Healing of a Demon Possessed Woman

 Transcribed by AI

Welcome to the programme "The Secret of Life." This programme, in the light of the Holy Gospel, helps you to make fundamental changes in your life. Welcome to the Living Secret of Life programme, where the Lord is good and kind. Please accept my greetings. I hope each of you is well, healthy, and in good spirits.

Today, we have with us once again Javidan and Zaher. Please go ahead, Javidan and Zaher. Greetings, dear friends, and thank you for inviting us to this programme. I am very pleased to see you, and today we will talk about the works of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I welcome you. Welcome, brother Zaher, for being with us today. I am very happy to get to know you, and we welcome all viewers to our programme. Please stay tuned as today we want the Lord to share His message through us.

We can’t hear your voice. Greetings to you, brother Zaher, and greetings to the viewers of “The Secret of Life.” I am Zaher, and today we want to share our life testimony... Before that, Zaher, please give us your testimony. We would like to read a verse from the Bible first. In Psalm 34, verse 8, it says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

As Christians, we share our testimony or faith witness. We have tasted and affirm our testimony that the Lord is good. This means that we have personally seen the goodness of the Lord in our lives. We have felt it in our skin, blood, and soul.

Now I would like to ask Zaher to share his faith testimony with us. Go ahead. You see, taste that the Lord is good, and it is truly a delightful feeling. I won’t go into too much detail. The first time I met an Afghan Christian, or a believer in Jesus Christ who was Afghan, was in Turkey.

We were very upset. There were three of us. We wanted to harm him. But he was a very polite young man. He didn’t give us any reason or excuse. It was difficult for us to accept that an Afghan could be a Christian. But later, after a few years living in Europe in countries where most people were Christians, I found that many people were good. They showed love, compassion, and I did not experience the same hostility and other experiences that I had in my own country or in Islamic countries.

I didn’t experience those things here; it was a different atmosphere. But something interesting happened one day when I was in a place. I was passing by an old building. There was a sign written in several languages, including Persian, that said tea for men at four o'clock and some games.

When I wanted to read this sign, a very respectable person was standing there, but he was holding a broom. When I read it, that person came closer and... very humbly invited us to come at four o'clock. Those who lived in the same place were welcome to a church, a building structure or a church name in the desert or in the plain or in the wilderness.

When this person came, he kindly invited us to come at four o'clock. We love tea in Afghanistan. When I entered the place, this person came, very welcoming and respectful, and asked us if we wanted tea or coffee or chocolate. We said tea. And from that four o'clock, tea is not good alone for sleeping; it needs a little milk with it.

Remember, it’s very good for your sleep; it doesn’t disturb. It was interesting for me that a non-believer was so concerned about our comfort and sleep. That’s where it all started. We spent about an hour in that time, maybe fifty people were there.

There were card games, painting, and chess being played, and they were spending time. Generally, this place was close to a refugee camp where many people came. There were many Afghan people and Russian people. After an hour, that person asked everyone if we could pray and worship after four o'clock. Anyone was free to stay here with us or could leave.

But I was still not sure and curious about how Christians worship. However, what was interesting is that when everyone left, a few stayed behind. They were familiar with the environment and did not often leave.

But there I noticed that a person who had met us invited us again, and he was holding a broom, serving everyone tea and making us feel welcome. One of those was the pastor of the church. So, you mean he was the one serving? Yes, he was holding the broom.

That broom was clean. The point was that he was not like us; his appearance was different, his hair, skin, and eyes were very distinct. But he was so humble that we could trust him more easily, and he was very straightforward. Yes, this is something we said in our culture; the elders should be served in a better place, and others should serve them.

But here, this person serves others. This was the first time this touched me deeply. Well, usually, for one or two months, when we would come here and meet, they shared from the Word of God and showed kindness.

But one day they asked me if I wanted to watch the film about Jesus Christ. We wanted to see the film about Jesus Christ. We accepted Jesus Christ as a prophet, but we didn’t know many details about his life—how he lived, how he came, etc. We had heard a lot from various sources about Christians and their mistakes.

