A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. - Proverbs 25:11

 

MacArthur’s 5 “Too Lates”

  The history of failure in warfare can be summed up in two words: “Too Late.” Too late in comprehending the deadly purpose of an enemy; too late in realizing the mortal danger; too late in preparedness; too late in standing with one’s friends; too late in uniting all possible forces for resistance.

                                        —General Douglas MacArthur              

           As a student of history, I have always enjoyed quotes from some of the world’s most brilliant military minds, and this one by MacArthur is one of my favorites. World War II had ended, and the nations that had allied together to defeat the Nazi and Japanese war machines were giddy over their victories and the utopian feeling that was settling on everyone’s hearts. Celebratory parties were happening everywhere, new job opportunities for returning veterans were being found at every hand, and a boom in the birthrate of postwar babies excited the nation. Because the world was finally at peace, everyone thought, life was going to be wonderful. But men like MacArthur knew better. They knew that in order to ensure peace for its citizens, America would have to remain eternally vigilant. They saw the rising communist threat under despots like Stalin and Mao as something to be deeply concerned about. They retained the patriotic discernment of enormous personalities who had, in earlier generations, established America as a free and sovereign nation. They were in sync with national fathers like George Washington, who 150 years earlier had warned: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” They agreed with the wisdom of celebrated oriental general, Sun Tzu, who had explained: “The art of war teaches us not to rely on the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him when he does.” Vigilant and resourceful leaders will always adopt this philosophy for long endurance. They are not warmongers as some would have us believe, but are simply men and women who understand what is necessary to secure peace in a fallen world. They know that a pint of sweat (in preparation) will save a gallon of blood, and that our nation’s capacity to retaliate must be massive in order to deter all forms of international aggression. Unlike so many of our military and political “leaders” today, true patriots know that a score of dictators, despots and oligarchies are ever looking for opportunities to overcome and pillage vulnerable nations. Therefore, strength, and the proper wisdom to use it, must be included in their desire for security.              

          To avoid the risk of turning this article into a political statement, I need now to turn our focus to the true reason I am writing, and that is to prepare you as a Christian for your imminent combat with the forces of darkness. While Paul said that we are to avoid fights with flesh and blood (people), he did not say we are to avoid fights with the evil princes of darkness who rule this world; or with the huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world (Ephesians 6:12, TLB).  In fact, Paul said we are to wrestle them down, as a Grecian Olympian would take down and subdue a worthy opponent, because that is what they desire to do to us. A passive approach to spiritual warfare is not what Paul encouraged.

Components for Victory

          In the natural sport of wrestling, several key factors must come into play when a grappler faces his opponent. These factors can mean the difference between victory and crushing defeat. Proper knowledge of moves and countermoves are crucial components for victory. God said, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  Determination is needed as well, as is an attitude of confidence in one’s ability to overcome and subdue his foe in the power of Christ. A certain amount of skill must also be involved, along with speed, good balance, endurance, and resilience. I’ve seen a boy get a bloody nose or a sprained finger on the wrestling mat, only to return to the match a few minutes later with a renewed determination to win. His resilience carried the day! Right on the other hand, I have seen wounded wrestlers return to the mat less focused—more timid and uncertain than they were before the match began. Guys like this don’t last long before they are put away for good.        

          In World War II, the audacious attitude of General George Patton filtered down to his troops on the North African continent, helping them to push the German war machine back across the sea into Europe. Patton said things like, “I actually feel sorry for those blankety, blank blanks!” This attitude actually instilled a confidence into his warriors that helped them to press on to victory. “Wars may be fought with weapons” he argued, “but they are won by men!” In other words, it is the spirit of the warrior that gains the victory.            

          Knowing who we are in Christ should help us in our present day struggles with the forces of darkness. Understanding our spiritual authority is crucial as well. Jesus gave His disciples “authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19), and He has not rescinded that gift! Notice that this authority is an unmerited gift. Like so much of what Jesus offers the Church, the authority to overcome the forces of Satan is given to us absolutely free of charge. To use it effectively, however, we must strive to walk in obedience, integrity and purity, holding to His Word, and walking in His presence. Also notice His use of the words “to tread.” These words communicate aggressive action; but also an understanding that as we go forth establishing God’s kingdom, we will encounter fierce resistance, and even times of violent confrontation. But He is saying, “Not to worry though; you shall prevail!”

          Therefore, beloved, it is never a question of “if” Satan will accost us; but only a question of “when” he will do it. Whether he comes personally, or sends one or more of his demonic legionnaires, we must know that he will come, and that his goal will be to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Let us therefore take MacArthur’s wise advice, and apply it our spiritual lives. Let none of us be “too late” in the five crucial areas he pointed out.

