RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Book Critique:
Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory
by Jerry Rankin
Submitted to Dr. Desmond O’Neill
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
EVAN 670-D01
Strategic Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
By
Richard Heath Buster
November 28, 2021
Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Summary...........................................................................................................................................
Evaluation and Critique..................................................................................................................
Personal Application........................................................................................................................
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................
Bibliography
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Introduction
In his book, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory, Jerry Rankin provides a
substantial articulation of the reality of spiritual warfare and its implications on the life of the
Christian and the global church. Drawing from both Scripture and his own personal experiences
on the mission field, the author articulates the ongoing battle prevalent throughout the global
regions which are significantly unevangelized as well as the silent spiritual battle being waged
throughout the evangelical church of Western Christianity. The contention Rankin puts forward
concerning the evangelical church in America and throughout the West is that many believers
have been deceived into believing the seductive philosophies of Satan. The author relies heavily
upon biblical teaching to examine the nature and force of spiritual warfare in the world and
encourages, “The reader [of Spiritual Warfare] will discover that every reference to our enemy
and spiritual warfare in the Word of God is I the context of victory.”1 Through thorough
examination and exposition of the Scriptures and explanation of personal experience in light of
the Bible, Spiritual Warfare offers insightful study and reflection for all followers of Christ into
the vast spiritual battle taking place every day throughout the world.
Summary
In the first chapter Rankin takes a deep look into the reality and nature of spiritual
warfare with a particular look at the blindness of much of the Western church to its existence
prevalence throughout much of the unreached world. He spends considerable time sharing his
own experiences and observations while serving internationally relating to the reality of many
aspects of spiritual warfare. Most notably the author addresses specifically the pervasive nature
of spiritual battles in areas where people are considered unreached with the gospel, counting
1 Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2009),
xiv.
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these as strongholds of Satan where the enemy appears to exhibit and wield great power over
large swaths of the inhabitants of these regions. Rankin addresses his own struggles in
recognizing and understanding spiritual warfare early in his mission experiences: “My
understanding of the struggle with sin, even as expressed in my preaching, had more to do with
personal resolve and human effort than a battle that was going on I the spiritual realm of life.”2
Further, he presses on to clarify that, though the focus of spiritual warfare is often placed on
“demon possession, territorial spirits, generational bondage, or perceived outward manifestations
of Satan’s power and dominion in the world, the primary focus is what we encounter within our
own lives.”3 This chapter builds a solid foundation and framework for the rest of the book in
leading the reader to see spiritual warfare as more than easily perceived manifestations of the
work of spiritual beings. Rather, Rankin desires for the believer to become more aware and
sensitive to the purposeful movements of the enemy that are “cleverly disguised and discounted
by our rational worldview.”4
After laying a groundwork for understanding spiritual warfare, Ranking moves on in the
next two chapters to address the nature of Satan and the characteristics of how he works against
the plans of God. The author reminds the reader that the desire and purpose of God is to glorify
Himself and work through His creation to advance His kingdom upon the earth. However, many
believers never experience the victorious life God intends for His people based upon
misconceptions, faulty reasoning, poor assumptions, and faulty theological understanding
concerning the nature and work of the spiritual realm, including Satan and the demonic forces.
Rankin contends that Satan is more knowledgeable concerning the Word of God than most any
believer. With that profound knowledge, Satan has used the fleshly nature of humanity to his
2 Ibid., 4.
3 Ibid., 7.
4 Ibid., 7.
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advantage in “distorting and diverting our mission strategy in carrying out the Great
Commission.”5 Further, the enemy “gets us to live for self rather than in submission to the
lordship of Christ, when he influences us to speak and act in ways that do not bless and edify
others and to behave contrary to the character and nature of Christ.”6 When he accomplishes this
task, he minimizes the effectiveness of the Christian and “has successfully won a victory and
deprived God of His glory.”7 In this way, Satan acts according to the biblical description of his
nature as an adversary (to both God and the people of God), a deceiver, and a tempter, seeking to
hinder the work of God in the world and among His people. However, Rankin is clear to note,
“Although Satan is behind every temptation, blaming him does not absolve us of any
responsibility for sin and doing that which is contrary to God’s will.”8 Every individual is
personally responsible for his own sinful choices and actions. It is the fleshly part of every
believer, with a mind that has not yet been completely transformed into the likeness of Christ,
which allows for Satan to attack the Christian. Even the people of God allow Satan to work in
their lives through listening to his lies and following the deceptions of the enemy to view life
through a biblical and spiritual lens. The purpose of Satan is the guide the believer to remove his
focus from God and focus on the struggles and strife of this world. The believer must be careful
to view the experiences and circumstances of life every day through the eternal perspective of
God by delving deep into His Word. Just as with Jesus when Satan tempted Him in the
wilderness, the Scriptures are a ready defense against the tactics of the enemy and keep the
vision of the believer from becoming distorted.
