Harness the Energy

“On the morning of December 7th, 1941, a U.S. radar station in Hawaii picked up something shocking. A massive formation of aircraft was headed straight for Pearl Harbor. The operators reported it. The warning was seen. The danger was real. But the response wasn’t what you’d expect.

It failed because the entire system wasn’t ready.

Radar was new. Procedures weren’t developed. Leadership had assumed Pearl Harbor was safe. And so when the warning came—there was nothing meaningful in place to do about it. Minutes later, the Japanese planes arrived, and history changed forever.

Here’s the lesson: the real failure didn’t happen that morning.

The failure happened over years of underestimating the enemy and living unprepared. By the time the danger showed up, it was already too late to suddenly scramble a defense.

Spiritually, that’s exactly why Paul says in Ephesians 6, ‘Be strong in the Lord… Put on the whole armor of God… Pray at all times… so that when the day of evil comes, you may stand.’ You don’t wait until temptation hits to get serious. You don’t wait until crisis comes to learn to pray. You don’t wait until Satan attacks to decide to prepare.

We don’t lose spiritual battles the day the attack comes.

We lose them months earlier—when we live like there isn’t a battle at all.”

Ike’s Letter

On the eve of D-Day, June 1944, the largest invasion force in history was about to cross the English Channel to attack Nazi-occupied Europe. Everything was at risk. Weather was uncertain. The enemy was fierce. Thousands of lives were in his hands.

And General Dwight D. Eisenhower quietly sat down and wrote a note he hoped would never see the light of day.

It was a ‘failure letter’ — to be released only if the invasion failed.

In it, he didn’t blame the weather.

He didn’t blame intelligence failures.

He didn’t blame the soldiers, pilots, or sailors.

He wrote,

“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops.

My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available.

The troops, the air, and the navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do.

If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

That’s leadership, responsibility, and someone who understands the weight of the battle.

He didn’t wait to see how things turned out before deciding whether to own it.

He accepted responsibility before the outcome was even known.

Looking Back (Eph. 1:15-19)

• Do I have the SPIRIT of:

 Wisdom& Revelation in Knowledge

• Have I been Enlightened:

Whatis hope to which you have been called- 1 Pet. 2:21

Whatare the riches of inheritance in the saints

Whatis the immeasurable greatness of his power

• How did I/can I take advantage of my inheritance NOW?

Matthew 11:20-30

Looking Around (Eph. 3:14-19)

• Am I Stronger so that

1. Christ MAY Dwell

2. YOU MAY HAVE Strength to Comprehend

3. You MAY Be FILLED with God’s Fullness

• How did I/can I build strength to comprehend?

Luke 9:23

Looking Ahead (Eph. 6:13-18)

• Am I ALL IN?

ALLTIMES

ALLKINDS

ALLPerseverance

ALLSaints

• How did I/can I fully commit?

Luke 12:48