Armed And Dangerous. -Spiritual Warfare
2 Corinthians 10:1-6NLT
False apostles are people who masquerade as Christian leaders, they work to get other people to follow them, and then lead them astray.
A true apostle is one who is “sent” by God as an ambassador of Jesus Christ with a divine message.
A false apostle is a pretender who does not truly represent Jesus Christ, and whose message tilts toward self, or flamboyant me. -“Hey, Look at me!”
In, 2 Corinthians chapters 10 and 11, the Apostle Paul addresses the problem of false apostles invading the Corinthian church.“Having now finished his directions and advice relative to the collection for the poor, the apostle Paul resumes his argument relative to the false apostle, who had gained considerable influence by representing apostle Paul as despicable in his person, his ministry, and his influence.” (Clarke).
These false apostles stated, Paul’s words were strong in letter, but weak in person; therefore refuse to listen to him.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6NLT “Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 2 Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
Paul contrasts his selfless service with their smooth speech mixed with a heavy dose of lethal legalism. Jesus plus...
Paul called them impostors,“super-apostles,” (making fun of them), they were pretenders, with smooth speech, pretending to be true servants of Jesus, but they did not know the Lord.
Again verse 1&2, Paul writes, “I want to be kind to you, but if need be, I will boldly confront you face to face.”
They were deceivers, preying on gullible Christians in Corinth to profit themselves and boost their ego. They convinced many Corinthians Saints, to go back and add to grace. -Thus they frustrated Grace.
In return, many in the Corinthian church were frustrated, because of these false apostles. Remember the words of Paul in:
Ephesians 2:8TPT For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ!
Paul criticizes the church that they “even put up with anyone who enslaves, exploits, or takes advantage of you.”
The Apostle Paul compares these impostors to satan himself, who also “masquerades as an angel of light”
2 Corinthians 11:14NLT But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Paul addresses these false apostles head-on with these two bold letters from, 2 Corinthians chapter 10 and chapter 11.
However, I stress as the apostle Paul stressed, that if he needs to confront with boldness these physical opponents, he will.
Again Paul writes, we are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2AMP Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent! 2 I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit].
There are several power facts within these 6 verses.
1. We walk in the Spirit.
-We have become spiritual beings. You’re not flesh that happens to have a spirit, You’re spirit that happens to have decaying flesh. P.H
Romans 8: 14-16TPT The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. 15 And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” 16 For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”
Some might suppose we war in the flesh, but no, we war in the spirit realm. We war by faith. We war with complete knowledge that our Lord, King and Savior has already won the war! P.H
Psalm 144:1AMP A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock and my great strength, Who trains my hands for war And my fingers for battle;
He, (God) trains my hands for war, He, (God) trains my fingers for battle. -My battle has been won. Jesus stated from the cross, “It is finished!”
Again, 2 Corinthians 10:3TPT For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims.
2. We refuse to depend on the flesh.
Hear me, “Anyone can carry a gun.” Anyone can be a bully on the internet. I believe saints ought to confront human weapons with spirit?
And that my friend is what Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church. -Confront me with flesh, and I’ll confront you with spirit and truth!
Galatians 3:1-2TPT What has happened to you foolish Galatians? Who has put you under an evil spell? Did God not open your eyes to see the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion? Was he not revealed to you as the crucified one? 2 So answer me this: Did the Holy Spirit come to you as a reward for keeping Jewish laws? No, you received him as a gift because you believed in the Messiah.
Are you depending on the flesh? Or have you by faith, through Jesus’ grace, trusted solely upon God? -His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
Trust the Lord, Trust the Spirit, Trust the Word.
Isaiah 40:8KJV The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Illustration- The Word of God is the measure of our lives. Imagine different teams of men building a house with everyone measuring by their foot, not tape measure. The carpentry, flooring, coverings, windows and doors would be a mess. -It simply would not come together. That's why we use the square, the tape measure, the plumb line, the level!
Hear me, “No society, church, family or individual can build well without using the standard of God's Word. It is the rule for our lives.” P.H
Again, 2. We refuse to depend on the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:4AMP The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
3. Our warfare is divinely powerful.
Is there any fortress that needs to be destroyed?
When you put God in the equation, (Faith in the equation), all bets are off the table.
The apostle Paul gives a wonderful secret to spiritual warfare: Again, 2 Corinthians 10:3-4TPT For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. 4 Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.
These false apostles were using manipulation (legalism), mixed with smooth convincing speeches.
Say, "Divine power!”
The power that created the World, and all time and space. -
The A -Z. Alpha and Omega, Beginning, and the End. The Ancient Of Days, The Root of David, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Lamb of God, The Day Star, The Lilly of the Valley, The Bright and Morning Star. The Creator, The One that spoke and it was. The Judge, The deliverer, The Babe in the manger, The suffering Savior, The King, The Bride Groom, The fourth man in the fire, He’s the Day of Pentecost, He’s the bread and the wine, He’s our Manna, and He’s our well spring.
Again, When Paul addressed these false apostles, he reminded himself, as well its reader, 3. I address you and others with divine- power.
2 Corinthians 10:5TPT We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.
As the Bride of Our Lord Jesus Christ: 4. We discern the true knowledge of God, versus fantasies that oppose God.
Here’s shouting ground, you ready? Because of the power of God’s word, and our knowledge of it, every arrogant attitude raised up in defiance, has to become prisoner to the Anointed One! -Say, Thus saith the Lord!
You need to speak to the situation. -Bow!
2 Corinthians 10:6TPT Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.
5. Your obedience to Jesus Christ, makes you armed and dangerous.
Colossians 2:15MSG Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
Because of Jesus, and your obedience, you are armed and dangerous! Remember, You’re not playing fare.
2 Corinthians 10:6 …and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
-Benediction.
A ccept
B elieve
C onfess
