Tools of Protection

This Palembang man and woman are in the spiritual protection business. They sell rings, amulets and other items to provide their clients with spiritual power. Some items have purported power to ward off evil spirits and curses. Others are supposed to help you in love relationships. These items are called jimat in Indonesian. This seller had jimat focused to different religious clientele. He had “hell notes” for the Chinese Buddhists. He had knife charms with Arabic writings and special blades for Muslims. There are rocks and special tubes for other religions. Even people who call themselves Christians often use jimat.

The power of occultism is very strong in many people groups on Sumatra. While most Indonesians will laugh and deny these beliefs if a Western foreigner asks them about it, but they will turn around and pay good money to men like the one pictured here. Indonesians are pragmatic. They don’t care much what power they are calling upon as long as it allows them to succeed in whatever they are trying to do.

One man asked a worker about baptism, because he had heard that being baptized could heal him of his sickness. Many Indonesians are willing to use Jesus to meet a felt physical need. Sadly, they are often not willing to bow to Him as Lord just because He’s worthy.

Pray for believers to be convicted of their ties to the occult so that they repent.

Pray for revival among Sumatra’s churches.

Pray for workers who are proclaiming the Gospel to show forth the power of God.

Pray for all the peoples of Sumatra to bow to Jesus for no other reason than the fact that He is worthy.