“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight.� C.S. Lewis
Pastor Joseph, Jessica, and I were walking back to the car when Pastor said, “I was praying for protection while we were there. We could have witnessed spraying bullets.�
Spraying bullets. Ok, don’t be afraid and jump to conclusions. Yep, you read correctly. The account that I’m going to share is a testament to God’s protection and favor. It is more than a snapshot from my World Race journey; it is an illustration of the battle that has existed since the beginning of time.
The day began with morning ministry at Mother Teresa’s home for the disabled (see my previous blog, Kingdom Moments). Serving at the home remains one of my favorite ministries of my race. After Team Pneuma and Team Frontline finished serving lunch and spending time with the residents, it was time for Pneuma to lead the daily lunch-hour prayer meeting and Frontline to return to their home base. Before we headed to our next locations, Pastor Joseph announced that he needed two women from Pneuma to accompany him on a house visit to talk to a woman in the community.
—Pause. Just a side-note: I have great respect for Pastor Joseph in how he does ministry. He and his wife Mercy have an agreement between one another that he has women accompany him if he receives a ministry call from a woman in the community. He never goes alone. He is a great example of a man of God who honors his wife and protects their marriage. —
Jessica and I volunteered to go on the house call. On the way, Pastor Joseph briefed us on some details. I had no idea what to expect. We walked into the apartment and visited with our sister in Christ and her husband. I could tell the situation was tense in the household. At this point in my time in Kenya, I had made dozens of house calls and teatime appointments. There was something different about this house call. As our sister was talking to Pastor in Swahili, she started shaking, moving oddly, and raising up her closed fists in frustration and anger. From my perspective, it was apparent that this was not her natural temperament; I’ve never seen someone act like this. It was like something was trying to torment her. Later, Pastor confirmed my assumptions and told us that he had never seen her in this condition. Pastor translated to Jessica and me a few details. Earlier that morning, someone had tried to kill her while she was on a motorbike. She had an extremely traumatic morning, and it appeared to me that it wasn’t just the morning’s events that were disturbing her. After Pastor conversed with her husband, it was apparent that her husband wasn’t walking with the Lord and was connected with people involved with witchcraft. I won’t reveal the details in order to protect the family; however, we believe that the husband’s lifestyle had opened doors to intense spiritual attack on his wife and his children. Pastor Joseph, Jessica, and I anointed our sister and her husband with oil and prayed over them and their family. There was definitely a shift in the atmosphere after we prayed over them. A wave of peace was in the house instead of a cloud of tension.
Before we prayed, Pastor spoke to her husband about coming to know Christ and explained how his decisions affect his household. The husband is the spiritual head and authority; thus, his involvement in witchcraft will affect his family. Since the wife was a Christian, she is covered with the blood of Jesus. She has been redeemed by Christ (Colossians 1:13-14) and is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Thus, neither the enemy nor his demons can own a Christian for a Christian belongs to Christ and is indwelled by the Spirit. However, a Christian can be attacked by demons. Christ himself was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:2).
What is the meaning of “spraying bullets�? I should mention that the husband was armed the entire time, and he had left the room at different points. He could have pulled a gun on us at any point when he reentered the room. Was I afraid? No, in the moment, I had no idea that he was armed. Part of this, I believe was God’s grace. Examining the situation later, I realize that was a great opportunity to walk in the authority that I’ve been given as a daughter of God. I’ve been entrusted with an incredible mission as God’s daughter: to be the hands and feet of Christ, to bring God’s kingdom to earth, and to share the Gospel in the nations. Every believer is a part of this mission. In Matthew 6:33, we’ve been commanded to “seek first the kingdom of God� and promised “his righteousness and all these things will be added . . .�
So go. Fight in the greatest battle in history.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.� Ephesians 6:12
