Before the race, I knew little about the spiritual realm. Let’s just say I feel way more in the know about it now.
When people on my squad would talk with me about angels and demons, I would always focus on the demons. Some people on my squad can see into the spiritual realm as one of their gifts. It is amazing and yet I am very happy not to have that gift right now. I wanted to know more about the spiritual realm and what the Bible has to say, but it always brought fear. I could not shake the fear that I would wake up to see a demon. Sometimes I would be up until 4 in the morning with that paralyzing fear.
Praise Jesus that this fear is gone. Almost 2 weeks ago, we went to do village ministry. Right as my team was praying for Jesus to be there in that church, the other team came in guiding a woman. Lots of the locals were yelling. As soon as the woman came in and saw the cross, she collapsed to the ground. Let’s just say that is the first experience I have had in seeing a woman possessed.
I know the movies portray exorcisms like some big extravagant thing, but it was not that terrifying. For those of you who know me, you know that I get scared really easily. If I found so much joy in that moment, then so should everybody else. After all, demons fear the Lord, so what do we have to fear? We prayed our loud for her for a long time, telling the demon to leave and that it has no authority in the name of Jesus. Of course the demon is not going to leave without a fight. The woman went back and forth with who was talking between her and the demon. In the end, she was freed from that demon. Praise Jesus!!!
In that situation, I thought I would be frightened in the presence of a demon, but Jesus gave me so much peace and joy. I have learned on the race that when God calls you to do something, He equips and guides you. In that moment, He gave each of us the words to pray, sing, and read from the Word. The Holy Spirit also gave me so much compassion for the woman. She had been under the power of the demon for 20 years. The demon was in her friend and made her jump into a well to commit suicide. It then came out and attached to this woman and had been with her for those two decades. I do not remember if the demon or the woman told us that, but either way, we discovered her story.
I have to say I never thought I would be a part of this. In fact, I would be the first to want to run away from that, but God has used it to rid my fear of demons. His Word says that He gives us not a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. Jesus protects His children and will equip each of us when the time comes to speak or pray. We have the authority to speak in the name of Jesus and cast out the demons that have no place here [see Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18]. I have never been more in awe of the power and protection of Jesus.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13
