Author: Jim Sanderbeck

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

December 29, 2022

As we head into 2023, if we are going to overcome in this world, we are going to need to adjust our paradigm.  What is Holy Spirit saying to us RIGHT NOW?  For those of us who have endured in faith some of the most upside-down/inside-out experiences over the past four years, I can understand how you might be discouraged and disappointed.  But, if you are of the Ekklesia, you must be willing to dig deeper.

Our nation and our world have been drastically changed by ideologies, lies, pandemics, governmental policies and outcomes that are so opposed to the Word of God and even logical thought that I don’t even recognize our nation any more.  I lay that at the hands of those whose desire it is to change our culture through their perverse and evil motives.  Sad, but I suppose that can be expected because they, in their sinful nature, have no cognizance of the Kingdom of God.  They have no life; they know no better.  They simply have chosen evil over good.

However, within the faith-based communities there has also been voices and behaviors that, I believe, have grieved the Holy Spirit.  These voices are without excuse.  There have been those leaders who have refused to publicly take a Biblical stand by saying religion has no place in the public/political arena.  At the expense of those five-fold leaders who have taken a bold stand, these leaders have decried them publicly and, in one case, demanded the prophets who prophesied some form of God’s intervention be forced to sign an apology to the church with the admission of being false prophets.  It has been such a tragedy that Jesus’ example and teaching and His prayer for unity among believers is trampled underfoot by those professing to be His disciples.  Quotes from Eric Metaxas’ new book, Letter to the American Church, take institutional religion to task with such statements as:

• “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.”
• “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
• “God will not hold us guiltless.”

He says, “The Church is called to speak out and fight not just when the cause is fashionable—as with such causes as human trafficking—but also when it is unfashionable, and perhaps especially when it is unfashionable.  If we do nothing when we see our culture being attacked in ways that will cause innumerable people to suffer, will not God hold us accountable?  We are responsible to those suffering now, and to those in future generations.  How can we let others—rather than our own consciences—dictate what we say and do?”

In summary of these past 4 years, the confusion and chaos has taken its toll on many Christians.  Those who struggle cry out with the question “where is God?”  Believers, with or without shepherds, that have not made a clear distinct sound on their bugle have sheep scattering in fear of the wolves.  I understand why the fatigue, confusion, and the statement ‘just hang on ‘til Jesus comes.’  Even Elijah found himself hiding with the feeling of being all alone.  —BUT STAYING THERE—THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL!  I refuse to accept that statement to just hang on.  Elijah rose up from the doldrums and called down the fire of God and overcame his adversaries.  As believers we are to “ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking.”  In Ephesians 6:13 we are told that in the evil day, having done everything we know to do, we are to put on the armor of God and “stand”.  It does not say run, hide, give up, or hang on.

We need a paradigm SHIFT.  Obviously, the old wineskin of going to the familiar place where we have found God in the past is not working—at least not to the degree that is required for victory in this day.  The battle rages; we go on.  As a distance runner at the most demanding part of the race with the pain tearing at lungs and legs, I couldn’t quit the battle and just say ‘this hurts too much.  I’m going to quit and give the victory to the other guy.’  If I wanted to win, I had to endure to the end—and so do we now going into 2023.

In 3:16 of the Song of Solomon, we read:

Son 3:1  “On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. 2  ‘I must arise now and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but did not find him. 3  “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ 4  “Scarcely had I left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the room of her who conceived me.”

When the familiar places where we have in the past found Him do not reveal His presence, we must  go out and search for Him.  When He is not found in the Sunday morning worship service or the Wednesday night prayer meeting or the Friday night healing service, we have to search further.  When we don’t find Him in our dreams or in a familiar Bible verse, we have to search further.  He is our lover—the most important person in our lives.  We can’t ever give up.  Then we encounter the ‘watchman.’  The Holy Spirit will direct us to here He is.  When we encounter the watchman that’s where we will find Him—never to let Him go.

