Operating under satanic blindness

 The people of Samaria were under so much suffering, but never realized it. They were working and operating under satanic blindness and illusions and they never knew. Demons and all kinds of powers had possess the people of Samaria, yet they were going about their lives happily. The people of Samaria were praising the very man who was destroying them. The people of Samaria did not know who Simon really was; he was sapping them dry, but they believed he was delivering them. He was destroying them thoroughly and properly and was blinding their eyes. They (the Samarians) were hailing their enemies. When a man is bewitched, your enemy looks like your friend and vice versa; you are under a spell - you are bewitched! Destruction had already settled over Samaria. Sadness was everywhere. Unclean spirits had possessed many people. Nevertheless, they went about well dressed and about their business. Successful businessmen in Samaria were blinded by the devil. There was sickness in the land, but it never bothered them. There was trouble in the land, but it never bothered them, yet, they felt strangely normal. They thought Simon was the answer to their problems whereas he was the question and the problem.So slowly and ironically, the people of Samaria were dying, yet praising the very one who was drowning their boat. Why? They were bewitched. The Holy Ghost located Simon and declared that Simon was an agent of darkness. So, we have a lot of people in the house of God who look very normal, decently dressed, santimonous, angelic and holy, but inside they are terribly bewitched. When a person is bewitched, it is like being under the influence of witchcraft. The devil has bewitching powers. The world in which we live in has bewitching powers. Sin has bewitching powers and it is good to pray that bewitchment be broken upon your lithe things he did. He pretended that he was a great man. 

Simon the Witch Doctor

Acts 8: 9-23 : A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man. 10 All the people watched and listened to him. They said, “This man must be that great power of God.” 11 They kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

12 Philip told the Good News of the holy nation of God and of Jesus Christ. Both men and women put their trust in Christ and were baptized. 13 Even Simon believed in Christ and was baptized. He went along with Philip everywhere. He was surprised when he saw the powerful works that were being done.

14 The missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to them. 15 When Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 He had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 They laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the missionaries laid their hands on the people, he wanted to give money to the missionaries. 19 He said, “Let me also have this power. Then I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone I lay my hands on.” 20 Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight. 22 You must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin.” 24 Simon said, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have said will come to me.”