Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened. And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also]. And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them]” (Ac 5:7-11; AMP)

Sapphira’s responsibility was to be an exemplary and obedient wife to the husband in such a way that none will detect the secret evil behind the marriage. Peter’s rebuke to her was this: ‘Why did you agree with your husband to lie to the Holy Spirit?’ The word ‘agree’ means to be in total harmony, to sound alike, to speak with the same voice. This marriage was a well-rehearsed choir, a perverted spiritual unity sealed by hell. No man, not even Peter, knew about this secret initiation. It was only the Holy Spirit that knew the truth behind this couple’s secret plan. It is the Holy Spirit that revealed to Peter the truth and gave him the strength to expose satan. This was a sin against the Holy Spirit. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not just an influence. For you cannot lie to an idea. The Holy Spirit is God. He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. He judged this couple with instant death. Then the fear of God came upon the whole church and revival spread to all that area.

Don’t forget, liars are very good actors. This is their natural talent. That is why others are attracted to them. For as long as you desire free entertainment, you shall be deceived by them! It is hard to discover in them any anxiety of being caught or exposed. They do not fret; they seem confident and relaxed when speaking, comfortable in the midst of their deceptions. Like all good actors, they mentally rehearse their religious speeches or sermons, being prepared long before the public ‘battle’.

“Jesus quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher” (Lk 6:39, 40; TM)

This is a warning of possible danger coming from the Lord! Be careful when you chose your leaders, pastors, teachers and mentors! Do not follow them ‘blindly’. This is also a warning for the women: pray and seek God’s face about the gift of marriage! The devil will be very happy if you are deceived and you marry a religious unbeliever. Then you have to submit to a foolish man and to his wicked god, satan. I pray that these words will wake you up from spiritual slumber and spiritual laziness!

In Christ I declare:

I hate sin! I hate hypocrisy!

I love the righteousness of Jesus!

I arise and shine for my light has come!

All the glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God” (Ac 5:1-4; AMP)

‘Satan’ is one of the devil’s names; it means the accuser, the enemy of God and man. He was the designer of this evil plan. It was an occult conspiracy to which husband and wife fully agreed. It is exactly the way a secret cult functions. Ananias and his wife chose to enroll in the army of the devil. They came as spies in the camp of God. They knew it was a dangerous mission. If they are exposed as the enemy’s agents, they can die. But they trusted the devil that he was ready to lead, sponsor and reward. Satan knew that the true believers were still young and spiritual warfare was not yet their major ministry. The strategy was to install a stronghold of lies, deception and religious hypocrisy in the middle of the young church. This occult structure will become a permanent fixture there. At the beginning, some brethren may raise some questions about the spiritual qualities of their leaders. But the devil hoped that the majority will take his agents for granted. With time, the believers will accept this stronghold of lies. They will learn to tolerate it, assuming it is normal to have such a bitter root amongst them. That was the plan. The devil was confident that the plan will work. Ananias and Sapphira were ready for action. Who can discover the truth?

They brought the money to the apostles’ feet, just the way they saw Brother Barnabas doing it. They waited for a compliment from Peter or at least the cry of ‘Praise the Lord’ from the congregation. But suddenly, Peter asked Ananias: ‘Why did you conceive this thing in your heart? You lied to God and not to men!’

The word ‘conceive’ in Hebrew means to lie down in a passive position ready to fulfill the purpose to be pregnant. In other words, Peter confronted him with this prophetic word: ‘Ananias, you accepted the proposal and the purpose of the devil to become his agent…you are heavily impregnated with his lies and wickedness! You are a danger to the church!’ Ananias was a bomb ready to explode. Before it could destroy the church, Peter defused its power. Only the Holy Spirit could have known!

In Christ I declare:

I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me into the whole truth!

I lean not on my own understanding!

I acknowledge God in all things!

God shall direct my path!

I am a child of God!

I am filled with the Holy Spirit!

The devil has nothing in me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

The prayer meeting was different today. The presence of God was heavy. Some brethren from the church were discovered in sexual sins. They repented but the pain was lingering on the congregation. This evening we forgot about our pain and entered in the pain of the Lord. We confessed and repented of the sin of lust and fornication. We confessed and repented of the sin of grieving the Holy Spirit. We ‘joined’ king David in prayer and song: “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord…and renew a right spirit within me…Cast me not away, from Your presence, O Lord…Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me…Restore unto me, the Joy of Thy salivation…and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps 51). Then the sermon followed…

“No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” (2Sam 13:12-15)

THE SIN OF LUST

Amnon is King David’s oldest son. He is the heir to the throne. For many years he was groomed that one day he will be the next king of Israel. Surely, he had private teachers. Among others, he learned Hebrew language, diplomacy, history, religion, the science of war and athletics. He had great dreams. But his story is sad beyond words. Just like Esau, who sold his birthright for a plate of stew, Amnon lost it all for five minutes of sexual pleasure. Yes, this is his story, his tragic fall from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the sea. He is known to the generations of believers as a wicked fool. Amnon’n sin destroyed the life of his sister, Tamar. Absalom killed him and promoted himself as the new heir to the throne. …..

What can we learned from this tragedy? The sin of lust is a sin of the heart. It stays invisible for a long time. Without repentance it will destroy a man, no matter how great he is. It becomes a slow poison and a bitter root for which men have no cure.

Some of the worst sins happen at home (rape, incest, abuse in marriage, bullying and siblings rivalry). Lust is attracted by ‘beauty’. Remember, once in eternity, the devil perfect in beauty, for God made him so (Ez 28:12).

Who commits the sin of lust? Lust is committed by ‘wicked fools’ like Amnon. Lust is a sign of immaturity; it is passionate impatience; like a spoiled child he says ‘I can’t wait! I want it now!’ The demon of lust is called to replace boredom, anxiety, laziness, sickness, loneliness. Lust is connected with bad friends: worldly, smart, entertaining; they tell you what you want but do not care about your soul, ministry, testimony or destiny.

Amnon did not care about Tamar, about her reputation or dreams of marriage. Lust is utterly selfish, not sensitive to the needs, desires or pains of another. Tamar pleaded with her brother to forget about his crazy desire. But he refused to listen for lust is stubborn like witchcraft.

Lust is extremely short –sighted, better said blind to the future consequences: Deception; Disgrace; Division and Death. Lust promises great things but it is a traitor. Lust does not satisfy. Amnon lost his crown and his life for five minutes of pleasure. The more you feed lust, the stronger it becomes (Rom 13:14). Dwelling in lust will lead to sinful activity! Remember this: Thoughts have consequences! Once you chose a path to go, you will not be able to control the consequences!