My Brothers and Sisters, now as we enter into 2023, we have to dig deeper into the Holy Ghost and prayer.  We have to be willing to go out from those comfortable places and search for Him in new areas.  There are no services or events that satisfy.  I’m not saying that old wine is not good wine.  I’m saying God is always moving forward.  We have to be willing to find new wine and put it into new wineskins.  Holy Spirit is our watchman now.  Not a book or even a trusted man/woman.  Pray and find Holy Spirit and you will find HIM.  He will direct you.  In this Kingdom season, ruling and reigning is where He is.  You must choose to go out into unexplored regions of the city and find Him and your assignment.

In Luke 24 and in Mark 16:12. Jesus met 2 men, His followers, who didn’t recognize Him.  We read in Mark 16:12: “After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.  There is much to be drawn from this verse, but for us right now in our current circumstance, these men were disappointed because of what they thought was a disastrous outcome to what they had believed about Jesus.  But, He appeared to them in a different form.  Don’t look for Him in the old wineskin alone.  This is a different season.  A new wineskin is now with us.  He will be found in a different form.  You must go out; you can not turn in.  He isn’t in a dead sanctuary or a repetitive classroom.  Now He is out in the world around you.  Find Him.  It is in this world that you will find your foundation and your assignment.  It is where you will find your Lover.  WE WIN, or, WE WIN!  TOGETHER, WE CAN!

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

October 28, 2022

Right now, primarily in the USA but literally around the globe, the evil heart of mankind is blatantly displayed on every mountain of society.  Many Christians and moral unbelievers, who have stood for good against this evil, have become weary in the battle.  Understandably, they have toiled and battled with what is right in front of them, and without seeing the big picture, have become tired and discouraged.

Let it be known that there is a remnant alive.  A body positioned to take on and act in governmental authority under the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Ghost.  I, and many, call that remnant the Ekklesia.  Biblically, it is a word used by Jesus, and translated as “church.”  The “church” is not a building; it is a people. This church has been given the Word of God and the office of the prophets to provide available “intelligence” and strategies that encourage and vitalize.

Holy Spirit says this day, “your enemy has felt the pressure of the battle waged.  He is filled with fear and he is confused because he has not experienced the ferocity of prayer and declarations that have been released from your mouth.  He has not seen the sword swung in this manner for many centuries.  The Host of Heaven has joined with you and together you are winning this fight.  Your enemies’ entanglements in the flesh have been uprooted and his grasp in the land is now weakened.  The avalanche of righteousness is overwhelming him and his dominoes have begun to fall.  Do not stop; victory is at hand.”

I draw your attention to a passage of Scripture that speaks both encouragement to the Ekklesia and warning to all who deny God and trust in the natural and carnal ways of men.  This is from Jeremiah 17: 5-13 (highlights mine).

Jer 17:5-13  Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6  “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. 7  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. 8  “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. 9  “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10  “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. 11  “As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; In the midst of his days it will forsake him, And in the end he will be a fool.” 12  A glorious throne on high from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary. 13  O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD.  (NASB)

This translation is also very interesting.  It says:

Jer 17:5-13  GOD’s Message: “Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets GOD aside as dead weight. 6  He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows. 7  “But blessed is the man who trusts me, GOD, the woman who sticks with GOD. 8  They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers— Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. 9  “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. 10  But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” 11  Like a cowbird that cheats by laying its eggs in another bird’s nest Is the person who gets rich by cheating. When the eggs hatch, the deceit is exposed. What a fool he’ll look like then! 12  From early on your Sanctuary was set high, a throne of glory, exalted! 13  O GOD, you’re the hope of Israel. All who leave you end up as fools, Deserters with nothing to show for their lives, who walk off from GOD, fountain of living waters— and wind up dead!  (Msg. Bible)

This passage of Scripture from the lips of Jeremiah the prophet is being experienced in this Chronos of time.  The evildoer is being dethroned.  The righteous in Him (the “church”; the Ekklesia) are exalted.  This is the time for the bugler to blow “CHARGE!”  When a runner comes into the final drive to the finish line his mind and his body must respond to the moment.  He must breakthrough the fatigue and declare what will be.  His declaration must be “I WILL NOT BE DENIED!

