(Ep29) Planning the Mission

Now, we are looking at how to apply military-style mission planning to spiritual warfare, covering three key elements: objective (identifying enemy strongholds with bold faith), position (knowing where you stand, where you want to go, and using the gifts God has given you), and timing (discerning when to act swiftly versus when to wait and prepare). We wrap up with a call to action of naming a specific stronghold or element of the enemy in front of you, identify a God-given resource you already have, and determining whether your current opportunity calls for immediate action or deliberate preparation.

Transcript

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Hey guys, if this is your first time listening, welcome to the podcast. And if you're coming back for more, good to have you with us again. Today we're talking about everything we've been learning about spiritual offense and turning it into something practical, a real mission plan we can actually execute. I'm Kyle Clark from Standing Word Ministries, a Christ-sited ministry dedicated to equipping believers with solid biblical truth and practical training. We create scripture-based resources like our workbook joining the fight to strengthen discipleship, deepen our understanding of the word as we follow Jesus, and help every one of us live with purpose as we stand firm in truth and carry the message of Christ forward. If you want to explore more teachings or grab the workbook, head over to standingword.com. Armies that win repeatedly don't act on impulse. Their victories come from clear guidance received and then turned into deliberate action. We do the same thing with God and the Holy Spirit. Before we ever write down a plan, we first receive what we like to call in the military strategic guidance. The way we receive this in spiritual warfare is through scripture, our walk with Christ, or through the Holy Spirit's broaden us. That wisdom and that direction help us accomplish specific goals. They help us identify specific goals in our life around us. And when we receive it, it's usually confirmed through spiritual mentors, church leadership, prayer, or scripture, or all of the above. When we receive guidance, we can set priorities, we can allocate resources, we can create steps on how we'll take action. And all of this is called a plan. And this plan helps us to confront the enemy we're facing before us, to tackle the challenge that we see before us that that plan requires. Now we're not rushing in blind and we're not swinging wildly. We receive strategic direction from the Lord. We verify it with his word, and we build a plan rooted in faith and obedience. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will tell you about the future. John 16 13. And for we know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, the plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29 11. God has a plan. So why shouldn't we also make intentional plans for the way we move? We plan because the one who called us already has the end in view. Now three parts of any offensive plan are our objective, our position, and our timing. But the basic question that all of these parts are answering are these. What are we hoping to gain? Where does this bring us to, and how long will it take? Now each of these parts are going to be associated with two basic offensive characteristics that we talked about last episode that will play a role in answering these questions at the end of your planning. Now our first up, our first part, is our objective. And the two characteristics that are associated with our objective is intent and audacity. Every mission needs a clear target, a clear objective, and bold faith because we serve a God who fights for us and with us and is asking us to go throughout the world and carry the gospel into all nations and all people and all tongues. So we start by asking what the mission's purpose is and where the enemy stronghold sits in our area, in our immediate vicinity, our neighborhood, our workplace, our family, our church, within ourselves. We name the desired outcome that we have for that thing that stands in our way. See, look, vague goals produce vague results. So we must have clear intent, focusing our prayers and our steps on a clear objective. We shouldn't be ignorant to the enemy's schemes. We must look honestly at where he has real advantage, influence, resources, culture around us, so that we don't charge head on into his strengths. When we plan for our objectives, we must look at all things honestly, even where the enemy is stronger than us at this current point. Understanding his position helps us decide when to avoid direct confrontation and when to develop smarter tactics. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our tactics must be spiritual as well as practical. We craft moves that exploit the enemy's weakness instead of repeating frontal assaults that play right into his hands and exhaust us and debilitate us. We must disrupt his plan so that he cannot quickly rebuild or retaliate. We must stay vigilant so he gains no foothold. We keep a unified front so a divided opposition cannot hold ground against us. No weapon formed against us will prosper when we stay in step with the Lord. So just like in real combat, we don't attack a fortified position without knowing the terrain and the enemy's advantages. We plan to hit what he can't easily replace and keep him off balance. We look at the intent of what we're trying to accomplish, and we take bold steps forward in our audacity. And here's one simple way that we can put this into practice this week. Name one specific stronghold or area the enemy has influence in your life, whether it be your neighborhood, your workplace, or your family. Write down what victory would look like there and share it with one trusted brother or sister in Christ so that you can pray together for that victory. Now, when our objective is clear, we must now figure out where we stand, where we want to go, and how we're going to get there. Our position is the next part of planning an offensive movement. And our position deals with these two characteristics, initiative and concentration. Good position means that we know where we start from, where we're going, and how to use what God has already placed in our hands. We identify our current spiritual location and the resources that we already possess. We trust the Lord to direct our paths as we plan