BIBLICAL STRATEGIC THINKING IN TIME OF GLOBAL CRISIS.

By Isaiah-Phillips Akintola

As we stand at the crossroads of human history, it is clear that the traditional and predictable patterns that have guided us in the past are no longer sufficient to predict the future trajectory of our society. It is without a doubt that Biblical prophecy provides a valuable framework for understanding and interpreting world events.

However, as the speed and complexity of global crises and uncertainties continue to increase, it is imperative that members of the ecclesia possess higher levels of spiritual competence, maturity, and strategic thinking to effectively navigate these challenges.

The convergence of multiple crises layers, including but not limited to economic instability, geopolitical tensions, social upheaval, environmental challenges, religious conflicts, political authoritarianism, and spiritual warfare, creates a perfect storm of challenges and opportunities that can either overwhelm believers or propel them into their highest calling as agents of divine purpose.

Our ultimate goal and pursuit are to see the emergence of a new generation of individuals who possess extraordinary vision and prophetic abilities, empowered by the sevenfold Spirit of God, as they continue to boldly advance the mission of establishing the kingdom of Christ on earth. In the midst of these tumultuous and uncertain times, the last thing our world needs is a Church that seeks to escape or retreat from the harsh realities through prayer and governmental intercession.

The Danger of Spiritual Desensitization

It is possible that the most significant danger that the ecclesia is currently facing is not overt persecution or opposition, but rather a more insidious threat – the slow and steady desensitization of our hearts to the severity of the ongoing crisis in our world. In a society where images of warfare, famine, suffering, and global chaos constantly bombard us through our daily media consumption, we must be wary of becoming desensitized and fulfilling the conditions that Christ warned against in His end-times discourse, where the hearts of men grow lukewarm or even cold.

Today, we see unprecedented desensitization in multiple forms, which should be concerning. When we passively consume news of bombings, wars, and crises as entertainment, rather than responding with intercession and action, we disconnect from the spiritual significance of these events.

One of the potential dangers I have identified is what I have termed Prophetic Normalization, where the fulfillment of biblical prophecies becomes commonplace and loses its impact as a wake-up call, rather than being seen as an urgent call to action, requiring us to pray, fast, and intercede. We see these manifestations as part of the news of the day to be consumed. We hear of wars and rumors of wars without the trembling awareness that these are signs pointing to eternal realities.

What about Emotional Self-Protection: In an attempt to preserve our mental health, we unconsciously create barriers between ourselves and the pain of the world, inadvertently dulling our capacity for both compassion and spiritual discernment.

The process of gradually hardening one’s heart can ultimately lead to the conditions warned about in 2 Thessalonians, creating a vulnerable state of the soul that can be easily deceived by the spirit of lawlessness. When we reach a point where nothing is shocking and our hearts are no longer affected, it is clear that we have already started to adapt to the spiritual climate that allows darkness to thrive unchallenged.

The book of Matthew, chapter 24, offers what many believe to be the most precise and detailed guide for how those who follow the faith should prepare and position themselves during the last days of human history. Christ’s instructions can be distilled into several key principles: Watchful Awareness Without Panic: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). The call to be vigilant and vigilant is part of the demand for the last day’s Christian attitude. Maintaining awareness of both natural and supernatural developments of things while remaining anchored in peace is a kingdom culture and lifestyle required.

We need to step towards the arena of discernment, especially in times of grave deception. “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). In an age of information warfare and competing narratives, the ability to discern truth from deception becomes a survival skill. This requires developing what we might call “prophetic literacy”-the ability to correctly and maturely read events through spiritual eyes.

Endurance Without Compromise: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). The challenges ahead are designed to test our resolve and reveal the authenticity of our faith. Those who overcome will be those who have learned to draw strength from sources deeper than circumstances.

Mission Focus Without Distraction: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Even in the midst of global upheaval, the primary mission remains unchanged: advancing the Kingdom of God through authentic witness and transformational engagement.

Developing the Mind of Christ in Crisis

The mind of Christ, being inherently prophetic, possesses the remarkable ability to perceive beyond mere surface appearances, and instead gain profound insight into divine purposes and eternal realities that may not be apparent to the average human mind. To cultivate a resilient mindset during times of crisis, it is crucial to implement several key disciplines. These include consistently recalibrating our worldview through intensive engagement with Scripture, ensuring that our interpretation of current events aligns with God’s revealed purposes, rather than being influenced by media narratives or popular opinion.

It is important to grasp that prayer is not simply a religious practice, but rather a form of spiritual reconnaissance that allows us to gain valuable insight into the divine strategies and timing that ultimately shape and guide our earthly responses and actions.