Lust is counted as a work of darkness. It is ugly, unclean and shameful! Tamar tore her princess dress and ran away naked.  Mathew Henry, a great man of God said this: ‘when a child of God talks about lust or the unfruitful works of darkness he should blush’ (Eph 5:8-13). Lust ends in death (Jam 1:13-15)!

What is the solution? The only remedy given to man is the Cross of Jesus Christ!!! The Blood shed on the Cross is the only chemistry that can cleanse a sinner. Come to Jesus! Come as you are! Come believing! Come worshipping God!

In Christ I declare:

I died to sin, to the world, to the flesh!

I am alive to God!

I no longer live but it is Christ who lives in me!

I plead the Blood of Jesus upon my body, soul, spirit, marriage, children, ministry and destiny!

We preach Christ crucified!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.
Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it” (Acts 5:1-5; AMP)

What is the background of the story?
The Holy Spirit has just being poured down on the day of Pentecost. The Church of Jesus Christ was born. Many people gave up their idols and became saved. The influence of the Word of God was increasing. The name of Jesus was held in high respect. Miracles of healing and deliverance accompanied the disciples everywhere. People desired to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
From the beginning of the church, there were two unique signs manifested among the believers, proving the filling with the Holy Spirit: boldness and generosity. People prayed with more confidence to be bold and so that they can resist the persecutions. The few wealthy ones among them sold property and gave the money to the apostles, to give to those in need.

I believe that satan was surprised at the influence and growth the church had in such a short time. So he decided to attack from within. This type of attack is always most dangerous. He tempted this couple to become his agents. This was the devil’s strategy: Ananias and his wife will pretend to be believers and infiltrate the church. They shall be bold and generous just like the others. That will give them a good chance to become leaders in the church. Satan will then be able to monitor and manipulate the brethren thru them, from a position of leadership in the Body of Christ.

Ananias was probably the leader and Sapphira agreed with him. Both were willing partners in crime. The wife had full knowledge of the evil plan. Interestingly, she obeyed the command of God to the wives (Eph 5:22). She submitted to her husband, but not ‘as unto the Lord’. She submitted to him as unto the devil. She completely understood the secret plan, including the part satan played in it. She connived with both the devil and her husband. The ‘connive’ it means to pretend ignorance, to tolerate or to be in secret sympathy with evil; to fail to oppose a crime. Like Jezebel, she made up her mind to encourage her husband in evil and to cover up for him. In case their evil was discovered, she will pretend ignorance and ‘female foolishness’. That was their reckless plan!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
The destiny of Ananias and Sapphira can never be mine!
As a wife, I submit to my husband as unto the Lord Jesus Christ!
I have to business with the devil!
I refuse to tolerate Jezebel!
I expose her wicked works and tale a public stand against her evil!
Jesus is Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT
I desire to give all the glory to God. The Holy Spirit gave me to share from the Book of Acts 5. It is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This is a very difficult passage to preach from. It is like doing major surgery without anesthesia. To my surprise, all went well. There was strength in my body, utterance on my tongue and courage in my heart. All of us we engaged in warfare against all evil spirits that try to destroy churches and marriages. The victory sounded its trumpet in our midst! All the glory to God!

“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.
Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it” (Acts 5:1-5; AMP)

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is a tragic one. But it is found in the Bible and we must learn great lessons from it, to apply them in our life. This incident happened when the church was still young and was experiencing its first revival. The Book of Acts is a great encouragement for us. For as long as we pray for revival, strange stories like these can happen again. The truth is that the devil is a liar and a loser. That can never change. He will continue to try to harm the Body of Christ. But this is the truth: Anybody involved with the devil will also end up in shame and pain. .

The meaning of their names Ananias and Sapphira is ‘Grace and Beauty’. Clearly, they did not live according to their names. Each one was a religious hypocrite with great ambitious plans for the future. To them, the end justifies the means. They did not fear God but they loved the church. That is a formula for disaster for Christ is jealous over His Bride!
This is also the story of a failed marriage. Its foundation was wrong and it ended tragically. Marriage is a gift from God. Two are better than one! If one falls, the other one is there to lift him up (Ecc 4:9-12). But in this story, both fell down and there was no one to lift them up! What makes the story so dramatic is their occult soul tie; their agreement to live together or die together. They willingly agreed to share and encourage in one another’s sin.

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I reject every evil spirit of lies and deception!
I separate from every form of religious evil spirits!
My marriage has its foundation on the Rock called Christ crucified!
I plead the Blood of Jesus over my life, my marriage, my children, my ministry and my work!
I do not call conspiracy what everybody calls conspiracy!
My soul, my body, my marriage, my children, my ministry is not for sale!
Jesus is Lord!
The Holy Spirit is Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“He even said to me: ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law” (Ru 2:21-23; NIV)

Miraculously, Ruth has found favor and employment with Boaz. He tells her that he is impressed with her past good deeds towards Naomi. He promised her protection and care. Naomi sees the hand of God in this and confirms the advice of Boaz. She tells Ruth that all labor is not the same; that there is great difference between ‘fields’, ministries, companies and employers. The godly ones, like Boaz, will bring ‘good’ to her. In other fields she may be ‘harmed’. So she tells her ‘to go with the women of Boaz’.

The understanding of these words in Hebrew brings added revelation. The word ‘good’ means God’s favor, the best option, something beautiful, prosperity and pleasure in the same time; wealth made with ease and without trouble. The word ‘go’ means to grow, to mature, to rise, to lead and be sent with God’s commandments and anointed utterance

In other words, if Ruth goes to the right place and she submits to the right man (husband, pastor or boss), she will have the best life she can ever imagine. Her job will be easy. Her salary will be higher than her labor. She will quickly rise to be a leader; she will be promoted and rewarded. She will be an inspiration and a mentor to others who follow her behind. She will fulfill her potential as a woman of God and as a preacher of God’s Word.

The word translated ‘harm’ is very interesting. It means to forcefully intercede, to pray until you reach the goal.

It also means to accidentally or violently impinge into another. To impinge means to dash into another, like a sharp collision that has an effect, to push and to wound; to violate; to trespass into another’s territory or rights, to advance, to invade and to conquer another’s property.

