OUT OF A HORRIBLE PIT

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OUT OF A HORRIBLE PIT (1 of 2) “Growing up, I often heard the story of Matis Nagi, whose testimony had left an indelible impression on the minds of all who knew him.”– Daniel Kolenda The year was 1919. My great grandfather had immigrated to America eleven years earlier and settled in the city of Pigeon, Michigan, where he pastored a German church that had grown from small meetings in his rural home. Growing up, I often heard the story of Matis Nagi, whose testimony had left an indelible impression on the minds of all who knew him. His wife was a faithful member of my grandfather’s congregation, but darkness lived inside the heart of Matis that set him at odds with God and the church which he hated passionately. From time to time, a strange power would come over him and he would be driven to do bizarre things. He was known to throw himself down from the loft of his barn headfirst without harm. It was apparent to everyone that demonic activity was at work in his life, and many times the church leaders warned him to no avail. My Uncle John said that he had told Matis, “The way you have chosen will lead you to destruction. You are in danger of being possessed by the devil fully. Stop this and humble yourself before God so you can receive help.” But he would not listen. One evening after an argument, in a fit of rage, Matis gave himself over to the power that had been influencing him for so long. All the events to follow would be completely blotted from his memory, as the demonic power possessed him completely. Mrs. Nagi had gone to the city to shop and when she returned at dusk on her horse-drawn wagon, she could see the silhouette of her husband standing on the porch in the shadows holding an axe in his hands. As she drew closer, a feeling of uneasiness came over he  Something was not right. Her anxiety turned to terror when she saw that her husband was covered in blood and his eyes were hollow and empty. She immediately rode away to the house of my grandfather. “Come quickly,” she pleaded. When Matis saw my grandfather and the elders of the church approaching the house, he began to cry out in fear. He was mumbling cryptic phrases about how he saw them as being covered in red and could not come near them. And then in a moment, he ran away and disappeared into the forest. Together Mrs. Nagi and the elders entered the house where they made the grizzly discovery. Matis had brutally murdered his mother and three children in cold blood. The news of the grizzly act spread like wildfire through the small farming community, which was gripped by terror. Farmers would accompany their wives to the barns to milk the cows and would not go into the fields to work for fear of the deranged demoniac that lurked in the woods. Sometime later, the police finally apprehended Matis and took him to the jail, but he was so violent and uncontrollable that he had to be isolated in a cell by himself. Inside the jail, he tore all his clothes off and sat naked. He shouted terribly in his sleep and had to be prevented from killing himself. The judge determined that he was so thoroughly insane that he was not fit to stand trial, so he was committed to an insane asylum a hundred miles away in Pontiac, Michigan. In part 2 of this powerful story, you will find out just how the power of prayer to a powerful and loving God delivered this tormented soul. Here is an excerpt of what you will read next week: “No, Sister Nagi,” he said, “Satan is not the victor! This seeming victory is only temporary. There is no doubt that the grandma who loved the Savior is now safe with Him. The same applies to the little children. And concerning your husband, there is hope to wrestle him from the power of Satan through prayer and faith. This we will do in the name of Jesus.” “Tell Us What You Think!” If you have a minute, we would love for you to REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE with how this series is impacting your life (and any testimonies you might have). This Bible Study has been taken from Evangelist Daniel Kolenda’s book, “Unlocking the Miraculous through Faith and Prayer.” This book will challenge your thinking on prayer and inspire you to believe in the amazing power of the Spirit to unlock the miraculous in your life! ORDER YOUR BOOK!