Nathan Shaw: Next-Level Spiritual Warfare - Lessons from Operation Absolute Resolve
Feb 27, 2026
Operation Absolute Resolve On the 3rd of January 2026, the U.S. joint forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The operation—named "Operation Absolute Resolve"—was next-level warfare. It required fastidious planning, high-level intelligence, and precise timing. I believe God is calling the Body of Christ into next-level spiritual warfare. There is much we can learn from this operation. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the following in his briefing: "Our interagency work began months ago and built on decades of experience of integrating complex air, ground, space, and maritime operations. While the past two decades have honed the skills of our special operations forces, this particular mission required every component of our joint force, with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians [Space Force] working in unison with our intelligence agency partners and law enforcement teammates in an unprecedented operation... "It required the utmost of precision and integration within our joint force. And the word 'integration' does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission, an extraction so precise, it involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination, all coming together in time and place to layer effects for a single purpose—to get an interdiction force into downtown Caracas, while maintaining the element of tactical surprise. Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission... "After months of work by our intelligence teammates to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets, in early December our force was set, pending a series of aligned events. Key was choosing the right day to minimize the potential for civilian harm and maximize the element of surprise and minimize the harm to the indicted personnel so... they could be brought to justice... "Weather in Venezuela is always a factor this time of the year. And over the weeks, through Christmas and New Year's, the men and women of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met and the president to order us into action. Last night, the weather broke just enough, clearing a path that only the most skilled aviators in the world could maneuver through—ocean, mountain, and low-cloud ceilings...
"As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water. As they approached Venezuelan shores, the United States began layering different effects provided by Space Com, Cyber Com, and other members of the interagency to create a pathway... "We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse again and again, not to get it right but to ensure that we cannot get it wrong. Our jobs are to integrate combat power, so when the order comes, we can deliver overwhelming force at the time and the place of our choosing, against any foe, anywhere in the world."[1] Planning and Restraint Although Operation Absolute Resolve only took a few hours, it was the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal, and the integration of every component of the U.S. Joint Force. The logistics were astonishing: 150 aircraft launched from twenty different land and sea bases. The operation was carried out at night to maximize surprise and minimize civilian harm. Analysts utilized a human source close to Maduro to provide details of his day-to-day life. This intelligence allowed planners to know exactly where Maduro would be and the situation surrounding him at the time of the strike. An identical full-scale replica of Maduro's compound was built in Kentucky. This allowed the apprehension force to practice the raid repeatedly so that the team could navigate the complex environment with speed and precision. The success of the mission was dependent not only on planning and intelligence, but also on timing. The military sat ready for weeks through the holidays, waiting for a break in the weather that would allow aviators to navigate treacherous low-level mountain routes and low-cloud ceilings. The operation was a huge success. Maduro was captured alive and without the loss of a single American life! Further to this, Venezuela was prevented from descending into chaos by keeping strategic government systems in place. The Geopolitical Impact The United States faces many high-level geopolitical threats, including from distant nations such as China, Russia, and Iran. For many it seemed counterintuitive to focus on Venezuela, a narco-terrorist state in the United States' own backyard. The capture of Maduro, however, signaled a major shift in global geopolitics. China and Russia were able to use Venezuela as a back door to exert undue influence in the Western Hemisphere, as well as exploit Venezuela's vast resources. The results of Operation Absolute Resolve were phenomenal: a narco-terrorist state was neutralized; a once prosperous relationship with a neighboring country was restored; access to the world's greatest oil reserves and other critical minerals were obtained; significant leverage over China, Russia, and Iran was achieved; the skill and resolve of the U.S. joint forces were trumpeted to the world. The advantage gained from strategic warfare can be huge! Lessons for Next-Level Spiritual Warfare 1. Close Doors in the Backyard First It doesn't make sense to confront big ticket "far-away" enemies when they have doors of access in our own backyards. Being laser focused on a specific enemy stronghold can blind and distract us from things that are right under our noses. Close the doors in the backyard, first! 2. Plan Carefully One way of doing spiritual warfare is to single-handedly grab a weapon and start confronting. But what if the battle needs a plan, intelligence, cooperation, and strategic timing? Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). But by themselves, powerful weapons are no guarantee of victory. It is the strategic use of powerful weapons that demolish strongholds. Paul speaks in the plural when he says "the weapons we fight with." I believe Paul wasn't referring to a one-man operation; I believe he was referring to a well-planned and coordinated response from the corporate Body of Christ.
Paul drew parallels from the Roman army to instruct Christians in their spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:14–17). Roman warriors were well trained and well equipped. They needed to be comfortable with their armor, secure on their feet, and skilled with their weapons. If warriors didn't know how to use their shields for protection or their swords for attack, they would likely be killed in battle. That's why warriors rehearse again and again and again. (Photo via Pexels) 4. Increase Precision Through High-Level Intelligence Paul informed the Ephesians that they were fighting spiritual forces of evil in high places (Ephesians 6:12). To overcome these forces required even higher-level intelligence. This higher-level intelligence is available to us because we are seated with Christ who is above all (Ephesians 1:19–21, 2:6). For success, higher-level heavenly intelligence must overshadow, inform, and protect every on-the-ground operation. 5. Exercise Strategic Restraint When David was coming against the Philistines, God said to him, "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines" (2 Samuel 5:24 NET, italics added). To ensure victory, it was critical for David to be restrained until the right moment. Impulsive, knee-jerk warriors end up defeated. Patient, well-trained warriors end up victorious. 6. Remain Invisible Surprise attacks have the advantage of taking the enemy off-guard, but they usually require greater intelligence, greater strategy, and greater restraint. Some of the greatest warriors are never spoken about or known. They are lethal because they are invisible. When we do things before God, we remain hidden from the enemy (Psalm 27:4–5). God makes us invisible. Sin makes us visible. 7. Think of the Bigger Picture A new set of eyes to see the battlefield in a different way can make a tremendous difference to outcomes. It is easy to focus on specific multigenerational conflicts and miss the bigger picture. Tensions with China, Russia, and Iran could have taken the focus of the U.S., but capturing Maduro had repercussions for all three nations, and yet, not a single shot was fired against them. There is more than one way to defeat an enemy. Often it is more strategic to cut off an enemy's supply than to attack them directly. It would have been easier for the U.S. to kill Maduro directly, but the consequences could have been chaotic. Unwise moves lead to chaos. Strategic moves minimize chaos. It is time for next-level spiritual warfare. One strategic operation can change the world for generations to come. It's time for visionaries and strategists to come forth. The destiny of nations will be determined because they do. Source: 1. "Gen. Dan Caine details how U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro," January 3, 2026, The Washington Examiner, YouTube.
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Nathan Shaw Nathan Shaw helps bring individuals and churches into dynamic encounters with God's indescribable love. Over the last twenty years he has been instrumental in ushering in significant moves of the Spirit in over ten different nations. Many have experienced life-changing prophetic encounters and dramatic visitations from God. Nathan is the author of two books: Passion and Fire and Unto the Least of These. Nathan is senior pastor at Fire and Destiny Centre, Dunedin and Celebration Church, Mosgiel. To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
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"Over the course of the night, aircraft began launching from twenty different bases on land and sea across the Western Hemisphere. In total, more than 150 aircraft bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, rotary wing were in the air last night. Thousands and thousands of hours of experience were airborne... (Photo of General Dan Caine via Wikimedia Commons)
3. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
