potentially more effective than anything else. ” … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
Why are these weapons so powerful, so that if used in the right way they must always conquer? The answer simply is that they are God-given and ordained. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4: 12). God Himself prepared the Word and placed the sword in our hand. Prayer, too, is God-given, and is so tremendously powerful when used aright, that it can produce and accomplish more than we ask or even think. It is because prayer is offered in the authoritative Name of the Lord Jesus which is not only sweet and precious to God the Father, but is a Name which is above every name.
He has declared, ” … All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28: 18). Through the power of His blood, which He shed on Calvary’s cross, and the completeness of that victory, He has been exalted highly” … and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11 ).
THREE MIGHTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Now let us notice in the context of this passage what the weapons can do. These accomplishments come not only as a challenge to take heed that we are using the weapons aright, but as an inspiration to attempt more for God in the field of evangelism.
First, through God these weapons can pull down strongholds. There are satanic strongholds today which so subject millions of people to bondage that the light of the Gospel does not reach them. These strongholds must fall, even as the walls of Jericho fell.
Second, ” …imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God … ” (2 Corinthians 1 0:5) can be cast down. Think for a moment of the cults, the false religions, and all the man-built schemes of philosophy in which people put their trust today, and flounder in the quick sands of men’s reasoning. However clever man may be, God has given to us weapons which can cast down these imaginations, and bring light and salvation to any soul, for Christ tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9).
Third, these weapons are so powerful that they can bring ” … into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). How this is needed among Christians everywhere! Think what would take place if every thought in the minds of believers throughout the world were brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ! Young men would offer their lives for service, there would be no financial or material lack, and pastors would be placing new emphasis on the neglected mission fields.
” … the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty … ” Let us reach out now for the weapons of the Bible and prayer, holding forth the Word of life that we ” … may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2: 16).