Pastor Jim Sanderbeck
Antioch International Ministries
July 31, 2025
Examining the Days
Those who are closely aligned with AIM are well aware that for at least 11 years we have recognized that we are locked in spiritual warfare the likes of which are unprecedented. Over the past 2 weeks and at a higher level, evil continues to lurk in our government, streets, schools, marketplaces and homes. In May of 2018, AIM addressed the war and began to regularly pray in our Intercessory prayer meetings for EXPOSURE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE. One of our prayer foundations has been Psalm 89:14. Speaking of God, we declare “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne”…
The burden on my heart is that unfortunately many Christians are not awake or aware that spiritual warfare is real, and they go about their day spiritually insensitive. It’s as if they are blind and deaf. Many Pastors have not prepared their people for spiritual combat—perhaps they aren’t aware, and therefore their people are exposed to the wolves. However, I guarantee you that if you are seeing and experiencing violence, illness/affliction, constant harassment, etc., the battles are already raging in the spiritual realm. In Daniel 10, Daniel was exposed to the warfare to which I refer. In this passage, an “unnamed” angel speaks and says:
10:13“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.” (AMP Bible)
Yes, there definitely is a spirit realm, and yes, great warfare takes place there between the Heavenly Host and satan’s demonic forces.
However, although levels of warfare have increased recently, I believe that In the last few weeks, some answers to our prayers are being realized. Major players of evil are being exposed and seemingly are to be held accountable. But, it has not been without a cost. Battles in the spiritual and natural realms have been seen against Christian leaders, and their ministry events have been challenged—such as Sean Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” tour in Canada of the past week. (Bus wreck, smoke bombs hurled at platforms, paid and scheduled venues forced to cancel, wives and children death threats, and police “protecting” a communion service) Even we AIM leaders have seen our members struggle against illness, affliction, events, and assignments disrupted by enemy forces. All to keep the Ekklesia from fulfilling their calls to ministry. However, unyielding prayer and firm engagement is working. The enemy is in confusion, chaos in his camp is evident, and it appears justice is on the way for exposed evil acts.
“Nothing is new under the sun.” (Ecc 1:9) In our AIM Bible Studies, we have clearly seen that the things we have been witnessing in this season were going on some 600 years before the birth of Jesus. All of these prophets, Micah, Habakkuk, Amos and Isaiah, prophesied against conditions of oppression, control of the poor and oppressed, ungodly and immoral behaviors, theft and lying during their time on earth. Reading these prophets is like observing the news of today. But today, the extent of worldwide blatant demonstration of evil and the extreme depth of evil among leaders and against people is just unprecedented. The antichrist spirit has been trying to dismantle God’s purposes and plans, but, God, the Heavenly Host with the engagement of the Ekklesia, and the power of the Holy Spirit will see “Hamon occupy his own gallows” once again.
Basic Instructions for Spiritual Warfare Engagement
Let me help you and encourage your preparation for war. It is important if you are going to engage in war, to know about your own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to know all you can about the “land” on which you are fighting and the make-up (attitudes, strengths, weaknesses) of your enemy. 2 Cor.: 10:3-6 provides us with the initial information we need:
2Co 10:3 (3-4) For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. :5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. :6 Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience. (TPT Bible)
As I said above, if you see warfare going on in the natural realm, you can be guaranteed that it has already been going on in the heavenly spiritual realm. Ephesians 6:12 tells us clearly with whom and where the true battle lies:
Eph 6:12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. (TPT Bible)
Eph 6:13-18 tells us how to prepare, how to battle against our enemy, and what to do in the battle.
- Put on the full armor of God—(I’ve learned that the armor is the very nature of Jesus)
- Wrap yourselves in truth
- Cover and surround your hearts with righteousness
- Stand alert on your feet so you are prepared to react peacefully with all men
- In every battle, abolish fear and wrap yourself in faith so that you are shielded from everything that attacks you
- Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance and know who you are in Christ, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies.
- Grab and cleave on to the Word of God, as a sword, and swing it in declaration to dismantle every lie
- Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times and pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.