In other words, Naomi is warning Ruth! She reveals to her that in another field she will not be protected against evil men; she will lack a spiritual covering; she will be the victim of men who will take advantage of her, steal her property and make her a slave. She will be harmed and violated by them. The worst thing is that, if she settles or gets employment among the hirelings, rebellious and evil men, God will ignore her prayers. Selah!

Ruth is to follow the maidens, the female servants of Boaz. In Hebrew, the word ‘maiden’ is similar with the word ‘lion’. What a great revelation! Naomi advices Ruth to follow the true women of God, the servants of Christ, the humble and bold daughters of the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Hallelujah!

We are told that Ruth ‘stayed’ with Naomi. The word means to abide without interruption; to settle down, to endure to the end, to be patient until you get married. Ruth learned the art of being a godly wife long before her weeding day. Selah!

This is another reminder of the great value of a godly mentor. Words cannot describe the worth of a true mother on Christ, the spiritual covering for a single girl as she prepares herself to enter marriage. To whom do you submit? This spiritual positioning is very important and determines the quality of your life. It does not matter how rich or handsome the man is (husband, pastor or boss). It does not matter how hard you pray, sacrifice yourself or work. God looks at your spiritual boundaries and at your covering. That is how He decides if you shall be blessed or not!

The value of true mentors is eternal. A blind man (or woman) will lead another into a pit. Is your mentor blind and deaf to the Holy Spirit? Then you live in constant danger of failure and shame! Think of it! Follow the true shepherds who follow Christ alone! Your peace, your health, the destiny of your family and even your very life depend on who you follow! May the story of Ruth ignite or refresh in you the true passion to follow Jesus!

In Christ I declare:

God is real!

I am a child of God!

I am a daughter of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!

I praise God every day!

I abide in Christ!

I follow the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ my Lord!

I follow the true under- shepherds, my mentors and leaders who follow Christ alone!

I run away from hirelings, false prophets, evil men who are agents of the devil!

I received the gift of godly marriage from God!

My children are my inheritance and reward from God!

I work a little and my salary is big!

My marriage, my ministry and my work are a pleasure to me!

I bless my mentors and pastors!

I bless my husband and children!

My cup runs over…I testify to the overflow of God’s blessings!

In Jesus name

Amen!

LOOK FOR MALIA

“Malia, the paragon of God’s love to Father’s House Ministries, an ambassador of Christ indeed

Her focus is Crystal clear, her single purpose: living for Jesus

So come and look for Malia

If you want a Christian woman’s example to lead you to Jesus, look for Malia

If you want an example of a mother to show you what motherhood entails, look for Malia

If you want an example of a helpmeet indeed, look for Malia

If you want an example of a life full of God’s wisdom, look for Malia

If you want to see a life depended on the Holy Spirit, look for Malia

She has proven to be a dependable child of God

Come without cunning, come let’s go with Malia

You are certain to settle with Jesus

Her destination is not in doubt- heaven!

So come and look for Malia, a woman amongst women…

Her door is open to who-so-ever-will

Coming through, you find warmth and welcome

Her devotion and love for God, her family and church family

Leaves indelible imprints in the minds of all who encounter her

She epitomizes one intoxicated with ‘the whiskey’ of the Holy Spirit

Being so full emits divine wisdom that has made her a great encourager

Her extreme confidence in her God brings hope to difficult situations

She seeks the good even in worse cases

She is gifted with eagle eyes to pull out the best in others

You can’t leave her presence feeling hopeless

She took after her Father and Friend- Jesus

She is a warrior, a true lioness of the tribe of Judah

Her amplified words in warfare prayers

‘Don’t be sorry for the devil!’ she said- will keep you on the pathway of prayers

Malia indeed, a blessing to our generation

To Father’s House Bible Church, particularly to the Women Fellowship

Thank You God for Malia!

Happy Birthday Anniversary Malia!

‘As your days are, so shall your strength be’ (Deut 32:25)

In Jesus name, Amen!

We love you with the love of Christ!”

(This is my card from Mercy, my daughter in Christ, here in Warri, Nigeria. She gave it to me on my 60^th birthday. Most people call me Malia. I want to give all glory to God for sending me to Nigeria as a missionary pastor! May these words be a point of contact to bless all servants of Christ, especially the women, all over the world! May your lives be fruitful and blessed unto the end! In Jesus name Amen!)

A THIEF OF HEARTS
“Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel… The conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2Sam 15:12, 6, 13)
Absalom was an angry, bitter and over ambitious man. Once in Jerusalem, he decided on a plan to take over his father’s throne. Early in the mornings he will go to the gate of the city and offer free advice to the people who come seeking justice. It is not that there were no courts to judge these cases. But before the courts opened, he will be there, available for counsel. He was the heir to the throne but he presented himself as the new high judge of the city. He gave false hopes to all who sought justice. He greeted them with kisses. He sounded as a true spiritual ‘vigilante’. He promises justice to all. It is easy to promise impossible things when you are in opposition. That is how worldly politicians gain the votes of the people. But when they win the office, they forget all the sweet words and the people who so easily got deceived by them.

Absalom ‘provides himself’ with a chariot, horses and fifty men running ahead. Rebellious men carefully groom their public image. It reflects their heart. He wanted to be king, so he will dress and behave like one. His father David was too simple for his liking. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a pagan king. Surely, he dressed better than David. He also probably admired Joseph and wanted to be like him. He read that Pharaoh gave him a chariot and bodyguards. Men like Absalom love to be seen as successful. They like the visibility that comes with positions of authority. The dream of many pastors is to appear on the TV. For them, that is the climax of ‘anointing in ministry’. They dress fashionably, marry women who behave like them and preach sermons that all people love. They insist that others respect them. Like Haman, they do not tolerate opposition and are cruel with anyone who ignores them.

Surprisingly, the people of Israel loved Absalom. They did not see the deception behind the glamour. They always wanted a man who looks like a king, handsome, confident and tough. That is why God gave them Saul in the first place. Absalom is the son of David but he has the spirit of Saul. God gave them a king according to their heart’s desire. So Absalom led a conspiracy and by a spirit of rebellion and witchcraft, stole their hearts. The word ‘stole’ means to deceive, to carry away secretly. Conspiracy is an unlawful allegiance or treason, when men join themselves together to do evil. The witch came with smiles and sweet promises of a better future. During one of the romantic kisses, he put his hand in their chest and stole the hearts; one by one. During the time of King Saul, men had no weapons. During the reign of this new king, men lost even their hearts and became slaves to evil.

