LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
BOOK CRITIQUE: Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God's Glory.
BY JERRY RANKIN
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. KENNEDY ADARKWA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COURSE EVAN 670 – B02 LUO
BY
EVOLA DAWSON
Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God's Glory. (Nashville: B&H Publishing,
2009)
Author
Jerry Rankin, born March 16, 1942, in Tupelo, Mississippi; also lived in Clinton
Mississippi. He is married to Bobbye Simmons of Brookhaven, Mississippi. He has two
children Lori and Russell. His pre-career missionary experience: Pastor of Sadler (Texas)
Baptist Church, Youth director and associate pastor at Sagamore Hill Baptist Chruch in
Fort Worth, Texas, Baptist Student Union director and Bible instructor at Grayson County
Junior College, Denison, Texas, and Summer (1962) missionary to New York and
Vermont for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board and summer (1963) missionary to
the Philippines for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. Ranking and his wife
spent twenty-three years as missionaries in Asia until he became International Mission
Board president in 1993. Today, as the President Emeritus, International Mission Board,
he leads the board with a vision of missionaries, churches, and volunteers partnering to
take the gospel to all peoples. Rankin earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi
College and his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. 1
1 Dr. Jerry Rankin’s personal and ministry bio is available from
http://therankinfile.com/about-the-rankins/dr-jerry-a-rankin/; Internet; accessed 15, April,
2017.
Introduction
This paper is a critical review of Jerry Rankin’s book Spiritual Warfare: The
Battle for God’s Glory. The author explains invisible and visible battles that take place in
areas of the world along with battles of the minds of believers who have been attacked by
Satan. The book is full of Rankin’s personal experiences while on the mission field.
Along with scriptural references discussing the dynamics of spiritual warfare, what it
entails, and how to overcome with victory. The combination of the authors experience
and theological explanations, the reader will be challenge and edified concerning spiritual
warfare. The author explains, “It wasn’t long until we began to learn that where the
gospel has not been proclaimed in Jesus is not known, Satan has considerable dominion
and power. Demon possession is not uncommon in such places; and we had, indeed,
ventured into Satan’s territory.” 2Rankin also says, “Satan doesn’t have to create religious
opposition and government restrictions to inhibit the kingdom of God from being
established among all peoples. If he can just get us to live like the world, indulge the
flesh and treat sinful behavior as normative, he has deprived God of His glory and
diminished the potential of others receiving the gospel.”
Summary
In the beginning of Jerry Rankin’s book, the reader is challenged with seeing the
reality of spiritual warfare. Rankin reveals some of his stories from his early days on the
mission field in Indonesia.3 The book is easy to read; yet it challenges the reader to open
2 Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory. (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2009)3.
3 Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory (Nashville, TN: B&H
Publishing Group, 2009), 1-7.
their eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare. Rankin explains that as Christians we have
difficulty believing the reality of spiritual warfare. Rankin’s personal experiences invite
the reader to increase their awareness of demonic possession in the form of spiritual
warfare. The first chapter reveals the subtleness of the enemy. Rankin explains that
several evil forces are comprised of spiritual warfare that opposes us. ‘In fact, we have a
Trinitarian enemy”4 and “we are often deceived even in our distorted understanding of the
warfare. Persuaded that Satan has a power that, in fact, he does not have, we readily gave
into our selfish nature, and inclination to sin and embrace Carnal, worldly values. That
Satan has such a power is an illusion faded by his deception”.5
The next few chapters reveal the nature of the enemy. The nature of Satan is always
to stand against what God master plan and purpose for the life of a believer. He will
accuse God to man and man to God. The author describes Satan’s roles and tactics as an
adversary, a deceiver, a tempter, and a hinderer. 6 Rankin explains how strategic the
enemy is in opposing the progression of God’s kingdom and Him being magnified in the
earth. The Devil nature is to lie and oppose the truth. Rankin shared in his writings the
subtle nature of the Devil, he said, “Those who are lost are blind. They cannot see and
understand the truth of the gospel in spite of frequent and clear communication. 7
In the authors writing the reader is able to understand the struggles Christians will
face as it relates to the world. Rankin says, “to think that we can feed our minds to all of
the garbage and filth of the world and believe it does not affect us, or attitudes, and our
thinking is as foolish as the Hindu pilgrims who think that Ganges River cannot be
4 Ibid 20
5 Ibid 21
6 Ibid. 33-44, 45-54, 57-62, and 62-76, respectively
7 Ibid 37
polluted. It demonstrates the effectiveness of Satan’s deception.” 8 Chapter five strictly
deals with the battle of the flesh and Spirit. Paul talks about the war that is found in our
members in the book of Romans. Rankin says. “The Bible has a lot to say about the battle
between the flesh and the Spirit. Every reference affirms the victory we have already
been given, but Satan distorts our understanding of God’s Word, causing us to see the
struggle as futile and embrace defeat”. 9 The attack on the mind is Satan aim. If the mind
can doubt God, then the believer can give into the works of the enemy. Ephesian 6:17
says to put on the helmet of salvation. Satan’s fiery darts are directed at the mind of the
believer’s security and assurance in Christ. Satan desires to bring doubt and
discouragement as he points out our failures, sins, problems, or any negativity in our lives
in our to make us lose trust in God.
