WEAPONS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

TEXT: 2 Corinthians 10:2-4; EPHESIANS 6-.10-18

INTRODUCTION-

In this passages of the Bible, Paul urges every believer to live not according to the standards of this world but according to what God has set before us. Though we are in this world, we have been supernaturally empowered by God to carry out His divine purposes;. The greatest of them is to combat the forces of the evil one. God's enemy, Satan, is our enemy too. Since his fall from heaven, he turned his wrath towards mankind, and, if we, believers of the living God will not exercise and put to action Christ's power and authority, then we are giving Satan an open ground to attack us.

God then wouldn't send anyone to battle without girding him with weapons. These weapons, as stated in 2 Cor. 10:2r4 and emphasized further in Eph. 6.-10-18, are not CARNAL. Guns run out of bullets and swordblades turn dull but the weapons, designed by God Himself have unique heavenly powers. Though they cannot be seen or touched, Paul says they have divine powers to demolish strongholds. STRONGHOLDS, defined "a place having Satan's strong defenses, the enemy's secure refuge, could be a person or a place.

3 THINGS THAT WE MUST STAND ON WHEN USING OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS-,

1. FAITH. Our weapons do not exist in the natural. They are within the bounds of spiritual realm. 2 Cor. 5:7; Romans 11:20

2. AUTHORITY. Our authority comes from Jesus Christ Himself, therefore, we are to act in place of Him. Luke 10:17, Matthew 28:18, Eph. 1:19-23

3. POSITION. We are children of God and co-heirs with Jesus, I John 3:2; Romans 3:l7.

SOME WEAPONS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE--

1. In the Name of Jesus. Acts 3:16, Acts 16:18, Phils. 2:10; Mark 16:17

2. Blood of Jesus. Rev. 12:11

3. Word of God (Sword of the Spirit) Eph. 6:17; Matthew 4

4. Angels of the Lord Heb. 1:14; 2 Chro. 32:21

5. Binding and Loosing Matt. 18:18-20

6. Fire of God (consuming or devouring) Numbers 11:1-3; Zech. 9:4; II Peter 3:9-12; Heb. 10:27; 1 King 18:38

7. Javelin and Spear of the Lord Joshua 8.18-19

8. Chariots of Fire 2 Kings 6:17

9. Trumpets of the Lord Numbers 10:8-9

10. Thunder and Lightning of God I Sam. 7:10; Psalms 18:13-14

11. Tambourine Isaiah 30:32

12. Burning coals Psalms 140:10

13. Icy Blasts Psalms 147:17

14. Praise and Worship Psalms 149:6

PRAY-ER AS A WEAPON (THE ROYAL WARRIORS RESPONSIBILITY)

The use of these weapons will never be effective unless we deploy the use of a foremost spiritual weapon - PRAYER. We are a royal warrior and it is our responsibility to strategize our offensive action against the enemy through effective prayer. Prayer is one of the greatest weapons ever forged in heaven for our use. It can avert disaster the moment it launched and it spans stellar space to reach the heavenly command post - the throne room of God. And often, before a prayer is verbalized, the answer to it is dispatched immediately (Isaiah 65:24)

1. Prayer is the responsibility of every soldier. We need to exploit every opportunities offered us by Gods grace through prayer,

2. The effectiveness of prayer, both individual and corporate is based on our being attired of the full armour from God.

3. In prayer, we are an instant reaction force as God opens the door and kept open by prayer.

4. Persistence, perseverance in prayer is one of the greatest ministries for any soldier and believer.

CONCLUSION:

In view of every perfect provision God made for us - the full armour, offensive and defensive weapons, the secret weapon of prayer - there is no excuse for spiritual retreat. You are ordered to hold your ground; you are ordered to CONQUER. You are given the weapons for victory and the battle cry of conquest.

JESUS CHRIST CONQUERS ALL !!!