Weapons In a battle, physical weapons are necessary to inflict damage, but a diversion or deception is most effective for them to gain access to their targets. Though not damaging in itself, the illusion of security or normalcy can allow for a wide opening to devastating threats. Because France assumed the Ardennes Forest was impenetrable, their forces were weak when the Germans quickly passed through it in 1940. While our nation has assumed security in its military might, its enemies are gaining access to our greatest treasures without a single physical attack. Control and power are the goals, but deception and lies are the real weapons. As citizens of the Heavenly kingdom, we have an enemy with weapons that are designed to take us out and render us defeated and ineffective. However, what we’ve been given in Christ is so much greater than anything he could ever come up with and all he’s really able to do is just use deception and lies to gain access to our treasures. Only when we open the door to his illusions is he able to defeat and dominate. For every lie, though, we have weapons of our own that are God-powered to overwhelm and utterly destroy his every threat. Wielding the Word dismantles dark lies with enlightening and liberating truth, while the Spirit of Truth on the inside prohibits any diversionary tactics. We more than overcome as we simply apply the weapons we’ve been given to take captive and make every thought obedient only to Christ. Notes With needless wondering is lie vulnerability 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Cain also: Genesis 4:7 (NLT) 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Maintain thoughts when roars threaten 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. What are the roars? - Lies John 8:44 (NIV) 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. His weapons don’t have to succeed Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. If the enemy’s weapons are lies, what are ours? Truth – by the Word and the Spirit John 17:17 (NKJV) 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 16:13 (NKJV) 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; … Mighty weapons secure every thought in Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (AMPC) 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete. Evidence of a breach Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV) 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. When truth has won… Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Using weapon of truth enables new living in Christ Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV) 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Kept Isaiah 26:3 (GW) 3 With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. Overview: Deceptions and lies provide access to great devastation. It’s in the mind that we’re attacked with lying diversions of the flesh. Every weapon of lies is defeated with Truth by the Word and Spirit. Where there has been a breach of lies, there is damaging evidence. Dark strongholds and thoughts are cast down with the activated power of God in Truth. We’re kept safe and secure when our weapons crush every deception. Prayer: Father, as I fix my heart and mind on You, keep me in Your perfect peace, safe from every enemy threat. Prepare me in strength to carry and proclaim Your truth. Declarations: In Christ, I have been taken from lying darkness into the light of Truth. Every weapon that is formed to attack with lies and deceit I condemn with truth from the Word by the Spirit. I stand strong in the Lord, established on the words of Jesus, and will never fall prey to the lying attacks of the enemy. I am always kept in perfect peace because my mind does not stray from the Truth in Christ.