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Delivered!
Jean-Charles knew about the evil side of the world. His religion taught of
demons, and his family constantly sought protection. To try to keep the evil
spirits away, they used sorcery. When Jean-Charles’ uncle became demon
possessed, his father tried to use amulets and other “magical charms” to rid
his uncle of the demons. Nothing worked. The family sacrificed chickens and
goats, but still nothing happened. Jean-Charles’ uncle was kept chained to a
tree for more than a year.
Then Jean-Charles’ aunt told about a pastor in the town. She had seen people
healed and delivered when this pastor prayed for them.
“How much must we pay?” Jean-Charles’ father asked.
“It’s free,” she said.
But Jean-Charles’ father would not believe it. He said, “I have spent all this
time and money with nothing to show for it. If it’s free, it can be no good.”
Instead, Jean-Charles’ father went to a more powerful sorcerer. But still nothing
worked.
Finally, in desperation, the family sent for the pastor. The pastor arrived with
two other believers. When the pastor preached the Word of God, it was the first
time Jean-Charles ever heard the name of Jesus.
Then the pastor got down on his knees and prayed for Jean-Charles’ uncle.
When he said, “Amen,” the demons were gone!
The next Sunday, the family attended the pastor’s church, bringing the uncle with them. When they returned to their village, Jean-Charles’ father told his
neighbors, “This religion is the truth. I’m going to follow Jesus.”
Jean-Charles’ father burned all his amulets and “magical charms.” Some villagers
began to persecute the family. Another sorcerer even tried to kill them!
But he failed. The sorcerer said to them, “You must have a true God. I have
never failed before.”
When Jean-Charles was older, God called him into the ministry. Today he
pastors a church and teaches at an Assemblies of God Bible school in Burkina
Faso.
This story came from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, July 4, 2004, and is used
with permission from the Evangel and from Assemblies of God World
Missions.
©2006 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission.
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