From time to time, the subject of
spiritual warfare becomes a popular,
almost faddish focus for the Body of
Christ. When this happens, it is taught
with such enthusiasm that a newcomer
to Christ might assume spiritual
warfare is a brand-new revelation,
even though it is not.
Taking the
Mystery Out of
SPIRITUAL
WARFARE
There have even been many moments in
history when this subject has become the
rage in the charismatic sector of the Body
of Christ. Any person who has been in
touch with the national pulse of the Church
would quickly agree that at times, the Body
of Christ experiences what I have come to
call a "spiritual-warfare mania."
by Rick Renner
B V O V
:
2 1
are right. When your words are right, your
actions are right. When your actions are right,
you have victory! So, study the Word—not just
to accumulate information but to assimilate
the truth of it. Meditate on it until it becomes
part of you. Integrate it into your heart until it
infl uences your every thought. Then you will
know the truth and the truth will make you free!
No. 6: "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with
them that call on the Lord out of a pure
heart."
2 Timothy 2:22
This entire scripture is important. But the last
part is especially crucial. It reveals one of the
great secrets to avoiding temptation and living a
successful Christian life.
What is that secret?
Keeping company "with them that call on the
Lord out of a pure heart."
The people we choose to fellowship with can
make all the di erence in the outcome of our lives.
The companionship of strong believers helps us
grow stronger. Their faith encourages our faith.
The reverse is also true. Fellowshipping with
people who are living in sin is dangerous. They'll
pull us into darkness. They'll tempt us to do
things we know we shouldn't do and dampen our
fi re for God. "Evil companionships (communion,
associations) corrupt and deprave good manners
and morals and character" (1 Corinthians 15:33,
AMPC).
That's not to say we can't reach out to lost
people. We can (and should) minister to them.
We can bring them to church with us and share
the Word with them. But we can't a ord to come
down and live on their level. We can't start going
where they go, talking like they talk and making
them our close friends. If we do, we'll wind up in
trouble.
So, let's follow Paul's counsel and surround
ourselves with godly, Bible-believing, faith-
talking people. Let's heed the wise counsel of this
great father of the faith. Let's be strong in grace,
endure hardness, put God fi rst, keep in mind
our resurrected Lord, and continually feed on
the Word. Then someday we too can say, "I have
fought a good fi ght, I have fi nished my race, I have
kept the faith!"