We, especially leaders to whom God has entrusted the souls and lives of their followers, must deploy the weapons of warfare like never before.  Like Eleazar, (2 Sam. 23:10) our hands must cleave to the sword.  This is not a time to be weary in well-doing. (Galatians 6:7-10)  This is the moment when we overrun the wall.  (Joel 2:9)  Open your mouth to pray and declare.  Joel Chapter 2, Nehemiah 4:15-23, and Isaiah 60 tell us of the day and plans God has for us in this season and what we must do about it.  Arise and shine in the vitality and the power of our God so that we can stand—unwavering.

So, those who are tired, draw from Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  Put off your fatigue and weariness and put on the full armor of God.  I smell victory in the camp.  As some famous guy from somewhere said, “WE WIN or WE WIN!”  There is no Plan B.

Elaine Mattocks, Sept. 16, 2022

Last night I had the strangest dream that I knew was from the Lord…I saw a banner with the words “Church burning in Antwerp” followed by what I perceived as a possible date, either 1605 or 1609.  I can’t remember exactly.

I asked the Lord what He meant, and, while I prayed and meditated upon this, I also did some research.  I discovered that indeed there had been a church burning of a large catholic cathedral in the late 1500s. This arson was done by protestant reformers who destroyed and torched idols and altars. The cathedral was rebuilt.  Today it contains many priceless pieces of art. There is one painting by Reubens, entitled “The Elevation of Christ”, which depicts Christ being crucified for our sins.

As I continued my sorting out of this dream with the Holy Spirit, I began to sense that this dream has absolutely nothing to do with Catholics or Protestants.  However, it has much to do with God’s people today.  There are Christians who are passionate obedient disciples of Jesus and there are those who are either apathetic self-satisfied pew-sitters or those who are merely following religious culture and think it is the correct way.  They know there must be more, but they have not been taught true Biblical discipleship.

The dream has to do with a call to holiness and purity of heart (which is in fact a joy-filled adventurous life).  It is a call to a burning of personal idols (both material and spiritual). I sense that God is about to WRECK the western church as we know it—in ways we can’t even imagine. He will rebuild, with the remnant remaining, a unified supernatural Ekklesia whose cry will be Zechariah 4:6…”NOT BY MIGHT (man’s), NOT BY POWER( again, man’s power), BUT BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS”.

Today, Sept 16^th, marks the date when the Mayflower sailed from England with people on board desiring to live their lives in religious freedom. I did not know this information until I woke up.  Some of those Pilgrims were from the Netherlands (Antwerp is in Belgium).  Although they did find freedom of religion in America, they, without realizing it, eventually found that religion was enslaving them once more because of man-made traditions (just like how the Pharisees religiously enslaved the Jewish people).

This is the state of western Christianity today.  We have freedom to worship God as we desire.  However, even these freedoms are being eroded by wicked laws and many wicked government leaders who enact them.  But, pause to give this a thought or two.  Could this erosion actually be a good thing in disguise, because, as it increases, it causes us to pause and to take stock of what we are REALLY doing and calling “church”.  Perhaps it’s time for us, as individuals and collectively, to ask God to “burn the bridges” with the past way the church has done things, and be open to His cleansing fire of all our idols (individually as well as collectively).  He wants those that follow Him to give the Holy Spirit the freedom to REIGN and to build what He has always wanted and desired—an intimate relationship with His people that will be fueled by the Spirit in everything they do.  That His Light will dispel any darkness around them.  The Name of JESUS will truly be lifted up and ELEVATED (as opposed to using His precious name to elevate ourselves and our ministries)

It’s TIME for a modern day church burning of a different sort…a fire that starts to burn within our hearts as we ask Father to help us become true disciples of Jesus in all our ways 24/7—signs, wonders, and miracles will be a daily reality and not something that occurs once in a while in our lives, or something that we just talk about and wish for and pray for

We must ask ourselves “are we true disciples of Christ?” And, if we answer yes, can we name those we are currently discipling?  Jesus told us to Go and MAKE DISCIPLES.  This was a commandment for everyone, not just church leaders or those trained in some way to do it. Every disciple of Jesus must do this. Did you just say “owww” like I did?. It’s not too late for me and it’s not too late for you.

