Shocking

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Mark 3:13-15, NIV.

Several months ago the bad spirit cursed a Hmong man in his fifties. He was bound not to eat anything or talk to anyone for thirty days. Every time he disobeyed, it was like an electric shock ran through his body. The man lay in his hut. It was during the hot season and he was wasting away. The family made many animal sacrifices, as was their animistic practice. The village witch doctor had tried everything he knew to get the evil spirit to release the man, but nothing worked.

Christians came to visit the village, and were told about this man’s problem. The believers went to visit this poor man and told him about the power of God. Every time he tried to ask the Christians a question, the electric shock would course through his body. One believer counseled the man just to lay still and listen.

This Christian shared the Gospel, and told the man how he could be saved. The man shook his head to indicate that he wanted to commit his life to Jesus, and as soon as he did the spirit released him. He was immediately able to get up and eat without the electric shocks.

The following week believers came back to encourage this new Christian. When he was asked about further troubles with the bad spirit, the man said, “I still hear the spirit calling me from outside, but now at least it isn’t on my sleeping mat with me.”

Pray that:

New Hmong believers will understand and exercise the authority they have in Jesus over evil spirits.

The Hmong will see that animal sacrifices will never set them free from the spirits they fear.

A rapidly reproducing Hmong church will be established before the end of 2008.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.