2 Corinthians 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.

I use this passage quite frequently, but it’s always good to have a reminder. Sadly, for most Christians this passage is potential, rather than practical. That is to say, it could be true of us, but it’s not the way we really live. What a waste! When we try to fight as the world does, we lose, because we are too nice for that! The victories of the world are gained dishonestly, in all sorts of underhanded and even cruel ways. We should have nothing to do with that! However, that doesn’t mean in the least that we are defenseless, or lacking “firepower” (to use a term Paul would not have understood). That’s what Paul is talking about here. If we refuse to copy the world’s methods, but rather stand firmly in Christ by the power of His Spirit, we will be amazed at all He will do through us. Right now some serious battles are being waged in America, with evidence of that on the political scene. (The real battles aren’t political, they are spiritual, but we see evidence of them in the political realm.) If Christians try to “fight fire with fire,” they will crash and burn. If they focus on personal obedience to God and His Word first of all, and then act in line with that, then all sorts of things will change. Too many Christians are powerless against the world because they live like the world! If we fail to deal with the devil’s strongholds in our own lives, we won’t be successful against such strongholds in society around us. God’s weapons are indeed powerful, but they’ve got to be applied on the “home front” first.

This is, of course, how I’ve got to live, and this is how I am to lead
the flock in their daily living. The key is in Paul’s speaking of “every thought,” making thoughts obedient to Christ. It is heartbreaking when someone chooses to think as the world does, instead of choosing to trust God and receive the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) However, I have been encouraged to see people recently making the clear choice to trust God, and that always leads to victory. I need to help all the believers understand that we are all constantly in the battle, and so we must always keep on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-18) Any time we set aside any part of that we lay our­selves open for defeat, at least in the short term. I’ve got to help the believers not only understand that they need to keep the armor on, but also that they can actually do it, by the grace and power of God. The devil has convinced too many that they are powerless before him, when nothing could be further from the truth. I need to help them understand that the devil hates us because he fears us, because we have divine power to demolish his strongholds!

Father, thank You for this potent reminder this morning. Thank You for the ministry You have allowed me to do over the past 24 hours. I ask Your wisdom and anointing as I go this morning to bind the wounds of a battlefield casualty. Help me minister faith, hope, and love to him, that he may stand up in Christ, fully clad in Your armor, to see Your victory in each of the situations that face him, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!