"Am I still alive?" were the first words Fred (name changed to protect identity) uttered. I called his name – no answer. I called again and he cried out, "Am I still alive?" Finally, after some time, Fred looked at me and asked, "What happened?"
It all began more than a year and a half earlier when I first became acquainted with an area of ministry that was unfamiliar to me: Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Ministry. A fellow pastor from northern Indiana presented at our LCMS Spring Pastor’s Conference a paper entitled, "Dealing with Demons, Fact or Fiction?"
After the conference I began to read a number of the resources he mentioned and I began to realize that one reason many of us do not take the demonic more seriously is because we operate with an unbiblical world-view, one which for all practical purposes eliminates any functional relationship between the spirit realm and our life here on earth.
After having returned from a mission trip to India during July of 1997, I was more convinced than ever of the reality of the demonic and also of its power, yes, even in the lives of Christian people. But while I had read about "demonization" (I believe to talk about a Christian being possessed is not accurate) and spoken with people who had confronted demonic manifestations, I never thought I would be a part of this kind of ministry.
Fred’s brother had called me and asked if I would help him. Fred had called him and told him about some terrible dreams he was having in which forces were trying to kill him and voices kept saying, "You can’t have him. He belongs to us!" When I called Fred, he was terrified and while he was embarrassed to talk about his problem, he indicated he did not want to go on living as he had in the past.
The next day Fred came in for counseling. Because my readings had indicated this kind of counseling should never be done alone, I contacted several of my Pastoral Prayer Partners to see if one of them could sit with me during the session. Finally, one agreed. Since I had not been able to make those arrangements before I had made the appointment with Fred, I told him that another person would be present. If he wanted to cancel, I would understand. He was nervous, but wanted to get past his problem and the terrifying dreams he was experiencing.
We began with a prayer asking for God’s presence and guidance and protection from any further demonic activity. I noticed Fred had difficulty as we prayed specifically for God to reveal any demonic activity.
When I later inquired, his response was, "You don’t think this is demonic, do you? Isn’t it just a problem with my sinful flesh?" I agreed that it could be, but said we wanted to make sure. I shared with him the difference between a western (materialistic) world view and the biblical (spiritual powers) world view. Later he shared with us that it was at that point that he noticed becoming very uncomfortable.
Fred’s problem was an involvement with pornography for the past 22 years. It all started as a boy at a neighbor’s house. He indicated that with each encounter it seemed like he was descending into an ever tightening spiral. It took more to get the same "high." After an extended time of laying his sin "on the table," I led him through a time of repentance and confession. I then assured him of God’s gracious forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus.
When this was all complete, I went on to the next step suggested by my pastor friend. Gently, but firmly, I said, "In the name of Jesus and by the power of the blood he shed on Calvary, I command any spirit to leave."
Immediately Fred flew out of his chair and was "thrown" against some file cabinets behind him. His face was contorted and he (the demon) snarled, "You can’t have him. He belongs to us!" Not ever having had such an experience and not knowing what to do, I simply kept repeating what I had said earlier, "In the name of Jesus and by the power of the blood he shed on Calvary, I command you to leave." This exchange continued until Fred finally fell limp in his chair.
As we processed what had happened, Fred was obviously shaken, confused and uncertain. We took time together in the Word to share the precious promises of forgiveness and victory which God offers. We also went to the altar and had Communion .
Yes, my dear reader, Satan is REAL! And he has power to afflict even the lives of God’s children. BUT, and this is most important, "He who is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)." I am convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that there is power in the name of Jesus and in the blood he shed for sinners like you and me. I am humbled to be used of God in this way to confront "the old evil foe," to bring deliverance to this young man and to be able to give testimony to Christ’s power and greatness.
Fred is still struggling with sin in his life, even with his problem with pornography, but he is growing in his understanding of the Word and of the forgiveness of his Lord. My prayer partner and I continue to counsel with him on a regular basis and call him several times a week to hold him accountable. And he rejoices that there are people in his church family who care enough to hold him accountable for a life of purity before God.
In closing let me repeat the advice I received from a fellow LCMS pastor: Never do this kind of ministry alone. Never do this ministry without first dealing with sin in your own life. Never do this ministry without a strong prayer partner who understands the issues of warfare. To God alone be the glory!
Rev. Richard E. Kurth
4141 N. High School Rd.
Indianapolis, IN
46254-2714