King David was the true anointed king of Israel. He is the lawful approved authority of God. But the men of Israel desire a handsome but selfish king, proud and rebellious, just like them. He stole their hearts, the center of their minds, emotions and wills. He stole their vision and spiritual understanding. After the damage done by the spirit of rebellion and witchcraft, what was left behind was only the dead shell of broken dreams and failed destinies.

Finally, here are some questions: is your heart still in your body? (I am not talking about your natural heart, but about your spiritual one). Is your spiritual vision clear? Is your spiritual understating functioning well? Is your conscience sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Or do you make mistake upon mistake, led astray by the design of covens and false political prophets? Take your spiritual pulse…are you still alive? Examine yourself if you are still in the faith! For nothing else matters today; nothing is more important than this!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I am born again, saved by grace thru faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Blood!
I reject all rebellion and witchcraft spirits!
I destroy every occult spell upon my life!
I take my heart back from the hands of the devourer!
I totally surrender to Jesus Christ my Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

HE WANTS MORE THAN A KISS

“Let me have an interview with the king; then if he finds that I am guilty of murder, let him execute me.”
So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, and he came and bowed low before the king, and David kissed him” (2Sam 14:32, 33; LB)

Have you seen a witch in a movie? That is fiction. Have you seen a witch in the church? That one is real! You do not have to imagine it. Study the life of Absalom and you shall see who a witch is and what he can do. Rebellion is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:23). The story of Absalom occupies seven chapters in the Bible (2Sam 13-19). God wants us to study the tragic of life of this young man. He had it all and lost it all. We are to take the warnings of the Word of God very seriously.
Absalom, the handsome son of King David died long ago. But his spirit lives on a does a lot of harm in the churches, especially to the young believers. There are many lessons here for all of us. So, what is the story?

Absalom was a prince in Israel. He was the second son of King David. His older brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar. He was deeply hurt. We try to understand that… But what is hard to understand is this: he chose not to forgive his brother. The pain remained trapped in his heart and with time, it became a bitter root. From that moment on, his life takes a turn towards destruction and nobody could stop its downhill fall. His bitterness defines him and leads him to become a criminal, a traitor and a witch. He nurses his grudge against his brother for two whole years. He deceives his father and brothers that all things are well. He invites Amnon to a party and in ‘cold blood’ kills him at the table. He then runs away to his mother’s pagan family in Geshur (in today Syria).

After about three years, he comes back to Jerusalem and manipulates his way back to his father’s heart. David forgets the past and gives him a welcome kiss. But this time he wants more than a kiss…he wants his father’s throne!

Absalom was a very handsome man. Everybody admired his long hair. Once a year, he trims his ‘crown’ of hair in a public ‘barber shop’. If it was today, the video cameras had to be on so that all will watch the event. If beauty was enough to become a king, surely, Absalom should have been one. But his rebellion ends in a disaster. His long hair was good enough to attract the women of Israel but was a liability as a soldier. His beautiful hair got entangled in the branches of a large oak tree. Even nature fought against him. He was killed there, hanging between heaven and earth.

What are the lessons?
Rebellion always ends in tragedy!
Rebellion never gives glory to God!
God can never use a rebellious man in ministry!

In Christ I declare:
I destroy every connection in the spirit realm between me and the spirit of Absalom!
I destroy every link I ever had with the evil spirit of rebellion and witchcraft!
I destroy every bewitching spell over my soul!
I reject all evil spirits that influence my mind or my emotions!
I bring to God all my past of pain!
I uproot bitterness from my heart!
I humble myself under the hand of the Living God; in due time He will lift me up!
Jesus is Lord over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and church!
In Jesus name
Amen!

 
“Wonders, wonders of grace and mercy! The dear Lord revealed Himself to me again this morning, as my covenant God in Christ. I would praise Him for renewed tokens of salvation and temporal mercies, coming as covenant blessings. The Lord bless my blessings, and only give what He will bless to me. Never had anyone so rich a Banker, so kind a Husband, so tender a Shepherd, and so forbearing a Captain—as I have in my glorious Christ.

The more I venture, the more He encourages; the bolder I am, the kinder He grows; the more I expect, the more He gives. I cannot tire or wear Him out, for He is full, yes, fullness of grace, mercy, love, and compassion. The one-half of His glory has never been expressed by mortal tongue, nor the thousandth part of His ravishments and condescension conceived by those who have not felt them.

This, this is my—oh yes!—MY Beloved, and this is my Friend! Hasten the day when in His full-orbed glory I shall lose my sorrows and my sins forever! Oh, what mercy to have another love-glimpse. Praise, oh, praise God, my covenant God; join me, you saints on earth, and in heaven, to adore and magnify Him for His mercy—amazing mercy—to a vile Magdalene…
Hallelujah!
Amen”
(from the diary of Sis. Ruth Bryan, 1805-1860)

In the natural things were not easy. There is much construction on our street. People have to park their cars far away. This evening there was a heavy rain outside.  But the brethren ignored all these obstacles and still came to meet with God. The prayer meeting started well. The grace of God was with us. Everybody was sober and attentive. There is no greater encouragement for a Bible teacher than to see the students coming to the class. To God be all the glory! The following was our message!

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb 12:14, 15; LBT)

THE ROOT

The root is the underground (invisible) part of a plant. Roots make up around one-third of the total dry weight of a plant. These are the main functions of the roots:

*To anchor and support plants

*To absorb and conduct water and minerals to the leaves and the fruits

*To store products of photosynthesis (carbohydrates, sugars, proteins)

*For winter survival of perennials

It is difficult to predict the root spread of any plant.  Under favorable growing conditions, the typical root spreads very fast. For example, I read that the total length of root tissues in a single rye plant is around 380 miles!

THE BITTER ROOT

Bitterness is the result of a past painful injury that has not been healed. It comes from broken promises, lost dreams, proud, unrealistic expectations, childhood neglect or sexual abuse. Bitterness starts with blaming God for the pain. Its root is in rejecting Christ crucified, the only mediator between God and man. Bitterness is lack of peace between God and man. God chastises His people. That is He loving work as a Father. We should be grateful for His corrections. Jonah was angry with God. He eventually repented when rebuked by Him. Absalom was angry with his father and brother but he never repented and died a bitter rebellious man. What a loss…

The work of the Holy Spirit is to create the loving bond between the believers, the unity of the Spirit. Bitterness destroys this holy bond of peace and love. Bitterness is a major source of divisions in the churches, quarrels and divorces even among the believers.

