The Triumphant Churchfaith. Fulfill the call of God on your life. That is how you
are going to war a good warfare in this life."
The devil isn't even mentioned in these scriptures.
The statement is simply a challenge to Timothy as a
young minister to fulfill his ministry and not be
deterred by any opposition he would face. Paul gives
another admonition to Timothy in Second Timothy
chapter 2 about warring.
2 TIMOTHY 2:3,4
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that WARRETH entangleth himself
with the affairs of this life; that he may please
him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
When we read the entire context of this passage, we
find it has nothing to do with the devil. Paul is simply
saying, "Stay committed to the call of God on your life,
regardless of the cost." Paul is telling believers that
there's a price to pay to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ;
it takes discipline and dedication.
Paul is giving Timothy an illustration to remind and
encourage him to keep himself free from the cares of
this world and from any hindrances that would distract
him from serving God and ministering effectively.
Then in James 4:1,2 we see the terms "war" and
"wars" used in reference to fights, controversies, and
strife which occurred because of believers' uncontrolled
flesh problems.
JAMES 4:1,2
1 From whence come WARS and FIGHTINGS
among you? come they not hence, even of your
LUSTS that WAR in your MEMBERS [body or
flesh]?