Chapter 15 from Solutions for Hope and Change Booklet

CHAPTER 15 – Strategic Steps to Change a Culture  (Ret. Lt. General Jerry Boykin other Contributors)

As we have entered into a culture war, we must realize first that we are in a spiritual war. The greatest advantage an enemy can have over you is to make you believe he does not exist. We must know the enemy! They live among us executing their strategy and plans.

IMPORTANT:  There are battles and there is a war. We must stay focused on the war even though the battles are important. The church must act like an army (2 Timothy 2:1-4, Ephesians 6:12-18). It must organize itself as an Army. We know the church finally wins the war as it states in the Bible, but we are put in the midst of the various battles. We have artillery and air support, the intercessors (prayer), from a spiritual perspective. What about the command structure that is needed to win the war?

THREE LEVELS IN COMPLETING A MISSION

1.  The Strategic Level is led by a key general or national leader(s) who have the vision and command the whole theater (United States).  His staff lays out the plans and the strategy. There are a number of national ministries who have capable leadership.  Maybe Tony Perkins and General Jerry Boykin from the Family Research Council would be a candidate. Rick Joyner of the Oak initiative (www.theoakinitiative.org) could be used as an example as he has a national strategy to preserve our nation for future generations in a number of cultural gateways. Better yet, maybe a group of Christian National leaders working together as they bring different focuses to the table.

NOTE: The mission is to bring hope and change through transformational change. It will take unity with “one cry” of the church as we pro-actively engage the cultural gateways.

2.  The Operational Level is led by another general(s) who leads a key ministry for a state (Michigan for example). Campaign plans are developed by this group(s). Transformation Michigan could be part of that group. Michigan Family Forum, Citizens for Traditional Values, OneCry, Michigan Right to Life, Aglow International, Breakthrough Apostolic Ministries and other Christian conservative groups.   We face a number of campaigns in Michigan. These campaigns have many faces such as advancing the Kingdom of God; birthing a great harvest of souls; the fight to end abortion; maintain traditional marriage; stop Sharia law; bring a Biblical worldview paradigm into education and government; etc. The sum of all the parts equals the whole spiritual war we face.

3.  The Tactical Level includes individuals (soldiers) working at the ground level facing the enemy eye to eye. They develop operational ground plans.  Pastors, local ministry, and community leaders are at this level…as they take the Gospel into the communities leading their congregations to be the salt of the earth. They work at the grassroots to bring forth that transformational change that our culture so desperately needs.

PROBLEM:  Many times people try to do another person’s job on another level and not focus on their own assignment.  Christ trained 12 men and they went out to build the church. He did not micro-manage them. He sent them out, trusted them and empowered them.  People below each level must be released so they can reach their potential.

         NINE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL WAR – Ret. Lt. General Jerry Boykin

1. 1.      Determine the Objective: It is defining what you are trying to accomplish. Many times organizations start doing one thing then end up doing another…this is loss of focus and direction (Mission Creep – military term).  Objective must be determined and you must stick to it and not veer off the path. Leadership must make sure you stay focused. Remember, plans are built out of capability and available resources…but capacity is critical.  With God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). The Holy Spirit is a force multiplier that enables one to go beyond any human capacity. What is force multiplication? Force Multiplication is using a small force of well-trained and dedicated people to build a force of many. Their efforts are multiplied as they recruit, equip, organize, and equip others to become a force more powerful and effective than they would be operating on their own.           

 

You may not have the capability but do you have the right capacity for it? Can prayer produce a Divine empowerment and increase that capacity?  Yes! Is small the next big? Yes! The Lord will use the foolish and weak to accomplish great things (1 Corinthians 1: 26-31).  Define the objective and what you are trying to achieve and see what God can do.

 

1. 2.     Take the Offensive:  You do not win on the defensive. You cannot work from a reactionary realm. You must get ahead of the enemy. In the spiritual this means the intercessors must pray ahead of things and not wait for something to manifest. We must have people of prayer who can see prophetically, have discernment and hear warnings from God because they have relationship with Him. Identify strongholds ahead of time and pray and take action. There must be no mercy for the enemy that blinds men’s souls.

 

NOTE: Individuals who are called to engage any one of the cultural gateways must not be reactionary, but lead the way in any community. If the problem has already surfaced take the offensive to push it back.

 

1. 3.     Mass: It is generating and consolidating all your combat power in a specific place at a specific time to accomplish your objective. Unity is a key to see victory.  Spiritually we see the church divided. The Church not unifying in our past elections is a prime example. A good portion of professing Christians did not even vote. We must unify around a Biblical Worldview paradigm…or all will be lost.

 

1. 4.     Economy of Force:  Special Forces go in to set the stage for a larger assault. These Special Forces are applying an economy of force.  A few well trained intercessors will go into an area of conflict, deal with a serious issue, or attack against the church. The tendency of the Church is to run to every challenge and lose focus of the main mission – so “specialist” should be sent in instead.

 

1. 5.     Maneuver:  When the enemy has changed his tactics we must maneuver staying focused on the objective. The plan must be adjusted without losing the main focus. During a maneuver when the spiritual enemy is on the run you pursue him with no mercy. Intercessors must continue to pray for total destruction of strongholds that bind the hearts of men and women. Remember, the enemies are the principalities and powers who are out to destroy men’s souls (Ephesians 6:10-20).

 

1. 6.     Unity of Command:  It is based on the supposition that we must submit ourselves to someone’s authority (pastor/ministry/community leader). It begins with Jesus Christ as the Head, then the spiritual leader God has placed you with. The problem in the church today is the lack of submission to authority. The enemy is destroying the church by leading revolts against the pastors. If you are leaving a church – leave with a blessing from the pastor! The church must establish a perimeter where we watch each other’s back. This is done through love, bearing the burdens of others, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, trust, covering each other’s sins, casting down jealousies, competition, strife, manipulation, control, and speaking blessing instead of cursing. God has appointed individuals to lead…pastors and ministry leaders.

 

1. 7.     Security:  Watchmen are needed to watch out for spiritual leaders such as  pastors and ministry leaders. Leaders must be surrounded by trusted people who will be able to speak to that leader’s heart as a help and safeguard to them. The flanks must be guarded so they are not caught off guard. Leaders must be able to take correction.  People need to be enlisted to be praying for leaders to provide a covering.

 

1. 8.      Surprise:  Strike at a time when the enemy is weakest.  God will give that order to move if we are listening to His instructions. You use the economy of force to strike. Find the enemy’s weakness and find those who are studying his tactics to prepare for a surprise assault. Today very few understand the dangers of Islam and what their agenda is to destroy our nation.  Never let the enemy know what you are going to do. Look beyond the problems and see the possibilities and utilize surprise.

 

1. 9.     Simplicity: When things go bad and discouragement sets in remember the objective. The commander’s intent must be known so job can be done. It must be simple…simple…simple!