Grace to Defeat Darkness

I ministered to prison inmates in solitary confinement. As I introduced myself to one guy, he interrupted me and hissed, “I know who you are, Troy Brewer. You are going to die a horrible death and blah, blah, blah…”  He pronounced curses at me and my family before spitting on the glass where my face was! I had never seen this man, but he was calling me by name and declaring things for me that, privately, I’m afraid of. He didn’t know me, but the devil within him did.

I yelled back, “You are not the author and the finisher of my faith. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” He banged his head against the wall, chanting my name repeatedly. I quoted every scripture I could think of at the top of my lungs. We made so much racket, I was ushered back to the chaplain’s office.

I had a lot of time to think about what happened in that prison cell on my three-hour drive home.  It occurred to me that it’s good to be famous in Hell.

The Bible records the seven sons of Sceva took on a demon-possessed man, but bit off more than they could chew. The fools went toe-to-toe with a demon without the power of Christ when they said, “We command you in the name of Jesus that Paul preaches…” Acts 19:15-17 records what happened next.

“And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

The devil’s answer? He had never heard of them. Not only did he beat the fire out of them, they left naked! I’ve determined from this scripture it is good to be famous in hell. I hope the devil wakes up every morning cussing me and goes to bed cussing me! To hell with the devil!