Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty 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, (2 Cor. 10:4-5)
Believers are engaged in a military battle or struggle of sorts. The enemy—spiritual, unseen with the natural eye. This enemy affects the individual’s mind and thoughts. The believer’s ally is also spiritual, also affecting the mind and thoughts of the individual. The believer is exhorted to keep the cross of Jesus going on before him. The mighty weapons for this warfare, able to destroy the enemy, are not in the physical realm but found in the spiritual. It is human nature to attribute the troubles hurled at the individual to other people or the devil, just as Adam did in the Garden of Eden after eating from the forbidden tree. In truth, it is often one’s own lusts and fleshly desires that are the cause of his sufferings The Christian wrestles against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness. Victory comes to the Christian who takes up the weapons for a spiritual battle. The weapons in his arsenal are strong and mighty—prayer, truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, God’s Word, and above all, the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:10-20).
Faith requires our mind, or understanding, to agree with the truth of what God has revealed in His Word and in His creation. It is a simple belief of the Scriptures without reservation. When our belief unites with the consent of our will and the approval of our heart, the spiritual victory is won. Faith is complete confidence or trust in God’s character and God’s Word, and in the attributes of Christ. Faith is a total surrender of the will to His guidance, and dependence on His merits. Such faith leads to an entire reliance on Christ, imparted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The grace of God encompasses faith in Jesus, the core of our Christian walk. By our faith, we can overcome our lusts and fleshly desires, the world, and the devil.
What battle is the enemy waging in your life today? Take up your weapons. Can you think of a Scripture to hold on to, to affect your mind and thoughts, so that by faith you would be able to agree with the truth of what God has revealed in His Word? Prayer strengthens faith. Beware of the fate of the lazy warrior. Today is the day to pull down the stronghold in your mind; to take this thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Won’t you join the throng and declare, “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before?”