Father, may You fan the flames in our hearts (or start a fire in those who don’t know You but want to) that will ignite a deep passion and adoration for You so that absolutely nothing will prevent us from being just like those radical disciples that followed You (in the book of Acts).  May the western church burn the ideas, idols, and practices that are man-made and have no lasting results, and may Your beloved Bride be disciples who multiply disciples who also multiply disciples in Your Kingdom.  May You be glorified in all the earth, every nation, every tribe for Your fame Jesus and for Your honor!! May we become a true BURNING CHURCH and may the fire on the altars of our hearts NEVER go out!! (Leviticus 6:13) Yeehaw!!

I had a dream early this morning of ticks biting into my limbs. I suddenly saw ticks over a friend in Europe and then heard of ticks on friends in the USA. They were everywhere.

When I woke from this dream, I was quick to check my arms! Hah Hah some dreams really suck you in don’t they?!

Relieved the ticks were just in the dream, I asked the Lord about it. He said, “The ticks are all over the globe and they are sucking life from people.” 

I saw Him lift up His hand and in it He held a soft white cloth which had white vinegar poured over it. In one move, he wiped the ticks off every body that had them.  

As His hand wiped the white vinegar, the ticks were removed, no part of the tick was left on or in the skin of people. They were completely clean of all ticks. Completely clean.

As I computed what I had just seen, I heard the words, “The white vinegar is coming.”

 WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS ALL ABOUT??

Not living in an environment that has ticks (thank you Jesus!!), I went to google and typed in white vinegar and ticks. It’s a thing! 

White Vinegar when wiped especially on the butt of a tick makes it back out of the skin. From there it is easier to remove it.

We are at the back end of what has ticked a lot of us off, the pandemic being just one obvious thing. But there are other things that have borrowed their way in sucking life out of us. 

Interestingly there was a moment when life was sucked out of Jesus body. On the cross, the sins of the world he bore and it sucked all life from Him. The wages of sin is always death. (Romans 6:23) 

In those moments of life being drained from Him, He was offered vinegar.

John recorded, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.” 

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished!”: and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-29)

The vinegar preceded the greatest moment of human history. 

After the vinegar Jesus gave the greatest announcement of history, “It is finished.” Nothing goes on forever. There is always a finish.

The world saw the power of God. As God wiped out the suck of death, resurrection power was released.

The white vinegar is coming down.

And when it does, we will see things reversed and removed, because nothing is impossible with God. There always comes a moment when God says enough, it finishes, mercy triumphs over judgment.

We have begun to see the first signs of this.

Just a few months ago, Lou Engle, Christian Leader of the Call, had a vision. In this vision he saw mass revival breaking out as people took communion.

Jesus said remember me as we take communion. Communion is a war move, a declaration. Communion is a daily joy and deep moment of honor for us. For a few years now, it has been the thing the Lord has invited us to do. It has been life changing as we have stopped and remembered Jesus, the pure genius of God.

The white vinegar is coming down.

There comes a moment in every generation, when that generation sees the power of the hand of God for itself. We are living in that moment.

The white vinegar is coming.

