Tag: #spiritualwarfare

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Be Strong in the Lord Pt.2 -Wargames

Seeing the Battlefield

The strategy of chess is to capture your opponent’s king, whilst keeping yours safe.

Seated around the table were leaders of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. We traveled from our headquarters in upstate NY to Fort Leavenworth, KS, to participate in a wargame.

During a seminar, a retired General, regarded as an expert in warfighting, asked a question: What is the most important attribute of a combat leader?

Over half of the those seated around the extended table said competence was the most important attribute. The seasoned General -respectfully referred to as a greybeard– reflected upon the various responses and then gave his answer: cunning.

Here are two definitions for cunning from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary: 

Sun Tzu’s observations have application beyond the battlefield.
  • Crafty in the use of special resources (such as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end.
  • Characterized by wiliness and trickery

I was seated in a classroom as an undergraduate student. I recognized the teacher, but he seemed out of place. It was time to take the test. Responding to the questions wasn’t difficult, but I felt like I was missing something. 

A teacher’s assistant (TA) graded the tests and announced to the class that I and another student failed the exam. How embarrassing. Why did he tell everybody? The TA handed out the papers, and there marked in red was my score of 50. 

Inner-voices of discouragement went into high gear: You aren’t going to graduate. You aren’t smart enough. Forget about your ministry dreams. You don’t have what it takes, etc.  

Then upon closer examination of my test results, I saw my error. Every question I missed on this multiple-choice exam required more than one answer. I misunderstood the requirements and only selected the best answer—what a relief.

Still, this class was strange. I was the only black student among white students in a class at my alma mater, Howard University, a historically Black college or university (HBCU). I love diversity, but this was unusual.

Then, how could John Anderson be my undergraduate instructor? I was nearly 60 years-old when I met him. Then I awoke from sleeping. THANK God it was all a dream! Let me tie this all together.

The Apostle Paul provided a clear explanation as to why we are to be strong in the Lord: that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11) 

The devil is cunning and crafty in attaining his goals and he relies upon wiliness and trickery. 

The devil is the master of deception and an expert at concealing his true intentions.  He even disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)

The purpose of deception is to conceal what is real and display what is false. In warfighting, you NEVER reveal your true intentions to your opponent.

In the dream, the devil craftily orchestrated people and circumstances to make me feel inadequate to accomplish my ministry goals, but God exposed his trickery. 

In real life, I frequently deal with this kind of discouragement in various shapes and forms. The devil is the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Did you notice satan’s efforts to publicly embarrass me-the only black student failing in a class of white students? The devil routinely plays upon racial, gender, generational and demographic stereotypes to bias and disorient us.

In real life, John Anderson is the sports psychologist who encouraged me to pursue my ambitious international ministry goals. In the dream, he was a dispassionate administrator of a tricky test employing a TA intent on embarrassing me.

You must anticipate your opponents moves.

I am not just telling my story. I am telling your story as well because we face the same adversary; therefore, I encourage you to routinely ask these questions to better see the battlefield on which you are fighting:

  • What is the current challenge I am facing?
  • What am I not seeing in this situation? (Look beyond the surface.) 
  • What is the enemy REALLY trying to rob, steal or destroy in this situation? 

Pray for wisdom after asking these questions. (James 1:5-7) The Lord delights in unraveling the devil’s schemes. He will help you see the battlefield.

Whatever is of MOST value to you, the devil wants to rob, kill and destroy. He considers no areas off-limits. Spiritual warfare is a REAL thing; therefore, be strong in the Lord!

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16) God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” -Sun Tzu

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Don’t Leave Your Mess Behind

Don’t Leave Today’s Problems As Your Legacy To Others

I felt like pinching myself. I could not believe it. I was assigned a member of the government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) to mentor me for a year. He’d travel up from Georgia to Hampton Roads, VA to do business, and he’d stop by to see me. Sometimes we’d talk on a video connection.

