Choose Your Weapons

June 23, 2024

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Title: Choose Your Weapons

Welcome:

Introduction:

I grew up about 8 miles north of here. My Mom and Stepdad owned a country store and gas station and I grew up working there. I worked in a factory after high school and on a farm. In 1977 I started working in construction and continued for 30 years – even after I began in ministry.

I said all that to say this – I’m a tool guy. I’ve got a big set of mechanic tools in the basement – a smaller tool box out in the shed. We have small tool kits in each vehicle.

My carpenter tools are hanging in the shed … I never know when I might need them) so they are readily available.

I have a tool box for plumbing tools, for electrical tools. I have one for concrete tools and drywall tools. Circular saw, miter saw, table saw, jig saw, scroll saw, hand saw, chainsaw, and hole saw, hack saw, coping saw, back saw, Sawzall… router, planer, lawn tools, garden tools… tools with cords and tools with batteries. that could be a Johnny Cash song!

I think there are some I’ve forgotten. But this is one thing I know – every tool has its place and every tool has it proper use. I don’t use plumbing tools for electric or concrete tools for drywall.

I’m a tool guy! You may think this sermon is a guy sermon. It’s not! Each of you have tools that you use and each has a specific value at the right time and the right place.

Ther is one more tool box that I have. And if I use everything correctly it will carry me through this life in the way that God wants me to live. It is the spiritual tool box that has every spiritual weapon I need to defeat the enemy and live the abundant life that Jesus said He came to give.

2 Corinthians 10:3 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.

Prayer:

1. We have a different battle plan.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

There is a story in 1 Samuel about the first king of Israel – Saul. Saul started out with all the right tools. When Samuel the prophet, priest and judge of Israel met Saul he prophesied over him…

1 Samuel 10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

9a As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart…

It seems that the Holy Spirit anointing that was on Saul didn’t last long. He won some big battles in the begin of his reign. Then pride entered in. He started doing things his way – what he thought was right! When Saul was faced with a big mouth giant, instead of trusting God he hid in his tent. When David came to fight Goliath, Saul wanted to send him out with weapons that seemed right. But David had a different battle plan with a different weapon.

(1Samuel17:45) David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear three different times. A weapon that was primarily used in hand to hand combat… and Saul was apparently not to good at it. He missed three times. Threw it at his son once and missed. 0 for 4. Wrong weapon – wrong battle. Saul had God’s weapons at his disposal and refused to use them.

2. If you have been given a tool, use it.

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

God gives us weapons (spiritual tools) to use in the spiritual battle – His written word, spiritual gifts, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He gives us power and authority.

God not only gives us weapons, He chooses the timing of the battle.

Two different times David had Saul in a position where he could have put an end to the chase. David’s men wanted to run Saul through with a spear. David said “NO”! It was the wrong weapon and the wrong time.