COURAGE & ENCOURAGEMENT

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

July 5, 2022

Recently, I’ve been considering what I see naturally and what I prophetically sense in the Spirit for my personal study and sharing.  I’ve thought of several of the prophetic words I’ve been hearing and their impact on me and this season.  Words of endurance and direction to Believers in Christ who have remained strong and faithful in the midst of calamity.  Words of pending exposure, accountability and judgement to those who have instigated and conducted evil in the sight of our God or have complacently ignored Biblical truths and publicly criticized true Christian leaders.  Obviously, this is a season of turbulence, violence and lawlessness.  It is a season of mistrust and absurd political governance that has led to cultural decline, shortages, inflation, and social disunity.  No time in my lifetime has equaled what I have experienced and, in my opinion, these conditions have not been equaled since 1861 when such strongly held positions pitted “brother against brother” in a violent four-year civil struggle.

This consideration has released in me an astounding assurance and rejuvenation to carry the baton, wear the mantle, blow the trumpet.  Therefore, I decree in Jesus name that today we will be of good courage, and that we will encourage ourselves and ALL around us that our covenant with God will not be broken, that by His grace we will endure to the end, and that we and our seed will see the salvation of God.

Courage does not mean that there is a total absence of fear.  However, courage does mean that in spite of being fearful one moves forward or stands his ground anyhow.  It implies faithfulness.  It implies obedience over sacrifice.  It implies getting up one more time than the times knocked down.   Encourage means imparting to self and others the inspiration to endure and overcome in the midst of adversity.  It means looking beyond what appears naturally to what one knows to be true spiritually.  It implies that faithfulness secures a reward that is honored by God.  (Matt. 25:14-30)

Some of my greatest Biblical heroes are David and his Mighty Men.  (2 Samuel 23:8-39)  I like to think of those 37 faithful followers of the King as David’s SEALS.  And the Bible goes on to say that none of those 37 could rival the courage and faithfulness of the top three—Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah.  With their great battlefield exploits, these 37 brought encouragement to all of Israel, but out of their love for David, the 3 were willing to risk their lives for the King—to bring him a drink of water.  I say we can and should be willing to do the same for our King—Jesus.  On the way to Calvary, would you have been the one who had the courage to carry the cross or bring Him a drink of water?

Ronald Reagan speaking encouragement to an America in crisis said: “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”  John F. Kennedy brought encouragement to all of America when in his inauguration speech and addressing a new generation of Americans facing trying times ahead said “And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”  He had just declared that the torch had been passed to a new generation of Americans – “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage” – and they are pledged to “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”  This is the difference between Presidents who encourage a nation and Presidents who blame others for their own failures.

Friends, this is a season to “faint not.”  At no time are your prayers, your visibility, your faithfulness and your courage more encouraging to a nation and a world that has lost its way.  We must endure.  Like Eleazar, our hands must swing until they cleave to our swords.  We must be encouraged by the truth we know and not what we see.  Jesus spoke these words in John 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.”   The Apostle John wrote from Patmos:  Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. :12  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. :13  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. :14  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. :15  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. :16  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”   This is the destiny for those who follow Christ and give their all.  More importantly this is our covenant promise, formed in the belly of the Mayflower that God saw and accepted—and He never breaks covenant.  Be a person of courage.  Be encouraged.  Be an encourager.

In HIM, WE WIN (or) WE WIN!

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER – May 5, 2022

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

The National Day of Prayer was signed into law in 1952 by President Harry Truman and it was amended to establish it as occurring on the 1^st Thursday of May under the signature of Ronald Reagan in 1988.  This day is recognized as a day in which all Christian Americans are called upon to pray for our nation by lifting up our belief and trust in our God, through Jesus Christ, our agreement with the foundational principles on which this great nation was designed, and our petitions for God’s assistance with those critical issues the United States of America faces domestically and internationally.

