Deliverance Can be a Process
Paul told Timothy "To wage good warfare". In a country like Cambodia, where animism (spirit worship and manipulation) is such a large part of the belief system, if you don't learn to move in the ministry of deliverance you won't get very far. Deliverance is very controversial in Western churches, as it can get loud and physical. In the litigious modern world, this makes pastors very nervous. I believe the Holy Spirit can work through us in quieter, less confrontational ways, but it really requires knowing who you are in Christ and full reliance in the power of the Holy Spirit. Deliverance is best learned working with an experienced team, and experience is always the best teacher. One thing you quickly learn is not all demons are equal. They lie, get violent, they are messy, they stink and are very deceptive. Our pastors often learn the hard way but lessons hardly learned are hardly lost. Through the years we have found that making eye contact when checking for spirits is essential. Demons will cause the eyes to roll back. They can lie and not come out. The best book I have found is old, but good, and still available on Amazon: 'Deliver Us From Evil' by Don Basham.
Last month, a young woman named Yoeung from Pursat Province, who was married and had been suffering bouts of demonic control for more than 10 years, needed some serious help. Because of her erratic and often violent behavior, she had not been able to hold a job. She would do strange things like jump off her own motorbike while driving at fast speeds and then run screaming through the village. She knew she had evil spirits inside of her that were trying to do her harm. Her family, not being Christian, searched and searched for a witch doctor to drive out the evil spirit. After many attempts her condition was growing worse.
In mid June, when the evil spirit was possessing Yoeung, she ran screaming for one kilometer straight into a house that hosted one of FCOP’s small groups being run by her aunt who had become a Christian. Yoeung called out to her aunt and said, “Please help me. My body is not controlled by me and I know that only you can help me!” Her aunt had participated in a deliverance but didn't know a lot about it, other than that she needed Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. She called some church members together and laid hands on Yoeung and began to pray. Yoeung’s aunt asked if she wanted to receive Jesus into her life and she replied with a resounding “Yes!” After they prayed the demon spirit calmed and she passed out on the ground for an hour. The church members prayed some more after she woke up. She was feeling better and lighter. Then she went back home with joy and gratitude but the inexperienced church members did not check the spirit.
The next Friday night the church got together to pray. Yoeung came to pray with the church but the evil spirit rose up and she began to scream. She is a very small, skinny woman but under this demonic possession she was very strong. Even four or five men couldn’t keep her down. So, during this time the pastor instructed the rest of the church to pray in the Holy Spirit for her deliverance. Finally, because of the Holy Spirit, and the pastor’s commands in the name of Jesus she stopped fighting and screaming and fell to the ground. When she woke up, she listened to the Word of God and went back home with joy again. The pastor who was fairly new to deliverance failed to check for any remaining spirits. On Sunday, Yoeung brought her husband to church. After they worshipped, she began to feel tormented. She suddenly ran out of the church screaming and running onto the road. Some of the church members caught her and brought her back and they laid hands on her again. This time when she was prayed for they commanded all the spirits to come out. She threw up with blood and passed out. When she woke up, she was clean! She has now received the Holy Spirit, can work again, and is filled with joy. Deliverance is not easy!
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