But when I watched the film about Jesus Christ, it was very different. He lived simply; he lived like a human being. The image we had was that he must have lived a royal life, had a wife, soldiers, servants, and maids; he had none of that.

He lived very simply, very humanely. This was very... interesting to me that I saw the film about Jesus Christ that was made according to the Gospel. A lot of changes came to my mind about Jesus Christ, about Christians. I noticed that Christians are good people. Or the miracles that he performed.

After maybe three or four months of being here, but I didn’t want to or couldn’t understand, I kept saying, "I want to go back to Afghanistan." I went back to Afghanistan. When I went back, God opened my eyes, and I saw things very differently. In my mind, I thought Christianity was the right path. But out of shame, out of my position, out of fear, family, or anything, I couldn’t express it.

But I truly felt that Christianity is much better than the beliefs of our people, our society, in every way. In every way. But I was afraid, I was ashamed to look in my heart. Until an event occurred before my eyes. This is very important.

Perhaps today many Afghans have heard the Word of God. Either through media or television. But perhaps the same fear you had, they may also have that fear or shame. Please allow me to share an important event. I went to Noor Hospital. Someone else took me there. But the doctor said, "We need to remove your eye because of bleeding in the brain. You won’t be able to live for another two or three days. If not, your eye will dry up."

At that moment, the reality was hard for me. I imagined being a child who cannot see or having no future. It was very hard. But I went to Noor Hospital for the first time, and my heart broke, and I cried. Nothing from my beliefs or anything else was coming into my heart.

Only the one who came into my heart was Jesus Christ. Because I had heard His word and seen the film about Jesus Christ. I cried and asked Him not to let me die. They wouldn’t let me die. But an event that I wanted to share or any problems I had, I forgot them all. I only thought about how I could become a Christian. How could I find the truth in the Bible?

I became connected with Christians. Until I went home looking for a Christian television channel in my language. I found the channel "The Secret of Life" with brother Zaher and sister Maryam. That night was very significant for me. I called into that programme numerous times, maybe fourteen times in five minutes. I wanted to connect with them.

I was very emotional. That was the year 2010. Yes, 2010. I remember it well. Two programmes were very significant for me. After that, you connected me with a brother named Hussein. Ibrahim. They are very close friends of ours. They taught me from the Word of God. And this was not just a miracle; it was the beginning of miracles.

I started sharing the Word of God in a place where people were very difficult. But I could not keep it to myself. I began to share the Word of God with neighbours, with family, with everyone. Just as Jeremiah 20:9 says, "Your word is like fire."

I love this verse to read. Jeremiah 20:9. "If I do not declare your word to the people and do not remember your name, then your word becomes like a burning fire in my heart, and I cannot rest." You mentioned earlier that those who feel shame or fear or anything are from Him.

But I have experienced that when I openly declare the Word of God, the Lord also defends me openly. One example of a life-threatening situation was when a person, a commander, was present in the programme, and many people who were there witnessed it. That person said, "I don’t kill anyone." Apparently, he said, "I kill."

But later, we did not understand what happened to him. He messaged me that he had no problem with me because of this and intended to kill me, but I was one of the participants in that programme and became a believer. He is a very well-known person.

Life in Christ, when I came to believe in Christ, I didn’t understand many things. I just wanted to change my life, my beliefs. I realised Christianity is better, but after that, just as you see and perceive, God is not absent.

After that, it became clearer, and I want to read a verse from the Bible. From 2 Corinthians 5:17. It says, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Indeed, here, Christ takes our shame away. He takes our fear away. We become a new creation. Our hearts change, our nature changes, and you mentioned miracles. Truly, when we believe in Christ, every day becomes a day of miracles. Every day is a new day. Every day is a blessed day.

What about fear, Javidan? Exactly. When we come to faith, of course, we are not heroes of fear. When we come to faith, it takes a little time. Because in the places where we live, we understand that many people are sceptical. We lose trust.

But when we look at the history of Christianity, in Rome, many Christians were killed. But those who saw and stood behind the cross did not deny Jesus, and this drew many people to faith in Him.

