“Father I will call you later, I don’t want my husband to know I am praying” was the response from a lady I was praying with over the phone and then she ends the call. Alot went through my mind as I pondered on her situation: why would a woman under spiritual attacks and undergoing exorcisms be afraid her husband will find her praying? The story is unclear, right?
We live in difficult times and the enemy is continuously devising sophisticated means to attack, manipulate and keep people in bondage. The type of spiritual cases I meet on daily basis are evidences calling for radical witnessing and prayer! If only you realise that the enemy’s grand plan is not only to deceive, destroy and cause afflictions but to cause deviations leading to the loss of salvation at the end, you will join me to say this prayer immediately. But before we pray, read this slowly…
Cf. 2 Thess 2:16-3:5
…Finally, brothers, pray for us; pray that the Lord’s message may spread quickly, and be received with honour as it was among you; and pray that we may be preserved from the interference of bigoted and evil people, for faith is not given to everyone. But the Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from the evil one, and we, in the Lord, have every confidence that you are doing and will go on doing all that we tell you. May the Lord turn your hearts towards the love of God and the fortitude of Christ.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God before we pray, there’s need for you to know that these perilous times have already been envisaged and revealed in the Bible. St Paul writing to the church in Thessalonica warns them of the times when there shall be massive rebellion against God led by one who is the very embodiment of sin and lawlessness- “the man of sin”- who will even try to usurp the throne of God!
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess 2:3-4).
When that time comes, all restrains on the Evil One will be removed and it will seem God has lost control while wickedness and evil thrives!
And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way (2 Thess 2:6-8).
Hence, St Paul calls us to STAND AGAINST and PRAY AGAINST EVIL INTERFERENCE in our lives!
MEANS OF EVIL INTERFERENCE
2. Today the Evil One has device sophisticated means of deception, manipulation and control. It projects its influence and agenda through persons, objects, activities and events of daily life. Hence Child of God you must stay attentive to the following listed below. Some are inevitable as you may use them, while others are to be totally avoided.
a. Media: books, journals, newspapers
b. Social media: internet, radio and television.
b. Friends, family and social circles.
c. Cultural practices and sexual orientation
d. Science and technology birth control and fertility treatment.
e. Spiritism: voodoo, palm reading, horoscopes, necromancy and divination. This last one must be totally avoided.
TASK
Pray Psalm 27 now, asking the Lord to give you the strength to stand against every form of satanic influence and interference.
I Pray for you
May the Lord empower you now and give you the strength to stand against the wiles and manipulations of the devil, in Jesus name. Amen.
May they stumble and fall, they that rise against you to devour your flesh, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
I disconnect you from every satanic influence and interference, that they shall lose access to your life and manipulate you no more, in the Mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Fr, Thank you for guiding us …