"Timing Control " [Sun Tsu #6-6] (I Cor.15:24-28; I Peter 5:8-9; Matt.15:1-17; James 4:7-10)]

If we obey, the Scripture says, the timing’s up to us;
Not always, but sometimes it is – best time, no sense of rush.
So if it’s time to go to war, engage the enemy,
The “when” of wishing to engage is up to you and me.

Do battle, fight, conduct ourselves to give then what we’ve got,
Despite reluctance on their part, they’ll come out to a spot
No longer sheltered by defense of ramparts high on walls
Of fortresses, deep moats around – they have to heed our call.

The enemy, protected now, must leave their ditch, engage
In battle when and where we choose when calm or when enraged,
They can’t avoid it, they are forced, for all we need to do
Is mount attack some other place essential to his rule.

A place, objective, or position, some place within his heart,
He must relieve, give succor to, by hastening to embark
Upon some mission not desired, because it’s key to him;
Communication lines, or roads of egress when we win.

If we invade we could attack his sovereign on the throne;
He must abandon safety then to rescue King at home;
It doesn’t matter what it is, the lure, the bait is all
We need to change the battlefield – for they will heed our call.

On other hand, when we don’t wish to fight some enemy,
Engage in battle when and where they’d gain a victory,
The same holds true because we set him off, as we deceive,
Upon some track where we’ve not gone, our ruse he has believed.

Just something odd which he then finds quite unacceptable;
A mystery he thinks he’s solved, so vanity’s made full;
It’s easy to divert a foe when all of your defense
Is just a line drawn on the ground, not even picket fence.

He can’t engage if you’re not there, you are some other place;
He can’t attack, he cannot fight, for he must then retrace
His steps – by then you’re long-since gone, and moved on with your task;
His time and place have disappeared, when he arrives at last.

The devil and his demon-hordes, the Scripture-writer states,
Are hiding ’neath some lair today harassing human race;
So lure him out – just like Sun Tzu, to fight on level ground,
Rebuke him and he’ll run away, so peace for all is found.

In Christ, up on the Kingdom-layer, their potency is vain,
So stay within Christ’s battlements – for that, the Savior came;
He is the Lord of Kingdom-layer ’till enemies are all
Beneath His feet – He’s mopping up the mess since Adam’s fall.

Then when He’s done He’ll turn the Kingdom-layer back to the One
Whose universe it is, our Father, God, by then He’s done –
The battle’s His, we play our part, do “This and that” that He
Might have some room to operate, thus hasten victory.

Thanks Lord for this.

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