Prophet Magaya is no different from the apostolic sects he attacks

Walter Magaya of PHD Ministries wrote a 4 000-word-long thesis attacking the white garment apostolic churches. Despite the length of the thesis, he raised two points against the white garment apostolic churches: (1) They do not believe in the Bible, and (2) they belong to the marine spirits world. The rest of the 4 000 or so words were an attempt to justify the two claims. In this response I advance the point that Magaya's teachings are not in accordance with scripture. I also argue that Magaya is no different from the apostolic sects he attacks. I further discuss how people follow teachings that are not grounded in scripture.

The Thesis Lacked Scriptural Grounding
Magaya's thesis ended up being a long-winded fable for lack of bankable authority (scripture). If Magaya believes in the Holy Scriptures, as he claims, then his teachings and writings must derive their authority from scripture. In the thesis, however, only two verses were cited (out of context though). His thesis lacked the essential elements of a writing authored by a Bible-believing preacher/writer.

Such kind of teachings/theses was condemned by Paul in a letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1 v 3-4). He described such teachings/theses as endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigree. Nowhere in scripture do we find categories and taxonomies of evil spirits. Scriptures teach us that Satan and some angels were thrown to earth following a huge struggle in heaven (Rev 12 v 7-9).

Some interpret Rev 12 v 4 to mean that a third of the angels fell down with Satan. Scripture further teaches us that Satan and the fallen angels are "evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, ... mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, ... (and) wicked spirits in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6 v 12). This is also what John heard in the vision about Satan falling to earth. He heard the voice saying "... terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time" (Rev 12 v 12).

Beyond these verses one cannot find other scriptures with elaborate and detailed description of the devil's operations. There is nowhere in scripture where taxonomies and categories of evil spirits are given, including whether the devil's kingdom has departments and locations (headquarters). There is, however, the controversial issue about leviathan, what it is and whether it is a spirit after all. I will leave discussion on that matter from this write-up to avoid unnecessary diversion.

In the absence of knowledge from scripture about taxonomies and categories of evil spirits, departments, and headquarters of the devil's kingdom, anything said and taught about these things is mere speculation, which was admonished by Paul. There are a lot of writings about taxonomies and categories of evil spirits (see for instance www.iacmgh.tripod.com, which identifies up to 27 types of evil spirits). There are also countless writings about marine spirits, most of which are by Nigerian prophets (see for instance www.nairaland.com; www.undarkblog.wordpress.com). These writings share one thing in common with Magaya's thesis, lack of biblical authority.

In isolated cases where scripture is cited, it is so quoted out of context that one wonders whether we are using the same Bible. For instance, the writer of the article on www.nairaland.com bases his/her argument on Genesis 1 v 28, which has nothing to do with spirits. The writer on an article on www.undarkblog.wordpress.com bases his/her article on Job 26: 5, which he/she shamelessly twisted to suit the argument.

It is, therefore, apparent that teachings about taxonomies and categories of spirits, demons, the devil's departments and headquarters, are not based on scripture. They are mere speculation, the type which Paul spoke strongly against (1 Timothy 1 v 3-4). You just need to read Magaya's exposition about how "marine" spirits work hand-in-hand with white garment apostolic churches to have an appreciation about the extent of fiction and speculation involved.

I will just pick on a few examples. He claims that you are prohibited from entering the shrine while putting on shoes because you cannot enter water bodies with your shoes on. It does not require one to be scripturally grounded to know that this "law" by vapostori has its roots in Exodus 3 v 5 and Joshua 5 v 15.

The same goes for a number of practices cited by Magaya as proving that these churches belong to the marine world. These practices are based on Bible verses taken out of context in most cases. It is for this reason we argue that so-called non-Bible believing churches are sects led by hypocrites who read the Bible in privacy while banning their followers from reading it. Magaya claims that inventions in the hi-tech field are inspired by marine spirits yet his Yaddah TV is based on the same technologies.

