The War in Our Minds (Spiritual Warfare) 0 Study 5/3/12
The War in Our Minds (Spiritual Warfare)
Have you been caught off guard like me? All of a sudden you are involved in a situation that you cannot discern the origin and you are left with self doubts and doubts of who God is and what He can do. You see yourself playing various scenarios is your head and the what-ifs in your relationships. May be I am not making any sense to you and that is the point. There are situations that will never make sense to us and we are just recipients of fragments of unseen warfare going on in the spirit world.
Paul saw himself in a similar situation in relating to the Corinthians. Apostle Paul is now defending his authority as a minister having labored and won the Corinthians to Christ. Some false teachers have come and poisoned the minds of some of the Corinthians and brought all kinds of accusations against Paul. Paul by the grace of God recognized what was going on as spiritual warfare. Paul told the Corinthians, “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” ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Our problem is that unlike Paul, we do not often discern and recognize what we are facing in many situations especially in our relationships. We are quick to dismiss events as happen-chances without understanding that we are part of a cosmic warfare between God and Satan. We are often caught in the middle. Do you remember Job? Unknown to Job there was high level negotiations going on in the spirit world. There are usually two extremes. Some people think and live as if every moment of their lives is to fight the devil that is causing all the havocs in their lives including the flies/insects around them. The other extreme is to live ignorant of spiritual warfare and dismiss Satan as a friendly foe. Hello, Satan is not our friend but he is not responsible for everything that happens to us. We have a Father who is in-charge and in control of our lives.
Are you ready for battle when it is necessary? The battle is in our minds and we must use God’s weapons to pull down the strongholds. What is a stronghold and what are the “high things” that exalt themselves above our knowledge of God? What are the “carnal”, “fleshly” or “worldly” weapons that Paul refused to use that the false teachers are used against him? – Manipulation and deceit? Are these your default weapons for your relationships? It is time to repent and change.
“7 You are looking only on the surface of things (the outward appearance)” (vs. 7) Paul told the Corinthians. Are you and I doing the same? Whatever is going on now let’s pray to our Father for wisdom and discernment and for the course of action if any. Remember, the battle is not ours but the Lords.
2 Corinthians 10
Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.[a] 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us[b] for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[c] 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Notice the change in tone by Apostle Paul. He is now “begging” his children to win them over. “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you vs.1. Paul linked his approach to that of Jesus Christ. That is the only way we are to relate to people – in meekness and gentleness. His opponents are boastful and prideful and we cannot copy them.
2. Paul was accused of living in the “flesh” or in the “world”. Paul quickly agreed to say yes, I do live in the world but I am not of this world and do not employ the world’s methods. “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” vs.3-5. In fact, the false prophets were the ones who used the ways of the world to poison the minds of some the Corinthians. They used manipulation, deceit and lies.
3. Paul recognized what was going on and have decided to fight back with a different weapon. In Ephesians he tells us “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand.” The weapons- belt of truth, Christ’s righteousness, Christ’s gospel of grace, shield of faith in God, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and praying always on all occasions (Ephesians 6:10-18). Let’s employee these weapons always and often.
4. In particular let’s look at the weapon to destroy the strongholds of the mind. A stronghold is a place where the enemy has camped for a long time and he is not willing to give it up. It takes extreme intervention of God to demolish it by “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Eph 6:16-17. Faith in God shields our minds from the lies of the devil. To know the lies we need to know what God’s word says and also to know that our salvation is secured by the grace of the Lord and not by good works. Any logic or reasoning that makes us think we are good in ourselves exalts itself above the knowledge of God.
5. Paul was described as not having the greatest outward appearance. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” He was a small man and not great looking and can easily be dismissed on the surface level. He was accused of being more powerful in his Letters than in person. Paul responds by only identifying himself and his authority in Christ. “If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s”. Christ is our only identity and not our outward physical look. Don’t let people define you by how you look. If you do, you will build another stronghold of inferiority complex in your mind. God made you and I and no make-up can change it, so save some of your money. “7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?” Please stop looking at situations and people on the outward appearance. Let’s see people with the eye of mercy as God sees them.
