The Essence of Spiritual Warfare: II Corinthians 10:3-5

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1 The Essence of Spiritual Warfare: II Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (II Corinthians 10:3-5) Introduction The above passage deals with the everyday, all day spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical battles we encounter as believers in Jesus Christ, and it gives us the method and means by which we can wage this spiritual war and come out victorious. However, this is not a bowflex approach that promises ease and comfort to attain this victory, but rather it gives us the true picture of the place of the Cross in our lives, through and by which we can have victory in the face of the many opposition forces raised up against us through the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:1-6). II Corinthians 10:3: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh A. The word walk is describing our real life, everyday living, from the time we wake up in the morning, get out of bed, and begin our living for that day. At the moment of our awakening, we begin to think, and the very first thing we should begin to do is to pray, versus beginning to lean to our own understanding. 1. The verb for war in Greek is strateuomai, and from this Greek verb comes the English verb strategize. 2. Thus, what this verse is saying is that even though we walk in the flesh, meaning, we live in this body of flesh, we should not be strategizing by our own fleshy and carnal reasoning in determining and directing our decisions. a. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. b. In the Hebrew, the word for acknowledge is y¹da, and it means to know, and at times it is used to express the intimate relationship between a husband and a wife: Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD. (1) The phrase, had relations, is literally, knew, and the Hebrew verb used here is y¹da. (2) Thus, when we use the word acknowledge in English, we are simply saying that I agree to admit recognize something or someone, but in the actual Hebrew use 1

2 of this word, it means far more than simply to admit or recognize something, it means to have a personal and intimate acquaintance with. (3) Therefore, in Proverbs 3:6, for us English speakers, the verse should read, In all your ways, Intimately Know God and what His Word has to say about your situation, surrender to the will of His Word, and He, not your carnal reasonings and logic, will make your paths straight. (4) The very best example we have of this intimate knowledge of God s Word is found in Matthew 4:1-11 with Jesus temptation by Satan in the Wilderness. (a) Jesus was tempted, just as we are, in the three major areas of our fallen, human nature the lust of the flesh (turning the stone into bread Matthew 4:3-4), the lust of the eyes (seeing all of the glory of the world that Satan promised to Him Matthew 4:8-10), and the boastful pride of life (Satan offering Jesus the glory of man, versus the glory of God by jumping off the pinnacle of the Temple Matthew 4:5-7). (b) It was these three areas that Satan tempted Eve with in the Garden of Eden, to which she succumbed, and the Fall of Man occurred (Genesis 3:1-7). [1] What is quite interesting about Satan s temptation of Eve, is that as emphatically as God told Adam he would die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17), Satan equally emphatically denied that she would die if she ate from that tree (Genesis 3:4). [2] In Hebrew, the grammatical construction in Genesis 2:17 and 3:4 with regard to the phrase, surely die, is called the infinitive absolute, and it is used for emphasis thus, whatever promise God gives us, for blessing or danger, Satan equally denies God s Word with the same equal emphasis! (c) Thus, as we read in I John 2:15-17, we see that we too are confronted with these very same temptations every day, and it is only through God s Eternal, Living Word that we will be able to recognize them for what they are and, just as Jesus did, disavow them with the Eternal, Living Truth of God s Word! (d) What is also very interesting about Jesus temptation in the Wilderness, is that with regard to the boastful pride of life temptation in Matthew 4:5-7, Satan quoted from Psalm 91:11-12, but he misquoted it in order to give the impression that regardless of what Jesus might do, God would protect Him, but Jesus, KNOWING GOD S ETERNAL WORD, responded with the TRUTH OF GOD S ETERNAL WORD to overcome Satan s eternal lie! B. Thus, our victory in Christ is not found in our carnal and fleshly reasoning, but rather, in the application of God s Eternal, Living Truth in His Eternal, Living Word in all situations of our lives. II Corinthians 10:4: for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 2