I, therefore, find it strange that a man who attests to the infallibility of scripture can find energy to ink 4 000 words of fables, speculation, and mythologies, drawing the attention, and wasting time of millions of Zimbabweans who read the thesis.

Does the Speculative Thesis Help in Faith to God?

Paul's major worry about myths and speculation about spiritual pedigrees was that they do not aid people in their faith to God (1 Timothy 1 v 3-4). One way to rescue Magaya's thesis would be to argue that it is distinguishable from those admonished by Paul, on the basis that it actually helps people in their faith to God. Before delving on whether Magaya's thesis met this criterion, I would like to point out that faith is one of the armours that a Christian must put on in the fight against the devil. Paul mentions: truth, righteousness, peace that comes from the Good News, faith, salvation, and the word of God (scripture) as the full armour needed to defeat the strategies and schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6 v 10-18). From an evaluation of scriptures it can be said that Paul was basically talking about salvation and holiness of Christians as the key to withstanding the strategies and schemes of the devil.

Salvation gives us the power to be called sons and daughters of God (John 1 v 12), and puts us in the cover of Jesus' blood (1 Peter 1 v 18-20; Exodus 12 v 13). It is by the blood of Jesus that the devil is defeated (Rev 12 v 11). Holiness is what is expected of those who by faith have received God's grace of salvation through Jesus Christ ( Leviticus 20 v 26; Matthew 5 v 48; 1Peter 1 v 16). It is, therefore, logical to say truth, righteousness, peace, and living by the word of God, are the key attributes of holiness, which God grows in us as we constantly interact with Him through prayer.

Back to Magaya's exposition to the extent that knowledge of the devil's kingdom helps in our salvation and holiness, a point could be made that the exposition is beneficial to Christians. In Ephesians 6 v 11 Paul emphatically states that God's armour as described above will give us ability to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil. The import of this statement is that it matters not how the devil manifests himself to us (taking away the things we cherish most, or afflicting our bodies, Job 1 v 2; giving us the desires of the flesh, Genesis 3), the solution remains the same (truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and scripture, Ephesians 6 v 10-18). Some have tried to simplify the war against the devil by attributing it to a delayed match, where the outcome is known no matter how teams appear to be performing. As long as you put on the armour stated, you will always be a victor (Romans 8 v 31-37), but if you do not put on the full armour you will always succumb to the strategies and tricks of the devil (Galatians 5 v 16-21).

It is, therefore, clear that if you are to defeat the devil the focus must be on you not the devil. Scriptures have already told us that he is angry and causing havoc on earth. His behaviour has been likened by scripture to something imitating a roaring lion, and we are told to be watchful so that we can resist him (1 Peter 5 v 8). We do not need any further knowledge about the devil apart from that revealed in scripture, more so debatable and speculative knowledge. We need to work on our lives day and night through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that we are able to live a life of holiness. Through that the devil will have no chance of defeating us, whether he manifests in the form of any of those legends which speculative teachers/preachers talk about.

God in His divine wisdom did not find it necessary to expose how the dark world operates, despite His profound knowledge of anything happening on the universe. His main focus was to demonstrate to and assure us that in Him we will conquer the devil. Take, for instance, the trials and tribulations of Job. They were a direct challenge on the devil that he could not tempt Job away from God. He gave Satan permission, first to take away the things he cherished most, and later to afflict his body. In the book of Job there are no finer details of how the kingdom of darkness executed its plan against Job, apart from being told that Sabeans stole all Job's animals and killed the workers, fire fell from heaven and burnt sheep and shepherds, Chaldeans stole camels and killed workers, a powerful wind swept from desert, causing the house to collapse killing Job's children, and that he struck Job with a terrible case of boils.