Community Discernment: Recognizing that individual perception can be limited or skewed, corporate discernment is essential for accurate understanding of our times. Historical Consciousness: Learning from how previous generations of believers navigated their own crisis seasons, drawing wisdom from their successes and failures.

The peace that Scripture promises is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of divine stability in the midst of chaos. This peace serves as the foundation for all effective Kingdom action, because it: Anxiety clouds judgment and leads to reactive rather than strategic responses. Peace creates the mental space necessary for wisdom to operate. Maintains Spiritual Authority: Those who operate from a place of peace carry a different kind of authority than those driven by fear or urgency alone. This authority is essential for genuine leadership in crisis.

Preserves Long-term Vision: Peace prevents us from being consumed by immediate pressures, maintaining our capacity to think and act with eternal perspectives in view. Attracts Divine Strategy: God reveals His strategies to those who can receive them without panic or premature action. Peace creates the spiritual environment where divine wisdom can be transmitted and received.

The Ecclesia’s Prophetic Responsibility

The church’s role in this season extends far beyond personal salvation and traditional religious activities. We are called to function as Spiritual Intelligence Analysts: Providing accurate assessment of spiritual and natural developments, helping others understand the deeper dynamics at work in world events. Offering hope, direction, and practical wisdom that prevents societal collapse and enables constructive responses to crisis. Speaking truth that cuts through confusion and deception, providing clarity in times when “men’s hearts are failing them for fear.” Continuing to invest in God’s purposes even when earthly systems appear to be failing, demonstrating faith in God’s ultimate victory.

Practical Framework for Crisis Engagement

Information Processing: Develop filters for consuming news and information that maintain spiritual sensitivity while preventing overwhelm. This includes regular fasting from media consumption and intentional focus on sources that provide prophetic context, rather than merely sensational reporting. Establish clear protocols for how to respond to various types of crises, personal, local, national, and global. These protocols should include both practical and spiritual components, ensuring that our responses are both effective and aligned with Kingdom values.

Resource Allocation: Make strategic decisions about how to invest time, energy, and financial resources in ways that build Kingdom infrastructure, rather than merely react to current pressures. Cultivate relationships with others who share this strategic approach to crisis engagement, creating mutual support systems that can function effectively under pressure.

Skill Development: Intentionally develop both spiritual and practical skills that will be necessary for effective service in increasingly challenging circumstances. What this season demands from believers is nothing less than prophetic maturity, the ability to live simultaneously in multiple realities. We must be fully aware of earthly challenges, while remaining anchored in heavenly perspectives. We must feel the weight of human suffering without being crushed by it. We must act with urgency, while maintaining patience for God’s timing.

This maturity cannot be developed through information alone, but requires the integration of knowledge, experience, and divine revelation through sustained relationship with Christ. It demands the courage to face hard truths without losing hope, the wisdom to act strategically rather than reactively, and the faith to invest in God’s purposes even when earthly systems appear to be failing.

Moving Forward: From Reaction to Strategy

The believers who will make the greatest impact in the days ahead will be those who move beyond reactive responses to strategic engagement. This means: Choosing Influence Over Anxiety: Rather than being overwhelmed by the magnitude of global challenges, focus on the specific areas where God has given us influence and authority. Building Rather Than Merely Surviving: Continuing to invest in Kingdom infrastructure relationships, institutions, and resources that will serve God’s purposes regardless of external circumstances.

Teaching Rather Than Just Learning: Taking responsibility to help others develop the same strategic mindset and spiritual competence that enables effective crisis navigation. Stepping into the leadership roles that this season demands, providing direction and stability for those who lack prophetic understanding of current events.

The Hour of the Ecclesia.

We live in the hour when the ecclesia, the called-out ones, must demonstrate why we have been prepared for such a time. The convergence of crises we face is not coincidental, but providential, designed to reveal the glory of God through those who have learned to operate from His perspective, rather than earthly wisdom alone.

The future may be unpredictable from human standpoints, but it remains entirely within God’s sovereign purposes. Our task is not to eliminate uncertainty, but to learn to thrive within it, offering the world a demonstration of what it looks like to live from unshakeable foundations when everything else appears shifting.

This is our calling. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God, who can navigate crisis with wisdom, respond to chaos with peace, and offer hope that is anchored in eternal realities rather than temporary circumstances. The question is not whether we will face increasing challenges. Scripture makes clear that we will. The question is whether we will meet those challenges as mature sons and daughters who have learned to think and act from the mind of Christ, or as those who are “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” and overwhelmed by the pressures of their times.