Number one: Never be too late in comprehending Satan’s deadly purposes. His objectives are lethal, and the warfare he raises against us is often brutal and unfair. He comes upon us when we least expect it, and when we least desire to deal with it. He is brutal and unfair, merciless and determined. He desires to destroy us—our vision, our passion, and our destiny. His mission will be successful if we do not remain spiritually sober and acutely vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).

          Satan’s methods are also quite subtle. He rarely attacks our strong points, but rather our weaknesses. This is called asymmetrical warfare. His plans often unfold gradually as he binds up his victims in webs of deception. Then he pounces like a ravenous spider!  As a gardener, I have on occasion dropped a strong, healthy fly onto a garden spider’s fancy web. This particular arachnid spins his web in the tops of the grasses, where the insects are prone to fly. (Satan knows where to set his traps.) Usually the hunter rests somewhere at the corner of the web, or is hidden in some concealed place just beyond its edge. As the insect begins struggling to free himself, the spider jumps into action. Within seconds he descends on the fly, biting and paralyzing him with his deadly poison. He then spins his prey into an inescapable, webbed cocoon that becomes his own personal food locker. Later on, he will return to devour the fly, little by little.

          Satan is much like that spider. He spins an awful web of deception that ensnares the man or woman who fails to redeem the time. He approaches us as he did Eve—with stealth and age-old cunning. (See Genesis 3:1-5.)

          The first thing he did to Eve was to cause her to question the veracity of God’s Word, and its relevance to her situation. He will do the same to us.  “Has God said?” he asks. “God’s Word may be true in many cases,” he will admit, “but will it really work for you? Does it really apply to your case right now?” If Satan can cause us to entertain questions like these, he will put us at an immediate disadvantage; our feet will get stuck in his web of deception.

          The second thing he did to Eve was to form ideas in her mind that actually contradicted what God had said to her. He will use the same tactic on us. He will contradict what God has said in His Word or in our hearts. As he said to Eve: “You will not surely die!” his blatant contradictions are also what he will bring to us.  “God won’t mind if you indulge in a little wrongdoing,” he will say. “You can get by this time.”

          Satan will also begin speaking in the first person at this time, making us think that the contradictions and opposing ideas we have are simply our own random thoughts. “God doesn’t care that much about me,” we will reason. “It doesn’t matter if I don’t do everything just right. I don’t really have to adhere to His Word in all things.”          

          Third, Satan will move boldly to overthrow our favorable opinion of the Lord, causing us to question the very One we should be turning to as the temptation, trial or tempest builds against us. Eve was guilty of questioning the very character and integrity of God moments before she ate the forbidden fruit. The enemy’s strategy is the same today. He wants us to question, contradict, and accuse the Lord. Once we follow this pattern, the spider pounces, and the result is death in one form or another!           I see this happen with kids who grow up in the church. As they get into their early teen years, Satan begins asking them, “Has God said? Has the Lord really called you to live differently than other kids?” If they entertain this question, they will soon hear him speaking in the first person, claiming, “It doesn’t matter if I disobey the Word a little bit. Others do it, I can too.” When they fall for these lies, they soon begin to question the justice of the Lord, complaining, “The Lord is not fair. I ought to be able to do some of the things that other kids do. It is not right that I have to be holy and pure all the time.” Once a teenager reaches this point, he or she will allow for almost anything, and will quickly grow cold in their love for the Lord. In doing so, they show that they failed to comprehend the deadly purpose of the enemy.

Number two: The second “too late” is that of failing to realize the mortal danger the enemy poses. The peril we face in this fallen world is genuine and unfailing. Just look around: A thousand are falling at your side every day, and ten thousand at your right hand (Psalm 91:7). Whether their fall is mental, emotional, physical, financial or spiritual, it is occurring all about us because people do not realize the mortal danger they face every day in this fallen world. Our only guarantee for safety is to abide in the Secret Place, under the shadow of the Almighty. If we get out from beneath His protection, we become sitting ducks!

Number three: Preparation is essential! To ignore it can only be done at great cost. Avoidance of proper spiritual preparation is the hallmark of arrogance, laziness, or preoccupation.

          For want of preparation, Adam and Eve failed to deal properly with God’s archenemy, and subjected the human race to a curse that continues to this day.

          For want of spiritual preparation, a host of Jewish kings were unfit to rule Israel when their respective times came. 

          For want of spiritual preparation, the disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 17:14-21).