One thing always struck me about our engagements when they concluded. When I expressed my appreciation for my mentor’s insights, he’d say, “…well, I get a lot out of this too.” It took me a while, but I get it now. It is great to leave a positive legacy.

A couple of years ago, I began meeting with an emerging leader of great promise. We often met at Starbucks before the pandemic. In a recent conversation, he expressed his appreciation for the insights I provided him. I told him, “…well, I get a lot out of this too.” I don’t think he gets it yet. It’s great to leave a positive legacy.

During this recent conversation, he expressed his frustration about a problem in the team he is leading. I knew the history of the group he referenced. I told him that the problem preceded his arrival and previous leaders never resolved it.

I told him how happy I was that he was frustrated because frustrated people change things. I encouraged him to be the leader who fixed the problem.

I spoke at my church yesterday, Bethel Temple in Hampton, VA. I gave a cryptic version of my efforts to leave a job that felt like a prison experience. I encouraged the Bethel family that bold action is sometimes required if they want to see change.

The audience applauded when I told them that I took bold steps to get out of that job situation until I said that I ran into Goliath. Goliath, in the form of my major Department Executive. He pulled me into his office and went into a rage; he told me I was quitting on my team, pointed at his office door, and shouted, “Hit the Road!!”

Under 10 feet tall and possibly shorter than Shaq. Stop making him bigger than he was. (1 Sam 17:4)

As I left his office, I heard these words in my spirit: “he just kicked you out of his office and into your future.” I was DEVASTATED and encouraged. Before the day ended, the Lord challenged me to face Goliath, not just for myself but for my children’s sake. What??!!

I realized that if I did not conquer this bullying spirit, my children would have to wrestle with it. Perhaps this sounds strange to you, but I knew this to be true. 

Likewise, if that emerging leader I am mentoring doesn’t deal with that problem in his team, his successors will have to. 

We need to clean up our mess!

Be the type of leader, mentor, parent, or coach who resolves problems. Don’t Leave Today’s Problems As Your Legacy To Others. 

I faced Goliath. I fought the uphill journey to get out of that job in his Department. 

It took nearly a year of struggle, but I got out of that prison-like situation and landed my dream job. Then something strange happened.

That senior leader who kicked me out of his office came to respect me greatly. I still respected him. I knew it was just a test. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)

My trouble proved to be God’s catalyst to propel me forward in His plan for my life.

I mentioned that I spoke at my church yesterday. At the end of the message, I challenged the audience to release their faith in three areas:

  • To resolve our church debt.
  • To expand our Livestream broadcast nationally and internationally.
  • To restore supernatural manifestations of God’s power in our services.

Let’s wrap this up with a discussion on the first point. 

I’ve been a member of the Bethel Temple since 1994. Upon arrival, our leadership lamented being hamstrung by significant debt. They imagined great outreach opportunities if we could liquidate the debt, but over the years we’ve made little progress.

Without Faith It is Impossible to Please God – Coming Attractions 1705 Todd’s Lane.

That’s nearly thirty years of missed outreach opportunities.

How do you liquidate the debt in post-pandemic America? Well, God delights when His people believe Him to do the impossible. At some point, we must confront Goliath.

Our church is blessed to have a pastor committed to debt liquidation, and we are grateful for that. Nothing significant changes without engagement, commitment, and dogged determination. 

We need to clean up our mess so we can leave our children a positive legacy. 

Let’s resolve to do this in every aspect of our lives because it starts with us!

I enjoy mentoring others. I get to tell them stories like how I saw Goliath fall. When they tell me how they appreciate my insights, I tell them, “…well, I get a lot out of this too, ” but I don’t think they get it yet. It is good to leave a positive legacy. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22)

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Trouble: Your Catalyst for Greatness

Your active response to trouble will propel you forward.

I listened to the young man speak as he stood over his mother’s casket. He said that years ago, when he graduated from college, his proud father wrote many words expressing his belief that his son would accomplish great things in life.

The young man’s proud mother finished the note with a few words: “Son…life is hard, but enjoy the journey.” Her words were a comfort to him at this difficult time in his life.

