Discretionary Warfare
By Eddie Smith
W hen it comes to spiritual warfare, how can you know when you are to engage in direct confrontation with the enemy? The answer to this question is more complex than it may appear. Is the answer, "anytime you encounter the enemy?"
If you haven't discovered it yet, you will one day realize that there are more demonic spirits lurking around than (as we say in Texas) you can shake a stick at. Long ago I learned the liberating truth that God hasn't assigned them all to me. He doesn't expect me to target every demon I encounter. Why? There are many reasons, I'm sure.
For one thing, some demons that you or I will encounter are pathetically unimportant in the overall scheme of things. They pose so little threat to anyone or anything that we might say that they’re not worth the powder it’d take to blow them up.
Some Christians, in their superstition, continually overrate the enemy. When it comes to war, some of the enemy's uniformed soldiers are significant threats. They shoot mortars or drop bombs. However, others who wear the same uniform cook meals or type letters. That’s how it is with your enemy. Simply put, the target value of some of the demons you’ll encounter is frankly insignificant. Don't waste your time with them.
The assignment of some of the enemy's troops IS to distract and divert you. If you naively believe that you’re assignment is to shoot at anything that moves, you’ll fall right into their hands and miss your assigned targets—those tasks God has selected for you.
I’ve seen a troubling trend with some well-intentioned people. They focus so much on fighting for Christ that they do a lousy at living for Him. By continually focusing on demons, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, they literally attract them. They wear a spiritual target on their back.
They look for, listen to, and sense spirits of darkness so easily, believing that their sole assignment in life is to engage in spiritual battle, that they are dogged by demons, who want nothing more than their attention and always love a good fight. These people live a sad, negative, and troubled life, and perhaps sadder still, so do those who love them and live with them.
How would you know if that is characteristic of you? Listen to yourself. Consider your words and your thought-life. When it comes to spiritual things, what percentage of your thoughts and words do you direct toward darkness?
Although young David certainly knew King Saul was demonized, his personal assignment from God wasn't to command Saul’s demon to leave. His assignment was to worship. His focus wasn't on darkness at all, but on the Lord.
Was it David’s music that overcame Saul’s demon? Not at all. It wasn't David's musical skill that did the job. The God of heaven who inhabited David’s praise overcame Saul's demon.
David directly confronted the enemy while maintaining his focus on God! Unusual? Perhaps it’s not as unusual as it might seem.
Consider tithing. Is there a spiritual warfare component to tithing? You bet there is. When I tithe, God "rebukes the devourer" for my sake. Now you tell me, what can the Devil and his forces possibly fear more than a direct rebuke from Jehovah? And guess what! It only costs me 10%. Wow, what a deal! (More later...)
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By "prayer coach", Eddie Smith. His newest book, How To Be Heard in Heaven: From Needs-Driven to God-Centered Prayer is now available at: www.PrayerBookstore.com
Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com
W hen it comes to spiritual warfare, how can you know when you are to engage in direct confrontation with the enemy? The answer to this question is more complex than it may appear. Is the answer, "anytime you encounter the enemy?"
If you haven't discovered it yet, you will one day realize that there are more demonic spirits lurking around than (as we say in Texas) you can shake a stick at. Long ago I learned the liberating truth that God hasn't assigned them all to me. He doesn't expect me to target every demon I encounter. Why? There are many reasons, I'm sure.
For one thing, some demons that you or I will encounter are pathetically unimportant in the overall scheme of things. They pose so little threat to anyone or anything that we might say that they’re not worth the powder it’d take to blow them up.
Some Christians, in their superstition, continually overrate the enemy. When it comes to war, some of the enemy's uniformed soldiers are significant threats. They shoot mortars or drop bombs. However, others who wear the same uniform cook meals or type letters. That’s how it is with your enemy. Simply put, the target value of some of the demons you’ll encounter is frankly insignificant. Don't waste your time with them.
The assignment of some of the enemy's troops IS to distract and divert you. If you naively believe that you’re assignment is to shoot at anything that moves, you’ll fall right into their hands and miss your assigned targets—those tasks God has selected for you.
I’ve seen a troubling trend with some well-intentioned people. They focus so much on fighting for Christ that they do a lousy at living for Him. By continually focusing on demons, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, they literally attract them. They wear a spiritual target on their back.
They look for, listen to, and sense spirits of darkness so easily, believing that their sole assignment in life is to engage in spiritual battle, that they are dogged by demons, who want nothing more than their attention and always love a good fight. These people live a sad, negative, and troubled life, and perhaps sadder still, so do those who love them and live with them.
How would you know if that is characteristic of you? Listen to yourself. Consider your words and your thought-life. When it comes to spiritual things, what percentage of your thoughts and words do you direct toward darkness?
Although young David certainly knew King Saul was demonized, his personal assignment from God wasn't to command Saul’s demon to leave. His assignment was to worship. His focus wasn't on darkness at all, but on the Lord.
Was it David’s music that overcame Saul’s demon? Not at all. It wasn't David's musical skill that did the job. The God of heaven who inhabited David’s praise overcame Saul's demon.
David directly confronted the enemy while maintaining his focus on God! Unusual? Perhaps it’s not as unusual as it might seem.
Consider tithing. Is there a spiritual warfare component to tithing? You bet there is. When I tithe, God "rebukes the devourer" for my sake. Now you tell me, what can the Devil and his forces possibly fear more than a direct rebuke from Jehovah? And guess what! It only costs me 10%. Wow, what a deal! (More later...)
------------------------------------
By "prayer coach", Eddie Smith. His newest book, How To Be Heard in Heaven: From Needs-Driven to God-Centered Prayer is now available at: www.PrayerBookstore.com
Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com
posted by Eddie Smith | 11:14 AM
3 Comments:
Amen, Brother! I think that we would all do well to spend more time "looking up to heaven" and less time dwelling in hell.
Hello,
Thank you for commenting on my blog. Merry Christmas to you too!
Standing firm in Christ is the first principal of Spiritual warfare and the best defense. It starts before we encounter the enemy. Like you said with tithing. Doing the right thing is automatically engaging in spiritual warfare, or more accurately being in His will. We can be doing a lot of "good" things and not be in Him at all.
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