Discretionary Warfare

By Eddie Smith

When it comes to spiritual warfare, how can you know when you are to engage in
direct confrontation with the enemy? The answer to this question is more complex
than it may appear. Is the answer, "anytime you encounter the enemy?"

If you haven't discovered it yet, you will one day realize that there are more demonic
spirits lurking around than (as we say in Texas) you can shake a stick at. Long ago I
learned the liberating truth that God hasn't assigned them all to me. He doesn't
expect me to target every demon I encounter. Why? There are many reasons, I'm
sure.

For one thing, some demons that you or I will encounter are pathetically unimportant
in the overall scheme of things. They pose so little threat to anyone or anything that
we might say that they’re not worth the powder it’d take to blow them up.

Some Christians, in their superstition, continually overrate the enemy. When it
comes to war, some of the enemy's uniformed soldiers are significant threats. They
shoot mortars or drop bombs. However, others who wear the same uniform cook
meals or type letters. That’s how it is with your enemy. Simply put, the target value
of some of the demons you’ll encounter is frankly insignificant. Don't waste your time
with them.

The assignment of some of the enemy's troops IS to distract and divert you. If you
naively believe that you’re assignment is to shoot at anything that moves, you’ll fall
right into their hands and miss your assigned targets—those tasks God has selected
for you.

I’ve seen a troubling trend with some well-intentioned people. They focus so much
on fighting for Christ that they do a lousy at living for Him. By continually focusing
on demons, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, they literally attract them. They wear a
spiritual target on their back.

They look for, listen to, and sense spirits of darkness so easily, believing that their
sole assignment in life is to engage in spiritual battle, that they are dogged by
demons, who want nothing more than their attention and always love a good fight.
These people live a sad, negative, and troubled life, and perhaps sadder still, so do
those who love them and live with them.

How would you know if that is characteristic of you? Listen to yourself. Consider your
words and your thought-life. When it comes to spiritual things, what percentage of
your thoughts and words do you direct toward darkness?

Although young David certainly knew King Saul was demonized, his personal
assignment from God wasn't to command Saul’s demon to leave. His assignment
was to worship. His focus wasn't on darkness at all, but on the Lord.

Was it David’s music that overcame Saul’s demon? Not at all. It wasn't David's
musical skill that did the job. The God of heaven who inhabited David’s praise
overcame Saul's demon.

David directly confronted the enemy while maintaining his focus on God! Unusual?
Perhaps it’s not as unusual as it might seem.

Consider tithing. Is there a spiritual warfare component to tithing? You bet there is.
When I tithe, God "rebukes the devourer" for my sake. Now you tell me, what can
the Devil and his forces possibly fear more than a direct rebuke from Jehovah? And
guess what! It only costs me 10%. Wow, what a deal! (More later...)