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A Necessity of a Read

by James Damon

October 27, 2012

I've shared before in past blogs that I consistently pick up a book in a perfect season to read that book. This one sat on my desk for nearly two months before I felt compelled (read: Holy Spirit drove me to it) to begin reading it. Instantly I was captivated by this author I had never heard of and his personal story of what he, with God's help, had to overcome.

But far more challenging and significant are the truths and principles gleaned from his journey. None of us love fighting and enjoy the prospects of an enemy on our horizon. We might talk in super spiritual terms about how we have the victory, but if given the opportunity nearly every one of us would choose to avoid the battle. Battles are time consuming and wearying and my experiences have been they can also be confounding. We don't often realize "why" (or sometimes "what" exactly) we are fighting. One of the most powerful truths packaged in this book is that the enemies that come against us in life are actually opportunities for our advancement into the next stage of life, especially in ministry. So the enemies that come against us are efforts to hinder now where we are at now, but where we are intended and designed to be!

Now is not the timing to share where I am at personally, but this exploded in my spirit as I realized the season I am a part of. I am yet to find all the answers but as Carpenter shares in his book nuggets and truths learned as he progressed through this experience, I literally felt myself becoming armed to fight the battle that lay directly in front of me. Paul told Timothy to make a good warfare with the Word that had gone out over him, which speaks about the Bible (the Word of God), though not yet in its' modern form, but specifically prophecies and Words of God that had been spoken over and to Timothy. When we're in battle we need a Word of God to stand on and fight with. This book, in addition to a ministry convention I attended while reading it, helped provide some answers and direction.

This is an easy to read format with non-traditional "chapters", each portraying a nugget or concept for thought and application. And while I was too "raw in the moment" of where I'm at, there are some stories shared with humor that may elicit some laughs from readers. Carpenter writes in a conversational tone that is easy to follow and understand.

It's been said that there are three types of people: those coming out of going through something, those going through something, and those getting ready to go through something. In many of those "going throughs" you'll face an enemy. I wish I was aware of these truths ten years ago in some past battles, because seeing now would have changed my attitude and perspective considerably. I highly recommend "The Necessity of and Enemy" by Ron Carpenter as an easy to read and practical book on adversity in our lives and how to handle the enemy before us that is actually designed to be our footstool.