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Devotional
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December 22, 2021

Outside the Gate

December 22, 2021 by RACHEL MCDONALD YANAC SPIRITUAL WARFARE Fear Connecting with nationals
Outside the Gate
  • by RACHEL MCDONALD YANAC
  • Comment
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”
Hebrews 13:12

My first clash with spiritual darkness began the day the Romani family pitched their tents in the empty lot outside our gate. Once their camp was set, the women gathered their Tarot cards and walked into town to earn the day’s living telling fortunes. The men whiled away their time playing cards, while three small children were left to fend for themselves. After observing this for several days, I ran outside the gate one morning to get permission from the women to play with their kids. Soon we were playing jacks, cuddling an orphan lamb, and coloring Bible pictures while learning about God. Before long the oldest child, pretty Esmeralda, gave her heart to Jesus. 


One day I looked out my window and saw the Romanis packing up their tents and piling their belongings on top of their car. I quickly ran outside my gate to say goodbye to the kids. Seeing that I loved their children and noting that I had none of my own, the clan matriarch offered to give me a magic potion. Immediately little Pochula, who was keenly aware of the spirit world and had told me that he had “seen good and bad men fighting in the sky,” started shouting,  


“NO, NO, NO!  She believes in God!”   


Pochula knew the spiritual power wielded by his grandmother was not the same peace he felt while listening to Bible stories inside my gate.   


Fast forward several years, to the family that built a house on the empty lot outside our gate. Yessenia was a new Christian who had unknowingly opened the door to demonic activity by performing a traditional spell over her baby. Crying and afraid, she described the physical destruction wreaked on her house by an unseen enemy. Together we prayed, asking God’s forgiveness for relying on superstitions rituals, and claiming protection for her child. We thanked Jesus for disarming spiritual authorities and triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)  


Spiritual warfare is real, and the spirit world is closer than we think.  But Jesus’ suffering outside the city gate made it possible for us not only to win each battle, but to enter the gate of heaven as holy warriors! 

Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus, I feel like I don’t have enough words to begin thanking you for the work you did when you suffered outside the gate of Jerusalem. It’s such a comfort to know that you disarmed the spiritual authorities that seek to destroy us. Yes, they will continue to attack, because they were publicly humiliated on that day, but the weapons you give us to fight back are so much greater. Please help me never to forget that. And thank you for taking my sin upon yourself and making me holy so I can enter the beautiful gate of heaven. Amen.
Resources
Book: Two Hours to Freedom: A Simple and Effective Model for Healing and Deliverance by Charles H. Kraft I found this book in a box of give-aways from friends who had relocated, and it was immensely helpful when I found myself in a fierce spiritual battle with demonic enemies. It was biblical, easy to read, and very helpful.
Podcast: Dr. Karl Payne on In the Market with Janet Parshall (Moody Audio Podcasts) Any of the past programs featuring Dr. Karl Payne are great for building up your spiritual warfare arsenal. It seems like every time I am facing an intense battle, God arranges for one of these programs to be broadcast on the radio.
Verse: Deuteronomy 33:27
Verse: Colossians 1:13-14
Question for Reflection

Many cultures around the world seem to live much closer to the spirit world than we do in our home countries, and spiritual warfare takes on a different “look” in the places where we serve. What are some of the open doors to the spirit world where you live? How can you help your friends recognize and reject these pathways?

Comments
Rachel McDonald Yanac
December 22, 2021

Andean people are very superstitious, and they rely on many traditional rituals that mix naturopathic medicines with spiritual elements. While most of them don’t even realize that they are dabbling in the spirit world, I have heard countless friends, including Christians, describe how one of these rituals has worked despite the fact that there is absolutely no scientific evidence for it. I am careful to never disagree with my friends about whether or not their spells work; rather, I try to help them see that demonic activity can easily account for the fact that the ritual worked. I usually back this up with a basic Bible study on angels and demons, and our power through Christ to defeat the demons.