Weapons of Mass Construction

At this writing, my heart is heavy with the images of hatred, misunderstanding, anger, bias and the violence of the world around us. It comes on in waves of desperation and tears. What can one person do to change the headlong descent to human depravity? What can stop the downhill descent of Destruction? God answered me.

First and foremost - remember who you are fighting against. "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 RSV The world rulers are not men - even men of power. The ruler of this world are the spiritual hosts of wickedness. God told me, "You cannot fight this present darkness with their tools; you must fight with mine."

So, what are the tools that will defeat these powers?

• Prayer - our first line of defense in prayer. It is the strongest arrow in our quiver. I am not speaking of beseeching God for protection against our earthly enemies - remember we are not fighting against men; but principalities. I am saying that we should pray for their salvation. Pray that their hearts and souls will be softened to accept God into their hearts. Pray that they will choose His path. "And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." Mark 9:28-29 RSV
• Love - Now that we have set up a defense of prayer, we need to go on the offensive with Love. We may not ever meet or have the opportunity to speak to those who hate us, but in honor of God, Our Father, we can speak of our enemies in lovingkindness to God. Those enemies who have caused chaos and destruction in our lives and the lives of others, those enemies whose very name strike terror - yes, even those - we should set our hearts to love. If not for them, then for God. Our loving thoughts can implode the darkness with light and understanding. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 RSV
• Humility - We need to treat our enemies with humility. This is probably the hardest weapon to utilize. When we have been hurt, our first response is setting up a defense. But, as we have seen - only prayer shall be our defense - not the actions of our own hands. Remember, we are not fighting the person, but who is inside the person and in the spirit world, humility is offensive. Humility shows that we will not change our behavior based on the actions of our enemies. We will not become as them, but will remain steadfast in our Christian humility. The principalities of darkness were able to operate through this person because they already felt inferior. If we increase this inferiority by our actions, the darkness will obtain a greater stronghold. We can only dispel these feelings with edification. "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:1-11 RSV

Our victory is insured if we use the weapons that Jesus used - prayer, love and humility. These are the weapons of light - use them whenever confronted by darkness.