We, as children of God and ambassadors of His Majesty, are left on earth to fight the devil and bring men to God. Our weapons include the fruit of the Spirit (Jesus within us): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit could come under the listed spiritual weapon of the “helmet of salvation” Ephesians 6:17. I would define this weapon as “the mind of Christ” 1 Corinthians 2:16 or wisdom (defined in the book of Proverbs) which we can have if we belong to Jesus.
Many examples could be given, but consider this example of using the fruit of the Spirit as spiritual weapons: “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32 Patience and self control are the weapons used.
Consider the contrast between using a spiritual weapon and a worldly weapon: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 Gentleness verses harshness are the weapons. An example of using gentleness: a friend of ours ran into another man’s car. When the angry man confronted him, our friend simply said he knew it was his fault, apologized and offered to pay damages. The man calmed down and left without asking for anything.
This Scripture contrasts the result of worldly weapons verses spiritual weapons: “Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.” Proverbs 29:8 Using God’s wisdom (fruits of the Spirit) turns away anger.
A reason for the ruin of those who use worldly weapon is both natural consequence and God’s direct intervention: “Her rich men are violent; her people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins.” Micah 6:12-13 The worldly weapons of violence, lies and deceit may appear to win, but they will end in destruction.
Using worldly weapons weakens or eliminates our victory. Consider a few examples of using the worldly weapon of anger:
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11
“For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife." Proverbs 30:33
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9
The weapons we fight with are powerful enough to demolish strongholds because they have divine power. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can win our battles: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 The specific weapon used in this passage is taking “captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. It is exciting to note that when our “obedience is complete” victory is promised.
Sometimes it seems like we are losing. However: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 If we know what we are asking is God’s will, we can know we will get what we requested. For example: I know that God wants my marriage to be strong. Therefore, if I ask for unity (not necessarily agreement) with my husband I obey, I know He will answer. I know He wants me to have His wisdom, so I know He will give me wisdom in specific situations when I ask.
He promises to answer whatever we pray His will. Sometimes He has a higher purpose than we can understand: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33
He may be answering yes, but we have to learn some lessons first or the pieces have to be in place so that it can be answered or there is some sin of which we are not aware which is hindering the answer: “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12 We do know that God loves us and wants the best for us and promises His wisdom.
Another thought is that we should pray for others and ask others to pray for us. The apostle Paul prayed for the Colossians: “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:9-12 Wouldn’t we want someone to pray that for us!
This should be our attitude in battle: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:2-8 We will always receive wisdom when we believe His promise. God’s promise to give wisdom is a promise of victory in every situation.
The fight is between those who believe in Jesus and the devil. We will never do everything perfectly, but even our mistakes are learning experiences. Paul prayed for the Philippians: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 This prayer implies that we can always do better and should always be growing in our relationship with Jesus. We have all of His power behind us and have already been declared the victor.