.

THE BITING ROOT

Bitterness starts as a personal sin but its spreads very fast. Your heart is God’s garden. He plants holy seeds.  “If the root is holy, so are the branches”. God has to right to visit anytime and delight in what He finds there. Look carefully, inspect and be jealous over your heart, for out of it overflows the Word of life. The Holy Spirit plants seeds of love, joy, peace, patience and kindness that will become sweet fruits.

The devil plants weeds to spoil the beauty and the value of the garden. These strange plants cause trouble everywhere. Weeds are very difficult the remove. One of it is called ‘the root of bitterness’. It grows very deep. ‘Bitterness’ comes from the word ‘to bite’. Bitterness is like a poisonous snake in the garden. When it is little, it looks nice and innocent. It adds ‘color’ to the garden…or so we think…But one day it will manifest and will try to bite the gardener. It causes trouble to the other good plants. It oppresses, harasses and annoys them. It pollutes them so that they become weak and sad.

Spiritual weakness and depression may be a sign that a spell of bitterness is over you. Pray and find its source. Separate it quickly before more damage is done! Remove the ‘snake’ from your garden! Every plant the Father has not planted shall be uprooted at last!

A bitter man takes the grace of God for granted, he wastes all its loving warnings and rebukes. He is an enemy of the Cross. The word ‘fall short’ means to be inferior, to be deficient or to miss its blessings. It is like man going to the airport to board the only plane that goes to heaven. Somebody paid for his ticket. But he comes too late. He missed it!  Esau cried at the “Airport of Life” but his tears could not manufacture another plane. This is so sad…

Pray that God reveals if there is any root of bitterness in your heart. Try to remember the most painful event in your life, the greatest disappointment. How did you survive that pain? The only solution for anger is found at the Cross of Christ. Any other location will recycle your pain into false hope and bitterness. Any other god will plant a snake in the garden of your heart.

Before I close…This is a good time to appreciate the grace of God over your life. Worship God who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! There is no other Word I have for better than that…

In Christ I declare:

I repent of every connection I had with bitter people who are angry with God!

I repent for indulging in atheism!

I uproot every root of bitterness!

I kill the biting snake of rebellion deposited in my heart!

Holy Spirit please come and fill me…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment” (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

Paul was attacked by an evil spirit of Python as he was going to the place of prayer. This evil spirit possessed a slave girl who met him on the way. This slave girl was a false prophetess who spoke under the inspiration of the Python spirit. Paul knew that, regarding this girl, there are only two options:

If she was sent by God, then she will be an asset to their ministry, ‘preparing the way for the Lord’. In that case, Paul was supposed to welcome, encourage and mentor her as anew believer.

But if she was an agent of the devil, she was to be rebuked or delivered. Her shout was not to proclaim the Gospel; it was not to the glory of God! Her shout was a warning to the other demons. She was telling them to run away with their ‘captives’, to prevent their salvation, healing or deliverance.

The gift of discerning the spirits is very useful in situations like these. I am sure that all this time Paul prayed in the Spirit. Because he was not sure about this girl, so he allowed her to shout. He listened not only to her words, but to the tone of her voice. Demons can be detected by their voice. After ‘few days’ he sensed that his spirit became ‘grieved’. The word means to be angry, sorely annoyed, worn out and worried. The same word also means to become poor, a beggar; to work hard for your daily bread and still starve. The Python was trying to come closer and spiritually bind his feet, his chest and his hands. The result will be slow motion, difficulty of breathing and weakness of hands. This will manifest as tiredness, inability to pray or to be led by the Holy Spirit. The weakness of hands leads to poverty. This Python evil spirit is responsible for many cases of chronic depression, fatigue, laziness, anxiety, backsliding and poverty.

The following are some guidelines on how to survive python attacks in the natural:

The best thing is to avoid an encounter by keeping alert for snakes. But if the python is attacking you, trying to coil around your body, do this:

*Wrap your non-dominant arm (left) around your ribs for stability and protection.

*Grab the snake’s head with your free hand, and pull it backwards to break its neck and to unwind the coil

*Stay calm if the snake loops around you. Struggling prompts the snake to squeeze you more

*If you have a knife, with one swift motion, thrust it though the top of the snake’s head

*ALWAYS carry your knife when going to snake territory! Keep your knife as sharp as possible: it may save your life!

Spiritually speaking this means to always watch and pray! We wrestle against principalities and power, wickedness in high places! Train yourself and be ready for warfare! Put on the whole armor of God! Do not forget your shield of faith to protect your heart! Use the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God! Pray with understanding and also pray in tongues! The Holy Spirit in you is stronger than the python! Fear not! God is with you! Jesus has defeated all demons on the Cross of Calvary! In Christ the victory is sure! Once you are free, intercede for others!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I reject the evil spirit of fear!

I receive power love and sound mind!

I am healed and delivered!

I confront, reject and defeat the evil spirit of Python!

Led by the Holy Spirit I enter the enemy’s territory and I free the captives of the evil spirit of Python!

I saw the devil falling and running!

My family is delivered!

My victory is sure!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
This is the road entering the ancient city of Philippi (in today Greece). You see the ruins of the church there. It was around this place that Apostle Paul delivered the slave girl from an evil spirit of divination called ‘python’.

He wrote to the believers in that church:
“I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8; AMP)

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

The slave girl in the passage above looks vulnerable, innocent, friendly and helpful. She was ‘advertising’ Paul and his ministry. These are good and truthful words but, do not forget, she is an agent of the devil. Is that possible? Yes! That is the power of deception!  She was shouting on the road that Paul and the rest believers are ‘the servants of the Most High God’. In Greek, this ‘loud shout’ is like the sound of a raven. What she was saying is true but the sound of her voice had something sinister about it. The scientists say that the raven’s calls can express a wide range of emotions: tenderness, happiness, surprise or rage. Ravens can easily imitate other birds and they can even be taught the human speech.  The devil’s agents are professional liars and successful manipulators!!!

She told everybody that Paul preaches’ the way of salvation’. In Greek the word means salvation, healing and deliverance. Paul was not totally sure about the motives of this girl trying to join the evangelistic team. He probably felt some anxiety concerning her appearance and especially the sound of her voice. There was something strange about it. Not quite right! Jesus said that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and run away when they hear a stranger (Jn 10). This is a practical question: Do you recognize the voice of Jesus in the voice of other ‘brethren’? To be spiritually deaf is a tragedy for you may follow a hireling, a thief or an agent of the devil. Many have been deceived! When you talk to someone, wait for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and your ears! Wait for the ‘sign of peace’ in your spirit. Without it, do not move! Do not trust! Do not follow! Wait and Pray!!!

