Casting out Demons for the First Time
The month of Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I’m excited to share with you what God has done during that time. First, I want to say that I’m so thankful for everything I have. I’m blessed with an incredible family, friends, and church family. I’m very thankful for every letter sent to me, whether by mail or email. All of you are in my prayers, and I know that while I’m called to this side of the globe, my God will take care of you.
I may have missed Thanksgiving with my family, but we still got to celebrate the holiday by giving thanks to God and feasting. We had everything but pumpkin pie, which has always been my favorite. And the turkey was a roasted pig on a stick. Always yummy!
Soon after, we had Jesus Fiesta, a celebration where we invited all the kids from the slums to come and feast with us. These were the kids we had ministered to over the year, and it was a way to bless them. I don’t recall the exact number, but between 400-700 people showed up to eat and get prizes. Also, 17 youth from Singapore volunteered that weekend to help us. Every family got to leave with bags of rice and food. Overall, it has been a very eventful month.
This month God also blessed the online ministry in a wonderful way. Traffic increased by an incredible 230% in just one month. It went from reaching 600 to 2300 suicidal people searching for “how to die” and “I want to die”. Instead of getting the answers they’re looking for, they get a testimony of how God saved me. To God be the glory!
At the beginning of November, our team of 12 went over to the island of Bohol. We arrived on Saturday so we could lead the service the next day and the youth service that night. So many youth showed up and were ministered to. My role was to drum on Saturday, then give my motorcycle testimony on Sunday while somebody translated. God moved their hearts as I spoke about His grace and compassion.
Early in the week, we did evangelism at one of the busy parks. As soon as I got there, I was led to some rough-looking guys about my age. At first it was kind of awkward, since I’m not good with icebreakers of any kind, but we were able to connect. It wasn’t long before we were sharing stories of “battle wounds”. That was my cue to really share my testimony and encourage them that God is a personal God. Before my translator and I left, they gave us permission to pray over the two drug dealers in front of the park. They didn’t give their lives to Christ at that moment, but I know my labor wasn’t in vain, and they will soon know God like I do.
My birthday was on Thursday, and the moment I woke up, the Filipinos started serenading me with songs. I was blessed they let me sleep, because normally they wake you up at 5am to do this. It was a great start to a great day, even though I had to sleep on the concrete floor and pull weeds in the garden in the afternoon.
That afternoon we also started cooking food for the kids from the slums, then surprised them. The kids were filled with so much joy, and of course energy, during some of the games. It’s always a blessing to witness to the kids and encourage them. I pray that this week you too will feel led by compassion to help someone in need.
This week a speaker came from Manila and taught us about deliverance. Just as it sounds, we were taught how to cast out demons, whether from a Christian with oppression or a nonbeliever who was possessed. Tuesday night I had a dream that I was at my home church, speaking and giving deliverance to some of the people there. When I told the teacher my dream, he said that God wants me to be trained in this. Of course, I was willing to let God do that through me.
Wednesday afternoon I got the chance to pray over my roommate while the teacher instructed me. Most people didn’t get this chance, since it was a private thing. With bondages come things that need to be confessed to release the strongholds.
I began by praying for protection over family and friends, asking Jesus to cover us by the Blood and protect us with His angels, then finally establishing authority. Right at that point the Holy Spirit surrounded me, and the prayer flowed out of my mouth. As I prayed for my Christian friend, he began to feel so heavy that he couldn’t lift his head or arms. A spirit had a hold of him. Soon after, he was unable to speak, and his neck was nearly on fire. It only lasted 20-30 minutes.
Once his tongue was released, one of the other guys asked my friend to rebuke it. In that moment he let out a breath, and peace and joy filled the room. Instantly there was a smile on every face! He was delivered! Glory to God!