There is no mention of which department of the devil, if any exists, did what in the fight against Job. There is no mention of which type of spirit, if any types exist, did what in the execution of Satan's fight against Job. If God wanted us to know about these things, there is no other fitting occasion for Him to have given us detailed accounts of how the devil operates than Job's tribulations because, the story of Job is all about fight against Satan. Instead, the rest of the chapters (40 out of 42 chapters) are devoted to how Job coped with Satan's attacks. If God does not deem it necessary for us to know the finer details of the operations of the dark world, who are we to speculate about such things?

Some may argue that you need to know the enemy if you are going to defeat that enemy. True as that may be in military parlance, it is not true with respect to spiritual warfare. A careful consideration of battles recorded in the scriptures show that it is one's relationship with God that matters, and not knowledge of the enemy. David defeated Goliath not because he knew anything about him but simply because he knew God had fought for him before (I Samuel 17). In verse 34 David gave a testimony of how God had saved his life before, as he tried to convince the doubters that he would defeat Goliath. The battles by Israelites against Jericho and Ai were won and lost because of the Israelites' relationship with God (Joshua 6 & 7). The information obtained from reconnaissance escapades contributed nothing to the outcomes of the battles.

The Israelites experiences as recorded in Numbers 13 also buttress this point. Moses was instructed by God to send a team to go and see how Canaan was before a battle to take the land. Moses ended up instructing the team to also assess the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy. When the scouting report came it indicated that Canaan was unconquerable (v 28, 31-33), leading to a rebellion within the Israelites. Their preoccupation with the enemy made them forget how God saved them from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. If they had focused on God and God only they would have marched into Canaan with the confidence that God was going to give them victory. Winning against Satan is therefore about your relationship with God (truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, scripture, and constant communication with God), and not knowledge about Satan's strategies and tricks. Magaya's thesis therefore does not help people in their salvation and holiness.

The Misguided Gospel

Concentrating on articulating imaginary knowledge about the kingdom of darkness only gives exaggerated prominence to the darkness world. The bulk of these teachings are concentrated on explaining how powerful the Satan's kingdom is, with little time spent on teaching about how Christ conquered the devil on the cross, and how through the blood of Jesus we are and we will always be victors over Satan. Such teachings instil fear in the hearts and minds of people, who are then lured to "deliverance" sessions for the purposes of getting protection from the "powerful and marauding kingdom of darkness". The legends told to us as we grew up do not help matters as these teachings are so interwoven with those legends that they seem like an extension of the teachings we received at childhood. In modern day Africa that is dominated by Nollywood, it is easy to convince the reader about the so called powers of the devil because; the visuals from the movies we watch will be playing live in our hearts and minds. The combination of legends told at childhood, watching Nollywood movies, and reading writings by Magaya-like preachers, plant and cement thinking in us that we need "powerful" pastors and prophets in our lives to be safe.

People end up turning to God, not because of His love, goodness, and mercy but because, they want to escape from a ruthless ruler of the unforeseen world, who has power to wreck havoc over their lives. This is not the right reason for turning to God. The primary purpose for which God curved out a plan to reunite with the fallen man, by sacrificing His only begotten Son, was His love, mercy, and desire to give us life again (John 3: 16). This purpose dovetails with the original purpose for which we were created, which is to worship, glorify, and obey God. It means therefore that with or without evil forces larking around, we have a duty to worship, glorify, and obey God. The message of salvation and holiness must therefore not be taught because, there is a devil out there but because there is a loving, caring, and merciful God who wants to fellowship with us. The centrepiece of our teachings should be God's desire to create a lasting relationship with men and women, which led Him to sacrifice His only begotten Son (John 3 v 16). Any other teaching particularly that articulated in Magaya's thesis must be regarded as unscriptural and misguided.

What Might be the Motive Behind Speculation about Satan's Operations?

