Pastor Jim Sanderbeck
October 2, 2025, 2025
Part 1
As we have been relating in our AIM prayer meetings, Bible Study, and other ministry assignments, there is an obvious and unprecedented season of violent spiritual warfare that is going on in this hour. It is manifesting in the natural realm resulting in horrendous and tragic events. On August 27th, two children were sitting in pews at Mass when they were shot (ages 8 &10) and killed. Fourteen other children ages 6-15 were injured in the shooting. Three adults, parishioners in their 80s who were attending Mass, were also shot. On September 10th, on the campus of Utah Valley University, Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA was horrendously martyred in front of thousands. This past weekend at a Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormon faith) in Michigan, 4 people were killed, 8 injured and the church burned to the ground.
Fox News reported that “the Family Research Council, an evangelical nonprofit and activist group, identified that in the United States 1,384 incidents of hostility against U.S. churches between January 2018 and December 2024. The group recorded 50 incidents in 2018, 83 in 2019, 55 in 2020 and 98 in 2021. The report then found a dramatic rise in incidents beginning in 2022 when there were 198 recorded instances, followed by 485 in 2023 and 415 in 2024.” Another separate news report stated that “in 2025 so far there have been 324 mass shootings in 2025 in the US.” (It does not state how many took place against churches or Christians.) This week President Donald Trump said that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. It has been reported that in Nigeria alone, 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, and over 18,000 churches burned.
With all of this going on and if you look carefully from heaven’s perspective, you will see that two positions within Christianity have emerged. This is a sad observation but unfortunately true.
- On the one hand, many bold outspoken Christian leaders are, in fact, raising their voices and teaching or preaching messages on spiritual warfare and boldness accompanied by non-violent resistance, worship, and prayer. These leaders are emphasizing holding the line against sin and evil, and they are in unwavering support of Biblical truth. They are vocally standing up against the face of evil and therefore against those who speak it from the halls of government, media and marketplace. They are boldly representing the Kingdom of God on a public platform. This posture is clearly displayed and supported in the Book of Acts as the Apostles stood boldly against political adversaries, false teachers, and sinful actions (even within the community of believers) that were contrary to the Word of God. (Example: Publicly stood before the Rulers and Elders of the people (Acts 4) and Ananias & Sapphira – Acts 5)
- On the other hand, in the midst of the public chaos, many pastors, marketplace leaders, and other ministry groups have adopted a posture of keeping their followers away from social, cultural and political challenges with the rationale of maintaining a safe and unprovocative atmosphere. Basically saying, “we will watch while God deals with it.” Simply put, they don’t want to make any waves. They say for example: “government is best kept out of the church. It is not for the church to be involved in government.” A close study of Scripture quickly reveals this is not a Biblical truth. Joseph, Daniel, David, Nehemiah, Esther, Jesus, and Paul are a few examples and were all involved in governmental issues that affected the nation of Israel and the Jews. Each and every one of them stood against the hypocrisy of politics—including the politics within Israel and within the church—not just the ruling nation of the day. (I hope you understand that there is a great difference between government and politics. Kingdom alone infers there is a Godly structure and order.)
Some may disagree with me for what I am about to say. However and without equivocation, I take my stand and will lead our ministry (Antioch International Ministries) with those boldly and publicly resisting evil no matter from what mountain of society the evil emerges. Concern over losing people or finances? It is not about the numbers of followers, but by overcoming fear through faith. God can save by many or by few. (1 Sam. 14:6) Fear will not enslave us or keep us bound. We will “overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.” “They loved not their lives unto death.” (Rev 12:11) It is not about finances. God knows every sparrow that falls and that they need fed. Are we not more valuable than these? (Matt 10: 29-31)
I will close Part 1 of this blog by directing you to a very contemporary view of the issue I just outlined. In this matter of spiritual warfare and divided thought, I direct your attention to Monday’s (9/29) Flashpoint broadcast. I will tell you that it is strong in opinion, but it is in line with the posture of bold resistance that is necessary for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, persecution and separation from this world’s way of seeing and doing is a Biblical truth—a Biblical fact. As Christians, it is a given from the lips of Christ Himself. He said:
Joh 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Mat 5:10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Joh 15 :20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.‘ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. :21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. :
I hope you will give yourself 1 hour to hear this through because these are critical days in the earth and for the Kingdom. It is times like these that try men’s souls.
Flashpoint Link: https://rumble.com/v6zn9dq-flashpoint-live-streaming-at-7pm-ct.html?e9s=src_v1_clr%2Csrc_v1_ucp_a