I witnessed a woman set free from a “spirit of Mary” and it was one of my earliest encounters with deliverance ministry. I understand that some of my Catholic friends may have a problem with this article but what follows is a true encounter that we witnessed.
In the late 1980’s, my wife and I were part of a “movement” of churches that believed in deliverance ministry but, like so many others, did not do it! We had a guest minister one time who was prophetically gifted and also operated in deliverance (even though we had no idea what that was in practice).
We were asked to sit in on a ministry session with someone and, when it was concluded, the man of God asked one of the ladies present if her mother had ever prayed to Mary for her. Surprised, this lady answered that indeed her mother, being a staunch Catholic, had prayed to Mary and she had done it also herself. He told her that she had a “spirit of Mary” and proceeded to call it out of the woman. Immediately, she began hacking and coughing and within moments she was free!
We’ve kept contact with that lady and over the years there has been immense growth in her own spiritual walk with Jesus. That encounter begs several questions: was the woman saved? (Yes, we knew her personally and salvation was not in question). Did she get set free from the spirit of Mary or from a spirit that came upon her because of the prayers to Mary (I do not know but does it matter?). The reality is that because of her mother’s repeated prayers to Mary (and probably her own also), there had a door opened for a demonic spirit to enter into her and torment her to keep her from walking in the fullness of all that Jesus had for her.
Occult Sin Opens the Door for Demonic Torment
It was almost ten years later before we were drawn back into deliverance ministry and also into professional Christian counseling. We have never forgotten that encounter because it was so unexpected and because it was so real to all who witnessed it. That woman got set free from a demonic spirit that day although probably only the minister himself had any real insight into what was happening.
We have since learned that occult activity of any kind (and praying to the mother of Jesus rather than the Lord himself is unbiblical and ungodly activity) can open the door to demonic spirits. God’s people do indeed (and still) perish for lack of knowledge and what we do not know can hurt us; ignorance is not bliss when it comes to spiritual warfare and the tactics of the demonic realm.
Have you seen or experienced instances, like this, where “religious” people who Jesus as Lord and Savior yet are bound up and not experiencing the fullness of God? Apart from proper teaching, they very likely need effective deliverance ministry as well!
Get all of our popular videos, podcasts, presentations, and guides in one place.