{"id":14033,"date":"2023-10-16T16:38:47","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T20:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/?p=14033"},"modified":"2026-03-10T18:02:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T22:02:51","slug":"by-the-grace-of-god-i-can-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/by-the-grace-of-god-i-can-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"By the Grace of God, I Can, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ishmael was a Pioneer Bible Worker for Riverside Farm Institute in Zambia. Justin (Ishmael\u2019s brother-in-law) and Steven (a seasonal worker from Tanzania) were studying Truth Link<\/em> together with Ishmael. Using the Bible, they referenced the series of questions each lesson asked. God was at work. Ishmael couldn\u2019t believe what was happening! His brother-in-law, who used to love humiliating Christians, wanted to learn about Jesus! However, during this time, Ishmael noticed Steven was acting strange during their Truth Link<\/em> studies. It was as if a small, unobservable battle was happening in his mind. It was almost like Steven was talking with someone that wasn\u2019t there. Something was not right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Sunday during a Truth Link<\/em> study, Ishmael recalled to me in our interview, Steven had just returned from church. He told Ishmael that he was feeling strange and asked for prayer. Ishmael told me, \u201cIt was odd because Steven did not ask for prayer from his congregation. Then when I started praying for him, he began to grow dizzy and speak in weird ways\u2014as if his words were from someone else.\u201d Steven began speaking Swahili (his native language) in strange voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a series of struggling utterances, the following words flowed from Steven\u2019s mouth, \u201cDo you know who we are? We are from Tanzania, from Kilimanjaro. We are many. You cannot manage us. You cannot deal with us. You cannot conquer us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demons are often associated with mountains in Africa, and Ishmael knew he was facing powers much older than himself. Lesson four of Truth Link<\/em> describes the war in heaven. The reality is that an order of spiritual beings was removed from heaven and now operates \u201cwithin our world, mostly unseen,\u201d but it is \u201csometimes in visible form (Hebrews 1:14; 13:2)\u201d (Truth Link<\/em>, lesson 4, pg. 1). Thankfully, there is a far greater power available to us. \u201cJesus came to our world to \u2018destroy the works of the devil\u2019 (1 John 3:8)\u201d (Truth Link<\/em>, lesson 4, pg. 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow did you feel at this point?\u201d I asked Ishmael after he described the demon\u2019s taunting. Ishmael said he had questions racing through his mind, \u201cHow can I manage this? Can I make it?\u201d Ishmael continued, \u201cI heard a voice telling me to be strong. I felt strength come to me, giving me the ability to pray. So I started praying.\u201d Ishmael repeated, \u201cI started praying! I said, \u2018God, You are always with me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you were sitting next to Ishmael that night, you would see Steven\u2019s shifting expressions showing anger more than anything. Ishmael’s praying had a serious effect. \u201cIt was as if the man wanted to punch me!\u201d Ishmael exclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIt was as if the man wanted to punch me!\u201d Ishmael exclaimed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What happened next will shock you. The demons began confessing that Ishmael had the true God with him. As we sat in the empty church pews, Ishmael shifted his voice to mimic the words he remembered the demons saying, \u201cThis man has gone from many pastors before, and nothing has consumed us. But you have the real God, and you have consumed us. You have sent fire from above. Your God is the real God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait. Isn\u2019t this story about Justin\u2019s transformation to becoming a fellow worshiper with Ishmael? Rest assured; it is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, sitting next to Ishmael was Justin. Although Ishmael could understand Swahili, he couldn\u2019t speak it. Justin, on the other hand, spoke fluent Swahili. He was translating for Ishmael as he prayed and spoke. \u201cI continued to pray, pray, pray!\u201d said Ishmael. \u201cThen I heard a voice tell me to say, ‘Pack your things and leave’ to the demons.\u201d Ishmael repeated the command, and Justin translated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The voices responded, \u201cThis man has kept something that is ours, but now we will take it and go.\u201d Immediately after those words, Steven tilted forward and woke up. Ishmael asked him how he was doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steven responded to Ishmael, \u201cThese demons have been with me for three years. They told me they were with me to guide and protect me. They wanted me to become a witch doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ishmael quickly said, \u201cNo! Demons cannot protect you. God will be your guide. He will protect you when you walk in His way!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steven desired to dedicate his life to the God he\u2019d been learning about. He was ready to follow Jesus and lead others to Him. He said, \u201cI know five more people that need this Truth Link<\/em>.\u201d Once again, as you can imagine, Ishmael was happy to share!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this experience, Justin, Ishmael\u2019s brother-in-law, said to Ishmael, \u201cI see that you serve the Most High God!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ishmael responded, \u201cYes, I do! And you must follow Him. You must accept Jesus as your Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin also committed his life to the Lord that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After finishing his account to me, Ishmael said, \u201cEven this one from Tanzania [Steven] is still staying with me, working and worshiping. My brother-in-law no longer drinks! And yes, we all continue studying Truth Link<\/em> together in my home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the lessons, Ishmael said, \u201cI find that Truth Link<\/em> helps me plan and teach through a set procedure. I just distributed 15 copies of Truth Link<\/em> to my congregation for a new evangelistic series we are about to do. They are excited to use it. I am thankful that I am still sharing Truth Link<\/em>. I need more. I really hope they have more in this distribution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never underestimate the power of a \u201csimple\u201d Bible study. Using God\u2019s Word, Jesus brought demons out of forsaken people. Using God\u2019s Word, a humble Bible worker in Zambia brought demons out of a man who thought there was no hope of getting rid of them. Your financial gifts send Truth Link<\/em> to Bible workers like Ishmael and equip them with the tools they need to bring God\u2019s Word to the unreachable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for being part of this story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ishmael was a Pioneer Bible Worker for Riverside Farm Institute in Zambia. Justin (Ishmael\u2019s brother-in-law) and Steven (a seasonal worker from Tanzania)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":14036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Praying-Man.jpg?fit=2000%2C1125&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paAh8r-3El","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14033"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15448,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14033\/revisions\/15448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}