Our
list of our spiritual “weapons” include:
God’s Word. Jesus quoted
scripture when the devil spoke to him in the wilderness.
God’s word says in 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.”
What does Paul say about our spiritual weapons?
What kind of power is available to us? Why?
Remember that “the power of God, is available to the
people of God, to achieve the purposes of God.”
Peter
says in 1 Peter 5:8-11, “Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the
same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself
restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever
and ever. Amen.”
*Self-control (control or restraint of oneself or one’s actions, feelings, etc.).
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God
did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and
fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm
and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
2 Peter
1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, love.”
*Being alert (an attitude of vigilance, readiness, or caution, as before an
expected attack).
1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then,
let us not be like others, who are asleep, but
let us be alert and self-controlled.”
*Resisting the Devil (to
withstand, strive against, or oppose).
James
4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and
he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
you double-minded.”
*Staying Firm in our Faith (strong
or unshakeable belief in something, esp. without proof or evidence)
Hebrews 11:6, “And
without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
*The brotherhood of suffering.
1 Peter 3:13-15a “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if
you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they
fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”
*God’s amazing grace.
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.”
*We share God’s eternal glory in times of
suffering.
Colossians 3:1-4 “Since,
then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not
on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in
God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear
with him in glory.”
*Restoration makes us strong, firm and
steadfast.
Galatians 6:1-3 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who
are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he
deceives himself.”
How
would you restore a brother?
How
do you bear the burdens of others?
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