6. Who are you measuring yourself to? 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. The false teachers were comparing their eloquent delivery and smoothness to that of Paul. They used manipulation and deceit to win some hearts and take their money. Same as the prosperity preachers of today. They want to be bigger than the other Church down the road. We only measure to Christ and not to another man or woman. Who are you measuring up to?
7. The false teachers were most interested in grounds that have already been won (see vs.14-16). They cannot build a solid gospel, so they go to confuse those who already believe. Paul wants to advance the gospel and that should be our goal. Moving from one church to another does not grow the Kingdom of God.
Spiritual warfare is real and ongoing. As we have seen, Paul mentioned it in the context of fighting the false teachers who were out to manipulate and deceive the people of God. The real thing at stake here is the hearts and minds of people. The devil does not want people to know the true Jesus Christ and his gospel of salvation and to relate rightly with others. It is worth fighting for. Spiritual warfare is not so much to secure that new car and chase out the devil which is stopping you from getting it. That is what the prosperity preachers have made it to be. Spiritual warfare has now become a specialty in the body of Christ and there are those who charge you money for it.
In Africa and some of the other developing nations today, spiritual warfare is now synchronized with the native religions. It is now big business for ministers to go from place to place casting out devils and linking your success to what your ancestors did or did not do. People are being ripped off. Spiritual warfare does not exclude personal responsibility so let’s not blame the devil for everything. Your mistakes are yours and not the devils so let’s take ownership and ask for God’s mercy and grace. Let's resist the devil and he will surely flee.
Like Paul said, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:10. People are not the real enemies especially in our marriages and our close relationships. Can you pull down this lie right now? Pray for the people in your life when you don’t understand them. Are you standing having done all you can? The battle is the Lords. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Let’s believe and trust God knowing that He will fight for us regardless.
Have you been caught off guard like me? All of a sudden you are involved in a situation that you cannot discern the origin and you are left with self doubts and doubts of who God is and what He can do. You see yourself playing various scenarios is your head and the what-ifs in your relationships. May be I am not making any sense to you and that is the point. There are situations that will never make sense to us and we are just recipients of fragments of unseen warfare going on in the spirit world.
Paul saw himself in a similar situation in relating to the Corinthians. Apostle Paul is now defending his authority as a minister having labored and won the Corinthians to Christ. Some false teachers have come and poisoned the minds of some of the Corinthians and brought all kinds of accusations against Paul. Paul by the grace of God recognized what was going on as spiritual warfare. Paul told the Corinthians, “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” ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Our problem is that unlike Paul, we do not often discern and recognize what we are facing in many situations especially in our relationships. We are quick to dismiss events as happen-chances without understanding that we are part of a cosmic warfare between God and Satan. We are often caught in the middle. Do you remember Job? Unknown to Job there was high level negotiations going on in the spirit world. There are usually two extremes. Some people think and live as if every moment of their lives is to fight the devil that is causing all the havocs in their lives including the flies/insects around them. The other extreme is to live ignorant of spiritual warfare and dismiss Satan as a friendly foe. Hello, Satan is not our friend but he is not responsible for everything that happens to us. We have a Father who is in-charge and in control of our lives.
Are you ready for battle when it is necessary? The battle is in our minds and we must use God’s weapons to pull down the strongholds. What is a stronghold and what are the “high things” that exalt themselves above our knowledge of God? What are the “carnal”, “fleshly” or “worldly” weapons that Paul refused to use that the false teachers are used against him? – Manipulation and deceit? Are these your default weapons for your relationships? It is time to repent and change.