I have four children, and I have the privilege to speak into the lives of many young people. At some point, those who look to you for guidance and inspiration need to hear some version of this mother’s words because life is hard. They also need to know that through it all, they can enjoy the journey.

Retirement has allowed me the opportunity to survey the landscape of sixty-plus years of living. Upon reflection, the hardness of life disciplined me, toughened me, focused me, took a lot of the quit out of me, and woke up the fighter in me.

God will fight for you if you are willing to get into the ring. Ask Moses.

My father used to tell me that nothing of value in life comes easy. Crisis, trouble, hardness -whatever you want to call it- is essential to our growth and development and maturing us in our walk with God.

We all have blind spots; hopefully, someone will care enough to point these areas out to us. But scholarly studies show that most of our deliberate efforts to change fail. There is a remedy called trouble.

Trouble like Moses backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in pursuit. The crisis of Hezekiah, who was already sick and at the point of death, when the prophet Isaiah informed him that he would die. The dilemma of barren Hannah, heartbroken and ridiculed by her rival Peninnah. The plight of Peter chained between two guards and facing execution at daybreak after Herod put the apostle James to death. *

Trouble produced a passion, a resolve, commitment, and fire that moved them from stagnation to activation. You’ve got to do something! The troubled always play a key role in their deliverance. 

God told Moses to stop talking to Him and do something! Moses stretched out his hands over the Red Sea, and the rest is history. Hezekiah stopped making burial arrangements and boldly told God why he deserved to live longer. God added 15 years to his life.

Hannah went to the house of God and prayed out of the bitterness of her soul; a year later, Samuel was born. James’ execution inspired Peter’s friends to pray so intensely that a supernatural jailbreak ensued, rescuing Peter from destruction.

Why do I bring all this up? Because I’ve got trouble, and you’ve got trouble. Want to get out of that trouble? Do something!  The troubled always play a key role in their deliverance.  

Trouble was the platform that propelled these Biblical characters forward in God’s purposes. I can relate.

I’ll never forget back in late 2014 when I thought I had the “trouble to end all troubles.” I heard the late Myles Munroe say that whenever God is about to bring change in your life, He always sends a crisis. I thought the situation would end my career, but it eventually propelled me into my dream job.

Got a problem? Take action, get moving, and turn up the intensity. As Andy Dufresne said in The Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” Your active response to trouble will propel you forward.

How can you enjoy this journey full of trouble? God promised to be with you, to deliver you and to give you a long life: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalms 91:16-17)

Reframe your trouble. See it for what it is: your “Catalyst for Greatness.” God is with you, and He promises to deliver you. Enjoy the journey, and we will see each other in the WINNER’s circle. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin Willis

*Moses’ triumph at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:5-31); Hezekiah’s extension (2 Kings 20:1-6); Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:7-20); Peter’s jailbreak (Acts 12:1-17)

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No Sanctuary in Spiritual Warfare

Don’t allow him to gain a foothold in your household when you have the authority to cast him out!

“The Passion of The Christ,” portrayed a very real but shadowy figure who would prefer to remain anonymous.

I waited all year for our family vacation in the Carolinas. We all needed a break. Three of us were involved in major job-related transitions. The holiday season was busy as usual, but that didn’t matter now. I signed out of the office on Thursday evening, and that Saturday morning we were driving south to paradise. That’s what I thought at the time (smile).   

During the drive, I reflected on what I said to our prayer team the previous Sunday before service. We needed to continue praying for our church over the holidays I said. Some could afford to take off but not us.  In my view, we were still on duty so to speak.  

Long and boring hours but someone has to stand the watch.

It was natural for me to feel this way.  Someone always had to be on duty when I was in the military.  Thanksgiving or Christmas it did not matter.  Someone was on call 24/7.  We know that the devil never takes holidays off.  He is always looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Before the prayer team dismissed, I felt prompted to encourage us all to pray for our families throughout the holidays.  We must not give the devil an inch. (Ephesians 4:27)

I want to pause here to make a point and put a spotlight on the devil.  Did you know that many, perhaps most, American Christians do not believe he exits? This is tragic because the devil is the most disruptive and dangerous when he is unrecognized.  His ability to conceal his identity and activities is part of his agenda.

