2019 OPERATION 18-18 (DAY 11) – THE WEAPONS OF OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE I

Text: 2 Cor. 10:3-6

“Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Our weapons of warfare are not carnal; we are not called to fight carnal battles or civil wars. Every civil war is a misplaced and useless war. We are called to fight a more intensive and serious warfare that is not fought with rubber bullets; a very dangerous war that is fought in the realm of the spirit. And you need to be skilled in these weapons. The devil loves to engage people in carnal warfare and so they leave the real warfare to fight a carnal battle; there is no how you can be involved in the two at the same time successfully. There are circumstances around you all the times that might want to stir up civil wars – it can be between husband and wife, among siblings, neighbours, even in the body of Christ, within the Church.

When fighting spiritual warfare, do not put a human face on your enemies; we know who our enemies are. It may be sometimes difficult to do because the devil can use human beings but human beings are not really our enemies; our enemies are not flesh and blood. They are more than that; they are spirit beings and so we should be able to isolate the real enemy from the vessel that is being used and it takes a lot of skill to do this. To be able to do this successfully, we need to stand very well and we need to put on the whole armour.

Eph. 6:10-18, “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” We need to put on the whole armour of God.

1. Girdle of Truth – is essential, without truth everything is shady and shaky. God desires truth and he has given us the banner to lift according to Psa. 60:4-5, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.” We need to make truth the strength and support of our lives; without it everything is shaky; without it there cannot be consolidation of character, without it, there cannot be integrity. Anyone who lacks the spirit of truth is not a child of God because the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and light, no one cometh to the Father except through him. If you miss truth, you have missed all. The girdle of truth is what binds all the spiritual armour together. Without it everything will be loose. And anybody who does not have the spirit of Christ is none of his according to Rom. 8:9; the spirit of Christ is the spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. You must understand that truth is the foundation for all the armour. Don’t tangle with anyone who does not have the spirit of truth, if you do, you will be thoroughly messed up.
2. The breastplate of righteousness – this refers to our right standing relationship with God. The breastplate of righteousness protects the heart from satanic missiles. The heart and mind are used interchangeably in the Bible; your mind is your thinking self and everything revolves around the mind so the realm of the mind is very important because that is where the hardest battles are fought. As a man thinketh in his heart so he is. Everything weapon the enemy is firing is aimed at your mind in order to control you because whatever controls the mind controls the man that is why the breastplate of righteousness is a safeguard for the heart. You need to get your heart in the right place otherwise; you will be shaking when every other thing is shaken. Everything in the world today is already shaking and man does not seem to realize how desperately he needs God to survive. Instead, man positions himself against the move of the Holy Spirit.
3. Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace – As soldiers of Christ, we are supposed to be prompt in doing the will of God and this part of the armour gives us a peaceful settled walk with God. May every step we take henceforth be in the right direction in Jesus’ name.

TO BE CONTINUED…