7 Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare
The purpose of Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare by Harold F. Hunter is to equip believers for victory.
- How to View the Bible
Chapter one encourages believers, who are weary in warfare, that they can trust in the Word of God which is dependable and “God-breathed”[1]. Throughout the ages Satan has attacked the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. Hunter believes that:
“Our greatest contemporary struggle is not in the arena of human rights nor international economic policies nor in protracted debates concerning the nuclear freeze. Rather, it is whether God’s own people will continue to accept, live and proclaim every line of the Bible as true and, in fact, “God-breathed.” (Harold F. Hunter 1983)
The author says that, “anyone who denies the authenticity and trustworthiness of Genesis cannot be saved” and he supports his statement with three reasons.[2] This chapter reminds us that the bible is dependable.
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), 1.
[2]. Ibid, pp. 10-13 synthesized and summarized.
- How to Have Assurance of Salvation.
In this chapter, as the author focuses on the assurance of salvation, he puts forward the statement that, since Scripture (John 1:9) states that Jesus, who is the true light, lights every man that comes into the world, we conclude that,
“Every man’s emotional self will be sufficiently illuminated at some point in his life to cause him at least a moment of reflection concerning his relationship with God.” (Harold F. Hunter 1983, 21)
Yet, more than soul enlightenment, is needed for salvation. Spirit enlivenment is required, which is a conviction of the Holy Spirit. The author states that,
“A person cannot choose the timing of his salvation, he must be saved when God’s Spirit convicts” (Harold F. Hunter 1983, 22)
Salvation is only in Christ and one can have it only by calling upon His name, hence a good question to ask is, “Did I ask Jesus Christ to save me from my sin?” Believers feel remorse when they sin, and this is evidence of the Holy Spirit grieving inside them when they sin. Believers love God’s Word and they love the brethren. The lives of believers are not marked by habitual sin. These facts help one to ask the right questions regarding one’s own salvation and can help one toward having assurance of ones salvation. The author feels that this is at the heart of one’s relationship with God. The author concludes that salvation is secure because we are kept and garrisoned, not by our faithfulness but by the Lord Himself and His ability to do anything through faith.[1]
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), p. 21-39 synthesized and summarized.
- How to Know the Will of God.
The author notes that a daily walk ought to be our focus rather than trying to know a future will of God. If we would get the daily basics of obedience right then God would continue to shine the light at our feet and unfold more. Knowing the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God comes through daily presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, and being transformed in our minds. The analogy of a sacrificial animal, tied down at various points, is used to show that we ought to be willing to be tied down by the disciplines of Christianity such as Bible study and prayer, etc. Avoiding the permissive will of God which we learn about in Balaam’s life is imperative, as is knowing that God has said ‘He will’[1].
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), p. 43-55 synthesized and summarized.
- How to Overcome Temptations
This chapter notes three areas of combat. Namely, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Satan would have us satisfy these in ways that dishonour God. We sin when lust has conceived, which we allowed ourselves to be drawn away by. Satan provides the withdrawal (e.g. the bottle) which leads to temptation (e.g. we are enticed), but we turn it into sin by choice (e.g. drunkenness). God will always offer a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus stood firm on the Word of God! The author explains the trichotomous nature of man as body, soul (emotions and personality) and spirit which are, respectively, attacked by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It has been suggested that, a younger person is susceptible to the lust of the flesh (smoking, etc) whilst a person in the middle of life is vulnerable to the lust of the eyes (home, car, etc) and the pride of life manifests itself in the later years. The author notes that after salvation the contaminating nature is dead, and our actions become our choice and are no longer stained by sin. That is to say, all our works are no longer filthy rags, but we can choose to serve God.[1]
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), 61-71, synthesized and summarized.
- How to Pray for an Unsaved Loved One
This chapter addresses the release of ensnared souls. The author elaborates on a very interesting method of reaching an unsaved loved one whereby one starts by recognizing that they are blind to spiritual things and cannot see the gospel.[23] A personal cleansing process follows whereby we confess every known sin of our own and repent of secret faults and presumptuous sins and reconcile with others and live in forgiveness.[24] Hereafter, by prayer, we discover the weakness/sin of the loved one, and memorize scripture relating to that sin.[25] Lastly, we ask God to redirect the spiritual attack away from them and onto us
When Christ took on the demonic attack and fury of hell and became our sin-bearer:
“we were released to the illumination of the Spirit, so that by His quickening power, we could rationally use our will in the acceptance of Christ as Lord” (Harold F. Hunter 1983)88
That is our desire for our loved one. We desire that our intervention will give our loved one the time and space, away from their sin and struggles, to rationally use their will and respond to Christ. As the Father sent Jesus, so too He sends us on a great commission to win souls for Him and to intercede and bear the attack, if necessary.[1]
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), 83-88, synthesized and summarized.
- How to Seek Bodily Healing
This chapter expounds a biblical view of bodily healing. For example, we are not called to go to a tent healer because the power of God is “reserved for guardianship …of the church”. The biblical pattern is to call the elders to pray and anoint one with oil. The prayer of faith makes the difference. Sickness can be from sin, or from the devil, or God can allow it. When sickness is a result of chastisement, a lack of repentance can lead to premature death[1].
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), 87-110 synthesized and summarized.
- How to Live in the Power of the Holy Spirit
In this chapter the author explains a biblical view of living in the power of the Holy Spirit. He clarifies that we receive the (baptism of) Holy Spirit at salvation and not later. Thereafter we’re commanded to be filled as we give the Holy Spirit full authority in all areas of our lives. We see a very interesting principle in Gideon’s life and the life of the Widow of Zarephath, that God brings His power to the situation when we have used up all our strength and resources.[1]
[1]. Harold Hunter, Simple Strategies for Spiritual Warfare (America: Trinity Academic Press, 1983), 113-133, synthesized and summarized.
In conclusion, the author opened the book with a focus on our need to trust the Bible as the God-breathed Word of God. He enabled us to have assurance of our salvation and expounded the concept of being renewed and transformed, to know the will of God. The author explains how it is possible to have victory over temptation and how it is that we can get help in time of illness. Lastly, the author highlighted truths about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how it is that we can live in His power. These basic disciplines of the Christian life are our simple strategies for spiritual warfare.