Experience has shown us that people who spend time and energy propagating the kingdom of darkness under the guise of powerful teaching of the word of God, actually want attention to be drawn to their supposed supernatural powers. If you read the countless articles about marine spirits, taxonomies of spirits, and supposed detailed expositions about the dark world, at the end they will give you their prescription, which is turning to them for powerful prayers that will set you free from the shackles of the devil. It is my considered argument that the detailed expositions about the operations of the dark world, however, speculative, are designed to instil fear in you such that by the time you finish reading their articles, listening to or watching their teachings, you will be wondering how you can escape the jaws of the dark world.

I will use their most popular area of interest, which was addressed in Magaya's thesis, which is barrenness to demonstrate my point. Preachers and prophets, who like speculating about how powerful the devil is, invariably attribute barrenness to the work of the devil. They argue that God intended our marriage lives to be fruitful (Gen 1 v 28) but the devil who is anti-marriage tries to take away that fruit by making us barren so that we end in divorce. In a sense that argument is correct but it does not tell the whole truth on what scripture says about barrenness.

Abraham and Sarah stayed for years no end without a child to the extent that Sarah had to give her maid to Abraham so that she could bear him a child. Throughout their barrenness period God was telling them that a great nation would come out of their marriage that is Sarah was to bear Abraham a child. It cannot be said by any stretch of imagination that Satan was tying Sarah's womb because, Abraham had on him every armour mentioned by Paul. As a matter of fact he is referred in scripture as the father of faith. Their barrenness was part of God's plan as He laid the foundation of the Israel nation. What the devil succeeded in doing though, was to plant doubts in the mind of Sarah which led her to give her maid to Abraham to bear him a son.

In the case of Isaac and Rebecca they were married for 20 years before they could bear children (Gen 25 v 20, 26). Isaac had to plead with God for children (Gen 25 v 21), despite the fact that God had already planned that out of that marriage will be born a person, through whom He will fulfil His promise to Abraham. We cannot say by any imagination that the devil was fighting Isaac and Rebecca's marriage because God had a special plan for that marriage. So why did it took 20 years for the couple to have children? God wanted Isaac to establish a personal relationship with Him, and develop a better understanding of the Lord Almighty, rather than rely on what his father had told him. God also wants to teach us that we must ask Him for those things that are dear to our hearts despite His ever willingness to grant us such. Isaac and Rebecca's experiences with God gave them the knowledge that children come from God, no wonder Rebecca turned to God when the foetuses struggled in her womb (Gen 25 v 22).

The other case in point is that of Rachael, Jacob's second wife. God specifically closed Rachael's womb because, Jacob was showing more love to her ahead of Leah (Gen 29 v 29). The most important thing on the Rachael issue is that Rachael's barrenness was a result of God's action not anything to do with the devil. If anything could be attributed to the devil, it would be Jacob's failure to show equal love to his wives, and Rachael's selfishness in basking in the love showered to him by Jacob at the expense of her sister the first wife. That problem would have been cured by their repentance and demonstration of love to Leah, which they did not do. It was out of God's infinite mercy that Rachael was able to bear children (Gen 30 v 22).

These three cases are of interest because; it is easy to come up with speculative partnering theories. Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachael were paternal relatives as they were descendents of Terah (Gen 11 v 26; 20 v 12; 24 v 15; and 29 v 5-6). One can easily come up with generational curse theory as their source of barrenness. But their circumstances as expressly recorded in scripture dismiss that theory. Another partnering theory could be linked to Abraham, where one could argue that a curse linked to Abraham was responsible for their barrenness but thanks to scripture that theory cannot hold.

Last, I will use the case of Hannah and Elizabeth to demonstrate that barrenness could actually be God planned. Hannah wanted a son so that the shame of being mocked by her senior mate would go away, however God saw Hannah as the mother of a future leader of Israel who was going to lead the nation in righteousness. It was only after Hannah had vowed to give back the child to God that God answered her prayers (1Samuel 1 v 9-17). Despite their righteousness and uprightness before God, Zechariah and Elizabeth could not bear children until well into old age. While they wanted children, God wanted them to bear a forerunner to the coming of Christ (Luke 1 v 5-25).