3 A. The noun for warfare in the Greek is strateia, and from this Greek noun we derive the English noun strategy. 1. Thus, once again, our strategy for victory will not come from our carnal and fleshly reasonings, but rather from God s arsenal of powerful resources. a. In both words, flesh and powerful, these are two, plural adjectives in the Greek, which in an amplified translation would read, for the weapons of our strategy are not fleshly things, but are powerful things in God... b. Thus, what God is saying through Paul, is that there are many, fleshly resources that our carnal reasoning and logic can draw from, and which Satan will continue to emphatically put forth in our minds. c. However, that which we need to draw from, and must draw from if we want to walk in and experience God s victory, are the many powerful resources God has provided for us IN HIM! 2. Our warfare, therefore, which is our strategy, must be rooted in the powerful things that are found only in God, and ONLY IN HIS ETERNAL, LIVING WORD: Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). B. The noun destruction in Greek is kathairesis, and it comes from the Greek verb kathaireō, which means to bring down from one level to another, take down, bring down, lower; to destroy by tearing down, tear down, destroy, overpower, and conquer. 1. Thus, those areas in our carnal makeup that we constantly battle and struggle with can and will only be brought down, conquered, and destroyed by the powerful things found in the Lord, which means they are found ONLY IN HIS ETERNAL, LIVING WORD! 2. The constant lie of the enemy, however, is, just as with Eve, so too with us, He EMPHATICALLY denies the Word of God as EMPHATICALLY as God affirms His Word, and it is that truth of our spiritual warfare that we must never forget as we constantly attack Satan s lies with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). C. The Greek noun for fortresses is ochurōma, and it comes from the Greek verb ochuroō, which means to make fast and sure, and to fortify. 1. Consequently, these fortresses are part of our depraved, corrupt, carnal, narcissistic, and fallen natures, from which the righteousness of Christ through faith, has redeemed us. a. Genesis 6:5: Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent (yatzer the beginning of the formation of our thoughts before even becoming cognizant to us) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (i.e., all day, every day, incessantly). 3

4 b. Psalm 14:1-3: The fool has said in his heart, There is no (ayin the most emphatic, negative particle in the Hebrew language of the three types of no in that language) God. They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no (ayin) one who does good. 2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no (ayin) one who does good, not (ayin) even one. c. Isaiah 64:6: For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (beged iddim = a used menstrual cloth); and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 2. However, we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, through faith, from the eternal condemnation that awaits all apart from the redemption of Christ. a. Galatians 3:13-14: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. b. Romans 3:21-26: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 3. On the other hand, we still live in these bodies of flesh, and as Paul makes it quite clear in Romans 7:14-25, the battle we fight as believers in Christ against our fleshly lusts of all types is continual until we go home to be with the Lord: For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind 4

5 am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:14-25) 4. On the other hand, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes it abundantly clear in Romans 8:1-8 that those of us who are according to the Spirit are born again believers who are set free from the law of sin and death, and the requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us through Christ, but those who are according to the flesh are not born again and will be recipients of the eternal judgment brought on by their inherent sin natures and utter rebellion towards God source of righteousness IN CHRIST ALONE: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:1-8) 5. Therefore, the fortresses in our lives that we are destroying are those aspects of our carnal natures that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are putting to death : So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:12-17) a. Therefore, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are not living according to the flesh, which is referring to a non-believer, but we are living according to the Spirit, and that means that the Holy Spirit within us, in the midst of our struggles, wherein we experience both victories and failures, is continually moving us toward God s sanctification within us, whereby we, by the Spirit of God, are continually putting to death the deeds of the body, and by doing so, as believers in Jesus Christ, we experience His abundant life that He came to give us (John 10:7-10). b. This process of sanctification also, without any equivocation, includes God s loving and consistent discipline as His children, whereby, we may share His holiness (Hebrews 12:4-11). 5

6 II Corinthians 10:5: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. A. The Greek verb used for destroying is kathaireō, which we have already discussed above, but the Greek noun for speculations is logismos, from which we derive the English word logic. 1. Thus, the word speculations in this instance, may also be understood to be referring to our logical reasonings that emanate from our carnal, corrupt, and narcissistic mind set, versus the mind of Christ that every believer has (I Corinthians 2:16). 2. In addition, the Greek verb destroying is what is called, in this instance, a present participle, emphasizing an ongoing and continuous activity thus, this process of our destroying is an ongoing and continuous process throughout the day, and throughout our lives! B. The phrase, every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, is once again referring to Satan s lies that often times inflate our false sense of identity, which is the source of our corruption, and that is the pursuit of our self-deification that is the foundational root of all of our sin, and it was the pursuit of this sin by Eve and Adam that brought about their Fall, and the subsequent Fall of all mankind (Genesis 3:1-7). 1. Satan told Eve that if she ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, she would be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). 2. Consequently, the Enemy of our souls is constantly attempting to lure us into a narcissistic pride that, rather than bringing life to us as believers in Jesus Christ, brings consistent misery, jealousy, and an addictive enslavement of insecurity. C. The final phrase, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, is the actual means of our victory in Christ. 1. The Greek noun for thought is no ma, and it also means design, purpose, and plot, and this is the essence of our spiritual, mental, and emotional warfare, in recognizing Satan s mental plots aimed against us. 2. The Greek verb for taking captive is aichmalōtidzō, and it is referring to the capturing of an enemy combatant, as well as gaining control of. 3. The word obedience is hupako, and it also has the meaning of compliance, which would mean, I comply with God s Word as the grid for my thinking and actions. 4. Herein is our daily victory, and Luke 9:23-24 fully embodies what is being stated in all of the above: And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 6