I would like to share something that happened during ministry yesterday. Before I begin, I want to warn you that this was one of the most intense and disturbing spiritual battles I've experienced in a while—a battle with real devils.
Yesterday's evangelism in the center of town was unlike most days. No one could go with me, but that did not stop me from going. Christ never told us to take the gospel only when we have company. He commanded us to go into the highways and hedges and compel people to come unto Him. Sometimes He sends us with other Christians, and sometimes He calls us to walk those streets with Him alone. Yesterday was one of those days.
There are countless people all around you and me who are possessed with devils and living under the influence of real demonic bondage. Tragically, in the United States, many people who are suffering from demonic possession are often heavily medicated with prescriptions, and as a result, they never receive the spiritual deliverance they desperately need through the power of Jesus Christ. But here in third-world nations like El Salvador, where medical resources are not as widely available, the reality of demonic activity is often seen more openly.
Whether people believe it or not, the spiritual world is real. It does not become less real simply because our culture dismisses it or attempts to explain it away. God's Word reminds us that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers" (Ephesians 6:12).
I was walking by a small park with a bench along the sidewalk. After I passed the bench, I felt the Holy Spirit press upon my heart to go back and sit down. So I turned around, went back, took my Bible out of my backpack, and was just about to begin reading.
No sooner had I begun reading than a young man walked by and mumbled something I could not understand. I greeted him and invited him to sit down next to me, and he did. As he sat there, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary gospel conversation. I could see that he was filled with devils. The violent, unnatural jerking of his body, the satanic gestures of his hands, and the perversion that came out of his mouth revealed the terrible reality before me.
He looked directly at me—or rather, the devils within him stared through his eyes and locked onto mine. I asked the man for his name and told him mine. His response was unnatural. He told me that he was a wicked fallen angel.
I immediately said, "Please listen. I’m going to share with you how Jesus Christ wants to free you from the demons inside you."
His mouth immediately began to laugh as he vulgarly cursed at me. I told the devils to shut up in the name of Jesus Christ. Then I began preaching the victorious power of Christ's bloodshed on the cross. I told the man to listen and explained that Jesus Christ wants to save and set him free. I also told the man that I was about to preach to the devils about Jesus Christ, too.
I commanded the devils to come out of him, but they refused. They fiercely resisted, fighting with relentless defiance. It became an intense spiritual battle. They violently contorted his body into unnatural positions and, at times, into poses of ancient wicked gods. The man's face repeatedly distorted into grotesque, inhuman expressions of rage while vulgar blasphemies spewed from his mouth. Several times, the devils thrust his arms toward me as though they intended to intimidate and frighten me.
But I looked them in the eyes and commanded them to come out of him in the name of Jesus Christ.
Eventually, I became tired of arguing with these wicked, rebellious spirits, so I opened my Bible to Isaiah 53. I commanded them to be quiet and listen. Then I pleaded with the man to listen. I proclaimed how deeply Christ Jesus loves him and that Jesus has the power to deliver him from bondage. For the first time since he had sat down, his mouth was silent, and his body became still.
Slowly, I read the entire chapter of Isaiah 53.
When I reached the end—the victorious part of Christ’s sufferings—the devils began yelling again. But I patiently continued reading. I kept proclaiming the truth of Christ Jesus, and eventually they became calmer.
After I finished reading this victorious passage about Christ's atoning and sacrificial work for sinners’ liberty, the devils thrust the man's arms toward me, clenched his hands into fists, and repeatedly attempted to strike me. Yet I knew the Lord was protecting me. Again and again, his fists came within inches of striking me, but they could come no farther.
The Lord had protected me with a shield that I could not see, but I knew it was there. Certainly, the man's body should have struck me many times, but it was not able to.
I looked the man in the eyes again and began preaching Christ Jesus to him. The devils refused to leave him. After twenty minutes of this battle, I told the man that if he wanted to be free from these devils, he must cry out to Christ Jesus right now.
I asked him, "Will you cry out to Jesus Christ right now?"
His response broke my heart.
He yelled, "I will not call out to Jesus."
With urgency, I cried back, "You must call out to Christ. Jesus loves you so much that He has placed a Christian in your life today to set you free. You must cry out to Christ. Jesus wants to set you free, but it is your choice to call out to Him. Now, will you call out to Christ right now?"
Again, he vehemently said no.
Immediately, the demons began shouting obscenities again while they once again contorted his body, arms, and face.
I have never witnessed anything so troubling, grievous, and heartbreaking. I left the man with the devils and walked away. After walking nearly a block, I knelt on the sidewalk and began praying to my dear Lord and Savior.
I thanked Him for so graciously giving me liberty and a rich relationship with Him, even though I do not deserve Him. Then I prayed that any and all devils that would attempt to attach themselves to me or follow me would be rebuked by Jesus Christ and commanded to leave me immediately.
Then I stood up and continued walking.
With joy in my heart, I walked with my Savior down the street, continuing to engage in gospel conversations with those whom Christ is seeking and calling unto Himself.
