Fighting a Spiritual Battle

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Devotion:

            All believers in Christ must be prepared to join Paul in his struggle which we read about in these verses from 2 Corinthians. In Paul’s day, as in our own, there were many voices speaking against Christ and Christians. If Paul or we decide to fight for the right to be heard with the weapons of the flesh, we will certainly lose. Fortunately, we have at our disposal a weapon which nothing on earth, or under the earth, can withstand. That weapon is the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

            This weapon, when delivered in humility and in great love will pierce all defenses raised against it. Though we may not see immediate results when we use this weapon, we know that God will use it to win the victory in the end. The world has no defense against the gospel. The gift God has given us in his son, Jesus Christ is all powerful. It will defeat even the most powerful weapon the world can bring against it, death.

            As Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago, he used his divine power to defeat all the schemes of the devil and of men. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and even raised the dead. When he was on the earth, he consistently told those he healed not to tell anyone who had healed them. Those people he healed refused to listen to his plea and told everyone about Jesus. Now we have been told to tell everyone about Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) and we keep silent. We are not convinced, apparently, that Jesus is enough to meet the worlds need.

            We must be about our Savior’s business. Speaking, teaching, and preaching the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. Ours in an Easter faith powered by the Holy Spirit as we see it in the Pentecost story in Acts Chapter 2. We must always be prepared to answer the questions and accusations brought by the world with gentleness and respect. We should always remember the sacrifice that God made by giving us his only begotten son that we would not perish but have eternal life.

Prayer:

            Lord, grant us the courage to fight the battle before us. Help us to not shrink back when the fighting gets fierce around us. May we always keep our eyes fixed on the joy you have promised those who overcome obstacles and withstand pressures from this world to abandon our posts in your army. Give to us, Oh Lord, a calmness and peace that will endure even the most violent assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Thank you for hearing our prayers and giving us your peace in abundance. Amen. 

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