Christian Ministry Archives - Spiritual Gifts Today

Some say demonic spirits cannot possess a Christian. They can be oppressed, depressed, and obsessed. What happened to me that afternoon was right out of a horror movie! If I had not experienced it myself, I would never have believed it to be true! I was a young believer saved about a year. I loved the Lord and was so excited about finding God, filled with the Holy Spirit addiction and depression. I was totally committed to serving the Lord! I prayed, read, and studied God's Word faithfully. The Holy Spirit filled me, but there was something wrong, something that I was not aware of. I opened the door. A demonic door! As a teen and a young woman, I had gotten spiritual readings from a medium. Later I met a woman who introduced me to the religion called Santeria. I took part in rituals that involved spiritual baths and animal sacrifices in cleaning and grooming. Unknowingly, this opened the door for demonic spirits into my life. Three years later, someone gave me a Gospel tract, which led me to someone who prayed with me to receive Jesus Christ into my heart. I became a member of the church, and I began learning about the Lord, prayer, and the Word of God. I was so on fire for the Lord. I spoke to everyone I knew about Salvation. I also lead my sisters and parents to the Lord. Never in a million years did I think a demon would attack me. A Demon attacked me One Saturday afternoon, at Joy Fellowship, Church in the Bronx, New York, I attended a weekend school of evangelism. Keep in mind this was a charismatic church, and we didn't practice deliverance. I had all these boxes checked. My Pastor was there, and our guest teacher, Luke Weaver, and the men and woman who came to participate. The group was holding hands, praying in a circle. Suddenly some unseen thing grabbed me and yanked me by the back of the collar. I was actually lifted off my feet, and only my toes touched the floor. I was confused and terrified and began to scream, “Help me!” People looked at me with shock, and horror, as I was a part of a small home fellowship, where nothing like this had ever happened, ever. One of the ministers came to me and said, “open your eyes, stay with us, don’t close your eyes. ” I began to feel relief, and the demonic spirits seem to release me, for that moment, and the group resumed praying. Again, the demonic force grabbed me, and I was thrown against the front door. I reverted to a little child. I remember crying and saying, “I want to go home.” I didn’t understand what was happening and felt so helpless. I John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the devil's works. My Pastors Steps In to Help Finally, my Pastor, Martin Bender, told some people to take me to a house's back room. When two men grabbed me, I began to fight them and scream, “Don’t touch me!” “Take your hands off me!” My skin hurt and burned when they touched my arms to carry me away. My Pastors and Luke Weaver, a visiting Pastor, followed. I was still crying and had my eyes closed. I remember saying, "why is this happening to me?" My Pastor calmly called my name and said, “Pamela, open your eyes and look at me.” As my Pastor spoke to me, I could see his lips move, but there was a delay before I could hear each word. My auditory senses were affected, and the demonic spirit did not want me to hear my pastor's words. My pastor's wife, Sister Bender, was also there, praying for my deliverance. They had never experienced anything like this, and neither had I. I struggled to understand my Pastor's words, as it sounded as If he was speaking from a mountain cliff, and his words echoed. I cried and closed my eyes again. When I opened my eyes to looked, and my Pastor in front of my eyes were another pair of yellow eyes, looking through my own eyes! Oh, my God, what is this? Casting Out Devils - Set Free The visiting Pastor and my Pastor began to rebuke the devil. They spoke very calmly but with authority rebuking the demonic spirit and commanding it to lose me. Soon, I felt the demonic spirit leave, and my sight and hearing became normal again. I cried and cried for an hour or more, as God was ministering to me with his anointing. Ephesians 11:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Closed Doors and Deliverance I did not understand how this could happen to me. I realized that I had opened demonic doors when I was involved with Santeria, ritual baths animal sacrifice. For three days, I felt a heavy presence of the Holy Spirit covering me and healing me from within. Demonic oppression is a real thing, and yes, a Christian and an unbeliever can be oppressed by a demonic spirit. I was so blessed to be at the right place at the time to get my deliverance. God is a deliverer, and who the Son sets free is free indeed! Many times these spirits will hide or lay dormant until they are pressured by an anointed service or in the presence of someone with authority to cast them out. Was I possessed by a demon? No, but I was demonized. Did this ever happen again? No, but until this day, 40 years later, it still shakes me to the core. Romans 8:15 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.