Vusumuzi Dube
GREETINGS to the nation. Acts 8:9-13: “But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’
“And they heeded him because he had bewitched them with sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip, who preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed and after he was baptised, he continued with Philip and was amazed, beholding the signs and miracles that were done.”
When we read in the book of Acts 8, we see that the word of God was preached in Samaria by a man called Philip. Philip means “the lover of white horses.” As he was preaching in that city, Philip encountered a man called Simon.
This man was not just any man but a sorcerer—meaning he was a principality in that city. The city was under his spell. Places, structures, and systems can be under demonic control if the church does not arise and put a stop to such activities. It is the duty of the church worldwide.
Understand that when I am talking about the church, I am referring to the body of Christ corporately, which must understand the activities of demonic agendas in a place. If these issues are not dealt with, they can hinder the word of God and prevent it from prevailing in the lives of people because the church is a true representative of God’s agenda on earth. The Bible says we are ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, meaning we need to influence our environment using the kingdom of God.
The Bible states that Simon bewitched the city and its people. In other words, he manipulated them into believing he was the greater one, essentially making himself a small god. He bewitched men from the highest to the lowest.
My question is: where was the church that should have arisen to stop the witchcraft in Samaria?
Ladies and gentlemen, witchcraft is real. It is a weapon the devil uses to control the minds and hearts of people, turning them away from God. This means even spiritual leaders in that city were bewitched. You might ask, how can a spiritual leader be bewitched? In Galatians, Paul asks the church there, “Who has bewitched you?” indicating that witchcraft is a spirit that can destroy homes, ministries, businesses and more.
However, the Bible speaks of Philip, who, upon arriving in Samaria, preached the gospel of the kingdom of God — a gospel with the power to bring liberty to captives. The spirit of witchcraft can put a city, nation, community or village into bondage because, as the Bible states, Simon had bewitched them with sorcery for a long time. He used demonic witchcraft to control even the city leaders, influencing their decisions.
There are families currently destroyed by this spirit. This spirit hates righteousness. But the Bible says that as Phillip preached Christ, Simon the sorcerer believed. The lesser power must bow to the higher power. Imagine, for many years, people honoured him and listened to him, he was a principality. I see people seeking his counsel from the greatest to the lowest.
We thank God for the gospel of Christ, which brings liberty and light to cities and nations. Let every demonic activity come to an end in the lives of our children at school. May Christ take His rightful place through His church. Anything that is not of God, which has caused His people to suffer spiritually, physically, or emotionally, must come to an end.
You must understand that witchcraft is a wicked spirit.
The Bible says in Psalm 7:9, “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just; for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” When this spirit begins to operate, it has expectations over people, structures and systems — expectations rooted in evil — seeking to manifest in people’s lives. But we thank God for the revival He is ushering into our nations. We see the burdens placed on our spiritual and city fathers — like Bishop
Dr Collen Nyathi and other servants of the living God — to put an end to wickedness.
We begin to nullify any evil pronouncement spoken over our nations, declaring that it shall not stand nor shall it triumph, because of the blood of Jesus —which speaks of better things than the blood of Abel. Let anyone using sorcery over our economy come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, just as Simon the sorcerer did. The Bible says he wondered, beholding the miracles and signs that were done.
May the minds of our young people be delivered from the spirits of drugs, sexual perversion and drunkenness. These are signs that evil spirits have taken over to influence the next generation—making them doubt the truth of the gospel and the freedom it brings. Let the fire of revival fall, bringing conviction to everyone under bondage, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
May a hunger for revival come upon the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite you now to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour — believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is Lord and you shall be saved.
May God bless you all. Amen.
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