September 21, 2008
Living in a Spiritual World
Sometimes as Americans, we tend to live in a world where we forget that most of what happens around us is strongly influenced by an unseen spiritual world. Even the Apostle Paul reminded us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Spiritual hosts of wickedness (paraphrase). I am reminded of this reality on a regular basis living in a place like Madagascar. In a country that is dominated by the worship of ancestors and the spirit world, I constantly see the effects of it all around me. Almost every day I am confronted by the fact that people are bound by customs, false religions and evil spirits. In the last month, I made two trips in the bush with some fellow missionaries and Malagasy pastors that demonstrated once again that this is a very real spiritual battle we are fighting.
A few weeks ago, as I traveled with two fellow Assemblies of God missionaries (Aaron, a medical missionary & Hennie, a missionary associate) I had two interesting encounters. We arrived in the village of Ambatandrazaka to prepare for three evangelistic crusades that would involve medical outreach and preaching the Gospel, starting the next day. As we arrived early, and the area is known for fishing, my two partners in ministry decided to see if they could catch a fish or two (that is exactly what they caught). While they were fishing in this small lake outside the village, I watched as a woman arrived and started mixing different items into a large ceramic bowl. She took water from the lake & mixed them with oil, honey & perfume. I asked my Malagasy translator what was happening. He informed me that she was a sorceress. He said she was praying to the ancestors and to the evil spirits she believed lived in the waters of that lake. She was offering worship, requesting needs to be met, and asking for a vision. All the time, I was standing 20 feet from this woman as she called upon the spirits to help her. When she was finished I had the opportunity to talk with her for a few moments & to let her know that the God she was in need of, was to be found through the person of Jesus Christ. I was only able to share with her a few words, but I was at least able to tell her of the love of God. Two days later, as we were preparing for a day of ministry in that same town, I was confronted by an angry man, who began to scream and curse me for being in his town. Immediately, it was obvious that he was under the control of evil spirits. As soon as I began to speak to him, the man turned and left quickly. When confronted, the man fled away, instead of staying where freedom could be offered.
Then, this last week, I was able to go into an area that has had no Christian influence whatsoever. It was a one day evangelistic trip, in preparation for another evangelism/medical outreach we are planning for the near future. As we drove miles and miles through rough conditions, we were surprised to pass by dozens of villages that had no church at all. Here were thousands of people completely untouched by the Gospel. So I asked the Pastor why the village we were going to was chosen to start a church in, over the dozens we had already passed. The pastor explained that there was a person in their church who had relatives in this village. One late evening, one of those relatives was walking through the village when he was confronted by a sorcerer who placed a curse on him. He immediately became paralyzed. After days of no recovery, in desperation the relatives sent a request for the church to pray for him or else he would surely die. Two days later, he had a complete recovery and accepted Christ as Savior. The village immediately requested that someone come and start a church to tell them more about this all powerful God who can break curses and set people free! What an incredible demonstration of God’s miracle working power.
So you can understand why it is easy for me to remember that this is a spiritual battle for the souls of lost people. You can also understand why we need your prayer support as we work and live here in Madagascar. We know that as you pray, God will continue to demonstrate His love for the Malagasy people, as well as protect and provide for us as we work and live here.
So please pray for our family, that God would protect and provide for us. After the first trip mentioned, I returned home very ill and was unable to work or minister for 6 days. But I am back to 100% thanks to your prayers and the support of Aaron (our medical missionary). Also, please pray for our churches and Pastors who are daily confronted with spiritual warfare. Even as I am writing this letter, another of our missionaries is on the east coast, in the town of Vohipeno, helping one of our Pastors start a new church in a town that is almost completely muslim. Also, please pray as we are preparing to start a new year at our Pastoral Bible School in October. May God call many young people into the ministry & grant us the wisdom and knowledge to prepare them for the work before them.
But don’t forget, the spiritual world is not confined to Madagascar or the continent of Africa. All around you everyday are those who are being attacked and oppressed by evil spirits who want nothing more than to destroy them. Remember, Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” So let us battle together in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring spiritual freedom by declaring “Jesus saves, heals and delivers!”
Blessings!
Jay