Healed Of An Arthritic Spirit
Years ago, I attended a healing service and was a part of a ministry team praying for a couple in the medical profession. Art[1], a doctor, and Ella, a nurse, had returned home after serving as medical missionaries in the Middle East. As Ella stretched forth her right arm, arthritic nodules were evident on her wrist. The arthritis was also in her elbow, shoulder and beginning to affect her hip. As we began praying over her, I reached out to hold her arm.
The Holy Spirit gave me an image in my spirit. It depicted a dirty, arid, desert-like setting under a tent covering a few adults and many children standing in a line. Next, I saw a woman sitting on a chair, reaching over and picking up a little child and putting him on her knee. The picture then became focused on dust swirling around the child. I saw that this woman was a nurse and held the child with her right arm and hand to give him medical attention. Next, I saw dust attach to her hand and arm. The Lord told me she picked up an arthritic spirit from the dust.
Then this picture faded away. I told Ella what I saw and asked if I could remove it. “Yes!” she responded. I held her arm up and commanded this spirit to come off of her and to leave. The evil spirit began manifesting with movement in Ella’s right wrist, elbow, shoulder, and then her hip. As we rebuked this spirit in the Name of Jesus, it lifted off her. Within a few minutes, the arthritis was gone entirely.
I know this seems puzzling with the description of the effect of the dust, but I want to point out that the dust was only figurative to lead me to know what was the source of her infirmity. I saw in the realm of the supernatural, so this was not literal. We often inadvertently go into places where hideous crimes and bloodshed took place. In knowing the history of wars and persecution in the Middle East, this is almost unavoidable. The ground was defiled with the shedding of innocent blood that put it under a curse. Ella walked on it, unaware of all the supernatural associations. Evil spirits roam in those areas because of the wickedness and death that has taken place on that soil. In the Bible, we read about this in the murder of Abel by his brother, Cain. The LORD said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice]. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s [shed] blood from your hand.” (Genesis 4:10-11 AMP)
In the place Ella was working as a nurse, an evil spirit came up from the ground, attached itself to her body, and brought the affliction of arthritis. She was unaware of what happened until a few days later, when she began to feel pain. She and her husband pursued help from other doctors, but no one had answers. They sought to find out the root cause and prayed for God’s help. He arranged their circumstances which lead them to this ministry.
Now you might be thinking, “How can I be more aware of these risks and not walk into situations that make me vulnerable? I don’t want to live in fear but in the power and confidence of God’s protection.” It is a reality that we are in spiritual warfare daily. Still, unfortunately, most of us haven’t learned what that means and how to equip ourselves spiritually to deal with an adversary. Satan is perpetually seeking to destroy us or make us ineffective in ministry. Many Christians have a heart for service but are not prepared for the warfare they will encounter as they step into enemy strongholds—mission fields, prisons, homeless camps, etc. We are bringing our Light into darkness; therefore, we will experience retaliation. Without discernment to know what is happening, we attribute it to natural causes. Wisdom, spiritual maturity with discernment, and taking up the whole armor of God will make us powerful and victorious overcomers in all situations! (Ephesians 6:10-13) We also need to make sure that what is on our heart to do for the Lord is His will; that we are genuinely hearing His voice and following His leading. As we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, be assured His covering and protection will be over us.
For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him]. And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Psalm 117: 2 AMP
For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. 1 John 5:4 AMP
[1] The names are changed to protect their privacy.
