Street Preaching and Spiritual Warfare

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

Spiritual warfare is real.

The video you're about to see was shot on Saturday, November 10, 2012, at the North Hollywood Metro Station. Prior to the scene in this video, a very angry and quite possibly demon-possessed woman went on a tirade against Brad Snow while he was preaching and me when I tried to engage her in conversation.

Any effort I made to reason with the woman was met with vicious cursing and blasphemy. After a few minutes of this very one-sided exchange, an African American gentleman name Richard walked up and asserted he was Buddhist and agreed with what the woman was saying. At that point, I disengaged from talking to the two people, although Richard followed me, wanting to continue to assert his point of view.

Brad Snow intercepted Richard and engaged him in conversation. A few moments later is the time when the video starts. You will hear Brad and Richard talking in the background for the first several minutes of the video.

While I am not one who senses demons under every rock or around every corner, or one who believes encounters with angels is normative in a Christian's life, I believe the woman was possessed by demons. The woman, as you will see in the video, was dressed in blood red and black. She had tattoos along the sides of her face and around her ears. She wore a necklace of a cross with a skull sitting atop the cross. She claimed to be a medium. And, as you will see and hear in the video, she hated God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.

You will see the woman spit on me and then a few moments later kick our evangelism supply box, which was just outside the view of the camera. The box and its contents weighed more than 50 pounds at the time of the incident. Yet the petite and vicious woman almost succeeded in dropkicking the box into the street. The contents in the top of the box flew into the street when she kicked the box.

You will notice, as the rest of my team did, that the more of God's Word I read the more quiet the woman became. Darkness and light cannot inhabit the same place at the same time. She wold get up and leave as I read 1 John. You will see me turn toward her as she walked by and continuing to read the Word. I did so hoping the Word of God would drive her and whatever demonic presence was with her away for good. She did not return.

Toward the end of the video, a very interesting man named "Eddie" walked up and stood in front of me, just a few feet away. After a few moments, I paused my preaching to ask Eddie if he understood what I was saying. He affirmed the preaching of the gospel.

When I finished preaching, I stepped down and shook Eddie's hand. Another young man would come up to me and affirm the preaching of the gospel.

We talked to Eddie for a bit and gave him some gospel tracts, which he distributed there at the metro station. After some time, I noticed Eddie standing off in the distance, by himself. I walked over to Eddie and asked him if he would like some lunch. He said, "No. I've eaten good today and I've got some money in my pocket; but if you could spare some more gospel tracts that would be nice."

Eddie and I walked back over to the box the demon-possessed woman tried to kick into the street -- the box containing gospel tracts, gospel DVDs, and bibles. I gave Eddie several-hundred gospel tracts. He thanked me and walked away. I don't remember seeing Eddie leave the area.

Just as I don't believe encounters with demons is normative in a Christian's life, I also do not believe such interaction with angels is normative. But I believe every word of the Bible, and the Bible says this: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2).

Was Eddie an angel sent by God to encourage my team and me? I will not know with certainty this side of Heaven. But whether Eddie was an angel or a mere man like me, the sovereign Lord of all creation either caused or allowed Eddie to encourage us that day. So, to God be the glory and my thanksgiving.