MY FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE CASTING OUT DEMONS

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

- Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)

Sunset in 1986, in the Cataning area we had a bible study. Pastor Greg Catipon (our Residential Pastor) was scheduled to preach. He first told our youth Joel, Arnel L., Arnel N., Charlie, Emma and Ate Wilma that we were going to invite people. We obeyed so much that Sis Wilma walked with me from house to house until I had a woman talk to me, and she said, "Can I get a join? I'm sick." And I insist that she waits to be prayed for. To avoid awkwardness of the woman I even escorted her in the chair, when we started singing she was anxious, unrelaxed and somewhat gasping. So, I told her to just sit down. The song was over and Pastor Greg started preaching. (The word of God is alive and effective, sharper than any sword with a blade. It penetrates even depths of the soul and the spirit, the joints, and bones, and knows the thoughts, and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Indeed, the word of God was alive and effective and the woman immediately landed at my lap signifying that the demon was beginning to manifest her. Because of this incident, the preaching was about to become so straightforward that Pastor Greg said we would just bring the woman into the house. We were quick to bring her. And while Pastor Greg was preaching we tried to oust the demon. Joel tries first, and he says, "Get out! In the name of Jesus! " the demon replied, "I'll go out, get a plate". And because we had no experience in such situations, it was fun to say Joel said that he was "coming out! Let's get a plate. " Sis Wilma reacted and said, "Why do we follow that demon? That's a lie. No!" so the demon banished again. Arnel L. later said "stay away," And Arnel shouting the girl in the face and says, "Get out! In the name of Jesus! " but the demon answered and said, "Get out of your bad breath!" It's kind of funny, but it's a real experience. Joel came back and said, "Get out! In the name of Jesus! " This time the demon was making fun of him, and he said, "yes, I'm really leaving. Just take a pitcher, so I can go. " This time Joel said "let's get the pitcher out of the way, and he'll be gone". Wilma objected. This is a strange circumstances but it is a very common experience that we are involved in this battle even though we do not know anything yet at that time many people were around and curious. At last Pastor Greg's preaching was over, so, he went inside. He said "all the young people come out, just leave Vangie" he told me "you do nothing but accept my prayer." And he began to cast out demons. Pastor asked the demon what his name was. Suddenly the demon answered, "I am Satan!" by the time I heard that, I was in shock and seemed to go out, and leave the pastor alone. But as I lifted my courage and resisted the fear I felt, I agreed to every prayer of Pastor. Suddenly the woman vomited, I noticed her vomit was strange, it was liquid, greened, red, yellow, and brown.

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The woman was truly free, and she accepted the Lord. Through this experience, I learned a great deal and became a part of my ministry. I see that the devil is also researching our positions to the extent of our authority.

Acts 19:11-20 (NIV)

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of the

Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.

He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.