This is why I am so grateful and covet people's prayers. Psalm 3:3 gives us this promise: "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
Yesterday's evangelism in the center of town was unlike most days. No one could go with me, but that did not stop me from going. Christ never told us to take the gospel only when we have company. He commanded us to go into the highways and hedges and compel people to come unto Him. Sometimes He sends us with other Christians, and sometimes He calls us to walk those streets with Him alone. Yesterday was one of those days.
There are countless people all around you and me who are possessed with devils and living under the influence of real demonic bondage. Tragically, in the United States, many people who are suffering from demonic possession are often heavily medicated with prescriptions, and as a result, they never receive the spiritual deliverance they desperately need through the power of Jesus Christ. But here in third-world nations like El Salvador, where medical resources are not as widely available, the reality of demonic activity is often seen more openly.
Whether people believe it or not, the spiritual world is real. It does not become less real simply because our culture dismisses it or attempts to explain it away. God's Word reminds us that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers" (Ephesians 6:12).
I was walking by a small park with a bench along the sidewalk. After I passed the bench, I felt the Holy Spirit press upon my heart to go back and sit down. So I turned around, went back, took my Bible out of my backpack, and was just about to begin reading.
No sooner had I begun reading than a young man walked by and mumbled something I could not understand. I greeted him and invited him to sit down next to me, and he did. As he sat there, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary gospel conversation. I could see that he was filled with devils. The violent, unnatural jerking of his body, the satanic gestures of his hands, and the perversion that came out of his mouth revealed the terrible reality before me.
He looked directly at me—or rather, the devils within him stared through his eyes and locked onto mine. I asked the man for his name and told him mine. His response was unnatural. He told me that he was a wicked fallen angel.
I immediately said, "Please listen. I’m going to share with you how Jesus Christ wants to free you from the demons inside you."
His mouth immediately began to laugh as he vulgarly cursed at me. I told the devils to shut up in the name of Jesus Christ. Then I began preaching the victorious power of Christ's bloodshed on the cross. I told the man to listen and explained that Jesus Christ wants to save and set him free. I also told the man that I was about to preach to the devils about Jesus Christ, too.
I commanded the devils to come out of him, but they refused. They fiercely resisted, fighting with relentless defiance. It became an intense spiritual battle. They violently contorted his body into unnatural positions and, at times, into poses of ancient wicked gods. The man's face repeatedly distorted into grotesque, inhuman expressions of rage while vulgar blasphemies spewed from his mouth. Several times, the devils thrust his arms toward me as though they intended to intimidate and frighten me.
But I looked them in the eyes and commanded them to come out of him in the name of Jesus Christ.
Eventually, I became tired of arguing with these wicked, rebellious spirits, so I opened my Bible to Isaiah 53. I commanded them to be quiet and listen. Then I pleaded with the man to listen. I proclaimed how deeply Christ Jesus loves him and that Jesus has the power to deliver him from bondage. For the first time since he had sat down, his mouth was silent, and his body became still.
Slowly, I read the entire chapter of Isaiah 53.
When I reached the end—the victorious part of Christ’s sufferings—the devils began yelling again. But I patiently continued reading. I kept proclaiming the truth of Christ Jesus, and eventually they became calmer.
After I finished reading this victorious passage about Christ's atoning and sacrificial work for sinners’ liberty, the devils thrust the man's arms toward me, clenched his hands into fists, and repeatedly attempted to strike me. Yet I knew the Lord was protecting me. Again and again, his fists came within inches of striking me, but they could come no farther.
The Lord had protected me with a shield that I could not see, but I knew it was there. Certainly, the man's body should have struck me many times, but it was not able to.
I looked the man in the eyes again and began preaching Christ Jesus to him. The devils refused to leave him. After twenty minutes of this battle, I told the man that if he wanted to be free from these devils, he must cry out to Christ Jesus right now.
I asked him, "Will you cry out to Jesus Christ right now?"
His response broke my heart.
He yelled, "I will not call out to Jesus."
With urgency, I cried back, "You must call out to Christ. Jesus loves you so much that He has placed a Christian in your life today to set you free. You must cry out to Christ. Jesus wants to set you free, but it is your choice to call out to Him. Now, will you call out to Christ right now?"
Again, he vehemently said no.
Immediately, the demons began shouting obscenities again while they once again contorted his body, arms, and face.
I have never witnessed anything so troubling, grievous, and heartbreaking. I left the man with the devils and walked away. After walking nearly a block, I knelt on the sidewalk and began praying to my dear Lord and Savior.
I thanked Him for so graciously giving me liberty and a rich relationship with Him, even though I do not deserve Him. Then I prayed that any and all devils that would attempt to attach themselves to me or follow me would be rebuked by Jesus Christ and commanded to leave me immediately.
Then I stood up and continued walking.
With joy in my heart, I walked with my Savior down the street, continuing to engage in gospel conversations with those whom Christ is seeking and calling unto Himself.
This is why I am so grateful and covet people's prayers. Psalm 3:3 gives us this promise: "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
