The everyday battle against our Faith

 Read 2 Corinthians 10.

False teachers had swayed the Corinthians from the truth.  Criticism was leveled at Paul that he behaved one way in person and quite another in his letters.  Evidently, these articulate communicators were influencers, using man-made theories to cause confusion among the congregation.  In rebuttal and to put the congregation back on track, Paul reminded them of the real war.  It was not them against Paul.  It was not one man's view against another's.  This was raw spiritual conflict.

Every believer is confronted with these same challenges every day.  The greatest problem is that most do not even realize they are in a spiritual battle.  Far too many who claim to know Jesus have given ground to the enemy's way of thinking, instead of standing firm in their faith. 

1. The weapons of this warfare. (v.3)
Paul wanted the church to know that our fight against the enemies of Christ will not be won by natural means ("the flesh").  Most assuredly, believers can be as educated, well-spoken, masters of debate.  But, spiritual war must be fought with spiritual weapons.  God has already equipped us (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

2. The power of this warfare. (v.4)
We "have divine power to destroy strongholds."  The word of God and prayer are not mere religious tokens.  They are indeed the spiritual weapons we have been issued.  The message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).  Without a working knowledge of the Scriptures, without a dependency on prayer, and without communicating the life-changing gospel of Christ we are powerless!  Defeat is the only option.

3. The battlefields of this warfare. (v.5a)
The war takes place in "strongholds", "arguments", "and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God."  If the belief system is not based on the veracity of God's word then it is a false faith.  The spiritual source of all lies and deceptions is the same everywhere.  Jesus called Satan "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).  Revelation 12:9 refers to him as "the deceiver of the whole world."  There is a spiritual war between some theories (not facts) that rail against what God said.  Evolutionary theory, atheism, astrology, and all mysticism are examples of where this battle rages against the knowledge of God. 

4. The victory of this warfare. (v.5b)
The battle is won when an individual brings "every thought captive to obey Christ."  Initially, this takes place when a person renounces every false way to embrace Jesus, and Him alone, for the forgiveness of their sin.  Because we live in a fallen world, surrendering thoughts and overcoming wrong habits to obey the Lord is moment by moment exercise of our faith.  "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith." (1 John 5:4)