A Battle Rages

(1.16.14)

The battle started long before I ever knew where Haiti was or had even heard of Haiti, but last week the battle became more real, personal, and urgent for all of us.

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

 Ephesians 6:12

Last Monday we received a call saying one of our students was having an asthma attack. As Kameryn raced to gather supplies we were told the student had passed out. Concerned for her Meg, Rita, Kam (our nurse), Bernard (a translator), and pastor Benito raced up the mountain. I remained in the café praying for the situation.

Long story short(er), after Kam had checked vitals and all she could think to check she arrived at the conclusion that things were normal, there was no asthma attack but the student was still unresponsive. Kam racked her brain, asked the students sister and classmates questions, coming up with nothing. Meg explained to pastor that Kam was finding nothing.

Pastor walked over to Rose,* spoke, and she immediately jolted upright. He’d asked if there was anyone in her that didn’t belong. What followed was an intense hour of prayer and waging spiritual war as three demons were cast out of Rose.*

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13 & 14

The next day Meg, Kam, and Rita met with a student whom we’re trying to get to the States for an urgently needed surgery, along with her mother.

Everyone had been feeling a little unsettled about things and somewhere along the way it was questioned whether or not Lily* knew the Lord. So, after Mondays experience they pushed a little harder for answers. The meeting moved to pastor Benito’s house so he could pray with them, and he started asking questions. Dad, whom we’d always been told had died in the earthquake, was said to be alive and well. What?!?! Why this lie?

More questions.

Mom professes Christ, dad practices voodoo…  Yet more questions as mom dances around answering them, all the while Lily* won’t make eye contact with pastor, physically turning her body away from him.

Finally, “how does Lily* sleep at night?” After more dancing around the answer mom says Lily* does not sleep well, she is spiritually attacked every night but refuses to tell anyone what she is seeing or experiencing.

For now Lily’s trip to the States is on the back burner, so to speak, as we wage war for her soul. Healing for her body is no good if her soul is in torment. Her soul needs healing far more than her crippled body.

The first step is for Lily* to share what she’s been seeing and experiencing.

The battle is real whether or not you choose to believe it.

As for us, we’re realizing how real this is, how vulnerable our children are, that we must be proactive in waging war for our students, covering them in prayers of protection from Satan and his armies. We are being more intentional about being Jesus to our students, being intentional in our prayers, praying we are sensitive to the Spirit and that He would reveal which kids are in spiritual bondage.

We are a light on a hill, and even a small light is easily seen in the pitch dark and makes a difference, beginning to drive out the darkness.

We are in a battle. The battle rages but we don’t fear because our God is the God of angel armies and in the end the victory is His.

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10

There are so many other thoughts I have, and other places I could take this, but I leave you with the “simple” re-telling of these events and challenge you to think on them, I ask you to wage war with and for us. Ephesians 6:10-17 has become our prayer for ourselves, that we may be prepared to fight this battle, that we would not be caught off guard.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Ephesians 6:10-17

*Names changed to protect the privacy of our students