This National Day of Prayer, May 5^th 2022, is occurring when the nation faces situations that are unprecedented in modern history.  Certainly, as a nation, we have had perilous times before, but this time America faces evil on a scale that touches every sphere of society with an agenda focused on literally changing America’s culture and the way the international community functions and interacts.  It is a battle between good and evil.  It is a cultural collision.  For Christians, it is a day in which God and all of His purposes and plans for creation is on display.  It is a Red Sea and Mount Carmel moment. (Ex. 14:13 & 1 Kings 18:24) Because of the size of the giants and the evil reports that have come in, we must have a Caleb spirit.  (Num.14:24 & Jos. 14:12) I.e. “Give me my mountain—the one that has the giants in it.”

Here should be the posture of our prayer focus as sons and Ekklesia for this National Day of Prayer and this season:

• Put on the full armor of God and STAND in the evil day (Eph. 6:11)
• Bind the strong man so that you can plunder his house (Matt. 12:29)
• Pray FROM the victory not just FOR the victory (Jn. 19:30)
• Stir up your faith and believe that you WILL receive (1 Jn. 5:14-15)
• Decree what God says will take place in the land of the living (Ps. 27:13)
• Agree with the everlasting covenants made with God from the very foundation of this nation will prevail (Jer. 32:37-41)
• Save the children all the way through to the 4^th generation (2 Kings 10:30, 15:12)

Here are is the AIM National Day of Prayer focus points of prayer.  Pray that:

• An awakening, revival, and reformation through Jesus Christ will come to America and America shall be saved
• The right of the free exercise of religion will not be infringed upon by the government.
• All illicit governmental, political and social ideologies contrary to that which is righteous in God’s sight will be exposed, held accountable and experience justice
• The rules of law will be firmly established without prejudice and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will be honored.
  • True representative government will be honored.
  • The balance of power will be honored.
  • The election process will be reformed, held accountable and justly governed.
  • Authority will be given back to the people and stripped from the few.
  • Financial stewardship within the boundaries of balanced budgets and real assets will be re-established and practiced by governmental and financial institutions
• The Constitution and the Bill of Rights will be honored and the rule of law will be re-established. True representative government will be honored.  The balance of power will be honored.  The election process will be reformed, held accountable and justly governed.  Authority will be given back to the people and stripped from the few and unrighteous.
• Abortion, all forms of sexual perversion, abuse, trafficking and pornography shall end, and its victims shall be redeemed and restored spiritually, emotionally and physically.
• The borders of this nation will be made legally secure
• Public education will proceed with true cooperation between parents and the schools and all attempts by any entity to usurp that cooperation will be removed.
• Media and technology will be held accountable for their part in all things social

I am asking all of Antioch International Ministries set aside 1 hour of time to come into agreement together on May 5^th 2022 as we support the National Day of Prayer for the United States of America.

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

March 29, 2022

Greek Word = Egiro  (Eg – i´ – ro)

Definition: to waken, arouse, lift up, rise, take up

Over the past 3 months particularly, Holy Spirit has released upon me a burden for those church communities who are without a pastor, for Christians who have not stepped under the government of God and are without spiritual covering, and for those individual Christians lacking in the zeal necessary for them to rise above the great concerns we face in the spiritual realm and natural world today.  I feel like Nehemiah and I come into agreement with his prayer for this critical season.

Neh 1:3  They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” 4)  When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  (NASB)

Churches in the US are closing at alarming rates and attendance is diminishing to the degree that sustaining properties is not feasible.  Only 47% of professing Christians regularly attend church.  [Gallup – March 2021] I have seen those who profess Christ as the savior of their souls but have lifeless eyes and countenances of fear and despair.  There is a tremendous lack of Biblical foundation in the lives of many Christians and the understanding and operational power of the Holy Spirit is not at all observable in most.  I have seen the lack of worship, prayer, discipline and study that should make up the daily life of every believer.  The Body of Christ is much like those crumbled walls and burned gates.  About this, I ask myself and I ask God “why is that?  How can it be?”  It seems to me that the church needs awakened, and in the awakening, transformed into the church that Jesus promised to build.

