John 18:38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
Spiritual battles can either make us better or bitter. The way we fight spiritual battles is with the weapons of righteousness, truth and integrity. If we try to fight a spiritual battle with carnal weapons we will be destroyed. We cannot fight demons with rifles and rivalry. Honesty may not yield quick perks but will certainly produce long term permanent rewards.
Pontius Pilate knew that there was no legitimate reason to crucify Jesus on the cross. Under the Roman law crucifixion was a punishment for treason against the Roman government. Even though Pilate found no basis to crucify Jesus, he yielded to the coercion of Jews. Pilate was a people pleasing politician. The Apostle Paul says, For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). The Jewish writer Josephus states that Pilate was recalled to Rome after mishandling a riot involving the Samaritans in AD 36. Church traditions state that after Pilate was banished from power he became insane. Pilate took refuge in a mountain (now called Mount Pilatus) in modern Switzerland and eventually committing suicide in a lake on its summit. Pilate was in a spiritual battle to choose right from wrong and he lost the battle by yielding to popularity, pride and pomp. Dejection overtook him and pushed him to commit suicide. The battle injury of Pilate was fatal.
Spiritual battles fought with the weapons of love, truth and integrity will make us better but when we fight our battles in our flesh with anger, animosity and arguments it will leave us bitter and broken.
Carnal weapons leave us wounded but spiritual weapons win battles:
1. Hands: Hands lifted towards heaven bring the favour of God. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! (Isaiah 58:9). Blaming people or hoarding bitterness will harm us and leave us injured but hands lifted toward heaven brings victory. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning (Exodus 7:11). When we slack in prayer the enemy will take the upper hand in our lives.
2. Knees: Bent knees break the knuckles of the enemy. The posture of prayer sends shivers in the spine of the enemy. Refuse to leave the posture of prayer until you defeat the devil.
3. Heart: A pure and righteous heart before the Lord will keep us from battle injuries. We will never be hurt by the harsh treatment of people if our heart is steadfast in the Lord. If we know who we are in the Lord, a spiritual battle can never leave us heart-broken.
Fight your spiritual battles with a pure heart, with hands lifted up and on bended knees.
2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I never fight my battles with words or carnal weapons but teach me to use the spiritual weapons to grow through every battle. Amen
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