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The Weapons of Our Warfare

2Corinthians: Paul's Most Underappreciated Epistle

Sep 20, 2020


by: Jack Lash Series: 2Corinthians: Paul's Most Underappreciated Epistle | Category: NT books | Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3–6

I. Introduction
A. Three years ago we began a journey through Paul’s epistle, 2Corinthians. Last week we began a seven week walk through 2Corinthians 10.
B. 2Corinthians 10:3–6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
II. Explanation
A. Last week we talked about how, in 2Cor.10-13, Paul defends himself and goes on the attack against his detractors.
1. We saw that the charges he’s responding to in 2Cor.10:1-2 are twofold:
a. He’s strong in his letters but weak in person
b. He walks according to the flesh
B. Now he says, though we walk IN the flesh (i.e. we live in our bodies), we don’t fight ACCORDING to the flesh. Two different Greek prepositions.
1. They have accused him of doing his ministry according to the flesh.
2. He says, No, we live in the flesh, but we’re engaged in spiritual warfare, and we don’t fight according to the flesh. Our weapons are not fleshly, but God uses them powerfully.
III. One thing this passages shows us is that we are involved in spiritual warfare, we are engaged in a cosmic war, the scene of which was set in the garden of Eden when God said that there would be a great conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Gen.3:15).
A. We have enemies, Satan and his children, and they are on the attack.
B. We see this conflict even in the book of Revelation: “Then the dragon ...went off to make war on the rest of [the seed of the women], on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Rev.12:17)
C. Ephesians 6:11–13 talks about how to prepare for this battle: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
IV. But this passage also shows us that it is possible to engage in this warfare using the wrong weapons. There are fleshly weapons which are tempting to use, because they look very much like they will work.
A. Human strength is not a weapon of divine power.
1. Violence is not an appropriate weapon in the work of the gospel.
2. Nor is intimidation or pressure or animosity or gloating or snide remarks or humiliation or deception.
3. “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” – James 1:20
B. Jesus didn’t use weapons of the flesh.
1. He didn’t win by the sword. In fact, He repudiated the sword as a weapon for the progress of His kingdom (Matt.26:51-52).
2. He didn’t win by money. In fact, He warned against relying on money for success.
3. He didn’t win by intimidation. In fact, He was humble, He urged people not to Lord it over others, and told His disciples to serve others in love.
4. He didn’t win by calling down fire from heaven. In fact, The rebuked the disciples for suggesting such a thing. (Luke 9:54-55).
C. Fleshly weapons are unrighteous when it comes to the gospel.
D. There are all kinds of weapons that seem they should work, but should never be used by Christians because they are weapons of the flesh.
E. The thing that is so tempting about fleshly weapons is not only that they often look like they’ll work, but that they are a part of our fleshly nature. So the Bible tells us not to go there:
1. Romans 12:17: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
2. 1Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
V. So, what are the weapons we’re supposed to be using to advance the kingdom?
A. Well, there are many.
1. There are the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
2. There’s prayer, good deeds, humility, serving, sincerity. There’s humbling yourself.
3. There’s living a life of hope, willing to give an answer to why (1Pet.3:15). There’s compassion.
4. Ephesians 4:1–3 “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
B. We don’t use weapons like this because they look like they will work. We use weapons God tells us to use, and trust that He will bless their use, because we remember that success is all from Him.
C. 4 “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
1. So what gives these weapons such power? The verse tells us: It’s not magic; it’s divine power.
D. You see, we put our trust in God, not in our weapons.
1. This is one of the main themes of Isaiah: Don’t put your trust in Egypt. Don’t put your hope in princes. Don’t rely on horses and chariots. Look to Me for your help. Isaiah 30:7 “Egypt’s help is worthless and empty.”
2. This is one of the great challenges and comforts of the Christian: Your help is in God!
E. What weapon did Jesus use to defeat His and our enemies? He used the cross!
1. The world is cut-throat. This group is against that group, and so many are just out for themselves.
2. Manipulation, twisting of the rules, power plays, bribery, twisting the truth: that’s how it operates.
3. We read history and it’s all about wars and battles and slavery and oppression.
4. But that’s not how Jesus operates! Jesus conquers with love! Jesus overcomes death by death.
5. The cause of Christ does not succeed by military strategy or brutality on the battlefield.
6. His sword was truth and His strategy was love! He conquered by surrendering to the cross.
7. And He subdues us by love.
VI. The sword of the Spirit
