An Army marches on its stomach.
-Napoleon
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)
Napoleon expressed the principle of communication very well. He knew that a front line army without food and ammunition cannot fight or move, and invites defeat. Napoleon himself lost two armies, one because he neglected this principle, and the other because the English severed his line of communication.
The official definition of "lines of communication" is: "All the routes, land, water and air, which connect an operating military force with its base of operations, along which supplies and reinforcements move." 1 Adequate supplies must continue to move along these routes until a campaign is over. If an army is in pursuit, its supplies must move all the faster and farther. The principle of communications is violated whenever an enemy is allowed to cut off supplies or when an army advances too far and too fast for adequate supplies to keep up.
Napoleon was defeated on both counts. In the closing years of the eighteenth century he invaded Egypt. The French fleet in the Mediterranean provided the lines of communication. Militarily speaking, Egypt was an easy conquest. But the English got word of this movement and Lord Nelson went after the French fleet. He found and sunk it near the mouth of the Nile, stranding Napoleon's army in Egypt.
Years later, having conquered most of Europe, Napoleon invaded Russia. In the middle of winter he found he had disastrously overextended his line of supply. Another army was lost through violation of the principle of communication. It is no victory to defeat the enemy tactically and then freeze and starve to death.
In the fall and winter of 1950 the United Nations forces pursued their defeated enemy up the Korean peninsula faster than adequate food, winter clothing, ammunition, or engineers could follow. The victorious army arrived at the Yalu River thinned out in supplies and unprepared for winter. In this state they were caught by the Chinese Communist Army, which crossed the Yalu River supplied and winterized. The hitherto victorious army now retreated to the 38th parallel. Great numbers were overrun, surrounded, and captured. Only the amphibious evacuation at Hungnam saved most of a surrounded army. This principle of war may not be the most important, but it still must be practiced. Without it victory is temporary, defeat ultimate.
So it is in the war with Satan. Spiritual defeat is the only reward for those who overextend their lines of communication or allow them to be severed. We in the Army of the Lord must maintain communication with our Commander-in-Chief. He is the source of supply for spiritual food, ammunition, information, and orders. We have two-way communication with God: Prayer and the Word of God. Prayer is our means of communication to him. Via prayer we make our needs known; through intercession we ask help for cooperating forces. By prayer we praise him for victories won and confess our defeats.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to "pray constantly" (RSV ). Spiritual communication must not be broken. The enemy endeavors to cut our supply line by the simple device of temptation. If we yield, sin results, and sin severs. The presence of sin suppresses the desire to confess defeat. We do not praise God, thank him, or intercede for others. Confession is the only means of restoring communication.
God's means of communication with us is the Word of God. Any other spiritual communication is subject to test by this authoritative standard. He first spoke to men through the prophets and later through his Son and then through the apostles. We have these communications in the Bible, comprising all of our orders for the war with Satan.
But the Bible is more than that. It is our complete source of supply. It is our spiritual food. Job said, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). Jeremiah said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16).
The Word of God is our weapon:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, RSV).
The Word of God is much more. By this means God develops faith, love, hope, and strength in us. In his Book he sets the standards of conduct. Through it he communicates his requirements of humility and absolute obedience, as well as many details and principles of the conduct of an army at war. He sets the bounds of fellowship among those within the camp and those without. As a weapon it is the most telling and effective in setting captives free from the power of Satan.
You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God (1 Peter 1:23, RSV ).
Even this portion of our two-way line of communication can be cut, and again it is sin that severs. With unconfessed sin in his life, the Christian has no desire to read, hear, study, or meditate upon the Word of God. He now neither communicates with God nor receives from him. It may have been a minor sin that severed the lines of communication; but once severed and not immediately restored, he is set up for a decisive defeat by Satan.
It is mandatory in the war with Satan that we have daily communication with our source of supply. We must receive daily from the Lord via the Word enough for all of the day's needs, and we must store up provisions of the Word of God in our hearts and heads for any future time when we have a prolonged engagement with Satan.
Daily time with the Lord is far more than our line of communication for the battle. Fellowship with him is really our objective. We were created and redeemed to walk with God. In fact, this is the reason why we are engaged in war, so that others may be brought into fellowship with him.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you [proclaim also to you], that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3).
In Korea it seemed more important to implement the principle of war called pursuit than to keep in touch with supplies. This would have been right if the Chinese Communists had not entered the war. Our lines of communication can be overextended as well as cut. It may seem more important to be out witnessing or attending meetings than it is to spend time with our source of supply, the Lord Jesus Christ. Both witnessing and attending meetings are legitimate means of combating the enemy, but they cease to be effective when we run out of spiritual power. Scripture and sound military principle warn us that decisive defeat may be the end result. If we are fortunate, friends may be standing by to help us evacuate and keep us from defeat.
In Luke 10:38-42 is a story that illustrates this principle:
But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."
Notice this: Martha was not far from the Lord nor was he far from her. The line of communication was short. Even though it was short she had overextended herself. She had received nothing. She was too busy serving to receive. If we are too busy to spend time with the Lord, then we are too busy.
We are never far from him. The Second World War extended lines halfway around the world. We have not such a problem in distance for he said, "I am with you alway" (Matthew 28:20). We can pray to him at any time and place. We can receive from him through his Word all the supplies, strength, and wisdom needed for daily combat.
It is not the length of our lines of communication that is importantÑjust the use of them!
Questions:
- Study 1 Timothy 4:11-16.
- Do you have a time set aside daily to spend with God in Bible reading and prayer?
- Do you notice the difference in your life when you do not have this time with God?
- Here are three booklets that might be a help to you in your quiet time: Quiet Time, InterVarsity Press; Manna in the Morning, Stephen Olford, Moody Press; and Seven Minutes with God, NavPress.
Send for a free copy of: How to Read the New Testament in 67 Days
Community Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 9754
Moscow, ID 83843