How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Apply Wise Strategies To Spiritual Warfare

How the Holy Spirit Helps Us Apply Wise Strategies to Spiritual Warfare

Illustration:A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.

Today in the Word, June 19, 1992.

Yet, we know that this pales in comparison to the spiritual warfare we have to fight according to what Paul taught: "WE battle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil..." (Eph. 6:10-18)

1. The Holy Spirit helps us simultaneously apply the following wise strategies to spiritual warfare while reminding us that the battle belongs to the Lord and He will give the victory:

A. Harvest Instead Maintenance Oriented - The Holy Spirit helps us orient our ministries toward becoming harvesters of lost souls instead of maintenance ministers who merely seek to preserve the sheep that are already a part of God’s flock. Jesus said, "Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest fields." (Matt. 9:36-38)

B. Offensive Rather Than Defensive Oriented - The Holy Spirit gives us power to go throughout the 228 nations of the world and the 18,800 ethnic groups on the planet to offensively take the gospel to people who are yet to receive Christ as their Savior.

C. Qualitative and Quantitative Growth Oriented - The Holy Spirit gives both qualitative (Fruits of the Spirit) and quantitative (numbers, geographical expansion & ethnographic expansion) as we sow the seed.

D. Initiating Love Instead of Reacting to Problems - The Holy Spirit helps us introduce love to those who need it most instead of waiting for people to come to us who are looking for love, truth and solutions to their problems.

E. Leading By Example Instead of By Default - The Holy Spirit chooses leaders who have consistently shown faithfulness, obedience and a great measure of evangelistic faith, not just anyone who is available.

F. Dauntless in the Face of Opposition - The Holy Spirit gives us unyielding courage to take the gospel to the lost regardless of the social, political, emotional, physical, financial, environment or spiritual obstacles.

G. Empowered By God Not By Men’s Motives - The Holy Spirit fills us with the empowering love of God that constrains us to seek the lost. The Spirit does not bless people who are out to impress others with their public pleasing presentations.

H. Building Bridges Rather Than Defensive Walls - The Holy Spirit enables us to build communication, service and relational bridges to those who are in need of salvation in Christ. The Spirit does not bless Christians who are so afraid of the world that they spend their resources in erecting barriers against others.

I. Objective Rather Than Subjective - The Holy Spirit helps Christians think objectively about the best goals, strategies and methods that will win the most people to faith in Jesus Christ. The Spirit does not bless Christians who are subjectively allowing their fears, prejudices and anger to hinder them from reaching out to those in need of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

J. Use of Connections Instead of Objections - The Holy Spirit powerfully uses family, friends and colleagues who enjoy a trusting rapport with those who are still lost in their sins. The Spirit would prefer working through channels of familiar connections than having to establish brand new lines of communications to those who still need Christ as their Savior.

K. Cooperation Instead of By Individual Effort - The Holy Spirit tends to use the body of Christ far more effectively than if single individuals try to do the work of evangelism by themselves.

L. Concentration Instead of Driblet Evangelism - The Holy Spirit is able to accomplish far more by concentrated efforts of evangelism than by demonstrating His force in little driblets.

M. Obedience Oriented Rather Than Emotion Driven - The Holy Spirit uses people who are obedient to do evangelism consistently rather than those who only do it when they feel like it.

N. Professional Rather Than Haphazardly Executed - The Holy Spirit especially uses professional people who have special training in evangelism, church planting and the expanding of Christ’s kingdom and righteousness. The Spirit can use lay people, but prefers full time ministers as leaders for God’s evangelistic efforts. The Spirit used Paul and Jesus as they were fully committed to seek and to save those which were lost.