Paul assures that they don’t war in the flesh. The word “weapons” here, in the “weapons of our warfare,” is the same word as armor or tool. We present ourselves as “instruments” of righteousness in Romans 6. That’s the same word.

Paul says we have divine power to destroy strongholds. What is this power?

Our only power is the Holy Spirit. We destroy the works of the devil by doing the works of God. Operating in your gifting is the best way to destroy the works of the devil.

This verse isn’t about shouting at the sky trying to pull down strongholds.

If your gifting is prayer, pray. Paul destroys strongholds by teaching. He’s destroying arguments and opinions that come against the knowledge of God. He gives people knowledge of God to combat it.

He’s using his gift of teaching through writing. That’s his instrument of righteousness. He’s out to bring righteousness, willing to use his authority in the church as an apostle to discipline the disobedient.

Writing this lesson, I’m realizing “take every thought captive to obey Christ” is part of this. He’s not taking his own thoughts captive. He’s taking captive erroneous thoughts in the church and willing to punish if necessary to bring those thoughts into obedience to Christ.

We want our own thoughts to submit to obedience to Christ, of course, but that’s not the context here.

Paul reminds them that his authority is for the building up of the church. It’s for others. Our giftings are for giving to others. They are for our selfless love of others. They aren’t for ourselves.

Speaking of gifting… Paul seems to be gifted in writing, but not in speaking. We don’t get gifting in every area. Paul’s speech is “of no account.” His presence is “weak.” But his letters are “weighty and strong.”

That doesn’t mean we can’t do things out of our weakness. We should recognize our weakness in all things! Recognize your strengths are from God; otherwise, it will become your weakness.

It all is from God and for God.