Matt. 18….. And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church—my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!  (TPT Bible)

I believe there are many reasons for this dilapidated condition—none of which is acceptable to God.  For the most part, it reduces down to 2 glaring concerns and I am going to choose my vocabulary very carefully.  1.) The individual believer has not taken personal responsibility for pursuing those things that bring them past the salvation experience of eternal life through Jesus Christ to pursue the experience of the fulness of life in Christ.  To put it simply: Jesus may be Savior, but He is not Lord.  2.) The institutional church has not done an adequate job to disciple the believers who have been entrusted to them by God for the nurturing of their spiritual development.  Again, simply put: The institutional church has built on its buildings, programs and traditions (I.e. religion) and missed the foundational truth of bringing life to people through Jesus (I.e. relationship).

Having said that, there is no productive reason, at this point in the timeline of world current events, to “cry over spilled milk.”  We are directed in Romans 13:11,14 & 14:1 to let past practices go and live loving others.

Rom 13:11  To live like this [loving others as yourself] is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

Rom 13:14  Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.

Rom 14:1  Offer an open hand of fellowship to welcome every true believer, even though their faith may be weak and immature. And refuse to engage in debates with them concerning nothing more than opinions.  (TPT)

The Scriptures are very clear about God’s discipline for failed leadership responsibilities.  The Scriptures are very clear that it is our responsibility to grow in spiritual matters so that we are able to disciple ourselves and others to maturity in Christ.  Therefore, the greater concern currently is for us to discern where we are on God’s timeline, and inquire of God how we are to adjust and advance.

STEP 1: The core of what I believe is at least one current directive from heaven—IT IS TIME TO AWAKEN.  Jesus, speaking about the time between His absence and His return, taught this parable:

Mar 13:34  “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.

Mar 13:35  “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—

Mar 13:36  in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.

Mar 13:37  “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!'” (NASB)

Without an awakening, the promises that can assist both the believer and the non-believer in dealing with the fears, temptations and intimidations of the hour will elude you altogether.  Personally, I believe the Great Awakening (as some call it) has already begun.  Oh, you don’t read or hear about it from the deceptive media of today.  But, if you look deeper and beyond the news outlets, you will learn about the tens of thousands internationally who are running to the altars of salvation accompanied by water and Spirit baptisms.  Without looking deeper, you will miss the incredible displays of the healing and delivering power of God that is changing the conditions of many who are crying out in need—yes, here, now, in the USA.  Surprised?

My passion and compassion for those who are slumbering in this hour is similar to the compassion that Jesus demonstrated as He lamented over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34-35 & 19:43-44).  My passion for those who are spiritually ill-equipped for life today is like that of Nehemiah who passionately lamented over Jerusalem and, in spite of evil opposition, acted to rebuild the broken-down walls and gates of the city.

Neh 2:13  So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.

Neh 2:17  Then I said to them,[the Jewish officials] “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” 18  I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.

Neh 2:20  So I answered them and said to them, [those enemies who didn’t want the walls rebuilt] “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.” (NASB)

If you are in a place where there is no spiritual life and that is something you are craving, you have 2 choices: WAKE UP & 1.) change the environment or 2.) leave that dessert and find an oasis.  If you are in a position to bring about change that will provide life and vitality to the spiritual community you attend in this hour of unrighteous social and political conduct, please do so quickly.  Draw upon every resource you have.  If you are not able to bring the change or if you are feeling oppressed, confused and empty, fearful or lost, then quickly find an oasis where, like the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4: 1-45), you can get water that springs up to give eternal life.  This is not a season to waste time where traditions nullify God’s power and presence.  I encourage everyone to give up the lethargy of spiritual stagnation and get to a place of freshness and vitality that can provide you with the release you need.  It is time to AWAKEN!!

