PART ONE: “For the weapons of our warfare (Gk. strateia,; English, strategy) are not carnal [of the flesh) but mighty (powerful) in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” —2 Corinthians 10:4-6 What are the believer’s spiritual weapons mentioned in the above verse? Part Two continues this narrative on spiritual warfare.
PART TWO: In Part One I shared this Scripture then asked a question: “For the weapons of our warfare (Gk. strateia,; English, strategy) are not carnal [of the flesh) but mighty (powerful) in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” —2 Corinthians 10:4-6 What are the believer’s spiritual weapons mentioned in the above verse?

The Weapons Of The Believer’s Warfare. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on [and take up) the entire panoply (armor and armaments) of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (humans) but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies” The apostle Paul, Ephesians 6:10:12.
*KEY WORDS: STRONG: (Gk. dunamis; English dynamic, dynamite). Inherent (natural) power and authority which is able to break through any and all resistance. POWER: (Gk. kratos) Manifested (explicit) power, ability and authority. MIGHT: (Gk. ischus) Endowed and endued power, and which points to authority and ability over creation, including spiritual, physical and material world. WRESTLE: (Gk. pale, pronounced pa-lee) A contest between two in which each endeavors to violently throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to press and hold down his prostate opponent with his hands on his neck (note: the loser in a Greek wrestling match has his eyes gouged out, resulting in blindness the rest of his life). This is why believers can never allow Satan or his four diabolical forces to to render them helpless and gouge out their spiritual eyes. (from my 300-page workbook, KEEPING KIDS AWAY FROM DRUGS & OTHER FATAL ATTRACTIONS: A Parent’s Guide To Preventing Life-threatening and Life-controlling Problems In Youth.
PART THREE reveals Satan’s four diabolical forces used in his attempts and schemes to disarm and blind believers into submission to his will and diabolical philosophies. In Part Two on a previous post I share why we are to put on and take up the spiritual weapons God has given believers as part of the divine panoply (armor and armaments) listed in Ephesians 6. It is because evil and diabolical forces war against believers daily. Verses 10-12 of this chapter reveal the four diabolical forces Satan implements and utilizes in his war on Christians.
“For we wrestle against…”
PRINCIPALITIES, or diabolical executors and overlords. These highest ranking rulers of the satanic kingdom control the demon forces here on Earth, and have jurisdiction over a certain area or location. There are satanic principalities over nations, states, cities and districts. These powerful principalities instruct demonic forces to propagate and promote political, religious, ethnic, and racial division, discord, distrust, disharmony and hatred among humans.
POWERS, or satanic judiciaries. These high-ranking demonic magistrates also control demons, and plan out and administer satanic deceptions, assaults and attacks against humans. They also plot to undermine the moral laws of God by advocating satanically-influenced license, vices, habits, practices, lifestyles, mindsets and preferences.
RULERS OF DARKNESS or diabolical legislators. These powerful evil spirits have infiltrated the political and religious structure of the world, and create and propagate false philosophies and religions and counterfeit gospels, including Eastern religions, atheistic humanism, cults and religious-based terrorist movements that advocate jihad, or holy war against “infidels,” and RAHOWA (racial holy war against other races.
WICKED SPIRITUAL HOSTS, or demonic forces. These are the demons and evil spirits of low rank and position, the grunt soldiers of the satanic kingdom. They oppress, obsess, possess and distress humans, cause diseases, wage war on Christians, and carry out the diabolical plans of Satan and his high-ranking minions.
Part Four will continue this discourse on How And Why I Physically Pray For Cities.
PART FOUR: HOW I PRAY FOR CITIES. “The Panoply Of God.”
In previous Part One through Part Three posts I share how God’s powerful spiritual warfare weapons are utilized by believers to pull down satanic strongholds, cast down philosophical arguments against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to obedience of Christ; and then I expounded on the Greek words that reveal the awesome power, might and authority of God; and then I shared the four major diabolical forces of evil Satan uses to war against believers and to take captive nonbelievers.
Part Four now reveals the awesome panoply (armor and armaments) God has given to all believers to utilize in the faith fight. The key words concerning the full armor and armaments of God mentioned in Ephesians 6 and given to believers are:
THE BELT OF TRUTH. God’s truth must always be put on first because all the other parts of the armor and armaments hinge upon His truth. Without God’s truth first and foremost eventually all the other parts will fail. What is truth? “The entirety of Your Word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). The belt of truth affects and protects our morality. The discipline required to put on the belt of truth is: READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is the believer’s heart shield. Proverbs 4:23 instructs believers to “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Righteousness literally means “rightwiseness.”The discipline required to put on the breastplate of righteousness is: MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE DAILY.