We thank the Lord. Zaher, truly, it is a great blessing for us that you have shared in this programme about how God has worked in your life and how you live in faith with Him.

Well, dear friends, let’s watch a clip together, and we will be back. From me, the one who turns your heart into a complete servant, the Lord, this wandering heart of mine, my rebellious heart, I turn it into healing. Lord, send us a message.

We are waiting for your call, dear friends. Thank you for being with us, and at the beginning of the programme, we heard a wonderful testimony of faith from Zaher and I pray God bless you, Zaher, and your family. Let’s continue with our lessons on the miracles of Jesus Christ. Today, we will talk about the miracle of Jesus Christ titled "Healing of the Bent Woman on the Sabbath," which is written in Luke chapter 13, verses 10 to 17. I will read these verses and ask Javidan to discuss this a bit.

Some of you, Zaher, can share your thoughts too. Luke chapter 13, verses 10 to 17 says, "One Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues. And a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all."

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."

The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. May the Lord bless His word. Go ahead, Javidan.

Thank you, brother, for your testimony. I was very pleased to hear it, and I believe that many Afghans and other Persian speakers in the world have heard the Word of God and come to faith.

In this chapter 13 of Luke, we see the woman who had been ill for eighteen years. In our time, it is possible to have this illness surgically treated. But this surgery began in the twentieth century, and until the twentieth century, there was no healing for this ailment. They tried everything to ease this illness, but gradually it was making it easier, but no one could heal it.

And even now in our countries, due to the fact that medical science has not advanced, our people are still suffering, and not everyone has the means to be healed. Personally, I have had a friend who was my wife; I don’t know if she found relief; perhaps she had been bent for over eighteen years.

I understand that this is very difficult for you; you cannot see the sky; you always look at the earth. In Persian, we say "kef," bent over. And the important thing here is that Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, meaning that He was teaching the congregation, and He saw the woman.

I want to reflect on this. Isaiah chapter 42, verse 3 speaks about the Messiah. Jesus was not yet present, but the prophet Isaiah spoke about how the bruised reed he will not break, and the smouldering wick he will not snuff out. He will bring forth justice to the nations.

I want to point out that the bruised reed, which is about to die, Jesus said He will not break, and the smouldering wick, which is about to go out, He will not extinguish.

Here it says about the woman... Jesus saw and healed her at that moment; truly, Jesus was compassionate. Zaher, if you want to add anything in relation to this miracle, please go ahead. Yes, Jesus showed His power in front of the crowd so that everyone would believe in Him.

The miracle is not that we believe in Jesus because of miracles. The miracle is indeed the power that Jesus performed many miracles and showed that He has power over everything. He healed a bent woman. He demonstrated power over nature, over the storm, and over death, and all believed in Him.

Yes, truly here, Javidan, I see another miracle, and that is in verse 14. Here the synagogue leader was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath and said to the people. Notice, it does not say he said to Jesus. They did not have the courage to speak to Jesus. He said to the people that there are six days for healing.

In those days, come and be healed. Not on the Sabbath. Here, we truly see two things. Two different attitudes towards people. On one side, we see Jesus, who is so compassionate and wants to heal people.

On the other side, we see the religious leaders who are not concerned about people, and they are only concerned about how to enforce the laws they think are good. Even with a woman who had been bent for eighteen years and was ill, they had no mercy on her.

Exactly, the chief of the synagogue. In my opinion, he was very jealous. Before this, this book of Luke is remarkable in that the author is a doctor. Despite being a doctor, he wrote this Gospel.

Here, before this, he speaks of bearing fruit. He goes on to give an example of Jesus. In all of this, he connects that the leaders of the synagogue must have fruit. But they themselves were weak. They could not help this woman.

But when they saw Jesus, they were envious. But they never asked why you healed her and we couldn’t. When someone is envious, they always find an excuse. The excuse they found was the custom that they had that on the Sabbath, one should not work, and they expressed their anger and resentment towards the people and said that healing should be done on the other six days.

