Ask most people if they believe in Satan or if he exists and you will receive a variety of answers. The Bible speaks of a fallen angel known as Lucifer or Satan. Next to Christ, he is the most powerful being in the universe, rightly to be feared, yet, to the weakest saint whose trust is in the Lord, he is a conquered enemy.
Haunted houses are often considered a thing of the past, relegated to Halloween or ridiculed as the creation of a simple mind, yet Satan does make his abode in houses and other human habitations and, on occasion, makes his presence known. Such is the gist of this testimony from Sevilla.
While living near Rogersville, Tennessee, we became aware of the presence of evil spirits in our home. We did not hear any knockings, objects did not move about mysteriously, we didn’t hear strange voices or vibrations, but gradually we became aware that an unholy influence was manifesting itself.
One evening, Sevilla, who had retired early, came into my study and asked for prayer. While laying in bed, she felt a cold, chocking sensation in her throat and correctly surmised it might be Satan. Together, we immediately knelt in prayer asking that the Lord rebuke his enemy. This type of prayer must never be entered into carelessly or flippantly, for Satan is a mighty enemy justly to be feared. We offered our petitions to the throne of heaven “in the name of Jesus Christ.” When Satan hears that name being invoked, he must leave the immediate area at once, for he is powerless to withstand any saint who calls upon his or her Savior, but let not any one think there is magic in this name for only those who are know by Christ, through saving faith, can avail themselves of his power. Satan knows who belong to the Savior and who doesn't. Should anyone call upon Christ for protection against this enemy who are not first committed to Christ they run the fearful risk of incurring the ire of Satan. Without the protection of Christ, he may turn upon them and cause considerable mischief. Better to leave Satan alone then to confront him without the shield of Christ’s protective grace.
Following our prayer and by faith, we ventured through every room, nook and cranny of the house, arm and arm, repeating our prayer that Christ would cleanse the house of Satan’s evil agencies. No space was left unvisited, including the basement and the unused rooms.
Everywhere we went, we were confident that the angels were with us and that Satan was driven from the house. At another time, a similar experience occurred, but this time Sevilla saw Satan or a dark shadow, even though she is blind, and believed he was laughing at her fears and timidly.
But you may ask, why did Satan manifest himself in this house, why did he take up his abode where we were living and why did he come back after being driven out? Before we moved in, the house was occupied by a lady who was fully under his control. She wasn’t a witch and did not manifest any common outward Satanic behaviors, she was even considered, by many people, as a faithful Christian, yet her life was corrupt and filled with evil.
Satan dwells where his children dwell and was loath to leave when she was compelled to leave. Just as God’s angels gather about those who love him, so the Devil’s angels gather about those who love him. This is what is referred to as a haunted house. Such places do exist and are better left alone.
However, we had the misfortune to live in this house before we became aware of its unwanted visitors. Talking with the owners of the house, we learned from them that they also knew of its unwanted occupants and had called on the name of Christ to cleanse it of evil spirits on more then one occasion. Similarly, we had to do it again once more before we moved out.
Why did Satan come back? He was loath to leave for the same reasons we are loath to leave a friendly, comfortable home. It was his home and he wanted it.
We are constantly surrounded by an evil or righteous atmosphere. Another way of saying the same thins is the common expression, we are known by the company we keep. It is possible to discern, through careful observation, the nature of the influence that surrounds an acquaintance, wether good or evil.
This experience was unsettling for both Sevilla and I, although we suffered no repercussion or further manifestations of the Satanic influence that pervaded the house. Our eyes must constantly be upon Christ, our Savior, who met and defeated Satan on the battlefield of this earth. I admonish any one reading this testimony to leave Satan alone, but if we must confront him, it should always be done through the power and intercession of Jesus Christ.
May the Lord be praised!