THE GOSPEL SHOES OF PEACE. These are the believer’s spiritual combat boots. The fourfold spiritual material and fabric that these Gospel shoes are made from is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8: (1) that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures; (2) that He was buried; (3) that He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures; and (4) that he was seen. The powerful glue that permanently bonds this fourfold Gospel shoes material together is found in Matthew 16:16 and other Scriptures. This powerful spiritual “glue” is simply our confession that “You (Jesus) are the Christ (Messiah) the son of the living God.” The discipline required to put on and wear these everlasting spiritual combat boots and Good News shoes is: MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD DAILY.
PART FIVE: HOW I PRAY FOR CITIES. “The Panoply Of God” continued.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH. “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16).
In New Testament times, there were primarily two types of shields: a small round shield shaped like a giant Frisbee, and a large wooden plank measuring 4 1/2 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide. The small shield, or buckler, was usually strapped to the left or right forearm of the soldier. The larger shield was used by the heavy infantry—and this is the one Paul had in mind when he mentions the believer’s shield.
These large door shaped shields could be used as individual safeguards, or they could be linked together, forming a wall of protection against an advancing army. They were also used as protective umbrellas, which repelled the fiery arrows and projectiles fired from a city or fortress’ tall walls downwards toward the advancing soldiers.
Roman soldiers also soaked their shields in water before going into battle, which helped to extinguish the fiery arrows hurled at them as they advanced. In Bible times, the Hebrew warriors also anointed their shields with holy anointing oil, consisting of five ingredients (myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, and olive oil—Exodus 29:22-25). God also commands New Testament believers to anoint their shield of faith with holy anointing oil as well (Isaiah 21:5). However, the New Testament’s holy anointing oil consists of seven spiritual elements: “Add to your faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness and agape-love (2 Peter 1:5-7). The discipline required to effectively wield the shield of faith is: FASTING REGULARLY.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION: No Roman soldier in his right mind would ever go into battle without a helmet. The helmet protected the head from arrows, but it’s primary function was to ward off or cushion head blows from the broadsword, a three-to-four foot mass of metal that was held in both hands and wielded like a baseball bat. To help absorb or deflect Satan’s spiritual and mental broadsword attacks to the mind, the God of salvation gives every believer a helmet of salvation. The head shield is primarily designed to ward off discouragement, and doubt, including accompanying temptations, accusations, condemnations, fear, phobia, anxiety, depression and other adverse mind assaults.
The Bible teaches us that a believer’s salvation cannot be snatched out of the hand of our Savior. The cross of Jesus Christ has already won that war! But what can be taken away is peace of mind and emotional well-being, which can then lead to spiritual confusion and a defeated Christian walk.
To escape Satan’s broadsword assault of relentless blows to the mind and brain that results in doubts of salvation and spiritual defeat, believers must daily put on the helmet of “so great salvation”—”How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). The discipline required to effectively put on the helmet of salvation is: RISING EARLY TO WORSHIP GOD’
PART SIX: HOW I PRAY FOR CITIES. “The Panoply Of God” continued. The sixth part of the panoply (armor and armaments) of God is:
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. “And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17b). The first five parts of the full panoply are mainly defensive in nature. The sword of the Spirit, however, is used primarily as an offensive and counteroffensive weapon.
In New Testament times, a 3-foot long broadsword (mentioned in Part Five) was used and wielded like a baseball bat. However, this is not the sword included as part of the armor and armaments of God, Rather, the apostle Paul uses the Greek word for a short 6 to 18 inch sword (Gk. machairia, pronounced mock-ah-he-rah) to describe the sword of the Spirit which is given to believers to do spiritual battle.
The sword of the Spirit is the “word” of God. The Greek word is not “logos,” which is a general discourse or broad statement or speech. Rather, it is “rhema,” or specific statement or word of God. That is, the sword of the Spirit is a specific statement, scripture or verse from the Bible which has to do with a specific, particular or unique problem, conflict or struggle we are facing.
The sword of the Spirit is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The two sharp edges of the sword of the Spirit are the “Thus says the LORD” statements and “It is written” declarations from both the Old and New Testaments. Together these Old and New Testament rhemas form the powerful and deeply penetrating sword of the Spirit.
Satan is an expert saber-wielder. If a believer doesn’t know what God specifically declares about a particular problem or situation, he or she will not be able to effectively block, or parry, Satan’s destructive broadsword of discouragement or doubt. Just like in the sport of fencing, the devil’s threefold strategy is to lunge, attack and touché, or score a direct hit to the heart.
Unlike fencing, the believer’s battles are often life and death struggles against razor-sharp and needle-pricked supernatural swords designed to destroy his or her faith, hope and trust in God. But thanks be unto God, we have what is revealed as “a living and powerful two-edged sword that pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This two-edged sword of the Spirit also divides between and discerns God’s words of truths and Satan’s words of lies and deceptions (2 Timothy 2:15}.
The discipline required to effectively wield, or take up, the sword of the Spirit is: USING RHEMAS IN SPIRITUAL AND MORAL WARFARE.
Part Seven will discuss the seventh and most neglected part of the full armor and armaments of God.