But on the seventh day, the Sabbath, one should not work. And just as you said, they did not have the courage to speak to Jesus but instead spoke to the people like a poisoned snake.

Today, when we see in our countries, there are many religious people who do the same. They say, "Don’t do this, don’t do that," and many of them prevent us from coming to Jesus. Correct? They threaten us with every word and say, "You will commit blasphemy; you will become a blasphemer," and so on.

And what do you say to those who also see this, of course, in the West? Just as you said, you saw the West with your own eyes. Just as Christians there serve, they often say that this is in the film. They watch their films, but even they enjoy them.

But you saw in the West that if Christians live differently, they take it lightly. But they will find excuses to prevent you from approaching Jesus. What do you think? Indeed, Zaher, you mentioned that the leaders today prevent Afghans, Tajiks, or even Iranians from coming to Jesus Christ.

Exactly as the Persians did not want the people to find Jesus Christ, we have this experience in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Pakistan, or these countries.

It is interesting that Jesus came very simply. He chose very simple people; they were not anything special. But today, we have the Bible. Anyone can experience it in their own language.

No one can be a barrier to the work of God. The miracles that were then are still present today, and the Word of God is always alive. No one can. One thing we have experienced is that this testimony is for believers.

Just as the five loaves and two fish were brought to Jesus, He blessed them. Dear believers, live your lives as two fish and five loaves brought before Jesus and see the blessings.

Just as we were afraid of tribes, of threats, of friends, of status, of conditions, but Jesus blessed me. I will share it with family, friends, or anyone else I cannot share; I cannot be embarrassed with anything.

The programme of God cannot be hindered. The Word of God will work a hundredfold. Everyone must listen, and there are always experiences. We often see that we do not need to be in some conditions or be a speaker or a professional.

It is all very simple. Start with your spouse, with your children, with your parents. God will work. In our language, it is very simple, and we must see how much reality there is.

Thank you. One more thing I find strange is that a person was in torment and suffering for eighteen years. God saw him every day. But after eighteen years, when he went to the synagogue and saw Jesus, that woman was healed.

Today, our governments, our countries, the Persians are also suffering. Not just for eighteen years. It is much longer. For example, Afghanistan has been suffering for decades. Decades. And in Iran, Tajikistan, we have had civil wars. How many problems have we faced? And God sees this.

But it is important for us to find Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ should come. And the question is how can people see Jesus to be healed from their pain? Yes, truly, Jesus Christ reveals Himself in various ways, and you may have heard that some Muslim converts see dreams, visions, miracles, but most come to faith through the Word of God, through the Bible.

You pointed out a good topic, Javidan, that before this miracle of Jesus Christ in the verses, it speaks about the barren fig tree. This topic can also imply that some beliefs, some methods, or religions are almost all fruitless without Jesus Christ.

Every religion, every belief that does not recognise Jesus Christ as God and Lord is fruitless. After that, Jesus spoke this parable. A man had a fig tree in his vineyard, but when he came to pick fruit, there was none.

So he said to the gardener, "Look, for three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it take up space?" But the gardener replied, "Sir, leave it alone for one more year, and I will dig around it and fertilise it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."

This means that God wants to give people time. He wants us believers to share the Word of God and also give time to others.

There we see again that the great miracle is that the woman who was bent for eighteen years was healed, and here we see that the glory of God was revealed. God created us to show His glory and to glorify Him.

Let’s seek Him and rejoice in the glory of God. Here we see that the people are joyful, but the religious leaders are angry. How many of those who do not have the fruit are upset with others.

Another important thing I want to take from here is that the author of Luke sees the kingdom of God. The mustard seed is small but says when it grows, it becomes a large tree, and birds perch in its branches.

This is hope. There is hope that if our governments and countries see the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven comes when believers grow in numbers. In the kingdom of heaven, there is hope that our countries will also be healed from these pains. Amen.

Indeed, dear friends, when Christians in Afghanistan or Iran or Tajikistan or other countries spread the Word of God, when Tajiks, Afghans, and Iranians come to faith in Jesus Christ, that is the kingdom of God that is being realised in Afghanistan.

