On Sunday, May 26, 1940, after careful consideration the Commander in Chief of the British Army, General Gort, knew his men and equipment were no match for the fierce, modern German Army. Secretary of State of War, Anthony Eden, had authorized this day that 3500 men must hold an eight mile line while the bulk of the British Army withdrew to the coast.

First of all the devastating loss of men and equipment should have never occurred at Dunkirk. The Bible tells us before a man goes to war, he counts the cost and considers whether he can win with 10 thousand men against 20 thousand. (Luke 14:28) Great Britain had won during World War I; she had the greatest fleet of ships on the high seas; and so she went into this battle too sure of herself..

The aerial and ground equipment were outdated. The men untrained: some had never fired a rifle. The men at the planning board, the hierarchy, actually called this a phony war and expected victory in short order. It was not long before they learned the naked truth.

Major-General Montgomery, a realist, had foreseen disaster from the moment the poorly equipped army moved into France. Montgomery reasoned the war was lost in Whitehall years before it began.

The German army with its up to date Panzer tanks, modern artillery and rifles, and an air force of flying Messerschmitt and Stuke Aces were more than the 300,000 plus British and French soldiers could suppress. The German planes were so much farther advance in maneuverability and ultra modern equipment. The British pilots in their Spitfires exhibited rawboned courage and astonished their German counterparts with their aerobatics.

Because of the lack of enough modern planes and pilots, 177 planes were lost in 9 days out of 283 aircraft in service for this particular front of the war. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of other equipment and supplies were lost. The figures in cash value were not available, but think about the lost of 63,879 vehicles, 20,548 motor cycles, 76,097 tons of ammo, 416,940 of stores and 68,111 men-killed, wounded or taken as prisoners of war.

How does a war, untrained men, and lack of equipment teach us about spiritual battles??? Constantly in both the Old and New Testaments we are taught about being prepared for our warfare. We are taught to hide the word in our heart for "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." We are not to use the word as a twoedged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) Read II Corinthians 3:2-6 "---for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

"For our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." (II Corinthians 10:4) The knowledge of the word and the power of the Holy Ghost working in us are our greatest defense.

We have been given power over ALL spirits. Faith in our spiritual ability to use this power and paying the price by fasting and prayer will prepare us for spiritual battles. Timothy was told: II Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, - - " II Timothy 4:7 And yet, neither used swords or their fists.

No young minister is sent away from our church family to preach, teach, and exhort without being rigidly trained and prepared for front line duty. They are taught to be under subjection to pastoral jurisdiction or ministerial authority. No man, no soldier can master a situation until he learns to obey orders, keep his place, and follow the Commander in Chief. In Galatians 4:1-2 " - - That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father."

And in I Corinthians 4:5 "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."

In John, Chapters 14, 15, 16, we find the Holy Ghost is our guide, our comforter, and our teacher. God talks to His people through the five-fold ministry, the Bible, dreams, and even every day life, and so we prepare ourselves for the battle to be ready soldiers by: Prayer and fasting, knowledge of the Bible, regular attendance to services where we are taught from the pulpit, submitting to ministerial authority, and allowing the Holy Ghost to lead and guide.

This is Counting the Cost before battle.