Witchcraft or Disease
The woman looked six months pregnant. She was carried in by one of our pastors. She had been cursed by becoming involved in witchcraft, through her in-laws, and developed fluid retention in the abdomen and lungs, that made her look pregnant. She received Christ, the curse was broken, and she was sitting up feeling better the next morning and four days later she still continues to recover in the hospital. We don’t know the long-term outcome. Time will tell, and God is good. Regardless, she did receive Christ. So, how? How do you deal with the demonic realm?
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First, you have a talk with the person, explaining that you are not angry at them, but very upset with the spirit that is messing up their life. Unless the demonic entity has them completely out of control, you usually don’t have to do much enlightening. Most of them know what has happened, or what they’ve been involved in. They simply want to be free, and they recognize that some kind of spiritual cause, curse, or entity is upon them. Sometimes, the demonic power is broken with a simple command, but often it is a battle, and you really need to know what you are up against. Demons will lie, beg, try to bargain, and even try to scare you. It helps to have a team praying in the Spirit, playing worship music and reading from some of powerful Psalms out loud.
Occasionally, I get downright nasty. “You damned, cursed devil, I command you to come out in the name of Jesus Christ!” Now, that’s not a very nice way for a missionary to talk, and fortunately not that common! I know you may be offended, but I’m not trying to be nice. We're dealing with demons, and they don’t understand “polite!” They understand authority, and they understand the name of Jesus. Regardless, they are damned by God, and I’m just telling them the truth! I’m not cussing; I’m just summarizing their reality. It seems to help get them out if they know, that I know, their pre-ordained future. I have found working in Cambodia for almost 16 years, that fear of the demonic is a terrible remnant of past animistic ties, (much of Cambodian Buddhism is animistic) that trails even long term Christians. Until Christians really understand their authority, and have the boldness to command devils “in the Name of Jesus,” little deliverance happens.