These cases teach us that God may delay His blessings because; He wants to give us something bigger. So your barrenness could be because, God wants you to give birth to a future leader of Zimbabwe, Africa, or the world. What is important in all this is to remain faithful to God and pray steadfastly. In His appointed time, He will fulfil his promise to you. However, if you are quickly led into believing that some marine spirits want to destroy your marriage through barrenness, your focus will be taken away from God and put on man.

Now, if not every case of barrenness is down to the machinations of the devil, why is it that every barren couple is told by our modern day prophets that their case is due to some spirits fighting their marriage? Does it mean that Abraham- Sarah, Isaac-Rebecca, Jacob-Rachael, Elkanah-Hannah, and Zechariah-Elizabeth cases no longer exist? My considered view is that such explanations will take away attention from the prophet, which is not what they want.

To further demonstrate my point about these prophets, I will give a hypothetical example of a security organisation offering escort services in a warzone. If you are an employee of such organisation discussing safety solutions with a potential client, you will advertently/inadvertently magnify the security threats, limit discussion on alternative safety solutions, and then zero on your safety solutions. This will leave the potential client with real concerns about safety, limited options to address concerns, and ultimately engaging you. This is precisely what Magaya is doing. By going on a speculative overdrive about the kingdom of the dark world, he is trying to instil fear that the devil is larking by the corner to devour you. By attacking the other sects that claim to offer protection against the devil's attacks, he is limiting your solutions to "voice of anointing" and "anointing" oil packages offered at PHD Ministries. The consequence has been that people flock to Magaya in search of solutions to their problems.

The unintended consequences of this approach by our modern day prophets has been that they are usurping God's glory, which He decreed, He will not share with anybody (Isaiah 42 v 8). Statements such as "we want to thank the God of Prophet Magaya" or "God of prophet so and so" are now commonplace. John the Baptist claimed that he was not worthy to be Christ's slave yet we have people today who think their names can be mentioned alongside God's name (Mark 1 v 7). Scripture teaches us that the reason Satan was thrown down from heaven was that he wanted to arrogate to himself the glory that was being given to God through praise and worship. These pastors and prophets must therefore be careful not to follow the footsteps of Satan.

Are Magaya's Solutions to People's Problems Scriptural?

By grace and faith we are saved through Jesus (Ephesians 2 particularly verse 8). In John 3 v 16 God says he who so ever believes in Jesus will have eternal life. Nowhere is it written that we should go to some prophets and pastors to be delivered from sin. The key to our salvation and holiness lies in accepting God's grace through faith that Jesus died for us on the cross. Thereafter we must live according to the teachings of scriptures. This, therefore, means that the concept of "voice anointing" as taught and practiced at PHD Ministries is in itself unscriptural just like the practice of worshipping facing the East as practiced within apostolic sects.

Some argue that receiving Jesus as our Lord and Saviour is not sufficient to deliver us from generational curses. They rely heavily on Exodus 20 v 5, wherein in God says He will punish children for the sins of their forefathers up to the fourth generation. By design or oversight they do not mention that God promised His grace upon those that love and keep his commandments (Exodus 20 v 6). While it is true that generational curses are visited upon people with no relationship with God, those that have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour need not worry about such things because, it was at the cross where such punishments were borne (John 19 v 30).

It is utterly illogical for one to accept that the worst generational curse of eternal death (Gen 3 v 19; Romans 5: 12) was paid for by the blood of Christ at the cross (Romans 5 v 15-17), yet claim that people need pastors/prophets for deliverance from the lesser curses emanating from our forefathers' thieving, adulterous, and murderous sins. The word of God clearly states that when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you become a new creature and all things past are gone (2Corinthians 5 v 17). The devil cannot withstand the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who comes into you upon your salvation, as was evidenced during Jesus' ministry on earth (generally read the book of Mark). It therefore means that the moment you accept Jesus into your life all evil things that followed your life get banished. The teaching about "voice anointing" is thus not centred on scripture.