According to the Barna Group, four out of ten Christians (40%) in the U.S. strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective.  In my opinion, the root of this “symbol of evil” deception is Biblical illiteracy.  Note the survey results below:

In the Bible it is written that Satan is a fallen angel.  He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (Isaiah 14:12; John 10:10) Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) The devil is the ruler of this world system and has fallen angels -demons- that extend his influence. (Mt 4:8-9; 12:22-26; Eph 6:11-12)

The Bible reveals that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14) The Word of God also makes it clear that Christians are not under the devil’s rule or authority. (Colossians 1:13) On the contrary, we have dominion over him.  Jesus said “don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) Thank you for this detour. Let’s resume our blissful journey to paradise.

I was so happy when we arrived at our timeshare unit.  Vacation at last!  I felt like shouting out the word made famous by the character Quasimodo in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Perhaps you recall that Quasimodo rescued the gypsy Esmerelda from the gallows, and then carried her to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral.  The hunchback then lifted her above his head and cried out to the cheering thousands below, “Sanctuary!”  Quasimodo felt he had rescued her into a safe haven away from her accusers.

The Classic Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Archdeacon Frollo.

Sadly, Esmerelda was deceived by the evil Archdeacon Claude Frollo.  The Archdeacon concealed his identity (sounds familiar), led her away from Notre Dame to apparent safety, and then off came the disguise.  Frollo pressed Esmerelda to submit to his lustful desires or face the gallows.  She refused and he gave her over to the royal soldiers and she was hanged. 

Neither the Cathedral nor our timeshare unit proved to be a Sanctuary.  There is no Sanctuary in spiritual warfare.  Don’t ever let your guard down or take your armor off.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)    

I should have remembered. God always uses our family timeshare experiences to test our willingness to love one another (smile). Testing is what happens when you place a husband and wife, and three adult children (one daughter was away this year) together in reduced living space with one vehicle for an extended period of time. It can be fun.   It can be a real challenge.  

Tension, difficulty and disagreements are normal in healthy families.   In the family context, we can learn essential conflict resolution skills.  We can learn to defer to one another, and to practice self-control, but make no mistake about it.  The devil is out to destroy families because families are the foundation of churches, communities and nations.  

Think about what is happening to families in America and around the globe. Safety measures made necessary by the COVID-19 outbreak placed families in unfamiliar territory.  Families face unprecedented restrictions and there is no clear end in view. The pressure keeps mounting; stress levels are rising and there is no Sanctuary.   

My wife homeschooled. Its not for everyone.

I recently heard the Surgeon General recommend steps to reduce COVID-19-related stress.  He suggested that we eat well, exercise and get the proper amount of sleep.  He also recommended that we pray! Regarding spiritual warfare with the devil, the Bible gives clear direction. 

The Bible teaches us to submit ourselves to God.  We are to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  (James 4:7) God’s presence in you as a believer is greater than the power of the devil.  (1 John 4:4) If you have not received Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you the way at www.dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation.  

Well, our holiday vacation came to an end.  Upon reflection, I should have paid more earnest attention to the guidance I passed along to the prayer team.  I should have been more watchful in prayer over my family. 

It was a great and difficult vacation, and I learned a valuable lesson. You may feel like you have earned or deserve a break. You may feel like you have reached a safe haven, but there is no Sanctuary in spiritual warfare.  I have been applying this lesson over the course of this pandemic.

Please give special attention to your family during the remainder of this crisis.  Keep your armor on.  Don’t allow an Archdeacon Frollo-type spirit to gain a foothold in your household when you have the authority to cast him out!  Pray for your loved ones, family members, and those in your sphere of influence. Pray for your neighbors. May the Lord mightily bless you and your family for the duration of this pandemic and beyond. God Bless! No Sanctuary!!

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, Says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17

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