Today’s Reading:
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
“Now, I Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ – though I realise you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come, I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapon, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.” (vv. 1-6, NLT)
Paul must have been dealing with the Corinthians with meekness and gentleness (v. 1) which they took as sign of weakness. Few of the Corinthians that were his opponents questioned his authority, accused him of being a coward while face to face with them but, bold in his writing when far away from them. They thought this behaviour was moved by human consideration. Whereas it is the people who were worldly minded. He realised the church in Corinth was in a big danger of deviating from the Gospel, as many Christians/believers in the world have today.
Paul admitted that he is human, but he does not live by human principles. His weapons of warfare are not human, but divine power in God’s eyes and are wielded only for God (v. 4). We, like Paul are weak human beings, and we do not need human plans and methods to win the battles of our faith. God’s mighty weapons are available to us to fight against Satan’s strongholds. It is therefore left to each of us to choose the method to use to fight the battle. Whether God’s weapons or the weapons of the world. In the context of this write-up, a stronghold is an area in which humans are held in bondage due to wrong way of thinking. Today’s passage assures us of the victory, power and efficacy of God’s mighty weapons (Ephesians 6:13-18) which are:
Prayer – all manner of prayer, requests for other, praying in the spirit;
The shield of Faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:1)
Hope;
The Holy Spirit - (Acts1:8);
The Word of God as the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17);
Love (1John 4:7-8)
Blood of Jesus - (Rev. 12:11);
The Name of Jesus (Prov. 18:10)
God’s righteousness as a breastplate;
Shoes in readiness to proclaiming the Gospel of peace;
The helmet of our salvation
These are weapons the apostles used to break down the proud human arguments against God and the walls that Satan builds to keep people from finding God and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (Isa 2:11-18; v. 5). Today, these weapons are available to anyone who believes. When we are dealing with human pride that keeps people from a relationship with Christ, we should not be tempted to use our own method. Nothing can break these barriers except God’s weapons. With all these in mind, we should stay alert and keep on praying for all believers, especially those on the mission field, that whenever they open their mouth, words may be given them to fearlessly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel as ambassadors of Christ. We should also pray for the people we want to proclaim the truth too.
Our human’s thoughts are the roots of every of our word and action, if care is not taken, our thoughts lead us to sin (Prov. 4:23). The Lord says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” (Isa. 55:8). No matter what human thoughts are, God’s thoughts are clearly written in the Bible. We must always examine our thoughts in the light of God’s word and submit to His words, because it is best for us. It is worth knowing that our mind is the battle field where we will either win or lose the onslaught of the devil against us. It is my prayer that we are enabled to pull down imaginations and every high and lofty thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought into captivity, to the obedience of Jesus Christ so that we can live in victory, joy, and peace.
To use God’s weapons of warfare successfully, you need to befriend God and surrender your life to the lordship of our Saviour Jesus Christ. If you have not done so, you can do so now by saying after me: “Father, I have come to you in the name of Jesus, I confess that I have sinned and come short of your glory. In your mercy, forgive my sins and cleanse me in the blood of Jesus Christ. Come into my life and henceforth, take control of my body, soul and spirit, in Jesus name. Thank you in Jesus name.” If you have said those short prayers, I congratulate you, because you have done the right thing. “Father, I handover all those that said those prayers to your fatherly care. Strengthen them into all truths and by the power of your Holy Spirit, lead them to a living church to be nurtured and nourish in your faith. Thank you, Lord.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
1. Father I desire truth in my innermost being, and in the hidden part of my heart, make me to know your wisdom, in Jesus name.
2. Let the blood of Jesus purify me, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow, in Jesus name.
3. Father, create in me a clear heart, renew a right and steadfast spirit within me, in Jesus name.
4. Every power of selfishness, over-ambition and unteachableness in the body of Christ, be broken, in Jesus name.
5. By the blood of Jesus, let all sins, ungodliness, idolatry and vices cease in the land, in Jesus name.
6. Every satanic course on our nation, Nigeria, fall to the ground and die, in Jesus name.
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