(This post is a continuation of the preceding two posts.)
I looked up military tactics to get a better understanding of the spiritual battle and learned this: Military tactics to defeat an enemy are merely the lowest of three levels of war planning. The proper sequence should be first, STRATEGY to accomplish objectives, then OPERATIONS that form units to implement the strategy, then TACTICS which are the techniques for using weapons and resources to implement the strategy.
So following this proper sequence, before going into the strategy, the objectives have to be understood. And we need to understand the facts too.
ENEMY: Satan and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, not the person who so looks like the enemy to us.
…our struggle is…AGAINST the rulers, the authorities, AGAINST the powers of this dark world and AGAINST the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Excerpts from Eph 6:12b)
ENEMY(Satan)’s OBJECTIVE: to destroy us (because we belong to God to Whom he is opposed)
John 10:10a The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
The enemy tries to prevent us from coming to our senses, escape from his trap and captivity to do his will in order to prevent us from having the abundant life that God wants for His children. Satan capitalizes on the power of our fleshly nature and through subtle, convincing deceptions that are against the Word of God (2Cor 10:4) to turn us away from God.
2 Timothy 2:26
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
OUR SIDE:
God is FOR us.
Romans 8:31b If God is for us, who can be against us?
ALSO ON OUR SIDE (though some of them are attacking us with friendly fire because they did not go through the proper orientation):
All people, including the one who is behaving like our enemy, are all on the same side in this war against the principalities and spiritual forces of evil.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood
GOD’S OBJECTIVE: to give us full life
John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
STRATEGY CHOICES:
1. Do nothing.
Unfortuntely the WAR GAMES movie solution of “The best way to win is not to play” does not apply here. You and I are war babies. The spiritual war had been ongoing even before you and I were born. It is still ongoing until Jesus comes back for those who believe in Him or until we die, whichever comes first. To do nothing amidst ongoing warfare is to volunteer defeat.
2. Do the same thing as before.
The battle is ongoing. The enemy is bigger, smarter, more equipped, more experienced, and comes in a different dimension than our senses naturally perceive. If we were to go into this battle with just gut feel, prior experience and knowledge, we are not up to par with this enemy. Not even 100% self-confidence is going to help. On the contrary, confidence in self rather than in The Almighty God who can fight this battle for us is the very hindrance for victory. It’s like asking a kindergartener to be one’s defense lawyer for a criminal lawsuit.
To do things our own way will just be a mere expending of resources and time without achieving the right objectives. The old approach may direct energies against the other person(s) who look like the enemy but that would be facilitating one’s own defeat by attacking people on one’s team with friendly fire attack while disqualifying ourselves for our own victory. Neutralize that erring teammate by reporting to the higher up and praying for the Highest Boss, the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel to discipline and correct this person.
3. Do it God’s way.
This colossal ongoing warfare can not at all be fought in our human power. We need to fight this in God’s power, in God’s strength. And in God’s way.
Psalm 20:6
Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
Luke 10:19
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
As we cling to and abide in the Father, We are under His cover of protection. Victory is found in the Lord. God is the unrivaled power of all. Satan, His mere creatION, can not stand up to God, the CreatOR.
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Because we are going to do it God’s way, we will need to go by His Word.
If we disregard His Word, then we are still using wrong Strategy Choice #2.
John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Rom 12: 2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Isa 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
OPERATIONS
The operations that form units to implement the strategy are the places where we get trained in God’s way. You and I need to read the Bible…Get into a Bible Study where Christ is honored. Jesus Christ is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, (Eph 1:20b-22).
Who else but the highest authority will do? What hinders us from going to Him and His Word? The enemy’s deception hinders us from going to Jesus and His Word because the enemy knows that the Truth that is Jesus Christ is the ticket to our victory in this war.
TACTICS
After strategy and operations comes tactics training, God’s style. Weapons training, God’s style. Are we ready?
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 
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