So many times the Scriptures speak of the Christian life as a war to be fought. In warfare there are adversaries. Our enemy is Satan and his legions of demons and satanically inspired human beings. Our Commander is the Lord God of heaven and earth, and the Captain of our salvation and warfare is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The weapons of our warfare are awesome and include the name of Jesus, the Word of God, the blood of Christ and the Spirit of God. No wonder the devil flees when confronted by a saint of God who has surrendered all to Jesus Christ!

But why is it that so many Christians fall victim to the enemy and live defeated, weak and mostly useless lives that pose no threat to Satan and his kingdom of darkness? From my observation, after over 50 years in the battle, Christians cannot be effective disciples without discovering and embracing indispensable disciplines of faithful warriors of the past. These disciplines work two ways-survival and conquest. That means not only surviving every attack of your enemy but also being a conqueror by defeating the powers of darkness and leading others into God's light.

What are these disciplines of God's warrior. I see six of them as absolutely necessary to successful warfare.

1 Peter 2:2 "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

Matthew 4:4 "But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

Hebrews 5:12-14 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid (strong meat) food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Psalm 119:11 "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

1 John 2:14 "I have written to you fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you. And you have overcome the wicked one."

Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Ephesians 5:18 "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit."

4. CONTINUAL GROWTH IN LIGHT-SHINING HOLINESS (This happens when we obey the Word of God, whether we feel like it or not).

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Philippians 2:15 "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all men, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord."

Matthew 4:19 "And He said, 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

6. IDENTIFYING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS THROUGH CONSISTENT FELLOWSHIP (No Christian is an island that can stand off by himself. We are members of Christ's body and need each other. We are also like single coals that if pulled from the fireplace and laid on the hearth will soon cease to burn. Consistent fellowship is the fire of all the coals burning together.)

Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Hebrews 10:24,25 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

SUMMARY

There are many personal disciplines that God will stress to each of us as individuals if we are to be victorious warriors in both survival and conquest. But the above six steps are so important that to neglect any of them is to leave the enemy room to maneuver and set up his traps. Don't let that happen to you!