Deliverance from the Power of Darkness

From Darkness to Peace: A Powerful Testimony of Faith in Jesus

In August, Pastor Shahbaz traveled to a country in West Asia to visit a group of believers, attend meetings, and witness several baptisms. During his visit, he met Amir (a pseudonym), a Muslim man who was invited to attend the baptism of a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) family. Amir spent a day and a half with the local Adventist community, where he encountered the love of Jesus in an unexpected way.

A Powerful Encounter with the Love of Jesus

“Amir’s countenance was blank, full of grief and darkness,” recalls Pastor Shahbaz. “I told him about the love of God and His mercies, that Jesus loves him and died for him.”

Amir was given a Bible. During their time together, the daughter of one of the men being baptized, who has a disability, became lost in the hotel. Everyone began searching for her.

Pastor Shahbaz stopped the group and said, “Jesus knows where she is. Let’s ask Jesus to help us find her,” and prayed for her. After praying together, Pastor Shahbaz and Amir continued searching separately. As Pastor Shahbaz turned a corner, they found the girl.

Amir’s countenance immediately changed. Filled with faith and hope, he exclaimed, “I believe in Christ!” The experience profoundly impacted him, and he immediately placed his trust in Christ. Pastor Shahbaz continued sharing with Amir that Jesus is God and that one day, every knee will bow before Him.

A Sister’s Struggle with Spiritual Oppression

After Pastor Shahbaz returned to the United States, he and Pastor Shahin learned that Amir’s sister, Mandana (a pseudonym), was experiencing what she described as severe spiritual oppression. At times, Amir experienced similar episodes.

Mandana reported waking up with bruises and larger-than-normal handprints on her body. Although she had memorized the Quran, she had become disillusioned with Islam, religion, and God. She told Satan, “I want you to come into my heart,” and gave herself to him.

She was inspired to draw disturbing images. “They were images of demons and evil, creatures with horns and evil faces,” Pastor Shahbaz recalls. “Mandana had an unnatural look in her eyes, looking at us from the corner of her eyes.”

Pastor Shahin met Amir through the family that had been baptized and began Bible studies with him shortly afterward. Pastor Shahbaz met Mandana through a video call with Pastor Shahin and Amir. When Amir reported that Mandana was exhibiting what he described as demonic behavior, Pastor Shahin urgently contacted Pastor Shahbaz. Together, the pastors began praying for Mandana.

As soon as they began praying, Mandana left the room and did not return. Later, her brother gave her his Bible.

Turning to the Bible and Praying for Deliverance

On September 12, Mandana picked up the Bible and began reading. She continued until 3 a.m., seeking answers and hope. She prayed, “Jesus, save me from this situation. If You are real, save me!”

The following day, Pastor Shahbaz invited another pastor to join them on a video call to pray for Mandana’s deliverance from the power of Satan. They encouraged Mandana and Amir to remove anything in their home that they associated with evil.

They gathered approximately twelve of Mandana’s drawings and showed them to ALM over video. Amir took the drawings outside, tore them into pieces, and burned them.

The group then began praying. During the prayer, Mandana became increasingly distressed. She appeared physically ill, moaning and breathing deeply. The group continued praying and commanded the evil demons to leave in the name of Jesus. But the struggle continued.

While Amir was outside burning the drawings, Mandana smiled and said, “I feel some peace. May I pray also?”

She prayed to Jesus, asking Him to deliver her. However, she grew weary as she continued praying. She wailed several times, became physically exhausted, and struggled with her breathing. She wanted to leave.

The group, including Amir, encouraged her not to give up or leave, believing that what she was experiencing physically was a sign that the demons were losing their grip on her. The battle between light and darkness, and between God's angels and demons, was evident to those participating in the prayer.

After approximately forty-five minutes of prayer and commanding the demons to leave her body, everything changed for Mandana. She experienced what the group understood to be deliverance and felt peace.

Finding Peace and Hope in Christ

Mandana’s countenance changed. “I have never felt peace in my life,” she said.

It was an emotional moment for everyone on the call. What had begun in darkness, fear, and uncertainty ended with Mandana experiencing peace and hope in Christ.

Pastor Shahin is currently giving Amir and Mandana Bible studies, and they plan to attend a home church with local Adventist members.

Where there was once darkness, fear, and uncertainty, there is now love, peace, and joy.