THE WEAPONS OF A BELIEVER
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
I want us to talk about the armor of God as a weapon and other general weapons of the Christian faith. Weapon is any offensive or defensive tool for arm war. Sometimes the kind of battle you're dealing with determines the kind of weapon to use and also you can combine weapons and use them.
Isaiah 59:17 The armour of God is God's own weapon that he uses and we're privileged that God has granted us the opportunity to use his armour. Concerning weapons, we have both defensive and offensive weapons. The reason for the armour is for you to have the power or dunamis to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Exo 15:3 KJV The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
If the God we serve is a man of war then we his representatives on earth are people of war too. If that's the case then we need to know the weapons we can make war with. When you put on the armour, you are able to withstand the enemy, you maintain your victory grounds and when the enemy shows up in your camp, you deal with him.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
* 1.Belt of truth
The belt of truth is the word of God, the written word of God (the logos) and it keeps the rest of the pieces together. The sword is kept on it when not in use, it keeps the breastplate and the shield of faith intact.
If your belt is intact the other pieces are also intact. This is to say, the more you receive the word, the more the rest of the pieces are secured. John 8:32 The truth is the word, so knowing the truth exempts you from bondage, this is a weapon that sets free.
The belt of truth is made in such a way that it covers your reproductive organ when you wear it and so it makes you fruitful and productive. The belt of truth is a weapon that fights against barrenness and dryness.
* 2.Breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate is a defensive tool used to protect the heart and vital organs within. The devil targets your heart or conscience with guilt, offences, condemnation, faults etc. After the death of Jesus, the authority that Satan had was stripped off him and so what he's left with now is deception. What he does now is that, he comes to you and accuses *you* to *you* because he knows he can't accuse you to God because of the blood. 1 Peter 5:8 The Greek word for the word "adversary" is antidiokos from two words anti and dikos. Anti means against and dikos means righteous. This is to say the enemy is against your righteousness so he'll do everything possible to condemn you so that you conclude on yourself. This is the reason why you always need your weapon called the breastplate of righteousness on. 2 Cor 5:21 Accepting Jesus as your Lord and savior, you become the righteousness of God thus Christ becomes your righteousness. You now have the right standing with God, Christ has taken your place and so God sees you in His son. This mentality, this consciousness, this ideology should be built in you. Your breastplate helps you to conquer every *battle of the heart or conscience* especially when the enemy comes to condemn you.
* 3.Shoes of the gospel of peace
Your feet shod with the gospel of peace doesn't only mean readiness to propagate the gospel but being rooted and grounded in the gospel. This becomes a weapon because you cannot be tossed to and fro by any wind of doctrine. John 14:27 We have what we call, peace of God and peace with God. When you become born again, you gain peace with God but you can be a believer and not have the peace of God. The peace of God is when you're not alarmed and moved by what's going on around you because your inner man is still. You rest in the promises of God. The shoe of the gospel of peace as a weapon gives you peace with God and of God and so tribulations, trials, temptations, crisis, hard times, storms don't move you because you've a weapon that deals with it.
* 4.Shield of faith
The shield of faith is another potent weapon that every believer needs to put on. Hebrews 10:38 The reason why scripture said the just shall live by faith is because God knows that you cannot survive when you want to live by the flesh. The kind of battles you'll deal with you can't survive without faith and faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Romans 10:17. The shield of faith is a shield for daily living. Some of the shields are polished shields and others are also dipped in water so that it'll be able to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. This is to say that your faith must always be prepared, don't live it dry because your shield of faith can catch fire when not dipped into water. The water in this case is the word of God, you always need to dip it into water because the enemy can come in at anytime when you least expect, and when your shield (faith) isn't prepared for battle, you'll have issues. Pro 24:10 KJV If thou faint in the day of battle or adversity, thy strength is small. The enemy will try to bring fears your way; fear of the future, fear of marriage, etc. but if your shield of faith is intact, it settles it. Sometimes it's sad how we can fear with all intensity but we can't have faith with all intensity. If you've the ability to fear then you've the ability to stir up faith.
* 5.Helmet of salvation
The helmet is a weapon that protects the head from injuries.
The moment you're born again, your salvation becomes a weapon to you.
1 Thess 5:8 The helmet of salvation has to do with the hope of salvation which is the assurance of salvation and security of salvation. Assurance of salvation answers the question "are you saved?" whilst security of salvation answers the question "will you be saved?". The enemy always comes in with battles of condemnation and fear of losing your salvation but when your weapon, the helmet is in place, the enemy cannot win that battle. Your helmet of salvation should be that you're secured about your salvation and that every blessing in the salvation package is yours. There's nothing you will do to reduce God's love for you and there's nothing you'll do to increase his love for you, so don't let the enemy condemn you that because of that sin you sinned you're no more God's child. Every believer needs to understand this whole salvation package that will make your helmet intact. The enemy has succeeded in defeating people without their helmet of salvation to make them think that there's no life after death, that God even hits to see them when they sin etc. Put your weapon on, you need it always.