Rankin book goes on to talk about the sufferings that believers experience from
denying the flesh. Chapter seven talks about Satan’s ammunitions against the believer
and Chapter eight talks of Satan’s strongest weapon called adversity. Rankin say’s “when
people see us suffering and experiencing adversity, when they see us with a debilitating
illness or reacting to the loss of a loved one, it is an opportunity for them to see the reality
of our faith and the victory we have in Jesus Christ.” 10 Lastly, Rankin shares with the
reader the importance to have a sure foundation for victory so that God can get the glory.
Critique
Jerry Rankin did a great job in presenting the reality of spiritual warfare in his book,
Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory. He presents situations, reveal the enemies
and gives a solid overcoming plan of attack. His personal stories are definitely engaging
8 Ibid 83
9 Ibid 108-109
10 Ibid 202
as he presents scriptural references for the reader. He provokes the reader to utilize
discernment and theological approaches to understand his personal stories and scriptural
reference.
Rankin utilizes his personal experience on the mission field as the most captivating
part of his book. The historical view of spiritual warfare brings light to the modern
spiritual warfare. The reader is able to see that the enemy has not stopped opposing God
and his people. However, it is easy for the reader to believe that warfare only takes place
on foreign fields. The majority of he author stories of his encounter were on mission
field. Rankin talks about the possibility of his reader’s presumptions thoughts in the
opening pages of the book, but was not consistent in the remainder of the book.
The relevance of what the author writes can be utilize among all Christians. Rankin say’s
“We are not sure God is going to provide for us adequately so we think we have to pick
up that responsibility for Him.” 11 Christians today definitely conduct themselves in this
manner. Christians are vulnerable to this kind of attach from the enemy. However, Rankin
provides the reader with a victorious plan on how to win the battle against the enemy. He
says, “The victory doesn’t come automatically just because we are in Christ”12, he
explains the importance of denying the flesh, it will give victory, and he says, “The
victory is not in theoretical identification with the cross…but in a willingness to deny the
old nature…as He did.”13
Personal Application
This book was not one I was ready to read considering personal challenges I am
currently experience. In my thoughts, I became worried because I totally convinced
11 Ibid 12
12 Ibid 124
13 Ibid 125
myself that the minute I begin to read this book I am going to be challenge with spiritual
warfare. As I begin to read it, my perspective of the book changed. I definitely could see
my weakness along with the tactics of Satan. The author reminded me of the need to
maintain a prayer life as I am learning about the tactics and schemes of the enemy. The
chapter that talked about the battle between the flesh and the spirit really help me to see
how victorious I can be with the spirit. I began to combat the enemy back with the word
of God, the testimonies of Ranking, and the fact that the battle has already been won. It
was at that point I was able to hold on to the victory of the cross of Calvary. The struggle
and fight against spiritual warfare is as real as a match between to competitive opponents.
It requires having a defense and offense strategy. Ephesians 6:1-18 provides the strategy
for believers against spiritual warfare. We must put on the spiritual protection that God
made available for the believer.
Conclusion
In this book review of Jerry Rankin’s book Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s
Glory, emphasized the avenue Ranking provide the reader by defining and highlighting
Satan’s tactics. The author presents illustrations from his personal experiences on the
foreign mission field. Rankin did not neglect to provide the reader with relevant
information that is applicable today. The great news is that the battle has already been
won! The author not only provided personal experiences but also gave scriptural
references to suffice the theological thirst of his readers. I am totally convinced that the
enemy does not play fair. I have learned the importance of being connected to God and
allowing the Holy Spirit to govern my every step. Overcoming the enemy truly involves