Yes Jesus and later the apostles cast out demons but that did not constitute a method of salvation. The case of Beverly and the PHD Ministries buttresses this point. Reports were abounding about how she was delivered from the spirits that cause her to dance in the manner she does. Few weeks later she was back on stage doing the same dances, mocking the PHD Ministries in the process. Why would that happen if she had been saved? The answer is simple; voice anointing was helpless to give her salvation. This is the tragedy of many who flock to that church and similar churches; they get given wrong prescriptions to their sinful lives and go away unsaved. Without God in their lives, they are left with no option by to seek sanctuary in those pastors and churches.

The other key aspect of PHD Ministries' teaching relates to anointing oil. On their website, the following is said about anointing oil:

Anointing oil is a point of contact for use in spiritual warfare and it is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The anointing signifies, sanctifies, dedicates and consecrates. Anointing Oil is a physical symbolism of God's healing and deliverance power. According to Exodus 30 vs 18-21, it protects from deadly dangers, traps, cleanses and purifies. It is the anointing of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit which is a powerful tool during spiritual warfare.

The following verses are quoted on the website as supporting their concept of anointing oil:

James 5 v 14, Psalms 23 v 5, Psalms 92 v 10, Mark 6 v 13, Exodus 29 v 7, Exodus 30 v 25, 31-33, Exodus 40 v 9, Matthew 6 v 17, Hebrews 1 v 9, 2 Kings 9 v 6, 1 Samuel 10 v 1, Leviticus 8 v 10.

At this juncture I would like to point out that the quoted passages are full of contradictions, half truths, and falsehoods. For starters Exodus 30 v 18-21 has nothing to do with anointing oil or any oil. Upon receiving Jesus as your Lord and Saviour the Holy Spirit comes into you (Pentecostal theology states that the Holy Spirit will indwell in you until you get baptised of the Holy Spirit, whichever way, the point I put across here does not change). Why then would you need an external symbol of something that is in you and is supposed to be controlling your life? (Galatians 5 v 16-22). The armour for fighting the devil is explicitly spelt out in Ephesians 6 v 10-18, and does not include anointing oil.

Of the cited verses, only Exodus and Leviticus verses refer to anointing oil while the rest refer to other oils not anointing oil. It must be noted that not every oil is anointing oil, notwithstanding what the pastor calls it. God gave a specific formula for preparing anointing oil (Exodus 30 v 22-25). This oil was only to be used for anointing the tabernacle and items in it, and for anointing priests on their consecration (Exodus 30 v 26-30). The anointing oil had the effect of making holy anything that touched the anointed item. God expressly prohibited any other person from producing his own anointing oil from the formula so given. He further stated that anointing oil was never to be poured on the body of an ordinary person (Exodus 30 v 32-33). Anointing oil can therefore be used only to anoint a person being ordained as a priest not ordinary people who want to be healed from sickness.

Later in the bible there are incidents where some people, other than priests, were anointed with other oils. For instance David was anointed with olive oil (1Samuel 16 v 13). The disciples in their mission took with them olive oil for use in healing the sick (Mark 6: 13). Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume/ointment (Mark 14 v 3). James advised the sick to go to elders for prayer and get anointed with oil (James 5 v 14). While the word "anoint" is used in the quoted passages, the oil used was not that designated by God as anointing oil. In most cases olive oil was used, which is just one component used in making anointing oil (myrrh, cinnamon, sweet cane, cassia, and olive oil, Exodus 30 v 23-24).

Through careful consideration of scripture it is clear that nowhere was anointing oil used for other purposes, other than that specified by God in Exodus 30 v 26-30. It will be against scripture for anyone today to make anointing oil for use for other purposes not specified by God. It is also against scripture to refer to any oil as anointing, other than that made in the formula of God. Magaya or any other person can freely make their oil and give/sell away to followers; however it will be blasphemous for them to call such oil anointing oil. In the final analysis Magaya's oil is not anointing oil, and his claim about it is contrary to scripture.