* 6.Sword of the spirit
The word of the spirit as a weapon is the word of God but this is the rhema word of God (spoken word of God). The belt of truth is the logos and the sword of the spirit is the rhema, that's why the sword when not in use, hangs on the belt. This is to say out of the logos comes the rhema. Heb 4:12 This weapon called the word of God is very powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword and has the ability to pierce and divide sensitivity matters of the mind and heart. This weapon helps you to make both physical and spiritual battles. We need to intentionally read the word and meditate on it, that's the only thing we can do to secure the sword of the spirit because you can't use any weapon you don't have. Grow in the word.
¶ General Christian weapons
* 7.Sounds (Shouts or noise or music)
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
1 Chronicles 14:15, Here, we can see that sound gave them a signal that the Lord has gone before them to make war. This is to say that your sound moves God into action.
Isaiah 9:5 Are you a warrior? then you can't afford to joke with sounds. In the ancient times, warriors were taught how to fight and roar like lions at the same time, that's why scripture says that the battle of a warrior is with confused noise. The noise which is like the roar of a lion that he makes can just make you confused and so defeating you becomes easy. Sound is a weapon in the spirit which confuses the enemy and makes him tremble.
Sometimes it saddens my heart when we come to church and we're asked to give a Lord a shout and you see people just standing, little do they know that they're making use of a weapon. (We will delve deeper into music another time)
* 8.Silence
Ecclesiastes 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Charles Spurgeon said and I quote " priceless as the gift of speaking may be, the practice of silence in some aspects far excels it". Many have not mastered the act of silence, it has a way of confusing your enemy because he doesn't know your next action. Psalm 46:10 In silence or stillness is where you just relax and watch what the Lord will do to your enemies. Silence has a voice and the Lord understands the voice of our silence and so He comes through for us when the need be.
* 9.Praise
Praise is a physical or vocal expression of our sincere appreciation to God for all the wonderful blessings He has provided for us. Praise is not necessarily songs.
Psalms 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Psalm 8:2 (NHEB)
From the lips of children and infants you have established praise, because of your adversaries that you might silence the enemy and the avenger
Psalm 8:2 KJV & NHEB - KJV used strength and NHEB used praise, this is to say that praise is strength. Praise is a weapon of strength that gives us the ability to silence the enemy. If there are so much voices speaking in your life, the voice of poverty, the voice of lack, the voice of failure etc. by praise as a weapon you can close or silence all of them. Don't wait till you come to church before you make use of this weapon, make use of it always.
* 10.Words
Psalms 120:7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
The word "they" here speaks about words, his words are for war. That means words are weapons. Words are powerful, don't just use your words for proposals and for less important stuff. Isaiah 54:17 by your words you either condemn or you allow. Use your words to allow the allowable and condemn the condemnable
Numbers 22:6 Balak knew the power of words as a weapon so he sent for Balaam to come and curse the children of Israel so that he'll be able to prevail against them. Use your words wisely because they're weapons, your words can build and ruin. Always say positive things into being, speak positive stuff into you finances, marriage, destiny etc. don't join social media to utter negative stuff. Remember, your words are weapons and as weapons, use it to pull down negative words of the enemy not to add up.
* 11.Knowledge (Revelation)
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Knowledge is a weapon that immunes people from destruction. A lot of people have landed into battles of poverty, curses etc. because of ignorance and in the spirit, ignorance is not an excuse. In 2 Kings 6:8-23 the Aramean soldiers attacked the prophet Elisha that even his servant feared but the prophet wasn't moved because he knew something that his servant didn't know. He knew that they that were with him were more than they that were with them. The revelation or knowledge he had, caused him to win the battle in the end.
Pro 19:2 NET It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices. We say that knowledge is power, this a weapon too.
* 12.The blood of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The blood of Jesus has the speaking power and so it speaks better things than the blood of anything. When you have it as a weapon, you're in charge. Revelations 12:11 It also has an overcoming power and so when you use the blood as a weapon, your victory is inevitable. Not only these, it also has a preservation power Exodus 12:23 When the Lord passed through to smite the first Borns of the Egyptians, the Israelites were exempted because of the blood. The blood of Jesus is a potent weapon if only we can master it's usage.
