The Apostle Paul, in writing to the churches of the Corinthian region, begins to teach some of the most important teachings of the New Testament.

We are going to join him in the book of 2 Corinthians, chapter 10 verses 3 and 4: “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, (of the flesh); but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

In our daily lives, we understand clearly we are walking “in the flesh.”  We hunger, therefore we eat; we get tired so we rest.  Our bodies need grooming; exercise, also activities, vacations and more.

Paul, in verse 4, reveals to us we are also in a spiritual warfare as we function throughout our daily lives.

This warfare, many times is centered around our relationships at home, at work and in society.

This great revelation can be life changing as we begin to discern just how right Paul was and is.

Although we do walk (or live), in the flesh; these battles are not rooted simply from our flesh.

In fact, we have earthly or worldly battles that seem to be just another day at work, school, among our friends and family.  You may even experience having enemies in those very places

Many of the strongest challenges in our lives are motivated by what is moving in the spiritual realm more than in the flesh.

Our “thought life” is one of the greatest battle grounds we will encounter in our lives and for a life time.

Early in life we believe we just can’t help what we think. As we grow in God, we find out we can govern our thoughts.

Our thoughts can come from God’s kingdom, the devil’s lies and from our own humanity.

Our God can send people in our lives to encourage us and help us grow into mature sons and daughters of God. The enemy can position people around us to annoy and disrupt our lives.

Of course, a good portion of our battles with other people are simply humans encountering other humans, for good, bad and in between.

Thankfully, Paul does not leave us just with the information that we live our lives with some measure of spiritual warfare, but he adds to that information that we also are not without weapons — spiritual weapons — “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh); but they are mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds.”

Then Paul tells us how to pull them down:

— Casting down imaginations.  We are capable of enlarging our problems beyond their real scope.

— Casting down every high enemy that is not of God.

— Bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ.

— Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deception of the devil.

We are able.

Tom Hall is pastor of Church of the Living God, 114 Franklin Ave.