A leader is like a general. Like a general, every leader has many people he contends with. These people often make it difficult for the leader to be successful in what he does. The leader has a task of bringing such people under control.
For he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide by it
Joel 2:11
When war erupts, firmness, energy and physical effort must be directed at your enemy. War is your effort to overcome something or someone. There is opposition to your vision and your dream. Your desire to serve the Lord will not be taken lightly by that old serpent and his angels.
The principles of war teach you to direct firmness at crushing something! A good general must direct firmness and energy at defeating the enemy. The principles of war must be applied against those that agitate against you. To wage war is to direct firmness at quieting something, humbling something, warning something and controlling something.
War is a struggle. War is a conflict.
From the day I entered the ministry and tried to build a church, I have been struggling to control the church that I have built. I have been struggling to humble and discipline the enemies that naturally rise up against my calling.
You cannot be weak, uncertain or soft towards something that hates you! To be at war is to direct firmness at quieting something, humbling something, warning something and controlling something.
I tell you, there are men who can hurt your work so much that you may never be able to recover. They will take away your income and destroy your life’s work. If you joke with them, your heart will be broken and you may not be able to recover. They will repay your kindness with ingratitude and wickedness. Follow the principles of war. Direct firmness at quieting, humbling, warning and controlling disloyal people.
It is time to direct firmness at controlling thieves in your ministry. There are people who are stealing what you are receiving. You must direct firmness at humbling, warning and controlling these thieves in your ministry or business.
It is time to take the subject of war seriously. You are at war even if you do not realise it. Sometimes it is your own spouse who is at war with you. Many men do not direct firmness at controlling their spouses. Their wives run amok and become like wild animals having a field day. It is time to direct firmness at quieting, humbling, warning and controlling your wife.
Neville Chamberlain without Firmness
Before the Second World War erupted, Britain’s Prime Minister was Neville Chamberlain. He was determined to avert a war with Germany. His policy towards the mass murderer, Adolf Hitler, was one of appeasement. This meant that he was conciliatory towards the German government because he thought they had genuine grievances that needed to be addressed. He also thought that if he agreed to some of the demands of Adolf Hitler, he would avert another war.
The Prime Minister of England, Neville Chamberlain, was warned by the secret service that negotiations with Hitler would be fruitless and that the only way to deal with Germany was to stand firm. The Prime Minister of England was told that if he adopted a firm attitude and threatened war, Hitler could be stopped. But instead of standing firm and directing firmness at quieting, humbling, warning and controlling Hitler, the Prime Minister allowed Hitler to invade and annex both Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia.
A young historian living in Manchester by the name A.J.P. Taylor felt so strong against the policy of appeasement towards Hitler that he made several speeches and addressed several meetings on the theme “Stand up to Hitler.” He tried every possible argument but the crowd only responded in the same way: “What you are advocating means war. We want peace!” These people did not know that they were allowing a very evil person to grow in strength and power. Eventually, this policy of calm appeasement led the whole world into the worst conflagration ever known to man.
Be a leader who directs firmness at quieting, humbling and controlling the factors that try to destroy your work. This is a key to your success!
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