2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  NASB

Let’s get into this final installment of our Spiritual Weapons of Warfare and the vehicles used to launch them. 

Prayer and the other weapons of spiritual warfare impact everything including our human government (1Timothy 2:1-4).  When we pray for our government, we are to pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. Good government allows us to have the ability to preach the Gospel freely and openly.  It guarantees civil liberties and protects freedom of speech.  We can do more on our knees than in any other fashion but that does not mean we cannot or should not be otherwise active.  But always remember that OUR WEAPONS ARE MIGHTY!

There are Eight (8) Laws or Elements of Prayer.  I will call them Laws for the sake of understanding:

The Law of Boldness.   (Hebrews 10:19) – “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”  The Blood of Jesus enables us to access the throne room of heaven.

The Law of the Blood.  Prayer is offered on the foundation of the Blood of Jesus.

The Law of Faith.  (Hebrews 11:6) – “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.”

The Law of Right Relationships.  (Mark 11:24-25) – “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.  25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.”  NASB

The Law of God’s Will.  (1 John 5:14-15) – “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  NASB

The Law of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:26-27) – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” NASB

The Law of Praise.  (Psalm 34:1) – “I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES, His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.”

The Law of Right Motives.  (James 4:3) – “You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

All of these are extremely important and are an explanation as to why sometimes we are ineffective in our praying.  It does not explain everything, but it should give us things to consider and a personal examination of our hearts, motives, and lives.

We looked at the launching Rocket of Prayer now let us consider more launching rockets for the Weapons of Spiritual Warfare:

THE VEHICLE OF PREACHING….

At the risk of being misunderstood, I say that Preaching is an incredibly essential element and activity for the Body of Christ.  It is one of the great tools that God has given to launch spiritual weapons effectively.  It is by the ‘foolishness of preaching’ that men are saved!  Paul counseled Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word!” 

When anyone stands at the sacred desk (pulpit) or anywhere and preaches The WORD, that person is launching a weapon of warfare against the devil’s strongholds.  Preachers should expect strongholds to come down as they preach.  Our preaching should go forth mixed with faith knowing that we are launching mighty weapons against the forces of hell.

When I look at the life and ministry of the apostle Paul, he epitomized the importance and power afforded in preaching.  He was a preacher from the moment of his conversion.  He was commissioned from the very beginning of his ministry to take the Name of Jesus before the gentiles and kings!  Everywhere he went he proclaimed the Name of Jesus!  He continually preached the Word, the Name, and the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and mighty things took place in his preaching.

THE VEHICLE OF THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY….

In Revelation 12:11 – “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” NASB.  The word Testimony in Greek is ‘witness,’ so to testify means to witness.  In a court of law, you are asked to testify or give witness of only what you know, things you saw and/or heard.  You are to speak from direct personal experience, not from opinion or presumption.

The word of our testimony is an immensely powerful launching rocket.  I believe that your testimony is powerful no matter what that testimony is because it is a witness of the Power of God transforming your life. 

Sadly, many are robbed of the beauty of their personal testimony because they have deemed it not to be as significant or colorful as someone else’s, but it is your testimony, and it is your account of your experience in God and that is powerful.  There is nothing more real and moving that a personal account of what God has done.

THE VEHICLE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP….

Praise & Worship are very personal things but can be significant and powerful in corporate gatherings. When congregational praise & worship is offered there is incredible power generated.  Psalms 22:3 tells us that God Inhabits the praises of His people.  Therefore, as we worship & praise as a group we manifest a unity, harmony, and agreement that opens the door for the Holy Spirit to move freely in our midst.  In doing so we are launching the Word, the Name, and the Blood of Jesus and pulling down strongholds.

That brings us to a crucial point – The Power of the Tongue!  We use it in praying, preaching, testifying, and in praise and worship.  It is with our mouths that we launch the weapons of warfare, but we can also launch weapons of the enemy by engaging in gossip, backbiting, undue criticism, unrighteous judgment, fear, and doubt.

No matter how dark things may seem around you the power of God surrounds you and as Paul and Silas sang praises in a prison cell at midnight, we can launch the weapons of warfare in our darkest hour and see the Hand of God move mightily.

Learn to utilize and launch God’s weapons of warfare!  May God be with you as you go through your day!