In chapters four through six, Rankin faithfully develops the pervasive nature of the
spiritual battle by discussing the three fronts which stand against the believer and God: the flesh,
5 Ibid., 27.
6 Ibid., 27.
7 Ibid., 27.
8 Ibid., 57.
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the world, and Satan. In addressing the world as adversarial to the purposes of God, Rankin notes
the sin and influences of godlessness which permeate the world. The author makes a clear
articulation which stands in contrast to the lifestyle of many Christians today: “To think that we
can feed our minds and expose ourselves to all of the garbage and filth of the world and believer
it doesn’t affect us, our attitudes, and our thinking is as foolish as the Hindu pilgrims who think
the Ganges River cannot be polluted.”9 The naivete of believers in the West does well in
demonstrating “the effectives of Satan’s deception.”10 As Rankin notes throughout his book, there
are numerous accounts in Scripture which provide evidence of the power of Satan throughout the
world, working in and through the characteristic moral failings of all humanity. However, Rankin
quickly addresses each of these issues with clear reminders from Scripture of the ability of the
believer, by way of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to stand strong against the enemy and
diminish his power. Of particular note Rankin speaks of the need for relationships which provide
accountability for the Christian. “That’s one of the reasons God has made us members of a body
of believers.”11 However, it is imperative that the believer is “willing to be open, honest, and
transparent”12 with his fellow sojourners and warriors. Christians living in a world permeated by
sin and selfishness need others who are standing against that world to walk beside them and
continually encourage and admonish them to maintain a holy life.
As a part of this world and creatures born in a nature of sin, believers must also
acknowledge and regularly battle against the fleshly nature which is naturally bent toward sin. As
descendants of Adam, the first man by whom sin entered the world (Rom 5:12-14), all people,
including Christians, are born into sin and have a natural inclination toward selfishness and
rebellion against God. However, freedom to live a righteous life has been granted through
9 Ibid., 83.
10 Ibid., 83.
11 Ibid., 95.
12 Ibid., 95.
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salvation by Jesus Christ (Rom 5:15-21). Ranking reminds the believer in many ways, “A higher
power enables you to fulfill the law, love others, and serve God without the guilt or constant
failure. It is the power that comes in being led by the Holy Spirit.”13 He goes on, however, to
remind Christians as well that living a righteous life and denying the natural sinful flesh will
require suffering in some way. Though the Scriptures promise victory for the believer who walks
before God, the author offers clear reminders that life, and specifically life as a true follower of
Christ, is filled with difficulty and pain. However, even through the painful experiences and
difficult circumstances, the believer can experience this victory of the flesh through the constant
reminders of the biblical promises and admonitions: remembering that sin has been defeated by
Christ for the believer; continually focusing your mind upon matters of the Holy Spirit;
expressing love to others as a counter to self-centeredness; pursue the leadership of the Holy
Spirit; and do not provide for the selfishness of fleshly desires. These necessary steps in pursuing
righteous living by denying the flesh is necessary to abate sin from gaining a foothold in the
Christian life by fleeing temptation.
Ranking moves on in chapters seven and eight to address what he considers to be the
preferred and most effective weapons used by Satan to attack and defeat believers. In chapter
seven he addresses six primary ways Satan works in the life of Christians to destroy their witness
maturation: unforgiveness, anger, doubt, pride, unholy living, and dissension. He follows this in
chapter eight by articulated how Satan uses adversity to drive a wedge in the people of God,
brining discouragement and feelings of defeat in the believer. However, Rankin is quick to note
that the attacks of the enemy are allowed by God because this suffering “is our greatest
opportunity to grow in faith, experience the depth and sufficiency of His love and grace, and
glorify Him by demonstrating the victory we have in Christ in spite of the most horrendous
13 Ibid., 131.
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tragedy or loss.”14 It is through the strife and struggle of this life that the believer grows deeper in
his knowledge and understanding of God, moving toward a more meaningful and holy
relationship with God.
