“I have talked with countless weary intercessors and other ministers of the gospel. None have clearly understood the nature of the attack…”

By Mark Sandford   

Nowadays, spiritual warfare is heavier than it has ever been. In recent years, a particular principality has been especially on the attack. I have talked with countless weary intercessors and other ministers of the gospel. None have clearly understood the nature of the attack. Confusion besets many. For that reason, I write, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes (2Cor. 2:11). Last February, as my plane climbed into the skies on the way to Germany, I recognized I had been under demonic attack for many weeks. This should have been obvious, but the demon had clouded my thoughts. When I sent it away, I realized I had nearly forgotten what normal felt like.

In Germany, I asked a prominent intercessor what struggles her church was encountering in the spiritual realm. She described my experiences in every detail! Since then, I have heard similar accounts from Finland, Austria, South Africa, the U.S., Canada and Japan. A widespread attack is underway. It is especially concentrated on intercessors, prophetic people, prayer ministers, pastors and other leaders. It is the most vicious, powerful and relentless attack I, and they, have ever encountered. Its tactic is to tempt us to see ourselves as incapable and unqualified, or unworthy to perform our ministries, and to imagine that others agree. This causes distrust and division, for we tend to feel too ashamed to seek help. We feel weak, and assume others will see us as weak if we divulge our struggles.

Normally, at least in our heads, we know these are lies. But this demon tries to wear us down until we fall into delusion, and consciously believe we are unworthy, incompetent and unqualified. Many come to feel, or even believe, there is nothing more that they can accomplish in ministry, or that they cannot grow any farther. Many whose ministries are thriving feel they are accomplishing little. Many feel that their ministry, or even their very life, will end soon. Some even think this is God’s will.

The demon’s ultimate aim is to get us to abandon our posts. It conjures such despair, that some have even wished for death. It wants to take out leaders, prophetic people, intercessors and prayer ministers, because they are the churches first line of defense. If these can be tempted to abandon their posts, the rest might fall.

The demon exploits each person’s vulnerability, such as a tendency toward insecurity, distrust, anger, depression, etc. This does not necessarily mean we have major unhealed issues (although that might be the case). This demon is able to exploit even the tiniest crack in our armor.

In Germany, I was told that a visiting conference speaker had described something similar, which he had encountered in countries all over the world. He dubbed it the vision-aborting spirit, and identified it as the same demon involved in killing the infants at the times that baby Moses and baby Jesus were hidden from Pharaoh and Herod, respectively. A biblical purist might object, saying there is no record of demonic involvement. On the other hand, one can hardly imagine the powers of darkness leaving themselves out of the loop in what, to them, must have been one of the greatest opportunities in history! Whatever the case may be, if this demon is not such a principality, it is something quite similar. I suspect it is the same demon that parades as Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-god whose popularity is rapidly increasing in India. People there call upon it to bless any new ndeavor. Being a demon, its blessings are actually curses.

Major attacks, with the symptoms described above, come once every two or three months. In between, relentless attacks of every imaginable kind come one after another, through lesser principalities and demons. These include: counterfeiting spirits (which cause us to think former problems have returned), Leviathon (which twists communication and causes misunderstanding), Jezebel, slander, depression and many others, great and small. Notably, some persons have reported attacks on their children, in the form of rare illnesses, accidents, or emotional upheaval.

The global scope suggests that Satan is trying to prevent a world-wide move of God. In recent decades, many have prophesied that the largest revival in history will precede the dark times before the coming of Christ. As long ago as the dawn of the twentieth century, Russian Orthodox prophets foretold the same. They predicted that an atheistic form of government would soon take over Russia, closing most churches and martyring millions. This government, they said, would pass away without bloodshed. This has already occurred, in the rise and fall of communism. After that would come a brief period of prosperity for Russia (this has not yet happened). And there would be a world-wide repentance movement. Then there would be a great falling away, followed by the antichrist.

Satan is frantic to abort any vision that promises to strengthen the saints for the dark times ahead. I am not claiming to know that Christ’s return is imminent. For No one knows about that day or hour, not even Jesus (Mt. 24:36a). Communism took seventy years to pass away. It might take as long, or longer, before the rest of these prophecies unfold. Our strengthening might be the vision Satan seeks to abort. Or it might be the strength God plans to impart to our children and grandchildren through us.

Nor would I want you to focus too much on demons. That can distract you from your vision and, ironically, abet its abortion. On the other hand, I would not want you to be caught off guard. I have heard of a few who have already left the ministry, lost their faith, or gotten so low they considered suicide.

This article is a call to be alert, and always keep on praying for the saints (Eph. 6:18b). If you are currently feeling oppressed, ask others to pray for you. Do not minister alone. Gather under your pastor’s umbrella. The vision-aborting spirit picks off stragglers. Men, especially, need to be in close relationship with other men, with whom they can regularly share their struggles. The day of the lone ranger is over. There seems to be no more grace to cover that. Be open to God’s convicting voice, and seek out someone to confess to. Open yourself to God’s healing touch; allow Satan no point of access in your flesh.

Do not pray to bring down this principality. It would be foolhardy for you or your little group to go up against a general with so vast an army at his command. Rather, with the aid of Christian co-laborers, expel it only from the group over which you have authority. (Suggested reading: Needless Casualties of War, by John Paul Jackson) Pray that you be hidden in Christ. Pray that you and fellow Christians be enabled to repent of whatever hidden sins the powers of darkness might want to exploit.

Pray for protection from the vision aborting spirit only as long and as often as your collective discernment mandates, lest you end up practicing the presence of demons. More importantly, spend quiet time with God. Practice His presence, for this attack means to steal away your peace. Do not neglect to spend quality time in worship; take communion often. Know your calling; refuse to give up. Spend time with persons who will remind you of who your are, and of the rightness of your ministry’s vision. Do whatever it takes to keep your eyes straight ahead.

And mind well the words of St. Paul:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrow of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying form all the saints (Eph. 6:10-18).

Paradoxically, this attack should come as an encouragement. For Satan aims his biggest guns at those who threaten him the most. Blessings must be on their way! The darkest hour truly is just before the dawn. Don’t give up. Stay close to God, in prayer. And most importantly, as you pray, stay close to one another.

Mark Sandford, son of John and Paula Sandford, is on staff at Elijah House as a prayer minister, teacher and writer. Their purpose is to share the love of Jesus to restore broken relationships and bring healing to hurt and wounded hearts, lives and relationships; to call God’s people to “restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” and to “restore all things.”

This article was published in the Elijah House Newsletter Fall 2004 (Issue 2.04). Used by Permission of Elijah House www.elijahhouse.org