“Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverb 4:23) A mind is our source of life which governs our action. The thought makes action and a habit makes a character. Our outer living comes from inner living. The reaction of inside occurs in outside. If we could control our mind in God’s way, we can control life in God’s way. The things happening around affect our inner being and inner being controls our way of living. What is affecting our inner being?
Let’s study on some verses
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
We are walking in flesh or in a way of indwelling human sinful nature. We are in a war and we are fighting with a divine weapon. The enemies were using the arguments, false knowledge to demolish knowledge of god and captivate people against God. God has given us the armour of divine power which can demolish everything stands against God. We have to invade all arguments, principles, and thoughts which try to provoke against God and lead in a way contrary to God. The mind has to be full of the knowledge of God to demolish false knowledge and live life accordingly. We do not war against flesh, we do not work against flesh and we do not have a physical weapon as well. We have divine power as a weapon. The power of spirit received through Christ Jesus. The war is to pull down strongholds the opinions and argument against God lived in flesh. The war is to put all that arguments and opinion under the knowledge of god and captivate to obey Christ. All have to put under God’s knowledge and it can be achieved only by knowledge of god work through Holy Spirit. If we could control the inner being then we could control outer being the flesh, thus here the war is against inside not of outside; the inside conversion appears outwardly. In order to overcome the war and captivate thought under god, there is a requirement of divine power and knowledge of God, which determines things against God and captivate under the will of God.
There is a requirement of desire or dedication to stand against the strongholds. The first step to captivate the thought against God is the willingness to participate in this war. Those who do not have a desire and who do not understand it, he/she are not eligible to stand in this war. Those who have accepted Christ their saviour, they are of god and they are not working anymore but Christ lived in him. I have died with Christ in a cross and the life which I live in is not of mine but by faith in Christ Jesus who loves me and died for me. The life has to live according to Christ because our life is hidden in Christ Jesus. Those who are not with me are against me. Those who love me will follow my commandments. In this world, you will have trouble, but take courage! I have overcome the world. (Galatians 2:20, Colossian 3:3, Mathew 12:30, John 14:15, 16:33) As observing these verses and battlefield, we should have to observe the foundation of faith, a commitment of baptism in Christ. The motivation to participate in the side of Christ to defend the principalities, theories, and pattern of this world is the understanding and willful participation to stand in Christ for war. I love the verse Colossian 3:1” if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is”. If we are baptized in him and committed in him then we are motivated to seek Christ knowledge and stand to defeat things against him. Some believer had a mistaken notion that salvation marks the end of serious temptation while serious disciples soon learn the reality.
The Christ is the way, truth, and life. The only option for humankind to overcome battlefield is the Christ. In him, all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden. We often lose a battle and depress inwardly. I think the victory of evil is to suppress the faith we have in Christ; the faith to live and win the world. Be encouraged because I have overcome the world. Everything is possible for one who believes. The faith will come by listening word of Christ. Those who come to Christ must have faith God exist and he will reward them who earnestly seek him. It is not possible to please without faith. (John 16:33, Mark 9:23, Roman 10:17, Hebrew 11:6 ) The faith in Christ, seeking his word in every struggle is a way to overcome the battlefield.
The tools of the opponent are arguments, pretensions, and strongholds, which are against God. The determination and identification of these false strongholds in our lives is the initial part of this war. I often consider that our life is flowing in its own way and we are unaware of the things happening around us. We are walking through certain philosophies, principles, and knowledge. The way of living or our daily activities are directly controlled by what we listen to, where we spend our time and what we see; and these affect our mind and our living. The life that we live is by faith in Jesus Christ and the life we got by faith is a life of branches, which is grafted with a true vine the Jesus Christ. (Galatians 2:20, John 15) Every resource of a branch is to be tested and transferred through a vine trunk i.e. Jesus Christ. Therefore, considering these truths, rather than finding and identifying the false principles, philosophies, and knowledge of this world we should have an attitude of checking everything with the knowledge of God before accepting and applying in our lives. It means we are to be ready with the knowledge of God and attentive attitude to check the things happening around us. Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall because evil one who is against you walking around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1Corinthian 10:12, 1Peter 5:8)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
The carrying and equipping with all the armours are the inevitable work of the believer. We should be proactive. We should not start to learn and work when the struggle/temptation encountered. Generally we don’t have an attitude of proactive or pre-learning; however, we start to learn after an encounter with a problem. The discipline is something to do regularly in order to preserve or prepare the future. Discipline is a determination to put every effort to obey God. The reason assigned why the Christian should be completely armed is that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and to stand firm in bad days. In order to captivate the strongholds, principalities, and thoughts against God, we must have the principalities, thought and wisdom of God. The duty after transferring weary and burden to Christ is to carry his yoke and learn from him. (2 Corinthian10:5, Mathew 11:28-29) This armour is prepared for us, but we must put on, that means, we must pray for grace, we must use the grace given us, and draw it out into act and exercise as there is occasion. The armour is of God and he will prepare and bestows us. We should agree with him and ready to carry his armour. Paul suggests putting on the armour.
