Daily Bread - APR/17/07

2 Corinthians 10:4 - For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but mighty through God to the casting down of strongholds.

There are four verses of scripture that uses the word for weapon (hoplon). They are: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly); Romans 13:12 (put on the weapons of light); 2 Corinthians 6:7 (the weapons of righteousness on the right and left) and Romans 6:13 (your members as weapons of righteousness to God). Knowing that God has given us these weapons for the spiritual battle that we face and that we are to put them on then it would be good to identify what the weapons are.

The most important weapon spoken of in the New Testament is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). This is the weapon that Jesus used when He faced the devil on earth and the one that He will use when He fights against His enemies in the future. The Word of God is pictured as a sword which comes out of His mouth (Revelation 19:15; 2:16; 1:16; Isaiah 11:4).

We must all recognize that it is essential that we follow the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ, into this battle against sin and deception. We must engage in the most important battle that will ever exist. This is a battle for the souls of men including our own. We must recognize that God has called us to be soldiers and that the army that He has made us part of has the absolute certainty of success (2 Timothy 2:3-4; 1 John 5:4; Romans 8:37; John 16:33). If we fail to arise to this battle the opportunity of standing up in His greatness will be lost to us forever.

Let us seize this opportunity to stand up and speak with a voice that will last throughout the ages. Let us proclaim with every act of righteousness and truth that the things of the Kingdom of God are worth fighting for. Through obedience to God's Word our members can be a weapon that destroys every grip of Satan and renders his influence powerless.

Be blessed!

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org