This is standard evil strategy: The devil first attacks with deception. No demon come and ‘introduces himself’ to you saying: ‘I am a devil…’ He comes as ‘an angel of light’, thru the church or another ministry. As a believer, I am not suspicious on any stranger. But I remain watchful and calm. Long ago I prayed that my spiritual and physical reflexes should be totally under the control of the Holy Spirit. God has answered that prayer and it has been a great blessing to me. As a pastor, every day, different people come to my office for prayer or counseling. I remain calm trusting the Holy Spirit to have His way. Sometimes, the needy person looks obviously ‘fake’. I still remain calm. No need to get angry. Once the light shines, the darkness is paralyzed. But there are other times when the person looks ‘born again’ and speaks good words. Suddenly, from my spirit I get angry and put a stop to that conversation. I immediately find myself ready for ‘battle’ the whole armor in place. With the authority as an ambassador for Christ, I confront the demon hiding behind the religious grab. This is the same reaction for me when in the past, as a doctor I see an emergency. I become focused, alert, calm and active in the same time. This ‘anger’ is totally under the control of the Holy Spirit. I never lose my temper and I never regret it. I am not afraid. My words increase in intensity. They go like arrows straight to the target. Fruits of deliverance manifest immediately. So I totally identify with what the Apostle Paul experienced on that road to Philippi.

“The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]” (1Jn 3:8; AMP)

This is my testimony, my experience, my belief and my encouragement to you: No need to fear! It is possible to be victorious in all spiritual battles! If you are a child of God then you qualify to pray for others that they may be set free! Be holy! Be strong! Let’s put the devil to shame! Enroll in the army that knows no defeat! The truth is marching on…

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I watch and pray always!

The python is dead!

The devil is a loser!

I am lead in triumphant procession as I continue to do ministry!

I get stronger and wiser every day!

I preach the Gospel of Christ Crucified!

My ministry is fruitful!

I set the captives free!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

Paul was attacked by an evil spirit of Python as he was going to the place of prayer. This evil spirit possessed a slave girl who met him on the way. This slave girl was a false prophetess who spoke under the inspiration of the Python spirit. Her master made money from other men who benefited from her prophetic gift. She was initiated at the famous Oracle at Delphi. To better understand the evil spirit that possessed her please read the following information about the legend of this shrine.

The Delphic Oracle was the most famous pagan oracle among the Greeks. The site of Delphi was located in central Greece on the slope of Mount Parnassus. It was not easy to climb there to meet with its ‘god’. This is the story:

The Greek god Apollo killed the serpent Pytho, who was a snake-god guarding that spot. To atone for the murder Apollo was forced to run away and spend eight years in menial service before he could return forgiven. A festival was held every year reminding the worshippers of this story of courage, humiliation and final glory.

The spirit of Apollo spoke through the priestess of the oracle. She had to be a woman of blameless life chosen from among the natives of the area. She sat on a tripod seat over an opening of the earth. When Apollo killed Python, its body fell into this crack. According to the legend gas arose from the decomposing body of the snake. Intoxicated by the vapors coming from below the earth the priestess would fall into a trance, allowing Apollo’s spirit to possess her. Then she will dance wildly or she will faint. In this state she will prophesy. The sessions were exhausting for the priestess affecting her health. Because of that many of them died young.

God’s judgment came upon this shrine. Barbarian invasions burned the Temple, which had been severely damaged by an earthquake in 83 BC. The surrounding area became impoverished. The sparse local population led to difficulties in filling the posts for priestesses. The Oracle’s credibility fell due to doubtful predictions.

The site is now an archaeological site and a very popular tourist destination. It is easily accessible from Athens as a day trip. The site is also protected as a site of extraordinary natural beauty.

The slave girl was able to correctly identify Paul and his companions as servants of the Most High God. She could not hide that Paul’s God is greater than her own. The demon in her could not resist the name of Jesus that Paul was preaching. The fearful python god proved to be a coward and ran away disgraced, abandoning its prey. The girl was delivered! ‘The knee’ of the python bowed at the name of Jesus! What a mighty God we serve!

Later there was a backlash. The girl’s master, under the influence of the same python god influenced the whole city to attack Paul and Silas. They beat them and threw them into prison. But God was with them and miraculously saved them. Against all odds, the Word of God, the Gospel of Christ crucified, spread in the whole area.

“Jesus is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]” (Col 2:10, 15; AMP)

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I repent of all idolatry!

The python-god is dead!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

Recently I had to pray for a young woman who attends our church. She is about 25 years old, not yet married. Her mother, a widow has three other children. She complained to me that her daughter is very rude, stubborn and lazy. Each time they quarrel, she runs away from home. The last time she ran to Cotonou and stayed there alone, in a hotel for a month. I confronted her and she agreed that it is so. She told me that herself and the mum they are like ‘cat and rat’. She said that the reason for this longstanding quarrel is the fact that her mum refuses to say who her real father is. She was brought up by the foster father who died two years ago. She said that until she knows the identity of her father she will not stop fighting her mum. Every word from her mouth was bitter and harsh.

Suddenly I got angry, ready for ‘battle’. I told her that she has a demon. The search for the identity of her real father is not a good excuse to be so violent. I told her that if she is not willing to be delivered, I will send her away from the church. She suddenly started laughing loudly and choking in the same time. I then commanded the evil spirit to leave her and go away! She fell to the floor and started vomiting in my office. I did not want to become emotionally involved with her. I continued to quietly pray in tongues. Then I told her to call the name of Jesus. She struggled. Her mouth was shut. After a while she whispered the name “Jesus…” The battle went on for about half an hour. Finally she collapsed on the floor, tired, sweating and yes, free! Her face changed…that hardness and proud look became soft. Her voice became gentle. She started weeping with gratitude for the grace that set her free. She now called the name of Jesus again in again in worship and love. That day the devil lost another follower. All glory goes to the Lamb upon the throne who died that sinners may live!

