The Ghanaian Sylvester Ofori who shot and killed his wife in Orlando, Florida recently is said to be a pastor who was lured into the occult and had also tried everything to lure his wife to the same thing, but the woman refused and left the home. The report said that Sylvester visited a so-called powerful ‘man of God’ who initiated him into the occult. Listen to your sister-in-law, “Sylvester had denounced God after visiting Nzema and they gave her a book to read. She then gave the book to my sister to read and after reading; she was also showing signs of denouncing God to follow the husband but she [Barbara] then recovered through prayers. Later, my sister found out that her husband had joined an occult group and filed for divorce: “My God! Please be careful what you read and listen to. Be careful what you watch. Be careful with friends. you have. And also with the places you visit. This couple visited and read just one ‘book’ and immediately lost their spiritual control and their whole world collapsed. Satanic power and influence are very real! Well, our interest here It’s in the way that people are tempted, seduced into ungodly things and practices that then enslave or destroy them. Now, people don’t just wake up and rush into crime or ungodliness. No! There’s always that gradual introduction and a systematic attraction. Most of the people who are attracted to the occult, theft, prostitution, corruption, adultery, gambling, smoking, drunkenness, kidnapping, rebellion and homosexuality, etc., did not plan to get involved. on that, but they were read two through wrong contacts, wrong associations, wrong thoughts, ambitions, desires and oversights.

Look at this Sylvester’s story again. Did you notice the progression? First he had these friends, and then he visited that false but powerful ‘man of God’ in Nzema. He came back again. He saw the power, the manifestation, the miracles, enchantments, etc., he loved them and continued to visit them. Then they gave him a ‘book’ which he read and denounced God. And he tried to lure his wife, but she escaped and then killed her. Yes. This is typical of Satan. He is a seductive teacher. He will gradually, systematically and devilishly draw you from the known to the unknown, from the simple to the complex and from the surface to the deep until he entangles you and finally destroys you. He will attract you with simple, “harmless” suggestions, sweets, nice things, gifts and words until he catches you, you reach the point of no return. After all, we are told that he comes as the angel of light to steal, kill, and destroy. He is a master of the game. That is why he was able to attract millions of angels to join him and rebel against God in heaven. We must always resist the temptation of evil and ungodliness from the beginning. You don’t have to wait until the damage is done or it gets late before fighting to break free. Run, run, and flee immediately if you feel any temptation or suggestion to do what is wrong. To attract simply means to attract, attract or tempt.

This tactic of luring people to evil and disobedience is not new. It has been there from the beginning. Remember that the first man and the first woman were tricked by the devil into disobeying the creator in the garden of Eden. The devil cunningly ambushed the woman and began asking her questions. Listen to him: “Did God say that you should not eat from the whole tree in the garden? Just look at this beautiful one. Just one bite and your eye will open and you will be as wise as God. Why not? Do you try?” principal! He came as an innocent inquirer, but he already knew the truth. He just wanted the chance to involve and deceive the poor woman and sadly, he succeeded. Listen, we are told not to give the enemy that opportunity at all. Don’t welcome him. Don’t entertain him. Don’t listen to him. Don’t give it a chance. And don’t talk to him at all. If you do, you surely know the best way to convince and entice him to do your bidding. He is older than you. He’s a master at it, a grand master at tactics and deception. By involving him, Eva made the most costly mistake in history and carelessness caused the fall of man and all the pain, suffering and death that accompanied it. What is the devil currently tempting you with? Resist it. Tie it up and throw it out now.

Falling into disobedience, the occult, sin, etc., starts with entertaining those ‘harmless’ little thoughts and suggestions from the enemy and even so-called friends. Some of them may come as advice or help. But you must ask God to give you the ability to discern and know when the enemy’s ultimate goal is to drive you away or lead him to ungodliness and disobedience. Once something is not totally in accordance with the word of God or is not very clear to you, do not get involved. Look at our pastor here. It was a bit of friendship, a few visits, little reading of a ‘book’ and a certain interest in the supernatural manifestation that attracted him to the total occult, denouncing God, initiating others and now committing murder. Carelessly, he foolishly fell into the enemy’s trap. Someone who ever served the Most High God? Has a man who has seen his goodness and manifestations end up worshiping Satan, denouncing his creator, and murdering his own wife? OMG! Listen now, resist the devil immediately, feel his subtle suggestions and motives, and you will flee. Like this man, most of the people who practice the occult and worship Satan today were gradually and systematically attracted to their friends, associates, associates, relatives, and even their spouses. Today, many people secretly worship Satan and demons just for money, fame, and power. Be careful! Do not befriend the wicked, do not hold back wicked thoughts and suggestions, and do not compromise God’s words and instructions.

David was lured into disobedience. He was tempted to immorality and murder because of his own carelessness and carnality and he paid for it. He lost his relationship with God, lost his throne, endured disgrace and humiliation of the highest degree, and suffered rebellion within and without. He went through excruciating pain, suffering and betrayal that almost always took his life. He was like an undead. All of these met this highly favored, powerful and blessed king because he committed adultery with Beersheba and, to cover his tracks, killed her husband. And how did he get into such trouble? When other kings were busy with their assignments; going to wars etc, David stayed behind in the palace, lounging around, lounging around and suddenly he saw the beautiful woman. He feels sorry for her. He slept with her and got her pregnant and, to cover it up, killed her husband. Once again, watch the progression: gradually sneak away: loiter, loiter, spot, sleep, and kill. One mistake, sin will always beget another. You already know the troubles David went through for years and how God later restored him, albeit with regrets for all of him, his family, and Israel. Are you being attracted now?

The same with Samson the great; the strongest man who ever lived. He was also careless with his assignment and conduct and a woman lured him into the hands of the enemy and that became the beginning of his painful and abrupt end. He was shaved, humiliated, beaten, blinded, and used as an enemy’s grinder and cheerleader. His mission and destination were injured. Yes, you will go through all of this if you let yourself be fooled. You lose your anointing, your glory, your spiritual vision, your peace, your prosperity and well-being. Unfortunately, today, many Samsons also sleep on Delilah’s lap. As I write, they are being dragged down the path of disgrace, degradation, and destruction. And sadly, they’re also about to end up like Samson if they don’t jump in now and run away. You are one of them? Why are you where you are now? What are you doing there? Be careful! Now, the enemy cannot trap or destroy you unless he first succeeds in removing you from God’s presence, protection, and relationship. That is why he will always lead you to sin first so that God will get angry and leave you. Yes, there is always a powerful and impregnable hedge that protects all Christians. And it is only sin that can take it away and leave us susceptible to enemy attacks and arrows. Remember when Barak hired Balaam to curse Israel? It didn’t work until the Israelites began living in immorality and idolatry, then the plague came. It was Balaam who taught Barak and the Moabites to attract impregnable Israelites with women and idol worship and it instantly paid off. God was very angry with them. The divine hedge was removed and they fell. Yes, expect the snake to bite you if you break the hedge. What is attracting you now? Resist it. Run away. Don’t be fooled! Until next week.

Gabriel is the author of the books / audiobooks Power of Midnight Prayer, Never Again !, Uncommon Success, Move Forward and many others https://www.amazon.com/Power-of-Midnight-Prayer/dp/B0887ZB34G/ref= tmm_aud_swatch_0? _encoding = UTF8 & qid = 1593877396 & sr = 8-2