* 13.Service
Numbers 20:28, Aaron was the first high priest of Israel and because of his service he was given the high priest garment and nothing could touch him because of the priestly garment he was wearing. When the priestly garment was removed, death was able to conquer him. All along death was hovering around him but his service as the high priest was like a weapon shielding him. Even when Aaron and Mirriam spoke ill of Moses, Mirriam was struck with leprosy but Aaron was free because his service as the high priest was a weapon preserving him. Take your service in the house of God seriously because service has a way of giving you a covering that maybe your prayer wouldn't give.
Isaiah 38:3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. In Isaiah 38 King Hezekiah received a message of death and what he did was just to evoke the weapon of service. Even God changed his mind when the weapon of service was used. Your service is your weapon.
* 14.Testimony
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Testimony is a weapon because it has the ability to cause you to overcome. It's a weapon that helps you to conquer and also stirs up people to conquer. When people see you use your weapon of testimony, something is stirred up in them to use theirs too. They believe that as the weapon worked for you, it'll work for them too. Again, testimony as a weapon has a way of stirring up your faith to conquer your faith and to fight the battle that has scared you for years.
* 15.The Name of Jesus
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
The name of Jesus is a weapon, when this weapon is invoked every battle has to end because every knee must bow. Scripture says that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved or delivered. This is to say, the name of Jesus is a weapon that brings deliverance. The name of Jesus carries so much authority that nothing can rebel against the name. As a child of God, you’ve right to use the name so be bold when using it.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of Jesus is a strong tower and a tower is a defense and in this case a strong defense or hiding place. When the devil wants to harass you quickly run into the name. Running into the name is simply changing location, so if family altars are fighting you just change location.
* 16.Men (in the generic sense)
Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
Men are battle axes or weapons of war. So when God wants to solve the battle of poverty in a family, he sends a man. I hear people sometimes say that why at all did an African parent give birth to him or her whilst a white person could. The answer is simple, God saw a need (war) and He knew that you're the weapon that can settle that battle and so he released you.
The battle that you're going through that you think it's too much for you, a man (weapon) can be released and the battle will end in that hour, this is why Paul said "know no man after the flesh" coz in the spirit, some men are weapons of war. Not all men are mere men some are weapons, that's why you need to honour and respect men. Jacob cursed Reuben and Reuben amounted to nothing until Moses showed up and reversed the cursed that let Reuben live and not die. Men are weapons
* 17.Growth or maturity
1 John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Here, we've three categories of people here, fathers, young men and children. Your spiritual maturity is what will place you in one of these ranks. Children grow to become young men and young men also grow to become fathers. According to the scripture the reason why children cannot overcome the enemy but the young men can is simply because of maturity. Maturity then becomes a weapon in the spirit, this is why every christian must grow because if you don't grow spiritually there are battles you can't conquer. Let's yearn to grow.
* 18.Wisdom
Wisdom as a weapon is very necessary because it's a principal thing.
Ecclesiastes 9:14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
Ecclesiastes 9:15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
We can see in this scripture that by the wisdom of the poor man, the whole city was delivered. This wisdom is not the wisdom of this world but wisdom from above. Earthly wisdom isn't a potent weapon because it's limited but the wisdom from above is a great weapon. It's engineered by the Holy Spirit so it does not fail.
Eccl 7:12 Wisdom is a defence
* 19.Prayer
Luke 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Prayer as a weapon is deeper than we can think. Daniel conquered opposition by prayer, Elijah silenced the mouth of the prophets of baal through prayer, through prayer Peter escaped death.
* 20.Fasting
Esther 4:16 All the Jews were about to be wiped away, that was the battle confronting them but they activated the weapon of fasting and they conquered. Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Fasting is a potent weapon for every believer because there are battles that without the weapon of fast you cannot win. Fast, you won't die.
* 21.Angels
2 Kings 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
The background story of this verse is that, the Assyrians wanted to make war with the Israelites and King Hezekiah made a prayer to God and God sent forth an angel to smote the Assyrian army. Now, in Hebrews 1:14 angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister(serve) them who shall be heirs of salvation (believers). Angels are weapons for believers and we can deploy them during battles. Don't let your angels rest, give them some work to do. They are weapons, use them to make war.
By faith in Christ Jesus you appropriate all these weapons to work for you. All these weapons are at your disposal as a believer and it's your duty to use them. As you do your part, God then can also do his part too so that your victory can be assured.
CONCLUSION
Eph 4:27 KJV Neither give place to the devil.
Give no place to the devil; in other words, don't give the devil an opportunity for him to operate. When you give him a small opportunity, you'll be shocked what he can do with it. Make good use of these weapons and yearn to grow in them.
God bless you
Dennis Nemi