“7 You are looking only on the surface of things (the outward appearance)” (vs. 7) Paul told the Corinthians. Are you and I doing the same? Whatever is going on now let’s pray to our Father for wisdom and discernment and for the course of action if any. Remember, the battle is not ours but the Lords.
2 Corinthians 10
Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.[a] 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us[b] for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[c] 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Notice the change in tone by Apostle Paul. He is now “begging” his children to win them over. “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you vs.1. Paul linked his approach to that of Jesus Christ. That is the only way we are to relate to people – in meekness and gentleness. His opponents are boastful and prideful and we cannot copy them.
2. Paul was accused of living in the “flesh” or in the “world”. Paul quickly agreed to say yes, I do live in the world but I am not of this world and do not employ the world’s methods. “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” vs.3-5. In fact, the false prophets were the ones who used the ways of the world to poison the minds of some the Corinthians. They used manipulation, deceit and lies.
3. Paul recognized what was going on and have decided to fight back with a different weapon. In Ephesians he tells us “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand.” The weapons- belt of truth, Christ’s righteousness, Christ’s gospel of grace, shield of faith in God, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and praying always on all occasions (Ephesians 6:10-18). Let’s employee these weapons always and often.
4. In particular let’s look at the weapon to destroy the strongholds of the mind. A stronghold is a place where the enemy has camped for a long time and he is not willing to give it up. It takes extreme intervention of God to demolish it by “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Eph 6:16-17. Faith in God shields our minds from the lies of the devil. To know the lies we need to know what God’s word says and also to know that our salvation is secured by the grace of the Lord and not by good works. Any logic or reasoning that makes us think we are good in ourselves exalts itself above the knowledge of God.
5. Paul was described as not having the greatest outward appearance. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” He was a small man and not great looking and can easily be dismissed on the surface level. He was accused of being more powerful in his Letters than in person. Paul responds by only identifying himself and his authority in Christ. “If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s”. Christ is our only identity and not our outward physical look. Don’t let people define you by how you look. If you do, you will build another stronghold of inferiority complex in your mind. God made you and I and no make-up can change it, so save some of your money. “7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?” Please stop looking at situations and people on the outward appearance. Let’s see people with the eye of mercy as God sees them.
6. Who are you measuring yourself to? 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. The false teachers were comparing their eloquent delivery and smoothness to that of Paul. They used manipulation and deceit to win some hearts and take their money. Same as the prosperity preachers of today. They want to be bigger than the other Church down the road. We only measure to Christ and not to another man or woman. Who are you measuring up to?
7. The false teachers were most interested in grounds that have already been won (see vs.14-16). They cannot build a solid gospel, so they go to confuse those who already believe. Paul wants to advance the gospel and that should be our goal. Moving from one church to another does not grow the Kingdom of God.
Spiritual warfare is real and ongoing. As we have seen, Paul mentioned it in the context of fighting the false teachers who were out to manipulate and deceive the people of God. The real thing at stake here is the hearts and minds of people. The devil does not want people to know the true Jesus Christ and his gospel of salvation and to relate rightly with others. It is worth fighting for. Spiritual warfare is not so much to secure that new car and chase out the devil which is stopping you from getting it. That is what the prosperity preachers have made it to be. Spiritual warfare has now become a specialty in the body of Christ and there are those who charge you money for it.
In Africa and some of the other developing nations today, spiritual warfare is now synchronized with the native religions. It is now big business for ministers to go from place to place casting out devils and linking your success to what your ancestors did or did not do. People are being ripped off. Spiritual warfare does not exclude personal responsibility so let’s not blame the devil for everything. Your mistakes are yours and not the devils so let’s take ownership and ask for God’s mercy and grace. Let's resist the devil and he will surely flee.
Like Paul said, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:10. People are not the real enemies especially in our marriages and our close relationships. Can you pull down this lie right now? Pray for the people in your life when you don’t understand them. Are you standing having done all you can? The battle is the Lords. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Let’s believe and trust God knowing that He will fight for us regardless.
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