"The Word Came With Power"

"The door flew open and Chalinggay burst in, running as best as a crippled old woman can. Sweating profusely, her face twisted in pain, she was bent over and clutching her stomach as if she were being stabbed repeatedly. Her body was going stiff in the jerky shakes that accompany spirit possession. 'They're killing me, they're killing me!' She screamed. 'Send them away, there're killing me!'
I was paralyzed with fear. What have I done? Oh God, now what do I do? I started to pray. Chalinggay prayed each word, right on top of mine. Then I stopped in mid-sentence.
'Chalinggay, the trouble with you is, you're not God's child. If you would repent of your sins, and ask God to make you his child, then God could protect you.' I know God had to help us in this battle.
Chalinggay didn't wait for me to pray this time; she just threw her head back and shouted up at God… instantly the shaking stopped and the pain vanished: the spirits had fled." pg 100-101

"The Word Came With Power", by Joanne Shetler and Patricia Purvis…. what an amazing book! Spiritual warfare is something you read about, something you sort of acknowledge exists, but don't really spend any time thinking about it. However when you are faced with testimonies like this you are stopped dead in your tracks.

Paul tells us "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against …the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So often I just read over that with the "ya, sure" attitude.

This book is all about the spiritual battle, and victory as the Bible translators go to live with the Balangao people of the Philippines. The Balangao people lived in fear of the evil spirits, a harsh reality for them as the spirits endlessly demanded sacrifices. It is so foreign for me to even think in those terms, and I think I too often just shrug off the idea of 'spiritual forces' as if they weren't important. I could hardly put this book down, the story, of the people's realization of God's power over the spirits, is just amazing!

There is always wisdom to be learned from the 'elders'; the author's adopted 'father', Ama, was such a man of wisdom. Here are just two examples of his wise teaching, quoted from the book, that meant a lot to me.

"You can't teach people something if they steadfastly refuse to ask questions. That's just a courteous way of rejecting God." pg 153

His step-by-step method to deal with conflict; "First of all, you must listen. Walk along with the other person on his trail and affirm every point you can, demonstrating to him that you understand him. Then, when he's no longer threatened, and he realizes you understand his argument, take him by the hand and lead him where you want him to go." pg 122

Well that’s all for now! That’s going on to my "Most Favorite" book list!