The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:46 In the “old days”, gentlemen came up with a unique way to settle disputes. They had duels. This is not something we understand well these days unless we have watched Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. 2 combatants would square off. They man being challenged to the duel was allowed to choose the weapon they would use. Unlike Bugs and Elmer, they would pace off 10 steps, turn and fire. Duels could be ended in 3 ways. They could be finished with first blood, when one man was hurt too badly to be able to fight, or when one man was killed. The judge would determine the winner. Each person chose a second, a person to fight for them if they were hurt or killed. So, let’s say you were challenged to a duel. You chose pistols as a weapon. According to the rules of the duel, each uses the same weapon. Unfortunately, your opponent has no sense of honor and pulls out a bazooka. Your choices are run, shoot first and hope for the best, or pull out your own bazooka. This is very much the reality of our spiritual lives. The enemy of our souls has challenged us. We chose pistols because we know how to use them. He is the very opposite of honorable and comes at us with the bazooka. Before we know what happened, we are under heavy fire. Our first instinct is to run. Run from church, run from people who care about us, and run from God. This is usually a bad plan. We may choose to shoot first with our pistols. We may nick the enemy but won’t do much damage. These are things like using will power and quoting Romans 8:28 (For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose.) They will help some but not at the deep level we need. Fortunately, God has weapons and armor that are more than able to conquer. We just need to learn how to use them. Finally, we need to have people to fight with us and for us if we are injured in the battle. Here is the description of our weapons from the amplified Bible. 2 Corinthians 10-:46 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete. Paul describes our protective armor in Ephesians 6. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Finally, fight with your brothers and sisters. If you are injured in the battle they can stand for you until you can go on. Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. As you go into this next week take Paul’s encouragement to heart. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”