The girdle is a vital one to keep the entire amour. It is here presented initially. The whole armour is girded by the truth. The connector or strength of keeping all the armour is the truth. The truth is the foundation of Christian life; everything has to be tested and accepted. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth. (John 17:17) The truth will set us free by keeping armour and defeating devil ideas.
The breastplate covers human heart/lung or so-called vital organ of the body which keeps the body alive by circulating oxygenated blood throughout the body. The soldier keeps breastplate because the injury of these vital organs can easily or rapidly lead to death. They are like a sensitive or main part of the body. The righteousness of Christ is the only things that can keep human safe in this evil society. They try to hit our heart but the righteousness of God can save us. The breastplate of righteous has given to a soldier. Above all things seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. (Mathew 6:33) We received righteousness as a gift by faith in Christ.
The shoe of reconciliation is a part of work to accomplish. Though we are in battle, we have to step with the gospel to overcome areas. In battle, the leg is an essential part and shoe is a vital one to protect it when the land is difficult. The war we are moving is not possible without wearing shoe. The shoes protect and strengthen and made capable the soldier to take part in a war. The war is not possible for a soldier without a shoe. As the righteousness of breastplate protects the life of believers, the gospel of peace makes them capable to move ahead; without which we can’t or not allowed to move in this rough veiled threat of this world. The gospel is to be carried in every motion of Christian living; it should go along wherever soldier directs by God. The good news of the Kingdom of God means Jesus Christ the King, his grace and his plan of salvation for all humankind. This plan gives us peace now and will bring peace to the whole world. This is the message God's people are eager to share with others. Christians are the warrior of peace in the world. Without breastplate of righteousness, the soldier cannot survive and without shoe of the gospel, a soldier cannot stand and move.
Additionally or above all in some translation bear the shield of faith. The faith is the ultimate and superior to protect wearing armour and to demolish the fiery darts or flaming arrows of evil. It is the duty of a soldier to carry the shield and, evil to through flaming arrow which has the potential to burn and destroy armour as well as the soldier. However, our faith is superior overall to protect and extinguish a flame. If we have kept oneself under the faith of God, then nothing can destroy us. You are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8)
The hat of a soldier is salvation. The identity or something notable or superior thing of a soldier is salvation which appears to surround people at distance as well. The head or mind is an intellectual asset of a body. Satan always wants to distract and destroy from the truth of salvation received through Christ by their logic, theories, and principalities. The thoughts, theories, and questions may arise to disobey God but the salvation assures all agonies under satisfaction. The hat of salvation has to be worn all the time. Salvation is to be carried, is an ongoing thing. It is daily protection and deliverance from our sin nature and Satan’s schemes. Our mind has to be kept safe under Christ salvation. The Roman helmet protects heads and also protects the eyes and ear part. We must learn to keep our helmet buckled so that fiery missiles do not lodge in our thoughts and set us on fire. Through helmet of salvation, we can destroy arguments and every lofty opinion rose against the knowledge of God and takes every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) If the helmet or the head get injured, then the soldier can’t able to use other armour or simply paralyzed him.
The sword is used only to combat close opponents and save oneself in a battle. The armour of soldier to invade opponents is Holy Spirit the word of God. The power Jesus promised to a believer is the Holy Spirit who counsels and teaches to understand and use rationally word of God against the power of the devil. Holy Spirit strengthens us to use word of god which is alive and able to protect soldier and win the war. The skill of using a sword is to be learned, not comes instantly. We have to know and understand a word of God in the guidance of spirit to be capable of using it effectively and demolish devil and their power. It is a responsibility of soldier to use word of God when something wrong occurs in our life against the thought and knowledge of God. It may be counsel, opinion, principal, and theories. (2 Corinthian 10:3-5) In the same way, Jesus overcame Satan’s counsel in the wilderness immediately after baptism. To be in Holy Spirit and to walk and train oneself according to spirit is the vital task of a soldier; otherwise, the soldier failed to use sword correctly and he may die. These are the armour of God and his soldier. The soldier having this armour can overcome the devil and their wiles.
Paul instructs at the end to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Additionally, request to be alert and keep on praying for the entire Lord’s people. Prayer is a continuous communication with the commander. The soldier action is completely under the commander. There must be an unceasing sharing of everything of a battlefield to receive support and direction in every condition to win the battle. As the attentive communication between soldier and commander is indeed in a war, we must have such attentive and close connection to God through prayer, bible study and quiet time. It must be a discipline. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. (2 Timothy 2:4)
Satan is very intelligent, powerful. He can deceive easily by his schemes, wiles, theories, principles, and arguments. We often found several concepts and logic in this world. The winning of the battle is only by the godly ability, the spiritual intelligence, not by human own ability and techniques. We should grow in godly knowledge, thought and principles whose foundation is faith in the truth of Christ. The example of Luke 11:21 to 23 depicts that the possessions are safe if guarded by the stronger army, we must secure oneself by God’s armour. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:12) Jesus said those who are not with me, they are against me. (Mathew 12:30) If we are with God and want to preserve oneself for eternity, then we have to stand in his side, with his armour and walk according to him. We are his warrior and we can only win the battle by his wisdom and power.
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By
Rajeev Shrestha, Pharmacist, CGF
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