Battle lines were indeed being drawn, but it is important to recognize just Who drew those lines. The metaphor of "warfare" is an accurate one and it is vital for anyone engaging in spiritual warfare to be cognizant of God's generalship. Just as generals work in their war rooms planning strategies, ordering attacks, and assessing progress, God strategizes and orders the battles we fight for the Kingdom of God. General Jackson, in the Battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812, famously ordered his men to withhold their fire until they could "see the whites of their eyes." His men obeyed and the American victory was devastating. We must follow our Lord's lead when fighting spiritual battles.
There are three major challenges to be dealt with by the spiritual warrior. The first is for me the biggest challenge -- withholding fire until he gives the order. My preferred mode of operation is simple: see the bad guy, pull the trigger, no more bad guy. The trouble with this approach is that although you may take care of one or two bad guys, you seldom win the battle. You are far more likely to become a statistic. Always wait for the General’s order before entering into battle.
The second challenge is fear. It's not easy for a small hobbit to stand courageously in the battle when hordes of orcs, each lusting for his flesh, are rushing towards him. When you see evil hordes rushing at you from every side and fear threatens to overwhelm you remember that “…greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) You do indeed have both power and authority over all the power of the enemy! (Luke 10:19)
Here are some steps that will help you access that power:
1. Are you in the Lord's will? Are you supposed to be a part of this battle or have you stepped into something to which you are not called? If you can say with certainty that you are supposed to be doing this then you can rest confident in the assurance that God will equip, empower, and help you -- and heal you when you are wounded. If not, then withdraw, repent, and get yourself to whatever place or ministry you are called to.
The Biblical precedent for this can be seen in Acts 16:6-10 when Paul wanted to go into Asia with the Gospel and was told, "No!". Then he tried for Bithynia and got the same answer. The logic for preaching the gospel to either one of those areas was good -- after all, both Bithynia and Asia needed the Gospel just as much as any place else, didn't they? What harm could there be in preaching there? However, they weren't the battlegrounds General God had pegged for Paul. Paul was obedient and did not go anyway. Remember, obedience is far more important to God than even the preaching of the Gospel! (1 Sam 15:22) After Paul demonstrated his obedience, God pointed him to Macedonia. Macedonia was his true calling where he was supposed to do battle and he could count on God's help there.
2. Face up to the "but if not's" – here’s a link to an article dealing with that topic: But If Not!
3. Take an assessment -- is there any unconfessed sin in your life? If there is you may as well bare your chest and invite the enemy to run his sword through your heart. Sin makes you vulnerable and opens gaping holes in your armor. Say with the Psalmist, "Search me and know if there be any wicked way in me" (Psalms 139:23,24). Deal with your sin and fear will have no place in you
The third challenge is denial and compromise. Far too often when Christians are shown the battle line they simply label it a non-problem and walk away in denial. Frequently they find it necessary to compromise their faith in order to maintain that denial. The solution?
1. Make a sincere effort to listen to the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself pooh-poohing the warnings of an "alarmist", let that be a red flag signaling that you need to look closer -- there might be something to what they are saying. Maybe they are way off-base, but you need to at least consider the possibility that this “alarmist” may be pointing to something real.
2. Ask yourself if your negative reaction could be a cover-up for a compromising sin in your life. Never compromise! It always leads to deeper and deeper sin.
3. Follow Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 14 to "seek the greater gifts, especially that you might prophesy." Ask God to release the prophetic giftings in you that you might better understand the prophetically gifted amongst you.
So, God our general had mapped out a neighborhood that we were to target with intercession and outreach. Smack dab in the middle of that neighborhood was the hospital, a major stronghold of the enemy. Clearly, the hospital was given to us as a part of our mission, but God was also specific in how we were to approach interceding for it. We had to be careful. Things were heating up and while battle had not yet been joined, it was getting closer.
There are three major challenges to be dealt with by the spiritual warrior. The first is for me the biggest challenge -- withholding fire until he gives the order. My preferred mode of operation is simple: see the bad guy, pull the trigger, no more bad guy. The trouble with this approach is that although you may take care of one or two bad guys, you seldom win the battle. You are far more likely to become a statistic. Always wait for the General’s order before entering into battle.
The second challenge is fear. It's not easy for a small hobbit to stand courageously in the battle when hordes of orcs, each lusting for his flesh, are rushing towards him. When you see evil hordes rushing at you from every side and fear threatens to overwhelm you remember that “…greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) You do indeed have both power and authority over all the power of the enemy! (Luke 10:19)
Here are some steps that will help you access that power:
1. Are you in the Lord's will? Are you supposed to be a part of this battle or have you stepped into something to which you are not called? If you can say with certainty that you are supposed to be doing this then you can rest confident in the assurance that God will equip, empower, and help you -- and heal you when you are wounded. If not, then withdraw, repent, and get yourself to whatever place or ministry you are called to.
The Biblical precedent for this can be seen in Acts 16:6-10 when Paul wanted to go into Asia with the Gospel and was told, "No!". Then he tried for Bithynia and got the same answer. The logic for preaching the gospel to either one of those areas was good -- after all, both Bithynia and Asia needed the Gospel just as much as any place else, didn't they? What harm could there be in preaching there? However, they weren't the battlegrounds General God had pegged for Paul. Paul was obedient and did not go anyway. Remember, obedience is far more important to God than even the preaching of the Gospel! (1 Sam 15:22) After Paul demonstrated his obedience, God pointed him to Macedonia. Macedonia was his true calling where he was supposed to do battle and he could count on God's help there.
2. Face up to the "but if not's" – here’s a link to an article dealing with that topic: But If Not!
3. Take an assessment -- is there any unconfessed sin in your life? If there is you may as well bare your chest and invite the enemy to run his sword through your heart. Sin makes you vulnerable and opens gaping holes in your armor. Say with the Psalmist, "Search me and know if there be any wicked way in me" (Psalms 139:23,24). Deal with your sin and fear will have no place in you
The third challenge is denial and compromise. Far too often when Christians are shown the battle line they simply label it a non-problem and walk away in denial. Frequently they find it necessary to compromise their faith in order to maintain that denial. The solution?
1. Make a sincere effort to listen to the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself pooh-poohing the warnings of an "alarmist", let that be a red flag signaling that you need to look closer -- there might be something to what they are saying. Maybe they are way off-base, but you need to at least consider the possibility that this “alarmist” may be pointing to something real.
2. Ask yourself if your negative reaction could be a cover-up for a compromising sin in your life. Never compromise! It always leads to deeper and deeper sin.
3. Follow Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 14 to "seek the greater gifts, especially that you might prophesy." Ask God to release the prophetic giftings in you that you might better understand the prophetically gifted amongst you.
So, God our general had mapped out a neighborhood that we were to target with intercession and outreach. Smack dab in the middle of that neighborhood was the hospital, a major stronghold of the enemy. Clearly, the hospital was given to us as a part of our mission, but God was also specific in how we were to approach interceding for it. We had to be careful. Things were heating up and while battle had not yet been joined, it was getting closer.
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