What does "consider whether he can engage" teach about assessing spiritual readiness? Setting the Scene “Or what king, on his way to war with another king, will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31) Why Jesus Uses a War Analogy • War pictures the gravity of discipleship—real stakes, real loss or victory (Luke 14:33) • A king represents anyone with authority over a life—our own hearts included • The second king’s larger army portrays the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 John 2:16; 1 Peter 5:8) “Consider Whether He Can Engage” — Core Lessons • Deliberate evaluation precedes decisive action • Readiness is not assumed; it is measured • Failure to assess invites defeat (Proverbs 27:12) • True strength is weighed against a very real adversary (Ephesians 6:12) How to Assess Spiritual Readiness 1. Inventory present resources • Word saturation (Psalm 119:11) • Prayer habit (Luke 18:1) • Obedience track record (John 14:21) 2. Calculate the opposing force • Deceptive desires (James 1:14) • Cultural pressures (Romans 12:2) • Demonic schemes (Ephesians 6:11) 3. Recognize limitations • “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) • Our sufficiency is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5) 4. Plan accordingly • Put on “the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13-18) • Seek counsel (Proverbs 15:22) • Establish accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25) Outcomes of Honest Assessment • Humility—acknowledging need drives dependence (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Commitment—discipleship becomes a purposeful covenant, not impulse (Luke 14:27-28) • Endurance—prepared hearts withstand prolonged conflict (Hebrews 12:1-2) • Victory—God supplies triumph to the counted-cost disciple (1 Corinthians 15:57) Practical Takeaways for Today • Before taking on new ministry, “sit down” with Scripture and prayerful self-examination • Match spiritual disciplines to the size of the battle; superficial habits will not meet overwhelming odds • Lean into grace: the assessment is not a search for self-confidence but for God-reliance • Repeat the process; the king doesn’t check resources once but before every campaign (Philippians 3:12-14) |
    |