As a christian I know that demons are real, that spiritual warfare is real, that satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Even though I know this and pray against this, I have never really seen this in action. Certainly not in my local church, Scripture tells us several things regarding demons.
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles]—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14-15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18
Several times in a service when the invitation to accept Christ was given someone or multiple people would fall to the ground and begin screaming, crying and flailing around. Now in my American, Evangelical background I have never seen this before and the first time I was, let’s say. “skeptical”. On one occasion a teenage boy was literally slithering and contorting his body in such a way that it was obvious that he could not have done this on his own. The church however knew exactly what to do and everyone moved forward to praise God and pray for him. The Americans instinctively moved away at first. As we joined in and moved towards this child and then as a body we prayed and prayed and prayed. After the service we found out that this boy had epilepsy as a child and had charms placed on his body. The culture of intertwining witchcraft and daily life was now at war with his desire to follow Christ.
The next time it happened was after Kevin and I preached a message about God’s name “EL Roi” The God who sees me.
I was touched by how God sees them. These are men and women who have been struggling to live. They have been hurting and longing for a savior. Many have lost more than we can ever imagine. The message that God sees them and that they are known by Him is so timely. The Spirit's presence was sweet and It was a precious time.
Many people came forward to receive Christ. It was a miraculous time of having the Corinth team lay hands on people and pray for them. Interestingly the language we spoke did not matter. God knew what these brothers and sisters needed and we were there to minister in Jesus name. As we were praying several people again fell to the ground. This time our team knew what to do. We just kept praying and praising. Later we learned that one of the women had been involved in witchcraft in her home.
Now I understand this passage.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. ICorinthians 10:22
For some people this experience may seem scary, out of our ordinary way of worshipping. All I know is that we were sent to help set the captives free and be the hands and feet of Jesus. In the culture of Kenya there are many who are held in deep bondage. I praise God that my eyes have been opened to see how prayer and praise can thwart the schemes of the evil one.
Bwana asifiwe! Praise God!
Kevin and Jann,
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful. It is the blood of the lamb that we are washed in. He covers all sins of the entire earth, of all ages even those from thousands of years ago and into the future. Praise God that these souls also saw that it is only through our Lord Jesus Christ can we have eternal life. This is so inspiring. Thanks! Toni Emerson