24. It Took Four Men to Hold Him

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR IT TOOK FOUR MEN TO HOLD HIM This is a story of demon possession in one who claimed to be a Christian.

He was a 16-year-old boy from a pagan home, a home of witch doctors. In his sixth year at school, he had an attack of epilepsy, at which time he became possessed. After about three days he was brought to me, and we immediately saw he was possessed. He called himself God, and continually quoted Scripture, telling everybody to worship him.

After two days he became violent, but at first we were able to pray with him, all night at times.

He would rave and scream when we prayed. When we asked him to pray for himself, asking the Lord to help him in the name of Jesus, he would start, “Lord, help me in” - then hesitate, and with a sneer, insert his own name. When we asked him if he believed Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:3) he would always answer with an awful sneer, “Babu” (No). His eyes seemed to be as wide as saucers and the spirit that looked out of them was exceedingly vile and evil.

One night we asked if he wanted to be rid of these demons and he said, “Let me think about it.”

After a little while he answered, “No, I do not want to be rid of the demons, for they give me power.”

He was frail, but it often took four men to hold him.

Some demons told their names and they all centered around the Godhead, that is, glory, power, and great. When he was asked to tell us his sins, he always started with envy, and continued to tell the others such as adultery and thievery.

Pastor Kure said such demons were powerful. When he read the Bible, the boy would try to grab it out of his hand, and attempt to tear off his robe. With the rest of us he was not so vicious. The awful, mocking, vile look from his eyes was revolting. Injections would not put him to sleep. At times he raved day and night, but was quieter when with another. After seven days his father took him home tied hand and foot. He was tied for three months - they were good to him, which is not always the case. They often do away with such cases.

He finally got better and went back to school. The students reported light attacks from time to time, but he finished grammar school and wanted to enter Bible School. But with such a testimony he could not be accepted. Shortly afterward he died in an attack. He went into a coma from which he never recovered.

Why did we fail? Did we not fast and pray as Jesus said?

Two of us did fast and pray at first. Was it because he did not want to be delivered? If, when he went into the coma, Christians had been there with him, could they have cast out the demons? So many questions arise in connection with this case.

Verna Pullen Jos, Nigeria, West Africa ~ end of chapter 24 ~ http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/

***