As Magaya's teachings are founded on "voice anointing" and "anointing" oil it is safe to conclude that he, like those people who do not believe in scripture, does not believe in scripture. His claim therefore that vapositori do not believe in scripture is tantamount to a black pot calling another pot black.

Why are Multitudes of People flocking to these Pastors/Prophets?

The tragedy of human race has been preoccupation with earthly things at the expense of life pleasing before God. People tend to follow anyone who promises them heaven on earth. Circular examples of such tendencies include the pyramid schemes of the late 1990s, while religious examples include people flocking to Muponda, and the Universal Church for the Kingdom of God in the mid to late 1990s. The current wave of people flocking in droves to PHD and similar churches is just but a perpetuation of that tendency. You hear people claim that "we worship God of results" and wonder what they mean. Is the gift of everlasting life not more important than the riches of this world? Jesus when contrasting two people who when died one went to hell while the other went to paradise, used the examples of a rich man and a beggar (Luke 16 v 19-31). While this example was not meant to portray the picture that you have to be poor to go to heaven, it clearly shows that receiving Jesus as your Lord and Saviour does not necessarily mean getting everything you need on earth. This passage puts to shreds the prosperity gospel.

In Jesus' time many people followed Him not because of the good news He was teaching but, because of the material benefits that flow from being around Him. After feeding 5 000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish, the following day boats crisscrossed the sea as people searched for Jesus. When they finally located Him they demanded to know where He had been as they had been looking for Him all over the place. In response Jesus said 'The truth is you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. But you should not be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you..."(John 6 v 26-27). Good health, wealth, marriages, children, and good life will all perish but eternal life will persist forever.

When Israelites were in the desert on their way to Canaan, they reacted to every challenge by reminding Moses how they would have been better off if they had remained in Egypt. Their argument being that they had plenty of food and drink in Egypt. To them food and drink were more important than the Promised Land.

It is therefore our desire for earthly things that makes us prey to religious predators. We, like the Israelites are not interested in establishing a relationship with God, but seek someone who can do that on our behalf (Exodus 20 v 19). All what the religious predators need to do is to offer themselves as connectivity between God and the materialistic people. They perform signs to convince people that they are in deed "man of God". The result will be droves and droves of people interested in their material problems being solved, flocking to the predators. Most of these people do not have personal relationships with God.

The predators are careful not to draw attention away from them towards God. You will never hear them tell congregants that challenges they face are a plan by God to give them something greater. Every challenge is attributed to Satan, yet in the bible we have countless cases where challenges faced were by God's design. Read about Abraham and Sarah's childlessness at old age, Isaac and Rebecca going for 20 years without a child, Joseph being sold into slavery, David living as a fugitive after being anointed king, Hannah going for years without a child, Ruth's husband dying in exile to facilitate her motherhood to Jesus' genealogy, among others. If our modern day pastors/prophets lived in those eras they would have told Jacob that anti-family spirits had caused the disappearance of Joseph; anti-marriage spirits had caused the death of Ruth's husband, while making Hannah childless; marine spirits were responsible for David living in caves as he ran away from Saul.

Conclusion
The practice of giving descriptors and taxonomies to evil spirits is not supported by scripture. The practice does not help in the salvation and holiness of men, and as such has no impact on the fight against the devil. Magaya's modus operandi of "voice anointing" and "anointing" oil is not supported by scripture, in fact his claims about the oil he dishes out to followers borders on blasphemy. Magaya therefore is no different from the apostolic sects he is attacking. People fall prey to these kinds of preachers because; they are preoccupied with earthly things at the expense of eternal life. People must learn to establish strong personal relationships with God not to have someone be their go between with God.