Battle Plan
Everyone has seen the damage and destruction a war can cause. The more armor you have on, and the more prepared you are, the less the damage will be. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
In Ephesians 6:11-12 the Bible says - Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil. For we wrestle not against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with thee preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
We are told who our enemy is, what he’s out to accomplish, and what we can do about it. Enoch was the father of Methuselah, the Bible’s oldest living man.
Hebrews 11:5 says - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him, for before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
He lived for God in the midst of a moral decline on the earth, and boy did it pay off. Enoch’s battle plan: faith. Roman soldiers’ shields were so long and wide that they covered the whole body. The shield of faith covers everything.
David was blessed in his day and enemies came out of the woodwork. David’s battle plan: be on the lookout for an attack after a blessing, and be ready to stand on God’s word when the enemy comes back. Ever get a huge blessing on Sunday morning and then all chaos breaks out the next week? 2 Samuel 5 talks about David’s chaos.
When the Philistines heard he was made king over Israel, they decided to attack again and again. Each time before David went to war, we are told that he ‘inquired of the Lord.’ David grew great and prospered because he didn’t run ahead of God. Joshua’s battle plan was to pray for wisdom, be obedient to God and follow his instructions. Gideon’s battle plan was not to allow fear into his heart and to confuse the enemy. Praise God when everything is going wrong.
That will surely confuse the enemy! Issachar was Jacob’s sixth son. The Issachar warriors were known for their strength, military knowledge, and their bravery in battle. Issachar’s battle plan: don’t be afraid of the battle. Remember, you are already promised the victory. Jehosaphat was the fourth king of Judah who followed after God.
When he made an alliance with a wicked king, it was only God’s grace and mercy that saved him from a battle he shouldn’t have been in in the first place. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 says - He met the invaders with praises to God and God had caused the enemies to destroy each other.
By the time Judah arrived on the scene there were nothing but dead bodies. Jehosaphat’s battle plan: choose your friends wisely and praise your way to the battle.
Then we see our ultimate example, Jesus. Remember how our battles are due to spiritual powers? Colossians 2:15 says - Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Jesus rose early in the morning to pray, fasted often, was always obedient, did not give place to the enemy and spoke with authority. Be encouraged in the battle. You have the victory!