statues

In a country we cannot name was a family. The wife was a Christian and her husband was a Buddhist. He became possessed with a paralyzing demon. His arms would twitch at his side and he could not move. He called for the local Buddhist Monk and asked for help. The Buddhist Monk could not cast out the demon. He then called for the local Shaman (Witch Doctor) but he also could not cast out the demon. Finally he asked his wife to call for the Christians. Four young men from the church rode their scooters to his house and went in to pray for him. Full of faith they prayed and the demon left. They asked the man to receive Christ. The man not only refused to receive Christ, he pulled out a gun and shouting and waving the gun drove out the Christians from his house.

Jesus gives us a warning that when an unclean spirit goes out of a person, that he wanders the empty places and then returns to the person he was cast out of.  Finding the person empty and clean the demon returns and brings others with him.

Some days later the demon returned. The man was again paralyzed. Again he called for the Buddhist Monk and the Monk came. The rituals did not work. Again he called for the Shaman. The Shaman came, but his rituals did not work. Finally in frustration, after days, he asked his wife to call the Christians.

The four young men got on their scooters and drove to the home. Again, full of faith, they prayed and the demon left. They asked the man to receive Christ. Again, he became very angry and pulled a gun driving them from the home with shouts and threats.

Sometimes we need three tries…

Some days later the demon again returned. The man was again paralyzed. Again he called for the Buddhist Monk and the Monk came. The rituals did not work. Again he called for the Shaman. The Shaman came, the rituals did not work. Finally in frustration after days, he asked his wife to call the Christians. The four young men got on their scooters and drove to the home. Again, full of faith they prayed and the demon left. They asked the man to receive Christ. This time he knelt and prayed!! This time he received Christ into his heart! This time the demon did not return! There was a new Spirit there now…the Holy Spirit.

The man lives in a country where it is not legal to be a Christian. After he received Christ, he went to the village headman and told him, “record me as a Christian. I want to be publicly known as a person who follows Jesus.”

Freedom!! Whom the Son Sets free will be free indeed!

Story submitted from our team on the Asia-Pacific Region