          For want of spiritual preparation, countless missionaries and pastors have been humiliated and destroyed by demonic forces in third world nations.

          If cultists are better prepared for spiritual conquest, and Christians are not, their gods will seize authority over a nation. If Christians are better disciplined and prepared, Christ will rule over the nation. A spiritual tug-of-war is presently occurring worldwide, and the outcome depends on the discipline in the warrior’s lives!

          If in the realm of Christendom, ten churches are playing while one church is praying, the praying church will better impact society, precipitating genuine revivals and awakenings.

          Leonard Ravenhill once commented: “I see a local church adding a new room. I wonder what it is? Is it a new fellowship hall? Perhaps it’s a gymnasium or a youth center. I bet I know what it’s not. I can be sure it’s not a room to accommodate the church’s expanding prayer meeting.”

          Isn’t it sad that much of the western church has forsaken the discipline of corporate prayer? It is no wonder that it is so inconsequential. 

          And what about personal preparation? If in the personal experiences of two believers, one is serious about the disciplines of prayer, praise, study and meditation, and the other is not, then the diligent believer will be more likely to fulfill his destiny and accomplish something significant for the Lord. In the end, beloved, the race, the fight, and the crown always belong to the believer who is disciplined and prepared.  

Number four: MacArthur also said that standing with one’s friends and allies is crucial in times of warfare, often determining whether one emerges victoriously from battle or succumbs to heartrending defeat.

          In our county of Highland, just about all of the local pastors and their churches support one another. Through the united intercession of the pastors every Wednesday morning, the walls that once separated us have come down. Gone is the suspicion. Gone is the competition. Gone is the foolish desire to number Israel (where our own churches are concerned).  Rather than count heads, we count hearts. Rather than compare rolls, we share victories of salvation, healing and spiritual growth. We are not racing against one another; we are racing against time. We are not warring against one another; we are warring against Satan. We want everyone to be saved. We desire for all gospel-preaching churches to be filled with hungry people, and are expecting multitudes from other places to roll into our mountain stronghold as well! When times in the flatlands get tough, people always flee to the mountains; it is a spiritual principle. Immediately following 9-11, real estate offices in our county were inundated with calls from people wanting to purchase land in the highlands. In our particular mountains, visitors come to be refreshed, encouraged and super-charged by the strong presence of the Lord we enjoy here. We live beneath an open heaven. The name God gave me several years ago for what He is doing here is, “Highland Harvest.” This is what Murdock Campbell called the revival that swept through the Scottish Highlands in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Why can’t God do that again— right here in the west-central Highlands of Virginia? He is, and He will! To this end, a group of local and regional pastors join together in Monterey on a weekly basis, praying for an increasing region-wide awakening. We know that warriors who pray together stay together—and win together! We see each other as allies in the spirit, warring against a common foe. Together we ascend! Together we war! Together we conquer! Together we see the glory come down, changing hearts! We know that “the new wine (of the Spirit) is in the cluster…and that “a blessing is in it” (Isaiah 65:8). We dare not allow the enemy to divide us.  I could write a book, highlighting all the times we have stood with each other, supporting one another in the ferocious storms the devil has sent against us as pastors and friends.

Number five: MacArthur spoke of uniting all possible forces in order to resist the enemy. This is sound wisdom. Why? Because a united front is usually the best front! If the devil can divide us, he will better defeat us.  If we unite, we form an imposing force. Moses said, “One can chase a thousand, and two can put ten thousand to flight” (See Deuteronomy 32:30.) Each added warrior increases our strength to the tenth power!

          But notice that the general clarifies his statement by saying “all possible forces.” In other words, some people and groups of people will not become our allies. That doesn’t necessarily make them evil; it may just mean that they can’t share our vision and walk with us. In such cases, we must bless and move on past them, seeking to accomplish our mission with those we do have at our side.

          Now if those who won’t unite with you are critical of you or your work, it is best to keep them at a distance. Such people will often have more questions than there are answers for, and they will wear you out if you let them close. When rebuilding Jerusalem’s shattered walls, Nehemiah refused to allow Sanballat and Tobiah to dissuade him. Although they ridiculed and threatened him, he kept building. At another time, they tried to get him to come down and talk with them, but he paid them no mind. He knew better than to powwow with critics and opponents. He knew better than to waste his time and energy with those who wanted to undermine his mission. As a result, Nehemiah did what everyone thought was impossible: He rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall in only fifty-two days. Remarkable! Nehemiah was a man MacArthur would have admired. He was not “too late” in dealing with the warfare that came against him. Let us learn from him.