Objectives
- How to handle situations involving intense rhetoric and speculation with agility.
- How to minister deliverance to those afflicted with fear, speculation, insomnia, and depression.
- How to discern the underlying logic system through the patient's condition.
- Learn how to effectively communicate the victorious church's ecclesiology.
Case Study: Seeking Healing and Deliverance for Individuals Suffering from Insomnia, Depression, Fear, and Speculation
Sister Xiaolin had been struggling with fear. It later developed into insomnia, and subsequently, depression. Medication provided some relief. Later, while in university, she came into contact with a local church and embraced the Gospel. She actively served in the church and became a leader. However, her insomnia persisted, fluctuating and recurring, and she relied on antidepressants to manage it. Guided by the church's teachings, she accepted this as normal. Yet, the more she read the Bible, the more confused she became. Seeking help from her church pastor, she was advised to practice patience, confess and repent, and pray more. As time passed, Xiaolin began to search elsewhere, listening to various sermons online and attending healing crusades, but without success. She also tried to draw closer to God and seek inner healing, but to no avail.
Due to study and work pressures, her insomnia and depression worsened. Each time she contacted her pastor, she was advised to rely on medication, pray diligently, accept it as God's grace, and learn patience, among other things. The more she communicated with her pastor, the more distressed she felt. In desperation, she searched online and found the Chinese Mingding Destiny website. She contacted an assistant who arranged for pastoral care. During their conversations, the pastor learned that her grandmother had passed away when she was six years old. At the funeral, her family asked her to participate in ancestral worship, and since then, she had experienced feelings of fear, especially at night when she was alone. The more she feared, the more difficult it was to fall asleep. She feared everything, often worrying about things incomprehensible to normal people. It was also discovered that she engaged in much futile speculation. For example, Why do people need to eat? What is faith? Is what I have within me faith? If I don't believe, will I go to hell? Am I a faithful person? If I am not faithful, I am doomed, and God will not love me. A series of strange and pointless thoughts, compounded by traditional theological speculations, created chaos within her.
What is most needed now is how to release her from the bondage of depression, insomnia, and fear. Furthermore, we must constantly clear away speculative theological concepts. Everyone can simulate Xiaolin's situation and that of the pastor. Under the guidance of the teacher, let us all discuss how to minister to this sister.
Let us assume the following scenarios and discuss together how to minister to her
(I) Scenario 1: After praying with her and she receives tongues through prayer and is filled with the Holy Spirit, she begins to ask, I don't feel that my mouth has been opened by the Holy Spirit. What do you do? After ministering to her, she reluctantly speaks in tongues and then asks, Is this speaking in tongues? Am I filled with the Holy Spirit? How do I know if this is the Holy Spirit filling me or an evil spirit filling me? How do you continue to minister?
(II) Scenario 2: One day, she completely breaks down. She cannot sleep for three consecutive days, and there is extreme confusion within her. After contacting her original pastor, she becomes even more confused as she listens, and a ferocious look even appears on her face. She contacts you. How should you lead her in prayer? Three hours pass in the blink of an eye, and she shows no signs of release. What should you do?
(III) Scenario 3: After several hours of prayer, she begins to babble nonsense, shouting randomly, sometimes showing extreme fear on her face, and sometimes curling up into a ball. How should you minister to her?
(IV) Later, she is released and feels refreshed. When she returns home, she tells you the next day that she had a good night's sleep, the best she has had in a long time. How should you minister to her next?
Thoughts to guide the discussion
(I) Scenario 1:
You can consider interspersing some teaching to dispel myths about speaking in tongues and examining relevant scriptures.
Refer to the manuscript explaining the myths of speaking in tongues.
(II) Scenario 2:
This is a sign of complete release.
Begin to declare victory, remove fear, and convey the belief of release. This is the devil's last struggle.
Ponder how to use language skills and tools.
Ponder how to naturally use the gifts of the prophets.
(III) Scenario 3:
At this time, the demon has manifested, and victory is at hand.
Ponder how to discern the names of evil spirits, begin to pray with understanding, and rebuke the devil to leave.
Continue to persevere until released and restored to normal.
(IV) Scenario 4:
Begin to arrange more teaching of the truth.