5 Smooth Stones

poisoned by bi tt erness and bound by iniquity." 24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." Notice that Peter gave clear instructions to Simon on what to do to repent of his sin “pray to God.” Yet Simon subtly turns this and a tt empts to get Peter to do for him what he was just instructed to do “Pray to the Lord for me.” This would be a welcome enough invitation under most circumstances, but in the case of witchcraft one must be very discerning because witchcraft has the power to de fi le through subtlety. Witchcraft and other works of the fl esh can empower demonic spirits. Uncleanness, lewdness, hatred, contentions, jealousy, anger, sel fi sh ambitions, heresies, and others can cause opening for spirits to be loosed to bring in fl uence and manipulation. Jezebel used this against Elijah. In 1 Kings 17, 18 we have the record of the spiritual ba tt le between Elijah the prophet and the forces of darkness most notably promoted by Jezebel and Ahab. Elijah informs the King that he will not allow rain for the next few years at God’s instruction. Afterwards Elijah must conceal himself from retribution by the king who blames him for the drought. Elijah fi rst hides himself by the brook Cherith and is fed by ravens. After the brook dries up he follows the spirit to Zarephath where Elijah is led to a widow woman and stays with her and God supernaturally feeds their entire household for the remainder of the famine. The famine lasts for three and a half years (Luke 4:25; James 5:17) and during this whole time Ahab has men searching across whole kingdoms for Elijah. 1 Kings 18:10 “As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, 'He is not here,' he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not fi nd you.” Elijah called the powers of darkness to a showdown on Mount Carmel and Ahab brought four hundred and fi fty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19) to confront one prophet of Jehovah, Elijah.1 Kings 18:20 “So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fi fty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; 146