Good vs evil.

We find in the Bible, the reality of the forces of God and forces of Satan. The battle that ensues on this earth since the Garden of Eden. It is a battle around us. It’s a battle in us.

In the New Testament, Paul in his letters to different churches, refers to this battle we are in. That we are not at war with people, but against evil spiritual forces. He says our weapons we fight with are not human, but are mighty in God. What does that mean? What are our weapons? How do we fight, in God’s mighty power and overcome evil?

To answer these questions, I think we need to step back from a wider angle. I think we need to know how Satan does his work and be able to distinguish how God conquers over it.

What are the characteristics of Satan? What are the characteristics of God?

In the book of the prophet Isaiah, God says that Satan was cast down to the earth from heaven because he raised himself up to be equal with God, even though he was just an angel. We could summarize that his character is self elevation and his method of operation then is to incite self-promotion, self-defense, self-preservation, self-worship, self-leading. It is the elevation of self as king, rather than looking to God as the King. From the very beginning we see this in the Garden of Eden when Satan deceives Eve, to do the one and only thing God commanded not to. He enticed her with “if you do this, then you will be like God.” Well, it worked. We are all born with a nature that seeks to elevate self over God and others. The Bible uses words for this like ‘sinful nature’, ‘flesh’, ‘carnal’ or ‘human’.

But God in His mercy intervened to break us free from being slaves to that nature. He did it by the mighty power of His character. What is the character of God? God is love. How did He give us the option to be set free from this slavery to our human nature? By His great love. “God so loved the world, that He gave His Son.” Jesus, as a representation of God, came to this earth, laid down His will, and did His Father’s will. He set us free by dying for us, taking our death sentence instead. He was raised back to life from the grave in power. As a result we have access to the very same power to live in us and through us by His Spirit once we make the decision to commit our everything onto Him, and follow Him.

Now we can be His soldiers, empowered to fight with His mighty weapons. Empowered to overcome evil with good. Back to the earlier question-but how?

In the letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes,

“Though we are human, we don’t war with human weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not human, but are mighty in God..” (I Corinthians 10:3-5)

We could characterize that Satan’s weapons of evil are characterized by self-promotion, or what Scripture calls pride. These characteristics are in us as humans. It is the human way, without the power of God in us.

We could characterize that God overcomes the powers of evil with love, sacrifice, Jesus lowering Himself and HIs will, and obedience to His Father. He went to His death. When He had all rights and power to trample everything coming to take Him down, He didn’t. The word Scripture uses for this is humility. It was this humility that God’s mighty power worked through, to destroy the power of Satan.

So, Scripture says the weapons of our warfare are not human. What are human weapons our instincts usually lead us to fight with? Personally when I feel like I’m threatened or vulnerable to attack, my human instincts are to push myself forward. To self-defend, self-elevate, put up walls of defense, and maybe retreat sometimes. There can be thinking patterns that lead to me viewing myself as more knowledgeable than others, that I’m right and they’re wrong. Sometimes there are thinking patterns of lies we have used our whole lives to self-protect. These methods most often lead to conflict, separation from people, breakdown of relationships, distrust in God, anxiety, depression, despair…

So, we could summarize that we are not to fight with human weapons. These are the weapons Evil tempts us to use, self-promotion and everything that fits under ‘pride’. Instead, the weapons we are to fight with are God’s weapons. Scripture says these weapons are ‘MIGHTY IN GOD’. Paul continues in this text to use himself and those with him as an example. He says, “our weapons are mighty in God to the demolishing of strongholds (reasonings relied upon for self refuge, like walls around a camp).” That these weapons “demolish arguments and conclusions that are raised in in pride against the truth of God.” That these weapons “run down and capture every rebellious thought and rein them back in to the obedience of Christ.” But what are the weapons?

Earlier in the text Paul writes in verse 1,

“We appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ.” Also translated “the humility, meekness, or restrained power of Christ.” These are the weapons Paul is referring to. Paraphrased, ‘we are coming to you with the kindness and humility that Jesus has.’ A few chapters prior (2 Cor. 6) Paul is giving reason for the power/authority of their ministry. He’s listing all the suffering they have endured. “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of the power of God. We patiently endure trouble, hardships, calmities…we prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US, by our sincere love…God’s power is working in us. We use the WEAPONS of righteousness in one hand for attack and in the other for defense.”

There it is again. The weapons of the divine nature of God, His Holy Spirit coming through their lives, the character of Jesus.

Remember the character of God—love and sacrifice of His own Son. Remember the character of Jesus-set aside his own will, doing only, saying only what the Father told Him to do. Even Jesus did not self-lead. The character of God in us, because of the Holy Spirit in us, His very presence in us, able to flow through us. This is the ‘MIGHTY POWER’ we have access to, if we use God’s mighty weapons. The weapons of submission to God’s will, humility, kindness, love, forgiveness.etc. It is these weapons that tear down strongholds, destroy arguments, capture rebellions thoughts.

“God opposes the proud. (lines up in battle against)

But gives grace (power, help, might) to the humble.” (several places in Scripture)

Many times in the New Testament, reference is made to the struggle between our sinful/human nature and the Holy Spirit in those who belong to Christ.

“Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves…” The text goes on to describe the behavior of the sinful nature and the outcomes of following the Spirit. Then says, “Since we are living by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:16, 25)

We have access to the very divine nature and character of God.

His character. His traits.

By His Spirit in us, flowing through us as containers. He is our mighty weapons. He is our righteousness for attack and defense.

So when we recognize we’re in a fight. Something not right has gone on. A situation we feel the injustice, the wrong and we want to have some power to make it right. Maybe our mind or heart just feels like it’s in a whirlwind. We need to pause. Ask the questions. Let God show us. What weapons do I want to use? What weapons are going to bring the mighty power of God into this situation? What weapons will accomplish His will in this situation? Bringing all my emotion reaction in the situation and human instincts to God and handing them over to Him, entrusting the battle to Him.

Asking, “God, what is the one next step you want me to take?”

“I choose not to self-lead, but to follow You.”

He will give the power to do the thing He directs.

Then watch Him come in power, lining up His armies on our behalf.