Finally, in chapters nine and ten, Rankin addresses how all this working through spiritual
warfare brings about victory in the Christian life in more dynamic ways. He reminds the
Christian that walking in the midst of this world in this sinful body of flesh with Satan prowling
around to attack and defeat him is a dangerous place to be alone. That is why ever believer must
maintain a steady and continual practice of pursuing deeper faith in God, diligent work toward
daily renewing of the mind in the word of God and prayer and commit (and re-commit) regularly
to the leadership of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ. He is quick to remind the reader that
there is no magic formula or progressive step program to experiencing this victory. Rather, it is a
continual work of spiritual formation and reformation in the follower of Christ with a focus on
bringing glory to God. The victory for the believer is found not in some distant future but in the
position held in Christ at this very moment. Through faithful obedience to the commandments of
God as a co-heir with Jesus, the believer can defeat the enemy by the power of God through the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
Evaluation and Critique
In Spiritual Warfare Jerry Rankin does a masterful job of interweaving faithful biblical
exposition with real experiences concerning the spiritual battles faced by believers today
throughout the world, addressing a message which desperately needs to resonate among and be
understood by Christians in the West. The author does well to expose the spiritual warfare
14 Ibid., 196-197.
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happening around the world and address the reality of spiritual warfare in America that is often
veiled to believers. Though he spends considerable time addressing the battles faced throughout
the international mission field, he highlights extensively how the believers in the West are facing
spiritual battles on different fronts. Rankin is clear to the reader that spiritual warfare must be
clearly understood by believers as a reality, viewed through the lens of the purposes of God. He
addresses well the misconception by many believers that spiritual warfare is a reality for others
but not for them, practically pleading with the reader to engage in the battle for his own soul as
well as the souls of people all around the world.
Rankin also does well in addressing the tactical maneuvering of Satan and the extent to
which the enemy will go to rob God of His glory and the people of God of victorious living in
Christ. He spends considerable time in examining the weapons of the adversary and his
unyielding desire to break the bond between the believer and the source of their power, the Spirit
of God. Once again, he sets at a foundation for his premises the truths and promises found
throughout the Scripture, reminding the reader that God grants unequivocal victory to all who
trust in Him and obey His commands through the power of the indwelling Spirit. The biblical
record is clear that defeat for the believer is found only in so much as the Christian walks in
accord with his fleshly desires and the patterns of this world, exposing him to the advances of
Satan. However, as one walks in accord with the teaching of Scripture and by submission to the
leadership of the Holy Spirit and lordship of Jesus Christ, victory is more than a mere hope but a
guarantee from God. The believer can and will overcome temptation and spiritual defeat so long
as he relinquishes himself to the authority of God.
Personal Application
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For this author the most important application of Spiritual Warfare is the reminder that
the work of ministry is about bringing glory to God. All too often he shifts back into the mode of
building his own kingdoms, even in the church he pastors. This minister must daily pursue the
glory of God through humble submission and obedience and daily engagement in the spiritual
battles. He must trust God to do the work that only He can do rather than relying upon plans and
devices which he has derived apart from God. He must commit each day to faithfully pursue the
glory of God through prayer and fast as often as is appropriate for the work God has given him.
Another application for approaching spiritual warfare and seeking for the glory of God is
that this author needs to be more disciplined in managing his time. Throughout the years he has
maintained schedules and calendars, but he has never really thought of such activities as part of
the spiritual battle in which he is engaged. In reading through Spiritual Warfare, he was drawn to
evaluate how intentional planning as a believer and minister of the gospel can affect his efforts.
At times his schedule becomes so stringent that it does not allow for the Spirit to move within his
life and draw him toward the activities of God in the moment. However, each entry into the
schedule should be coupled with time in prayer and seeking for the work of God.
Conclusion
Spiritual Warfare provides the reader with a wonderful examination of the reality and
nature of spiritual warfare from both a biblical and personal perspective. Rankin offers a great
opportunity through these pages for every believer to reflect on the scriptural considerations of
the spiritual battles being waged throughout the world. He draws in the reader with captivating
stories of the interaction between the spiritual world and the material world. He challenges the
believer to examine and adjust his own engagement in the spiritual battles, to renew his mind to
be more aware of how both God and Satan work. As one moves through the chapters, the reader
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is brought to a place of repentance and humility, and further to taking hold of the weapons which
God has provided and engaging in the frontlines of the battle. The insights provided by Dr.
Ranking are provocative, but more so they are a call to every believer to take up arms and enter
the battle for the souls of believers and unbelievers alike, submitting to God for His glory and
standing strong and courageously against the enemy.
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Bibliography
Rankin, Jerry. Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group,
2009.
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