Spiritual Weapons

Last week’s message was about putting off the old man, the old creation and putting on the New Identity through the new creation. New clothes signify new abilities and new spiritual weapons. Let’s find out more together.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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.

This passage teaches that although we live in physical bodies and face real situations in the world, our true battle is spiritual, not fleshly or carnal.

A Short Breakdown

“Though we walk in the flesh” – We live in human bodies and experience everyday life.

“We do not war according to the flesh” – We do not fight God’s battles with human methods such as anger, manipulation, unforgiveness, revenge, or worldly wisdom.

“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God” – Meaning our weapons are spiritual: prayer, faith, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, Holy truth, righteousness, and obedience.

“Pulling down strongholds” – Strongholds are deeply embedded, false belief systems, wrong doctrine, sinful patterns and habits, false identity, deceptions, fears, and spiritual barriers that oppose God’s truth.

“Casting down arguments and every high thing” – Rejecting ideas, philosophies based on lies and that contradict God’s Word.

“Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” – Examining our thought life, our internal belief systems and submitting them to Jesus. If a thought, dream, or vision disagrees with God’s truth, it must be rejected and replaced with His truth.

A Simple Application

Thought → Test it by God’s Word → If it opposes Christ, reject it straight away → Replace it with God’s truth → Walk in obedience, don’t ponder on it.

Protect the Mind

The battle often begins in the mind. Every day we are faced with thoughts, fears, doubts, accusations, temptations, and distractions. The enemy seeks to plant lies, but God’s Word tells us to cast down every argument and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The Lord is teaching us that much spiritual warfare begins in the mind and is won through God’s power, not human strength. Jesus Himself defeated Satan by declaring, “It is written” (Matthew 4), showing the power of God’s Word over every lie and temptation.

Put On Our Spiritual Armour

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 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.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Short Breakdown

Here it is simply explained: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” – our struggle is not mainly with people. Instead, Paul lifts the spiritual veil and shows what is behind much of the troubles in the world and spiritual pressure that believers may face:

• “Principalities” – organised spiritual forces with authority under Satan’s rule.
• “Powers” – demonic powers operating with influence and control.
• “Rulers of the darkness of this age” – spiritual forces that promote deception, sin, and blindness in the world.
• “Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places” – unseen evil forces operating in the spiritual realm.

The book of Daniel 10:12 provides this insight. Daniel gets a dream and then an Angel comes to give him the understanding:

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

We understand here, it’s God and His Angels that deal with the principalities and powers, and never us. Put simply, it’s a picture of a structured spiritual opposition working behind the scenes to oppose God’s truth, distract minds, and resist believers.

Spiritual Armour

That’s why the passage flows straight into the armour of God. Paul is saying: because the battle is spiritual in nature, you cannot fight it with natural weapons – you need God’s armour, God’s Word, and God’s strength. Notice the start of this verse says be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our strength is in the Lord, not in ourselves.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. People are not the enemy. Behind many of life’s battles is a spiritual conflict or root, and therefore we need spiritual armour. We need the wisdom of God not to get drawn into the side show that pops up to distract and consume us. Instead we keep our eyes on the main event. On Christ. Every day we are to put on:

• The belt of Truth – knowing and living by God’s Word.
• The breastplate of Righteousness – walking in the righteousness we have through Christ.
• The shoes of the Gospel of Peace – ready to carry the good news wherever we go.
• The shield of Faith – extinguishing every fiery dart of doubt, fear, accusation, and temptation.
• The helmet of Salvation – guarding our minds with the assurance that we belong to Christ.
• The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God – our only offensive weapon, speaking God’s truth against every lie.
• Prayer – remaining in constant fellowship with the Lord, praying in the Spirit and watching with perseverance for one another.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, we understand that we must put on the whole armour and then stand. Stand in faith. Stand in truth. Stand in righteousness. Interestingly, it never tells us to take off that armour once we put it on.

A Vision — The Armour Is Not Missing

I want to share a vision I had. When God gives you a vision, even if it was ten years ago or five, it is still there – it stays with you.

I had gone to a healing conference. There were maybe a hundred people in the room, all sitting around tables, and God showed me that these were the saints – God’s people. In the vision, some were standing there and the sword was on the floor. Some were sitting and the helmet was off. Someone was sitting and the breastplate was off. Some were sitting and the shoes were off.

The armour was there – but it had not been put on. God was telling me, and He is telling you: it is not missing. The armour is not missing. It is there, but you have to put it on. You have to put on the armour God has given you, to fight the good fight of faith.

To End — Spiritual Weapons

Victory does not come through our own strength but through His Holy Power. As we submit every thought to Christ, put off the old man, put on the new, and remain clothed in the whole armour of God as part of our identity, we then begin to use our Spiritual weapons and will be able to withstand every attack of the enemy and remain faithful until the end.

“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)

May we daily put on the whole armour of God, renew our minds with His Word, pray without ceasing, and stand firm in the victory that Christ has already won.

Impartation and time of prayer.