And, when you have done all of those things, then …” and having done everything, to stand firm. (Eph. 6:13 – NASB)
- Worship will turn the tide
Throughout the Bible, we see worship intertwined with warfare. King Jehoshaphat, when faced with overwhelming odds, sent worship leaders out ahead of his army (2 Chronicles 20:21). Worship exalts God and in that exaltation His power is released. Worship confuses the enemy’s forces and brings chaos to their strategies and fear to their hearts.
2Ch 20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. :19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice. :20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” :21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” :22 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. (NASB)
- Pray and Intercede
It bears repeating about prayer as a critical warfare strategy. Eph. 6:18. In the Amplified Bible we read:
Eph_6:18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
The greatest battle that Jesus fought took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed so intently that blood infused his perspiration. He took Peter, James and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration to pray—resulting in His transfiguration along with Moses and Elijah. The Apostles were released from prison by the prayers of the Ekklesia of the 1st generation. Paul followed Jesus’ example by praying, inquiring, strategizing his every move and praying for all the saints. I will say Prayer is the most important weapons of war that we have. Unfortunately, very few use it, except when they are in trouble. In the days in which we live, that must change if we want the complete victory. Prayer should ever be in our mouths.
- Trust and Obey
Not often recognized as a weapon of war is trusting in the Lord (His Word and His Voice) and then obedience to His direction. These weapons come from the actions of Jesus Himself—who only did what he saw His Father do and He only said what He heard His Father say. Trust and obedience keeps the “power channel” open for every circumstance and condition. If I love someone, I am committed to trusting them. When they speak the truth in love to me, I am wise to consider obeying what they tell me. In physical warfare, one must trust the commanding officer and obey what is directed. If not, there is a price to pay. So it is in the Kingdom of God.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. :24 Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. (AMP Bible)
Another look at 2 Cor 10:5 (above) gives strong implication to obedience and spiritual warfare. Look again at what it says:
:5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. (TPT Bible)
Walking in trust and obedience to God releases overcoming power into every situation that our enemy tries to impose upon us. It is a powerfully effective spiritual weapon.
- Engage With Holy Spirit Power
When the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, a new level of power became available to the believer, if they receive Him. Jesus gave this instruction to the Apostles:
Act 1:8 But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!”
What else would this power be for but to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth. The enemy of our souls wants to stifle us because we carry God’s ambassadorship on the earth. This why the battle rages. As long as satan can keep us inside our walled fortresses, there is no threat to his military advancement. If we are in neutral, we go nowhere. As long as our boat is tied to the dock, the river of God just flows by. We must cut the boat loose, catch the current of His river, and let Him take us where He needs us. We have to engage.
Engagement has to be a weapon in the war. Israel was under the oppression of the Midianites and God found Gideon hiding out treading wheat in a wine press. He was afraid so he hid in his fortress. God had to encourage him to overcome his fears of battle.
Jdg 6:12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” :13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” :14 The LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” (NASB)
Until Gideon engaged with God and did what He told him to do, there could be no victory over Midian. The final result:
Jdg 7:22 When they blew 300 trumpets, the LORD set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army; and the [Midianite] army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. (NASB)
When you have inquired of the Lord and from His Word and Voice you hear purpose, assignment, and strategy, you have to engage to complete the victory He wants to provide. His power will not be lacking. The battle will be won.
Conclusion
So, I ask again—ARE YOU READY FOR WAR? If your answer is no, use the things I have provided for you in this blog and sharpen every weapon. Get into agreement with others who have recognized the war as well. One will put a thousand to flight and two will put 10,000. If your answer is yes, come together in agreement and ENGAGE when the trumpet sounds. God will bring victory over evil.
Father, I pray in the name of Jesus, for every believer that has read this blog. That they will be prepared and equipped for battle against our adversary, satan. That wherever they place their foot, You will give victory. I bind fear and lethargy in Jesus’ Name. I loose boldness and strength to stand immovable. Together we decree, let Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN.