Galatians 5:16-17 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
THEME OF THE DAY: WHAT TYPE OF SOLDIER ARE YOU? Christians may be classified in four categories when it comes to spiritual warfare. Or we may say there are four types of soldiers in the Lord’s army.
We have the “Spiritual Warfare Ignorant Soldier” who is oblivious to the spiritual realities of spiritual combat. This category of believer is normally those who have been recently saved. Their newfound joy in Christ, the freedom of sin’s burden being released is so wonderful. The excitement in the spiritual experience of this newborn spiritual baby is off the scale. Soon, though, the realities of the devil, remaining sin, and an alluring world come with force into their lives. They don’t understand what is happening. Doubt of salvation may start to come. The conflict of remaining sin intensifies. They become confused. As this happens, the “Warfare Ignorant Soldier” will do one of two things; give up the battle and fall back into patterns of their former life or try harder in “Christian things”, thinking better effort will lead to victory. Both will produce spiritual casualties. And the spiritual landscape is full of such professing Christians who lack joy, purpose, and show little life in Christ. They often leave the church, and, rarely, if at all read the Bible. They absent themselves from fellowship with other Christians.
The next category of Christians in spiritual warfare is the “Warfare Defeated Soldier.” They know the conflict. They have experienced the joy of walking with Jesus in victory and delight. And they have also known times of failing miserably to the wiles of the devil and the power of the flesh. Yet, this category of Christians has grown weary in the fight. As a result, they have raised the white flag of surrender and resigned themselves to status quo, routine existence in the Christian life and living defeated by besetting sins. They are different than the “Warfare Ignorant Soldier.” They won’t walk away from the faith, nor will the try to do better in spiritual things like Bible reading, prayer, and faithfulness to church. They are aware no amount of effort in the strength of self will lead to spiritual victory. No, this category of Christians simply gives up the fight. The characteristics in this type of Christians are discouragement, depression, and no joy in the Lord.
A third category of Christians in spiritual warfare is the “Warfare Resistant Soldier.” This category is close to the “Warfare Defeated Soldier” with a significant difference. The Christian in this category refuses to fight against areas of sin they are enjoying. They are resisting conviction; resisting repentance for they are finding the pleasures of sin for a season more to their liking than holiness and knowing the Lord. They become dangerously lukewarm and indifferent. What is alarming is a level of satisfaction with this spiritual condition settles in. The noticeable characteristic in the “Warfare Resistant Soldier” is worldliness. Compromise of the Lord’s Day and an accommodating of worldly influences easily occur with no remorse or change. What is even more alarming is the “Warfare Resistant Soldier” still maintains faithfulness to the things of the Lord, like church attendance. Oh, they don’t enjoy such things, but will not give up such things.
The fourth category of Christians in spiritual warfare is the “Warfare Fighting Soldier”. Here is where every Christian must be. Here is Biblical Christianity. Here is where the joy of the Lord is found. Here is where sin is defeated. Here is where the Gospel flourishes. Here is where the Christian finds contentment, satisfaction, and purpose in life. Here is where the Lord becomes real and personal. Here is where sin is seen for what it truly is – a heinous affront to our holy God. The “Warfare Fighting Soldier” is putting on the armor God daily and living as a soldier of the cross fighting in enemy territory (Ephesians 6:10-18). So, where do we fall in line as members in Christ’s army? Are we warfare ignorant, warfare defeated, warfare resistant or warfare fighting? May the Lord find us always fighting the good fight of faith knowing that is the reality of being a Christian in this world.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me never to forget I am never free of spiritual conflict in this life.”
QUOTE: “The presence of spiritual conflict is actually a sign of spiritual adoption. Rejoice.”