“To leaders, and others in responsibility, we especially appeal, that they would consider what is here in the light of their own present experience of a ‘great warfare’” (Dan. 10:1). If leaders would but get together to review this whole matter of the spiritual conflict, more might be accomplished in the direction of turning Defeat into Victory.

We may have had much teaching on various aspects of Divine truth and revelation, such as the Church, the Body of Christ, and other matters, and it may be that the teaching has not been without value—it may even have been quite profitable. But I wonder whether we have made enough of this matter of our being, as the Lord’s people, really on a war footing. Has it really come home to us that we, the people of God, are supposed to be in the field under war conditions? Is there the mentality and consciousness in every section and in every individual that we are in a great campaign; that there is no letup in this matter, and that we are in it up to the hilt? There may be, and indeed often is, a real gap between our teaching, instruction, and information on the subject of Christian soldiering, and the assured conviction of being actually in a war—on active service.

Theodore Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 and was educated in both England and Scotland. At the age of 25 he was ordained as a pastor; however, a few years later his “career” took a decidedly different direction when a spiritual crisis brought him to a place of brokenness. He left the denomination with which he was involved, dropped the title of “Reverend” and went on to produce much writing, all with a strong revelation of Christ.