A. But as it turns out, Paul is not just talking about spiritual weapons in general. He has one specific spiritual weapon in mind here. This becomes clear in v.5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
B. You see, there are two kinds of weapons.
1. And in his work of ministry, Paul makes full use of both kinds of weapons God has given.
2. We heard him say in 2Cor.6:7 that he commends the gospel by “the weapons of righteousness for the right hand & for the left.” What are these righteous weapons "for the right hand and the left"?
a. In his left hand a soldier would hold his shield, a defensive weapon.
b. In his right hand he would hold a sword or some other weapon of offense.
3. In Eph. 6:12-17 Paul lists some of the defensive weapons God has given the believer: (the belt of) truth, (the breastplate of) righteousness, (the shield of) faith, (the helmet of) salvation.
4. The offensive weapon listed in Eph.6:17, of course, is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
C. It is this kind of offensive weapon which Paul has in mind in v.4-5 “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
1. It’s speaking the truth, it’s persuasion, it’s exposing lies by articulating the truth.
D. We fight in the realm of ideas. We fight in the realm of truth and lies.
E. We’re not trying to manipulate people’s emotions, we’re trying to convince them of the truth.
F. We’re not trying to humiliate people, we’re trying to help them see the light of the gospel.
G. We’re not trying to win arguments, we’re trying to win souls by explaining & defending the gospel.
H. It’s not about who shouts the loudest. It’s not about who delivers the cleverest jab. It’s not about who humiliates their opponent. It’s about who speaks the truth, and speaks it in love.
I. This requires clear thinking. It requires loving God not only with our hearts, souls and strength, but also with our minds. It requires knowing what you believe and why. It requires being “ready to give an answer” for the hope we have (1Pet.3:15).
1. Acts 19:8 “Paul...spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”
J. Our weapons are ministerial and declarative: we serve people and declare the truth to them.
1. This may look weak in the eyes of the world.
2. However, the communication of the gospel is the most powerful weapon on earth.
3. “The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” – Romans 1:16
4. Granted, it doesn’t seem powerful. So many have a negative reaction to it that we are tempted to think of it as powerless.
5. But it’s not powerful because of us; it’s powerful because God chooses to use it. He chooses to bring about faith through the proclamation of His word (Rom.10:17).
K. Of course, the truth of Christ needs to be communicated in a Christ-like way, the truth needs to be spoken in love (Eph.4:15). What does this mean?
1. It doesn’t mean speaking the truth politely, though politeness is usually appropriate.
2. It means speaking the truth out of a sincere desire to help the person you’re speaking to.
3. It means having a desire for their welfare motivating you to tell them the truth they need to hear.
L. Listen to what Paul says in 2Tim.2:23–26, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness, that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses & escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
1. There is a difference between arguing the case for Christ and being argumentative.
2. We’ve all known people who just like to argue. And I think we’ve all been in situations when we’ve seen a wise, informed argument expose a deception and bring truth to light.
M. And we don’t need to worry about winning the argument. We just need to worry about speaking the truth.
VII. Church discipline
A. 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
B. There was a small group stirring up trouble against Paul in the church at Corinth.
C. As a result of his severe letter, the majority of the congregation had realized that they had been wrong to listen to these guys.
D. He’s giving the rest of them time to decide which side they’re on. But when everyone has had some time, Paul will return to Corinth ready to discipline those who are still opposing Him.
1. This discipline is not with swords or whips. This discipline is with keys: keys which open doors and then lock them again. Paul intends to put people out of the church, to excommunicate.
E. You see, Jesus has given His church a tool by which it can warn those who claim to be Christians but who defy the Lord nonetheless. It’s a warning that if you do not repent and turn from your defiant ways, that we believe the judgment of Christ will come upon you. It is a drastic measure, to be sure, but at times, drastic measures are needed. Sometimes you’ve got to cut a person’s leg off to save their life.
F. Why would Paul conduct church discipline in a local church? Isn’t that the congregation’s business? Paul had already done this once — in 1Cor.5:1-5.
1. Paul doesn’t like to pull rank — but as an apostle he’s willing to do it if the situation calls for it.
VIII. Read over this passage this week. Think about the things we talked about last week. Reflect on the things we’ve seen this week. Read the verses we’ll cover next week and the one after that. May the word of Christ dwell in you richly. (Col.3:16)