The desire of the kingdom of God, the heavenly kingdom, is that the number of believers increases every day in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and India. I thank God that every day more are coming to faith.

Well, friends, let’s listen to a song together, and we will be back. Music now, please, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music.

Dear friends, we are nearing the end of our programme. I would like to ask Zaher a question. If today you have shared your testimony, we have also heard this miracle. How do you see this woman mentioned in the Bible, who was a daughter of Abraham, meaning from the lineage of Abraham? How did she get healed after eighteen years? What conclusion can you draw?

What message do you have for the people of Afghanistan, Zaher? I initially said when I came to believe in Jesus Christ, I only wanted to change my beliefs and religion. I thought I was moving from Islam to Christianity. But it was just the beginning.

It became a pathway for us. A way where every day is a miracle. It is not about accepting a religion; it is about a continuous path. Every day is a miracle. Jesus gives strength. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. Please go ahead. When we look at the miracles of Jesus Christ, the purpose of Jesus was not in the miracles. The main purpose of Jesus was the cross. His coming to this earth, His movement was towards the cross.

For it is through the cross that we have received salvation. For there, for the sins of all of us, He shed His blood. And the healing of that woman. All people. All creations. The entire world is in suffering due to the sins we have.

The sins that originated from Adam. The primary purpose of Jesus was to abolish these sins and to restore us. To establish a relationship. And the kingdom of heaven to come. Therefore, His purpose was to come.

And throughout this chapter, we see that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem with the cross. But the miracles that occurred were due to Jesus’ grace and mercy. When Jesus saw that this woman had been suffering for eighteen years, He was moved with compassion.

As I read in Isaiah, He will not break the bruised reed. And this leader of the synagogue reprimanded Him. At that moment, Jesus said to this daughter of Abraham, who had been bound by Satan for eighteen years.

At that moment, Jesus elevated her status, saying that this woman is not merely a daughter of Abraham; she is equal to each one of you.

In this miracle, we see the heart of Jesus Christ. The heart of Jesus Christ today still burns for each of us, for every Tajik, Afghan, Iranian, and all those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. Just as He desires to lift us all up and wants His purpose for us to be saved, will we come to Jesus today?

Indeed, it is a very important point, Zaher, and you mentioned it, Javidan, that Christianity is not just a new belief or a change of religion; it is a change of life, a change of method, a change of heart, a change of mind, and it is also a relationship—a direct relationship with Christ.

When we repent and believe in Christ, this relationship is established, and Christ also has a relationship with us. Every day we pray, and Christ listens to us, answers our prayers according to His will.

Well, we would like to ask Zaher to pray. Many of our viewers have heard your testimony today, as well as this miracle of Christ. We ask you to pray for our people, for the people of Afghanistan, for Tajiks, for Iranians, for Pakistanis, for Indians, and for the neighbours of Afghanistan to see and taste that the Lord is good.

Amen. We pray that indeed Christianity is a way that the Apostle Paul wrote many letters from prison, but he never complained. We also live among you; we never complain. But we pray for you that salvation will be granted to our people, Lord, give them a new heart, and hope. Just as the brother said, hope, faith, love, a new heart, a new life in Christ Jesus.

Open the secret of life for the people, Lord, in their minds and hearts that they may see, taste, and experience Your love, healing, kindness, and light, Lord, before them, that Your light shines in their hearts, in their minds, in their thoughts, so that they may accept one another and love one another, and experience Your peace and blessings in their lives, which You open.

There is no complaint, Lord; always Your joy, Your happiness, Your peace are what we need to declare how good life has been in these conditions, for it has been a miracle. Lord, I pray for my fellow countrymen, for the neighbours, Lord, and for the dear languages in Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, that they may hear Your voice, Lord.

I pray for all, Lord, that there may be no borders between languages, no borders between countries, Lord. May these borders be removed, Lord, in their hearts, a new spirit, a new life, a new peace be given to them. We ask this in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen. Thank you, dear friends. We commend you to the blessed hands of the Lord, and may you always be happy, healthy, and full of blessings in Jesus Christ. Amen.