::the next encounter::
Since my last encounter with the man who was stabbing himself wasn't very positive, i was determined that if i ever saw him again, i would try to speak Truth to him. This was not just some insane person. This was and is a soul that Jesus shed His precious blood to ransom from sin and damnation and demon possession. If i am to living by the teachings of my Savior, i am to walk by faith and consider this man as Christ does, as someone that i desperately want to join the chorus around the Throne one day and scream at the top of our lungs "HOLY! HOLY! HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY! THE WHOLE EARTH IS FILLED WITH HIS GLORY!" During my first encounter with him my thoughts were limited to "Oh crap, he might stab me." Hopefully at the next encounter i would have the courage to think "Oh crap, if i don't do something, this guy will probably be tormented the rest of his life and the rest of eternity."
I was driving along through one of the largest traffic circles in the country, and there he was. He was unarmed this time, but just as self-destructive as before. This time he was walking down the center of two lanes of traffic leaping in front of every car as it passed by. People were slamming on the brakes and swerving to miss him. He was barking like a dog (more like a baboon's bark, if you've ever heard that). There were about 6-8 cops sitting under a shelter about 15 yards away minding their own business, not concerned about this guy and what he was doing. For that matter, no one except the drivers, seemed to even notice him. Everyone just ignored him. I think that's because they know they can't offer him hope. They know they can't do him any real and lasting good. They accept him for how he is and are complacent to look the other way and not get involved. I don't blame them. If i was not filled with the power and protection of the Holy Spirit i bet i wouldn't be rushing into a showdown with a demon. Since that's not the case, i refuse to pass by complacent while humans beings are being inflicted. Best of all, i know that i have Hope to give him.
I pulled my car over after swerving to miss him. I walked over to him, still beside the road. I noticed his eyes were wide open, painfully wide, not shutting. Slobber covered his bare chest. He looked incredibly muscular and jacked for a typical West African. It took me about a minute to muster the courage to say something i'd never said before. I shouted to the evil spirit that was inside him in Susu, "Hay! Ee tahn nyeenay nah ra?! (Hey! Are you a demon?!)" The man stopped, snapped his head and neck toward me and it replied in a deep growling yell, "EEYO! (YES!)" It was as if everyone within earshot was suddenly frozen. They had paid no attention to this man before, but now every eye was fixed on us. I'm not sure, but i think they were trying to determine which of us was crazier. I was definitely operating outside of their acceptable stereotypical white-man-behavior. I commanded the demon loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "Anahbee Eesah kheelee ra, n falama ee bay, ee kha keeree yee meexee mah. Ee kha siga. (In the name of the Prophet Jesus, i tell you must get out of this person. You must go.)" The man began to twitch and convulse, still standing, for about two seconds. He stopped and blinked a few times, seemingly at peace. He looked around with a puzzled expression on his face as if to say, "Where am i?" That lasted about five seconds. Then the most bizarre thing happened. He stumbled forward, as if something had struck him from behind. He caught his steps and stood erect again, shrugged his shoulders like an athlete loosening up before a competition, and then opened his eyes as wide as before. He turned away and began to resume leaping in front of vehicles.
It was incredibly puzzling to me. What had just happened? Wasn't he supposed to be free now? Why was he jumping in front of cars yet again? I can't be certain exactly what happened in the spiritual realm here, but it appeared that the demon was effectively cast out by the power of Jesus, the man had a few moments of freedom, and then the demon came back to the man to begin tormenting him yet again. Obviously, this or any interpretation of what had just transpired was troubling to me. Unsure of what to do next, i just got back in my truck and left.
As thankful as i am for my upbringing in solid-doctrine Baptist churches my whole life, i concede that none of those American churches' teachers and preachers taught much about exercising demons. I decided to seek the advice of a trusted colleague and confidant, JD. JD and his family have served in this country for several years and they've seen it all. He is as sold-out for Jesus as any person i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. JD was able to shed some light on Scripture that i'd never considered in such a context as this before.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)
"Jesus then asked him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Legion,' for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.
Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they
begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned." (Luke 8:30-33)Though i'm not going to hang my faith on it, JD's explanation seems to hold water according to these two passages. JD suggests this is what transpired: In Jesus' name the demon was effectively cast out of my acquaintance. However, i neglected to follow Jesus' example in instructing the demon where to go to. Indeed, i did not send the demon into "the abyss" or any unsuspecting livestock nearby. I just told it to leave. It did. Then, having received no further instructions in Jesus' name, it did as it pleased, which evidently included returning to this man, perhaps bringing other demons along with it.
As you may have guessed, though this explanation satisfied my lack of understanding, it do not make me feel any better. It's quite possible that i unknowingly put this poor man in a worse state than before i'd found him.
So, i solemnly resolved to find this man once again give him the chance to be free for good.
Alas, finding him was easier said than done...
Click here for part 3.
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