In the passage above, Paul was ‘met’ by this girl on his way to the place of prayer. The word ‘met’ means an encounter coming from the opposite direction. This describes an enemy. It is like a snake that suddenly pounces on its victim, ready to kill. I pray that you may ‘see’ this: There is a radical difference when you encounter an evil spirit or you meet the Holy Spirit. The evil spirits may come friendly, with flatter or emotional bribe. But all these are deceptions. Observe the direction from where they are coming to you! Spiritually, they attack from the ‘opposite direction’, which is hell! They are agents of your enemy, the devil who plans to take control over your mind so that you too rebel against God. This evil spirit of python attacked Paul and his friends. He came thru this slave girl (‘house girl’). He came from the opposite direction with evil intent. Once Paul was sure of the truth, he confronted and ‘killed the snake’. The evil spirit left the girl and she was delivered instantly.

Below are some scientific guidelines on how to kill a python if it attacks you. This is wisdom to survive in the natural, but we can apply the lessons to the spiritual realm:

*Killing a snake is dangerous. It is not a joke. You have to be prepared to do it!

*Keep four to six feet away from it!

*Keep your eye on the snake, especially its head!

*Use the shovel or stick to hit hard the snake on top of its head as many times as necessary, to cause damage!

*After that, approach the snake slowly; it may be dead, but you will need to cut its head off to be sure!

*Use the tip of the shovel to severe the head from the body!

These are some spiritual applications: The devil is real. Spiritual warfare is real. Watch and pray! You may need to fast and pray preparing for deliverance. You need to study the Word of God! You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Like David and Goliath, you need just a sling of prayer and a stone of the Spirit to damage the enemy’s head. Put on the whole armor of God! Learn to be skillful with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God! Be mentored by ‘old soldiers’ of Christ! You need to attack and defeat the enemy with a single blow of faith! Deliverance is possible! God will give you the victory! At the name of Jesus every knee must bow! Be humble! Always give all the glory to God!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I study the Word of God!

I watch and pray!

The python is dead!

I am free!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

Recently I had to pray for some brethren who were attacked by evil spirits. Their lives were good in the natural. They were not sick. They had jobs and came to church. But they all had similar complains: they were anxious and experiences panic attacks; they felt a heavy load of care on their shoulders; they were depressed and tired; they were losing money. There was no good (visible) reason for all these complains.

I told them that a demon may be responsible and that they need deliverance. I told them that it is like a poisoned bag pack they carry daily. I prayed with them. I commanded the demons to manifest so that they see the enemy face to face. Then they said Amen! Nothing happened that moment. But after some days, one by one they came back with similar testimonies. For example, one said that in the night, he felt like something was strangulating him. He felt weak like fainting…but he suddenly jumped up and started praying in the Spirit. He said that it was ‘a battle unto death’. The war lasted about an hour. He called the name of Jesus again and again. Slowly the pressure on his neck went away. He felt the Holy Spirit giving him faith and courage to fight unto victory. Lastly, the ‘rope around his neck’ was cut off and he felt ‘the peace that passes all understanding’. He was free at last! What joy! You have to experience such freedom from occult bondage to understand how he felt!

The passage above teaches us great lessons about spiritual warfare. Paul was attacked by an evil spirit of divination who possessed a girl in the city of Philippi. Divination is the practice to predict the future, or to understand deep secrets by interpreting omens or by the help of evil spirits. Other words similar to it are foretelling or soothsaying. The people who practice all these activities are false prophets. Please note that the attack happened on his way to the place of prayer. The word ‘prayer’ also means going to church to do ministry, to serve or worship God.

This demon closely followed and monitored the believers. The girl was the contact point to the coven of witches in that area.  The demon in her is called ‘a spirit of divination’. In Greek it is called ‘the spirit of Puthon’. This was the name of a famous shrine where men worshipped a deity in the form of a mighty snake, a python. The priest of that shrine insisted that he is an inspired prophet. He boasted that he can predict the future and that his deity brings material blessings on the worshippers. This slave girl and her masters were worshippers of that shrine.

What are the lessons for us?

The devil hates prayer. He will attack you if you decide to go to church, to pray or to worship God. The attack comes mostly thru religious spirits or false prophets. Their counsel will weaken your prayer life. These evil spirits promise you revelation knowledge and material blessings. Their source is the devil, the enemy of your soul. They may come thru human beings or they can attack directly. They will try to deceive you pretending that they are holy and friendly. Their intent is to wrap emotionally around you as a python kills its prey. Never give up on prayer! The reason the devil attacks it is because he knows there is power in prayer! So pray always! The Holy Spirit shall strengthen you and give you the victory! Don’t be sorry for the devil! Kill the python! Jesus is Lord!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I am healed and delivered!

I reject all evil spirits, all spells and occult bondages in my life and my family!

The evil spirit of Python has lost its grip and power over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and my work!

The python is dead!

I plead the Blood of Jesus over my life, body soul and spirit!

Jesus is Lord over my life, marriage, family, ministry and work!

To the glory of God Almighty!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The people murmured against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’- they demanded. Moses pleaded with the Lord to help them, and the Lord showed him a tree to throw into the water, and the water became sweet.
It was there at Marah that the Lord laid before them the following conditions, to test their commitment to him:
“If you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and obey it, and do what is right, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex 15:24-26)

The people of God crossed over the Red Sea. They praised God for the mighty deliverance. After just three days they began to murmur, asking for water. They saw a pool but the water was bitter and the murmuring increased.
These are some lessons for us:

*Bitterness manifests as murmuring or complaining.
This is the meaning of the word ‘murmur’ in Hebrew: to stop and abide in a house all night; to stubbornly complain or to have a grudge. Pray that you may understand the heart of a bitter man. Just imagine this story: After a long journey, tired and hungry, a traveler has come to a house along the road. He goes in. The host offers him a bed and some food. He gives the best he has .The next morning the traveler asks for his bill. The host tells him that all he received is a free gift for a heavenly Guest paid for him. Courtesy demands that at least he says ‘thank you’ both to the host and to the kind anonymous Guest. But the traveler feels no need to be grateful. He leaves the house grumbling that the bed was too hard and the food was not tasty. Many years later he still remembers the incident as a bad story. This is the heart of bitterness.

*Bitterness and grudges are rooted in ungratefulness and pride.
God tells Moses to cut the branch of a tree that grows by the pool. That piece of wood changes the bitter water into sweet water. That means the solution to the problem was found close by. The ‘medicine’ was planted by God on the shore of the bitter pool.
The word ‘tree’ also means ‘a Carpenter’. In other words, God tells the people to look unto Christ crucified. You don’t have to travel far away to have a solution to your problems. This is the first revelation of God as a ‘Doctor’: Jehovah Rapha. Bitterness is the background of all diseases. Go to the Cross! You need to trust in the Blood of Jesus so that your bitterness is removed! If not, you can never be healthy.