January 20, 2022

My blog today is designed to be a teaching that I feel Holy Spirit wants me to pass along.  I’m usually pastoral in my assignment at Antioch International Ministries but teaching is my main office gift and it is from that posture that I feel most motivated in this post.  In my time with the Lord today, I felt His nudge to be an exhorter/encourager and present a truth designed to keep us sharp and focused for the hour in which we live

At our Antioch International Ministries prayer meeting this past Monday evening (1/17/22), one of my focus Scriptures was Matthew 25 1-13 which is the reference to the Parable of the 10 Virgins as taught by Jesus.  I used this focus Scripture to build a foundation to point out our need to prepare and be alert to the things going on around us so that our God-ordained assignments and those of the ministries we represent will be right on target over the next year and especially the next three months.  Then, the Holy Spirit took me on a different twist and I felt the warrior spirit hit me.

Mat 25:1-13  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2  “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3  “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4  but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5  “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6  “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.‘ 7  “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8  “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9  “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10  “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11  “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12  “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13  “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.  (NASB)

I was particularly impressed to pray out of verse 5 with a focus on the word “delaying.”

In Matt. 25:5, the word delaying in the NASB above comes from the Greek word Chronizō̄  [Khron-id´-zo].  It is an action verb that means to Delay, Linger, or Tarry.  Here are 4 translations of this 5^th verse.

• 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. (NASB)
• 5 When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. (TPT)
• 5 While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. (AMPB)
• 5 The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.(MSG)

Note: This Greek word is an active verb which means it is something that is done or performed; an act; a deed. an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity.  This is in comparison to a passive verb which means that it is accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.  In other words, and in this case, because the guest’s expectancy was not met, they acted by nodding their heads and falling asleep. So, by their own actions they brought about their disqualification.

In all of these translations of Scripture, it is clear that in verse 5 Jesus was teaching that the time the bridegroom was taking to get to the wedding and feast was longer than was expected.  Further, He was teaching that the guests not having their anticipated satisfactions fulfilled in the time they wanted them fulfilled, they actively and by their own will got lethargic, complacent, and fell asleep.  They were not sensitive to the coming of the central character of why the event was even taking place.  They weren’t thinking about his possible reasons for the delay or what he was experiencing that may be causing the delay.  They wanted their needs and self-centered desires satisfied.  “Let’s get this party going!” was perhaps their attitude.  When that didn’t happen, they of their own volition fell asleep.  They took their eyes off the prize and when the bridegroom did come, they were neither prepared nor alert and were left totally out of the celebration.

Now, relative to the current season of events happening around us, the prophetic impression I had at the prayer meeting was that there are many Christians who were at first on fire to believe that God was going to intervene in the earth (and especially the USA).  Since then, they have waned significantly in that posture.  The seeming delay in intervention has caused the same lethargy and dissatisfaction among the “guests” as it did in the parable and they are falling asleep.  (By the way, I’m personally not sure that He hasn’t begun to intervene.  I’ve seen many signs of intervention—maybe just not the way or in the time it was expected.)  Many Believers have totally forsaken the prophetic words of credible prophets and have called them false prophets and taken them to task by saying, “you should repent for being in such gross error.”  Some have quit praying and releasing their faith for righteousness to manifest.  Be careful; 1Ch 16:22  “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”   You don’t want the backhand of the anointing to hit you.

Let me ask the guests to today’s feast, “has God changed His mind?”  Is He just going to allow the gross sin and lawlessness in this covenant nation and in His creation to continue?  Of course not.  He is not a man that He should be found a liar.  So let me caution the “guests” to this season that you don’t become lethargic and complacent.  Be careful that you don’t willfully just fall asleep on this most important watch.  Revival and awakening is occurring in this nation and around the world.  We are on the brink of things never before experienced by mankind.  Justice will be prepared on the table before us in the presence of our enemies.  Let us war against the spirits of complacency and lethargy—especially if they are affecting our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  WAKE UP SLUMBERING SPIRITS!  HARKEN TO THE VOICE OF HOLY SPIRIT!  Never quit!  Never yield!  Never move back one inch from the posture that our God will redeem—completely!  If you’re breathing, STAND!

Isa 60:1-3  “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2  “For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3  “Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 4  “Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms. (NASB)