Spiritual Warfare 2

I think that now we are ready to get down to some specifics. What are the spiritual weapons, the mighty super weapons that change the whole world? I don't know them all but let's look at the few I do know about.

First up is Confession. Confession just means being up front, especially about something that you would rather hide. The world around you is built on the belief that anything that you can hide gives you an advantage. If you hide your weaknesses, especially what you really think and feel, then no one can use them against you. If you hide your strengths you can use them at an unexpected time. To that way of thinking the ultimate power is invisibility, but Christ was never more powerful than when He was most visible, most vulnerable. The more He is exposed the more He conquers His enemies. Letting those that we deal with see us as we really are, instead of posing for them, sends an unmistakable message that we deny that hiding things is an advantage. It says that we would rather have the truth out than cover our bad side while preparing a sneak attack.

To use the warfare analogy, it picks the entire battle up and moves it to a new battlefield.
We move from the Old Fallen World to a New Redeemed World. A world where mistakes aren't held against you. A world where people care more about each other than about winning. A world where it is ok to risk being hurt because it is enough for us to be like our Lord and He was hurt. Confession takes us to a world where fear is pointless because any good thing that is lost rises again the third day-the world of the Power of His Resurrection. Pretty neat weapon.

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore

“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12