*The Cross of Calvary is the only cure for bitterness.
At the Cross you find life, hope and healing! At the Cross your sins are forgiven and your body healed! At the Cross you shall know the sweet joy of salvation! There is no other place in the universe to find such abundant blessings! The Cross is not fiction! It is a real place in the Spirit realm! Pray that your eyes open to this wonderful truth! It has saved many souls!

In Christ I declare:
I preach only the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified!
At the Cross of Christ I found salvation, peace, joy, healing and freedom!
To the glory to God!
In Jesus name’
Amen!

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb 12:15)

Thank God, this evening, during the prayer meeting, the battle was easier. The unity of the Spirit was quickly established. The praise was real! The anointing to pray was there. Everybody was hungry for a fresh Word from God. The sound of victory was heard over us. Faith was high! Hope was real! Joy was strong! The enemy ran away; he knows when failure is his portion! Then we preached the Word of God: The stronghold of Bitterness! The light of God shone in the darkness of ignorance and doubt. Many came to the altar and got delivered tonight. All glory to God! We shall never be the same!

This is the definition of bitterness:
* A taste that is sharp, stinging, harsh, painful and unpleasant.
* Something difficult to accept, admit, or bear (ex. the bitter truth)
* Exhibiting strong hatred (bitter foes)
* Severe disappointment (ex. cried bitter tears)
*Resentment; persisted grudges because of a real or imaginary offence
*Cynicism: fault finding; suspicious on all human beings that they are all evil

SIGNS OF BITTERNESS
*Unhappy, depressed
*Jealous on others
*Always grumbling (restless heart)
*Mood swings; emotionally unstable (because they try to suppress their feelings)
*Selfish: not loving others (not patient, not kind, rude, remember wrongs…)
*Angry; over- sensitive; suspicious (easily upset by small incidents such as whispering or laughing)
*Sexual sins
*Rebellion, pride
*Not able to form quality relationships or good marriages (The wall of bitterness is the main hindrance against anything fresh, a new beginning, of finding true love)

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING
Spiritually speaking, bitterness is the result of painful injury in the past that has not been healed. It comes as a result of broken promises, lost dreams, proud and unrealistic expectations, childhood neglect or sexual abuse. The root of bitterness comes from blaming God for the failure. It also comes from rejecting Christ crucified, the only healer and mediator between God and man. Bitterness is a visible proof of unbelief. A bitter man has no peace with God. With time, bitterness becomes a shield, a barrier against more possible pain. The Cross of Christ is the only place of healing. Therefore, all unbelievers live in bondage to the demon of bitterness.

WARNING!
These are some examples of bitter people: Esau, Balaam, Naomi, Absalom, Ahithophel, Ahab and Jezebel, Simon the sorcerer and the religious leaders in Israel.
Bitterness is a deadly contagious spiritual disease. It is very difficult to counsel such people. Naturally compassionate people are attracted by the bitter men. The spirit of religion may convince believers to take the challenge to pray, counsel or deliver bitter people. It is especially tempting to the naturally optimistic people, the ‘cheerleaders’ type of Christians, ever hopeful but also foolish. The danger is in ignoring the spiritual side of the problem. These are ‘highly sophisticated’ demons. Do not be over confident! Humble yourself! Help giving in flesh is useless and even dangerous! Bitter men are too dangerous for immature Christians to do deliverance! Selah!
Pray and ask God for confirmation! These cases need experienced Holy Ghost ‘surgeons’!

In Christ I declare:
I reject every root of bitterness!
I come to the Cross if Christ!
I drink from the sweet wine of His Grace!
I am free!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet….

To the one who is victorious and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…

I will also give that one the morning star.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:18-29)

Jezebel is one of the greatest manipulators in the Bible. She wanted to ‘help’ her husband. Behind the scenes, she ‘organized’ the death of their neighbor, a man of God called Naboth. The religious drama looked so real that the elders in Naboth’ city were deceived and stoned him to death. Because of this evil, Elijah prophesied that Jezebel will die in a terrible way. His prophecy came to pass some years later.

Jezebel the queen is dead, but her spirit is still active in the churches. She manipulates from the background. That is why her agents look humble and hard working. But this is a false humility, a religious poison, fast spreading in the churches. The intent is to weaken the authority of the true servants of God and to quench the Holy Spirit. Many pastors and leaders have been wounded, lost their reputations and even their lives because of this evil spirit. Jesus warns the believers to separate from the influence of Jezebel. All her agents, if they refuse to repent, shall be punished with bareness, incurable diseases and untimely death.

If you have been involved with this evil spirit you need to stop immediately and pray for deliverance. Let me tell you now: It is not easy! Manipulation is like a drug, like heroin; it very addictive. Jezebel’s fully trained agents are spiritual successful criminals, actively serving the devil who ‘was a murderer from the beginning’ (Jn 8:44). They cannot live simple lives anymore. Everything they do has an evil purpose. They mind is so polluted that they cannot think ‘straight’ anymore. They delight in wickedness. In medicine these are called Psychopaths. They are mentally sick unstable people who lack social skills. In other words, they do not know how to behave in society. They flatter, deceive and misuse innocent people. Then they betray and forsake them. Only God knows the number of deeply hurt people hiding in the churches. They are in pain but they don’t know what to do and where to go. These criminals can break someone’s heart and feel no compassion and no guilt. They are pathological liars; show superficial charm, tend to be impulsive, and refuse to take responsibility for their own actions.

“Have nothing to do with them!”

But there is hope! God searches our hearts and minds. Nothing is hiding from God! He will punish the trouble- makers and heal their victims. We need to pray! Pray for your pastors and their families!  We need to do spiritual warfare until the victory is sure! Trust God! With God all things are possible! The church is the Body of Christ! He died on the Cross that we might come together to worship Him. Nobody wounds His Body and go away free! God is a jealous God!

Dear Child of God, you who are truly saved, who faithfully serve God, even in the midst of pain, who worship God in Spirit and in truth, be encouraged today!

In Christ I declare:

I do not tolerate Jezebel!

I completely reject Jezebel!

By the Holy Spirit I am encouraged today!

I receive authority over the nations to preach Christ to them!

I receive the Morning Star, the light of the world!

In Jesus name

Amen