When I worked in the Army, I was a member of a team of specialists who worked in the situation room of a command center of a military unit. If we were active in a war, we would have a map on the wall with a number of overlays on top of it. There were lots of important symbols and marks in grease pencil that you could easily wipe off. Today the same team would probably show all this on a computer screen.
The whole point of this arrangement was that a leader could walk in at any point in time day or night and see what we know from our communications what is going on during a battle. In the same way, your minister should be able to command spiritually. We are members in particular and part of a team. We are all blessed with holy spirit within and no minister should have to go it alone, just him and God.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are in a spiritual warfare and we live, work, and interact with people all in enemy territory. We are a team and we do not act independently; although we can if we must. We need to be aware of our spiritual surroundings.
In a battle, every unit has its job and they are aware of their area of impact (What are we going up against? What is our mission?) and they are aware of their area of influence (How does what we do affect the units around us, friend or foe?).
Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Every military unit fights in it's corridor (the path it has been given). A terrain overlay helps a commander determine where his special tank or artillery units can best travel. Speed is important, but rocks, cliffs, and forests can slow even a unit on foot down. It's not just natural elements that can slow a unit down. A unit also needs to be aware of traps, ambushes, and the presence of the enemy in obvious places. Even weather can affect what a unit can or cannot accomplish. Communication is important. Your prayer to God is vital. So is your communication with your minister.
(ESV) Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Your minister is not a military commander flying in a helicopter over the battlefield, but he is familiar with the spiritual lay of the land. When you share with him what is going on in your life, you help him do his job to lead and protect you and the ones you love.
You can also get help and guidance from other believers as well, but keep your minister in the loop. You are the boots on the ground of your life in your area of impact. What you do impacts the lives of others within your fellowship. Your God given abilities make you an important team member. That is why it is essential that you operate your strong suits in a fellowship: your special skills. If you don't know what these are, ask God, right? Your minister probably has a good idea too.
Romans 12:4-8 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
No matter what you specialize in, what you may need to use in a moment of time may not be your strong suit. Somebody could ask you to minister to them or pray for them. Stretch your believing and faith and get excited to see God go to work. The person ahead of you in the grocery store may lack a couple bucks. You don't need to be rich to give.
However, we also need to be personally mindful that It's a spiritual warfare requiring spiritual discernment and spiritual weapons. The enemy engages us spiritually and this requires a spiritual response.
Ephesians 6:10-11 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
In the spiritual realm, the enemy knows our strengths and our weaknesses better than we do, but we have God on our side. He will guide and direct us. We need to be aware of our surroundings and not let ourselves be lulled into sinful laziness or distracted by senses distractions. Keeping your head in God's Word and trusting God are a great way to go.
2 Samuel 23:6-7 6But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place. Hebrews 6:11-12 11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
God's Word is our spiritual map. We can know how the enemy operates and what the systems of the world are in operation around us. There is nothing new under the sun. God can keep you one step ahead of evil though. You need to trust him with all of your heart and not lean to your own understanding. He will show you which way to go through your terrain of life. You are an important member of God's team.
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