The Right Weapons
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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.
During Thailand’s four-day New Year Water Festival, water pistol use is a frequent sight and experience. In the past, police officers have joined in the fun using their own water pistols to fire back when attacked in fun. However, this year such good-natured fun by the police has been banned by the National Police Chief Sant Sarutanont. A police spokesperson explains, “To avoid pulling out the wrong gun, the police chief told officers to let themselves be victims in one-sided water fights. They are under strict orders not to return fire.”
How terrible it would be for someone to be in an innocent water fight with a police officer and for the officer, mistakenly, to draw and fire the wrong weapon! It would be so very tragic! The apostle Paul explains to the Corinthians that the weapons we fight with as Christians are not the weapons used by the world. We too must be careful not to use the wrong weapons because the results would be tragic spiritually.
As children of God, we do not need to use the world’s plans and methods to fight our battles. We have much more powerful weapons available to us than those of the world. We have the “whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13a).” We have available the spiritual weapons of prayer, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14-18). Against such weapons, the “strongholds” of the world cannot stand.
As Christians, we are living in the world, but we are not of the world, and we must not fight spiritual battles with the wrong weapons because we will be defeated. Let us not use the water pistols of the world when we have available to us the heavy artillery of God. Because as Paul says, “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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:12-13).”
(In order to successfully fight spiritual battles you must use the right weapons.)