Fall 2006
Wage the Good Warfare
Donna Rohrmiller
Graduation message by a Pinecrest Student

Those who come to Pinecrest come because of their passion for the Lord, to experience the Lord in a deeper way. This is a school of the Spirit. Some may progress further than others because of their wholehearted devotion, but no one leaves here untouched or unchanged.

Pinecrest is an environment where the things of the Spirit are encouraged. We have chapel four days a week, and dedicated prayer time five days a week. We study the Bible for most of our classes. The Lord knows this place, as His Presence is felt here.

When we leave, there will be other things to occupy our time. There will be no one to schedule chapel and prayer for us. We may not find a church where people have the same hunger for the Lord as we presently do. There may be trials and tribulations. There will be marriages, families, jobs, etc. that take our time. There are many things that can interfere, if we let them.

The Israelites faced this challenge when they were about to enter into the Promised Land. They had arrived where they desired to be. They were “graduating,” but the manna was stopping, and the pillar of cloud and fire would no longer be visible. The Lord reminded them through Moses of His words to them. Just before Joshua led them into the Promised Land, the Lord gave Joshua a word for them. He prepared them for the time of not seeing Him, by giving them His word. Now they had something to hold onto during the difficult and dry times. Even in the promised land of our future, there will be difficult times, and times when we feel dry.

Paul wrote in First and Second Timothy to tell Timothy how to handle matters in the Church. He encouraged Timothy and advised him on his leadership role.

“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.” I Timothy 1:18 NKJV

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” I Timothy 4:14 NKJV

“Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” II Timothy 1:6 NKJV

Each of us has received words from the Lord in some way since we have been here. Each of us has had hands laid on us during the week of prayer, and most likely at other times. Each of us has started to see the spiritual gift, or gifts that the Lord has placed in us. Each of us, therefore, has weapons to war with when times get rough. The Lord has given us an arsenal, ready to be used when discouragement and “real life” set in.

What is it that we are to do with these words? What does it mean to wage a good warfare? It means that we can stand on the words of the Lord. They are immovable rocks to stand on, anchors to us when all else seems hopeless, as there is power and might in His words. There is a creative power in which His words accomplish that which they set out to do. The Lord’s words to us will be accomplished in our lives. We can believe that, as it is a matter of faith.

We can wage a good warfare by wielding God’s words as a sword. They can be used as an offensive weapon against the words of the enemy. When doubts and discouragement creep in, when the enemy is telling us lies to bring us down, we can take out our sword and speak God’s word to combat the lies and oppressions in our life. We can be like Jesus during His 40 days in the wilderness and fight the enemy with the Lord’s own words.

We can encourage ourselves by remembering what God has done, and what He still says He is doing, and will yet do.

“Then the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2-3 NKJV

Lastly, Paul also tells Timothy:

“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” II Timothy 2:4 NKJV

When we leave here, we will be in “the world” full-time. But we do not have to be controlled by the world, as we are of another Kingdom. Our citizenship is not of this world. Our vision should not restricted to what we see, but extends further because we are seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenlies. While we need to live in the world, we do not have to get entangled in all that it brings to us.

We can keep our vision focused on the Lord. We have been given weapons with which we can wage a good warfare with the “words” given to us.