In this Apostolic Reformation God is raising up apostles and prophets who are strategic and who will lead the church into corporate spiritual warfare.  One of the truths being restored is that God is the "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of the Armies."  He is called that over 245 times in the Bible.  As this truth is restored I believe five fold ministry leaders will begin to take on the characteristics of military leaders.  

A new breed of apostles and prophets are being raised up on the earth today.  Just like Moses, Joshua or King David they will begin to act like an admiral or a general as they plan war in order to show forth the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in heavenly places.  These servant leaders will emerge as wise master builders and they will be gifted with insight and wisdom from the throne of God to develop strategies appropriate for their assignments.

As an officer in the Navy I studied the principles of war and discovered that there were common themes in all the major principles and I found that all the major principles were biblically based.  One of the purposes of the military I served was the projection of power in order to enforce a certain political policy.

That is what I see is the purpose of the church today.  

Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, NKJV

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. NKJV

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. KJV

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. KJV

Today the church is involved in a struggle in which the souls of men and women and their eternal destiny are at stake.  We face an enemy with thousands of years of experience of resisting the purposes of God, but we serve a God who is the creator of the universe who is building a church to show forth His manifold wisdom on this earth.  I pray that the Lord give leaders in every city wisdom, discernment, courage and resolve as they seek Him for His strategy to set captives free from their cities.

So let's take a look at planning war. I believe we can learn something from those who have gone before us and applied those biblical principles.

Plan is defined in MS Encarta's Dictionary as a "scheme for achieving objective: a method of doing something that is worked out usually in some detail before it is begun and that may be written down in some form or simply retained in memory."  

War is defined "armed fighting between groups."  

Planning war is working out in some detail a method of waging war against our adversary.  

Planning war involves strategy and tactics.  Strategy deals with the art of conducting a war or campaign whereas tactics deals with the maneuvers to engage a specific enemy in a specific battle.  

When Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land, each  soldier had to become skillful with their individual weapons.  The uses of those weapons by soldiers in a specific battle are an example of tactics.  Individual believers today should become skillful with their weapons as well.  They should know the Word of God, know how to pray, how to flow in the gifts of the spirit, etc.

Strategies are larger scale and more long range.  For example, in Ed Silvoso's book "That None Should Perish" he lists in his Appendix on page 294 the "6 Steps for Reaching a City for Christ."  

1. Establish God's Perimeter in the City

2. Secure God's Perimeter in the City

3. Expand God's Perimeter in the City

4. Infiltrate Satan's Perimeter

5. Attack and Destroy Satan's Perimeter

6. Establish God's New Perimeter Where Satan's Once Existed

This is very similar to the strategy employed in CONECT.  One of the books I acquired while at the Naval War College was Michael I. Handel's "Masters of War, Classic Strategic Thought."  on page xvi he states "the statesman and strategist must always understand the unique nature of the particular war he is fighting; he must know his enemy and himself in order to forsee how his opponent might deviate from the rational conduct of war."

So you need to need to know yourself and the state of your flocks (2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 11:28, Proverbs 27:23) and we need to be aware of the enemy's devices or schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 9:26).

While we have general knowledge about the schemes of the devil, we need to understand his specific strategies used in each of our cities or regions in order to develop an effective strategy.  God in His wisdom, mercy and timing has already begun moving in the early 90's to prepare the church to do that.

In the early 90's a relatively new term and controversial concept was birthed "spiritual mapping."  I call it gathering "spiritual intelligence."  The Sentinel Group (see links page) is one of the ministries that the Lord has used to bring this issue to the forefront.  

We also have a pattern established in the Old Testament.  We have numerous examples of Moses, Joshua and Gideon spying out lands, cities and camps.  Then after the intelligence was gathered, God gave them the specific strategy to accomplish their assignment.  

I believe we need to continue to follow that pattern.

Why is gathering spiritual intelligence important?  Because to devise an effective strategy for a war or campaign, you need to understand as much as you can about your opponents plans, tactics, strategy, weapons, location, etc.  The better you understand your opponents disposition against you, the better equipped you will be able to devise an appropriate strategy.

Therefore, to plan a war I recommend following these steps.

1. Accept responsibility

2. Ensure that you are trained.  Great leaders never stop learning.  

3. Gather spiritual intelligence 

4. Compile, analyze and create a concise overall report of your area of responsibility (AOR)

5. Present this information before the Lord and ask Him for His strategy

6. Make the necessary preparations and implement your strategy

7. Monitor the results and adjust until the enemy is utterly destroyed

I pray that the Lord give you wisdom, discernment and courage to carry out your specific assignments.  Watchman Ministries International desires to partner with leaders (Church leaders, Christians who are leaders in business or government) who believe they are called by the Lord to effect their city or region for Christ.  

If we can assist you in any way, do not hesitate to contact us at wmi@watchmanministries.org. 

Tim Taylor, June 19, 2003