and move, and we don't pretend we're further along than we really are. New ground brings both risks and opportunities. When we step out, when we execute a plan, things are going to change. New people, new environments, open doors that may improve our position or those things may be traps. But we must stay spiritually vigilant and seek wise counsel so we can tell the difference between the two. We look for where his strengths, the enemy, strength, is concentrated and where he will most likely respond. Jesus told us to be shrewd as snakes and as harmless as doves. We avoid his advantages and we target his weak spots with wisdom, love, grace, humility, all of the characteristics that Christ desires us to have. We use the gifts, the relationships, the skills, the influence God has already entrusted us with. Just like one of the first two servants with the talents, whatever God has given us, that is what we use. Like the shepherds in the parable of the talents, we apply what we have to advance, to set up effective actions and hold ground once it's gained. Picture it like this He who occupies the high ground will fight with advantage. We don't fight fair with the enemy. We fight smart. We fight from God's position. We fight from His holiness through what He is calling us to be, from the position of the strength the Lord provides us. And here's how we can live this out this week. Identify one gift or resource God has given you, whether it be a relationship, a skill, a platform, time, or influence. Look, I will freely admit that my wife is a gift that God has given me. And our relationship provides me strength, but it's also something that has been effective in my spiritual battle and the spiritual offenses that I pursue. And so, whatever it is, write down one specific way you can use it this week to advance the mission or strengthen your position. So our position set. Now the question every commander asks is when do we move? Now our next part of planning is planning our timing. And the two characteristics that fall in line with this is surprise and tempo. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten ready for a mission and I've been told that we're fixing to move out, and then we don't go for hours. And I sit there waiting for someone to tell me to go. Because my part in the battle happens at a specific time, and that may be to add an extra element into the attack that surprises the enemy. And so we must realize that in our spiritual warfare planning, timing isn't about hurrying. It's the wisdom to know when God says go now and when he says wait and prepare. Some doors open only for a short time, a fleeting conversation, a moment of crisis, an unexpected opening to share the gospel or pray. Like Philip with the Ethiopian in Acts 8, when the Spirit says move, we move. Swift, spirit-led action can produce lasting fruit. Other missions require patient buildup, organizing a church right outreach, building long-term discipleship, planning a mission trip with prayer and preparation. The plans of the diligent lead to abundance, but not every opportunity should be seized immediately. Some need the full weight of what God has given us. And so this is two different types of timing that we experience in our planning, whether the moment is hasty or deliberate. Two types. Preparation lets us be ready at the right time in the right way. Even simple plans maximize surprise and keep our tempo under the Spirit's control instead of under our own panic or passivity. Look at it like this in a fight, some moments demand instant responses. Sometimes we see opportunities to attack the enemy, and we take it, and our timing is based on those opportunities. And then sometime others demand patience, thorough preparation. The enemy is playing the long game, so we must as well. Our wisdom is knowing the difference and having a plan that is ready for both. A plan that's ready to move immediately, and a plan that says, I need to wait and make sure everything is in place. And here's a practical step we can take this week about timing. Look at one current opportunity in your life. Is this a seize it now moment or plan it well and move with everything we have moment? Write down your first step, bring it to God and his timing and who you ask to stand with you. Now let's close in prayer as we wrap things up. Father, thank you that you don't send us into this fight without a plan. Thank you for your spirit who guides us into all truth and for the future and hope you have already prepared for us. Give us clear eyes for the objective right in front of us. Help us stand in the position you've given and move at the timing you've ordained. Make us shrewd yet innocent, bold yet wise, quick to seize what you open, and patient to prepare what you've called us to build. Disrupt the enemy's recovery, break his momentum, and keep us unified so he cannot regroup. We trust you with the mission because the battle belongs to you, Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. So here's the simple rhythm we can carry this week. Receive guidance from the Spirit and from Scripture. Turn it into a clear plan with objective, position, and timing at the forefront of your planning. Execute with faith and obedience. We don't rush in blind. We don't just sit on our hands either and wait for the perfect conditions. We plan the mission because the one who has called us is faithful to lead us all the way through. Next time we'll talk about how we take that plan and we execute it, stepping out and engaging the enemy under our Lord's authority with courage and love. But before we sign off, take a quick moment with us. When it comes to objective, what one stronghold or area of enemy influence will you name and begin to pray over specifically this week? When it comes to position, what gift or resource has God already given you that you can steward more intentionally for the advance coming? When it comes to timing, is there a hasty opportunity you need to seize or a deliberate plan you need to start building right now? Write it down, share it with someone who will stand with you in all of these things, and take that first step. We're not planning alone. We're planning with the commander who already knows the end from the beginning. He has already assured our victory. Thanks for sitting with us today. Keep pressing forward, keep planning with faith, and remember we are in this fight together. See you next time on joining the fight. God bless.