“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)
I want to show you three secret weapons that Jesus used that are rarely preached on in our churches. Mainly because the majority of the church world does not consider these weapons. I, though, want to show you that when you use them properly, they can indeed be mighty weapons in the hand or life of the spiritual warrior, just like they were for Jesus.
The first weapon that Jesus used was He always knew the perfect timing of God. Did you know that most people have trouble in their life from either lagging behind God or getting ahead of God? Christians today have the hardest time trying to figure out God's timing for their life. And because of this, many get into trouble. But Jesus showed us that understanding the timing of God was crucial to victory.
In Luke 7, Jesus is in Capernaum. A centurion’s servant is sick. Jesus speaks the Word and his servant is healed. Now, what does that have to do with God's timing? Everything, when you consider that at first Jesus was going to go to the centurion's house. If that would have happened, then the next miracle in Luke 7, would not have happened at all. And that was the raising of the dead man from Nain. Why wouldn't it have happened? Because Jesus would have been in Capernaum, not Nain. And because of that, the widow's son would have already been buried. But Jesus was following the Spirit's lead, and because of that He was in God's timing. God's timing was perfect, and it was used as a tool to bring victory over death.
One of the great secrets to Jesus’ ministry was He knew how to be at the right place at the right time. And if there has ever been a need in the Church, it's that for our day. One of the greatest needs of the Church is how to understand and operate in spiritual timing. And why is that such a great need? Because, only a person that is walking in spiritual timing, can fully understand that God is in total control. In Ecclesiastes 8, it says “a wise man's heart, discerneth both time and judgment.” What does that mean? It means we must be able to know when to go and when to stay, when to speak and when to remain silent. You see, it is the will of God that we not only be sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, but that we also operate in them effectively. That's where the timing of God can become a weapon. And when that weapon is used properly, the forces of darkness will be scattered into disarray, and you will move into victory like never before.
The second weapon that Jesus used throughout His ministry on earth was stillness. I know this sounds silly, but I am teaching you a sound biblical principle. Being still before God can be one of the greatest weapons we have. You know why? Because when we get still, we're not trying to fight the battle ourselves, we are giving it to God. The Word of God says, “stand still and see the glory of God.” Allow me to break this down further for you; look at the following verses of Scripture:
“For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.” (Job 33:14-18 NKJV)
“Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.” (Job 4:12-15 NKJV)
Now these verses in and of themselves are not spiritual weapons, but they do tie into something else. Let me ask you a question. When did those verses talk about? In the middle of the night. What are you doing in the middle of the night? Nothing. You're completely still and sound asleep. Why would God come and give you a revelation then? Because you are just that, still. Your flesh is still, and it's not fighting against the Spirit. Allow me to show you yet another Scripture concerning this battle principle of stillness.
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” (Matthew 14:22-25 NKJV)
When was Jesus praying? During the fourth watch of the night. That is the time between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM in the morning. If you're wondering what's so special about that time of night? Well, ask yourself, what was happening during that time of the night? Nothing. It was the stillest time of the night. Several times the Bible mentions that Jesus went apart to pray in the middle of the night. Why? Because Jesus understood the importance of getting along with his Father while all was still around him. I want you to see this warfare principle. We've had this spiritual warfare thing backwards for too long. We've been taught by preachers and teachers and books on how to fight at all times. But I want you to see that being still and letting God handle it is also a weapon.
The third weapon that Jesus used a lot during His ministry was silence. This is different from stillness, that we just finished exploring as a weapon. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, the definition of silence is the “absence of sound or noise,” while stillness means “devoid of or abstaining from motion.” Whereas the weapon of stillness means to abstain from activity or motion, this third weapon, silence, is teaching us to stop talking, to be quiet, and to listen to the voice of God.
I want you to read something that Jesus said. He told his disciples in John 14:30, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me.” What does that mean? I believe it means that the purpose and plan of God was about to be finalized because of the cross that was coming. But satan didn't know what the exact plan was, and Jesus didn't want him to know. So, what was the best way to keep him from knowing? Silence! Notice what Jesus did after this. He never went to his disciples after that and said I'm about to be crucified. Get ready, get prepared. My death is coming. He never said anything like that. He goes on and stands before Pilot and wouldn't even open His mouth. Pilot asked him a question and He says nothing: again, and nothing. But why didn't He open his mouth? Well, before I answer that, let me show to you what Isaiah 53:7 says.
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7 NKJV)
But once again I ask, why? The answer is found right in your Bibles. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:21-23 ESV)
Right there is where silence can become a weapon for the believer. Christ gave us the example, and we need to follow it. It says right there that “He left for us an example that we may follow in His steps.” You see, the enemy wants you to open your mouth. He wants you to get yourself in trouble. He wants you to gossip, murmur, complain, bicker, backbite and retaliate against others. But don't do it. If you can just let it, silence be your weapon, it will bring confusion in the camp of the enemy. It did for Jesus, and it will for you.