Power to trample on snakes and scorpions....

Often there is a verse/verses in the Bible that you’ll read and often wonder if that will ever have any application to your life. Then one day an event occurs and it becomes clear that there isn’t a thing in the world that could have been said better to relate to what you’ve experienced. I’ve been in Suriname for an eventful two weeks and have been blessed beyond measure.

I got back to the city Wednesday after spending a week in the interior jungle 100 miles upriver from Paramaribo. Taylor and I will be spending most of our time in a village called Diitabiki during our next 6 months here. Our supervisor Charles was with us getting us oriented before he left last night to head back to the U.S. where he is on furlough till June. Our trip to the interior consisted of taking a motor boat two days upstream to Diitabiki, staying in the village and visiting believers and other contacts he has made during his seven years there. We then flew back home on a Cessna 206 airplane. We will be flying back to Diitabiki on Saturday and will stay there until March 4. We got a taste of everything we’ll be doing in the next two years: visiting villages, building relationships, discipling, evangelism, storying etc.

We were also quickly introduced to the physical and spiritual treachery that lies there. One afternoon last week we visited a village where Charles wanted to see some Christians he knew from there. During this time there was an Aukan funeral procession. Funerals in this culture are extremely dark and demonic and we wouldn’t have gone were there not people he had to see. It was a paradoxical situation because we’re on the outside of the village talking with new believers who have forsaken paganism and witchcraft to follow Christ all the while within view is a disturbing sight: A frenzied group had grabbed a sharp machete and was grasping the razor edge tugging back and forth. There should have been blood and men with sliced hands but everyone remained unscathed. There were men who looked demon possessed convulsing and mumbling chants. I asked Charles later how they didn’t get seriously hurt and he said during that particular ceremony they fight over a machete to see who will be possessed by spirits; demons give them power to remain unharmed.

Even during this time God protected us from Satan’s power and we were in fellowship with others who had come into the truth and away from a life of fear and spiritual oppression. The next day we were in our yard cleaning up and Charles and I stumbled upon a poisonous viper in the high grass. The snake was in the spot we were about to step but Charles saw it and we backed off, got a shovel and machete and killed it. Later that night one passage came to mind which the Lord used to encourage, comfort, and strengthen our faith. Luke 10: 19 “I have given you power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Being where I am, this particular verse was the right word at the right time and is evidence of the living and active nature of the Bible. I know there were dangers the Lord protected us from that we never knew were there but he also showed us in two situations exactly what perils he rescued us from.