The Spiritual War

2 Corinthians 10:1-6
V. 1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold towards you.
In this letter Paul addresses his critics in the church, who have slandered him in his absence. Paul speaks for himself, against whom the false apostles had begun to attack, yet in the midst of their attacks, Paul shows humility and mildness. He points to the example of Christ in responding to open attacks by showing humility and mildness, and hopes that this great example may have some influence upon the Corinthians. When we find ourselves to act in a manner that is considered severe towards anyone, we are to remember the meekness of Christ, that He displayed while here in the flesh, both in the carrying out of His ministry, and His attitude of grace towards sinners.
Paul speaks of himself as one being lowly among them, even as his enemies spoke of him with contempt, while they sought to undermine his influence on the church by their speech and attitude still he continues to take an attitude of humility. He even acknowledges their arguments with the last words of this verse as this was the claim of the false apostle that had risen up in the church. He seems to quote these as the words of his accuser, as if he had said; “This apostle acts humble among you, knowing how contemptible he is, but see how he brags and boasts in his letters.” How often are we misunderstood as we attempt to display the example that Christ has given us. Paul had the authority to act severely with this false apostle, yet wanted others to see him for what he was. May we act in like manner when men rise up against our stand for Christ, showing the same humility that Paul displays, mimicking Christ.
V. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Paul asserts his power to punish those who would bring dissention in the church, but ask the church that he not be so with them. Paul does not wish to walk in the flesh as some would and act in a way that is contrary to the Spirit and the design of the gospel. The word of God and the Holy Spirit is the power by which Christians are able to defend their actions and change the world. Oh that we would walk in the boldness of the Spirit using the gifts that God has given to us.
V. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
That is: Although I am in the common condition of human nature, and must live as a human being, yet I do not war against the flesh. The flesh would have us react to attacks on our character, family, or person, in a way that is more aligned to the world than the word of God. This is what a good friend of mine calls; “getting in the flesh.”
V. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
Paul often uses the metaphor of warfare to represent the trials of Christians, he encourages them not to get in the flesh, but rely upon the power of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Sprit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Our doctrines are true and pure, they come from God and lead to Him, and He accompanies them with His mighty power to the hearts of those who would hear them; and these strongholds-the apparently solid and cogent reasoning of the world, we, by these doctrines, pull down. The cause of Christ will triumph, and the enemies of Christ will be put to flight.
V. 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The French Mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 253 power, i.e. billions of years. "But," continued de Nouy ironically, "let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science." Quoted in; "Is Science Moving Toward Belief in God?" Paul A. Fisher, The Wanderer, (Nov 7, 1985), cited in Kingdoms In Conflict, C. Colson, p. 66.
Near the end of his life, Jean-Paul Sartre told Pierre Victor: "I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God."
Protested fellow philosopher and long-time companion Simone de Beauvoir: "How should one explain the senile act of a turncoat?" HIS Magazine, April, 1983.
A recent Gallup Poll found that the greatest number of Americans (47% of those expressing an opinion) hold to the strict creationist view, that God created man pretty much in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Most other Americans believe in some combination of evolution and creationism, and only nine percent of Americans believe in strict evolution.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way to death.
There are many arguments against the existence of God, and the need for a savior, but the funny thing about the truth, is that whether you believe it or not, it is still the truth.
And what is this truth? There is a God, He created all that we see and beyond. He has a love and desire for us and that we are with Him, unfortunately we can not, for sin has come into the world and separated us from the God who loves us. But God, out of His infinite wisdom and love for us, sent His only begotten Son, born of a virgin, without sin, to pay the penalty for our sin. He suffered and died upon the cross and was resurrected on the third day just as the Bible predicted. He ascended to a place that He enjoyed since the beginning of time and waits for a time appointed by God to come and take His church home to be with Him forever. Satan would seek to punch holes in this truth and offer a version that seems right to man, but in the end leads to an eternity separated from a God who loves us. Without receiving the gift of salvation from God and offering it back to God as the only atoning sacrifice for the sins that you and I have committed against a just and holy God, we too suffer this fate.
The word of God destroys all vain reasoning, and every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are to bring every thought, or faculty of the mind, into the captive obedience of Christ. Doing this evil reasoning is destroyed, and the mind itself, being overcome and taken captive, lays down all authority of its own, and entirely gives itself up to perform, the will of Christ, in obedience of faith.


There are thoughts that enter our minds everyday that would steer us from the truth that we have come to know. I know that there are things in my life that I have given over to the authority of Christ, that seek to reenter into my life, I have become able to recognize these times and put these thoughts under the authority of Christ. Will these thoughts cease from returning? I doubt it, but I know that the Spirit of God is with me to help me recognize these thoughts and by my obedience to the will of the Father, I am able to overcome these temptations. Will we always succeed? No, but the God of the universe is willing and able to help us back on the path of righteousness. I think that is why this life is called a journey.
V. 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Paul was not willing to pull up the tares, for fear that he would pull up the wheat as well, but wanted the people to recognize sound doctrine and separate themselves from those who sought to destroy his witness. This is the obedience he was after that the people disassociate themselves from false doctrine. May it also be true of us that we would come to know the word of God, live it and be able to discern form what is true and false doctrine. I have found that the best way to combat false doctrine, through error in my own actions, is to walk away from it and give it no ear. I liked what was said at the trial of the two disciples. One said; “if this is not of God it will come to nothing, and if it is of God you can’t stop it.” These are not the exact words but you get the general idea.