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MIGHTY THROUGH GOD

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 48.

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“MIGHTY THROUGH GOD.”

By T.

“For tho we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal;” they are not clubs, nor swords, nor guns. But, nevertheless, they are “mighty through God.” For they enable us to “pull down strongholds,” to cast down “imaginations,” and to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Carnal weapons are used in carnal warfare, for the reason that the foe to be subdued is without. It is some one else outside of ourselves who is to be conquered. But in the spiritual contest the war is against sin within us. It is to subdue the carnal mind, that is full of every evil imagination, and bring “every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
When the carnal mind is driven out by these weapons that are “mighty through God,” then along with that evil mind goes every “stronghold” of sin. It is in the soil of the carnal mind alone that sin can germinate and grow. It is only in the carnal mind that “imaginations” and “high things” that exalt themselves “against the knowledge of God” may be found.
When the mind is carnal, evil thoughts will run riot, in spite of every effort to drive them away. It seems impossible to keep the thoughts upon pure and elevating themes. When we would concentrate the mind upon any subject, the will is powerless to so completely hold it there that evil thoughts will not glide in and carry us away to that which should cause a blush of shame. The carnal mind has us thus bound in fetters of iron.
But, no matter how full of carnality the mind and heart may be, if we will only invite Him to do it, our Father in heaven will destroy this force of evil. The weapons will be placed in your hands that are “mighty through God,”—mighty even “to the pulling down of strongholds.” Yes, the work will indeed result in “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” How good it is to have “every thought” brought “into captivity” to Christ, not a part of the thoughts, but “every thought”!
When we turn against the suggestions and desires of the carnal mind and accept the weapons that are “mighty through God,” of course there will be a revolution, and a revolution is never pleasant. The carnal nature will seek to hold on to us. It will resist every effort of the mighty Spirit of God in our behalf. And then if we lose our courage entirely we backslide; but if we keep just a little courage, we continue the fight in a sort of half-hearted way, and thus extend the revolutions over days, months, and sometimes for years; while if we fully accept these mighty weapons of God, buckle them on with the strong girdle of faith, and enter the struggle in the might and courage of the Lord, then may the contest be short and decisive.
“The sword of the Spirit . . . is the Word of God.” Eph. 6:17. The Word of God, then, with all its sure promises, its admonitions, its warnings, and instruction, is the great weapon that is “mighty through God.” God’s Word is life; it is power; it is might. Only exercise your faith in it and you will know for yourself that this is so. God’s Word is also pure, it is elevating, and when our Father sends it into our minds by our invitation, it shows its might by supplanting our impurity and degradation with the holiness and joys of the angels of heaven. It brings “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
In the wilderness Satan tempted Christ upon the point of appetite. The Saviour had been without food forty days when the tempter met Him. He was weak through hunger. But in this weakness the “mighty” weapon—the Word of God—sustained Him. He simply quoted a text of Scripture, but that Word was itself the all-powerful Word of the Father in heaven. Both Satan and his temptation had to bow in defeat before its authority.
On the pinnacle of the temple Satan again tempts the Master, but this time upon the point of presumption; but the great foe is just as promptly met again by the Word of God. The Saviour quoted another scripture to him, and upon the power of that Word of God He rests and again conquers.
On the mountain-top Satan presents another temptation, and our Redeemer comes forward still with the ever-ready Word of God. It is His great weapon of defense and power. And it should be observed that when the Saviour was met in this third temptation, He gave the command, “Get thee hence, Satan.” The tempter had come to Him with his very strongest temptations. He had done all that his Satanic cunning could devise to get the Master to yield; but all to no purpose, for He was secure, since He was battling with the great weapon that is “mighty through God.”
Jesus met Satan, withstood his temptations by the power of God’s Word, and then in the language of a conqueror to a vanquished foe He said, “Get thee hence, Satan.” That was a wonderful victory, and it was gained for you and me. The Master met the tempter; He had the conflict; He won the battle; and when it was won, He bade the foe depart. He did not allow him to linger around, but by the power of the Word he was driven completely away.
The Saviour would have nothing to do with the wooings of evil. He stood upon God’s Word firmly and promptly dismissed anything that was out of harmony with the “Scriptures of truth.” So Satan could get no hold upon Him with his temptations. And if we surrender ourselves to the Father in heaven the same as Jesus did, we then have ourselves clothed with the weapons that are “mighty through God.” We will then know by personal experience that the Word is literally true which says, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Depend not on weapons of carnal warfare, but trust alone in the arm of the living God. The power of sin is great, but the might of God is greater, and He will break every evil habit and entirely free you from iniquity if you will only let Him. T.