Setting Captives Free

Aug. 17, 2004

Dear Friend of Mary Craig Ministries,

To protect her identity, I will keep her anonymous. She is classy, educated, sincerely seeking to follow Jesus Christ. She was also bound, seeing the farm on which she grew up in Zambia encircled by a huge chain and padlocked. The draw of the farm and the devouring snake worshipped by her parents along with the worship of the ancestors plagued her—a stronghold of the curse for the sins and iniquities of generations of idolatry, witchcraft, and abominable practices. She wanted to be free.

As I prayed for her with the help of our son Stephen, her body went into contortions. She bent towards me as we broke the power of witchcraft. Her tongue twisted into the shape of the rattler of the snake, moving in and out of her mouth as we commanded her release on the basis of the Blood covenant in Jesus Christ. She saw two soldiers in the spirit guarding the door as all this occurred. Only when we finished did people knock and enter her office, four or five people one after another. But she is free now, glory to God!

Zambia is a Christian nation. It’s in their official governing documents. Next year the city of Livingstone celebrates 100 years. God has chosen this place from which to release the fire of His Holy Spirit to move out in all directions to the borders of Africa. We were His instruments to declare His intent and deliver His word.

God moved mightily to heal people of everything from headaches to depression; to deliver orphans from grief; to move His servants and pastors into higher realms of the Spirit; to demonstrate the power of the gospel of grace; to bring the revelation of the Word and of the worship of the one true and living God. We brought instruction, correction, encouragement, and blessing. We prayed for the animals too, and people repented for the mistreatment of animals and for using animals in blood sacrifices to Satan and for eating blood.

Children and babies have also been sacrificed and their bodies dismembered in ritual practices. Such abominations bring the curse of God to a nation and its people, as the blood cries out to a just and holy God.

We learned of Chief Mukuni, who owns all the land in the region and who must give permission for its use. His authority is unquestioned and his orders obeyed without rebuttal. Fear, not love, maintains his rule over his tribal people.

The Lord showed me as we prayed for him that he is "a king of the earth", courageous. He is described as educated, articulate, humble, graciously helping some who appeal to him for favor. Yet his literal crown is a python coiled around his head (mind), the protection of Leviathan, king over the children of pride. (Job 41)

As we prayed, I sensed that he heard through the spirit realm, and so we sent to him the word, the gospel. I offered him the scepter of peace from El Elyon, the Most High God, the Creator of the Universe. Chief Mukuni understands covenant. He is a king. People under him bow to him and do his bidding, but when a higher king comes with a higher covenant, he must bow to that covenant and to the wishes of that king.

I came to say that Jesus Christ is Ruler over the kings of the earth and before the King of kings and Lord of lords wars for Zambia and Africa, He offers the scepter of peace. If Chief Mukuni is willing to repent of his sins and acknowledge the abominations of witchcraft, blood sacrifice, divination, etc., then he will be forgiven and receive the truth, Jesus Christ. He must lay down and renounce principalities and powers of darkness and surrender to the higher covenant and to the high lordship of Jesus Christ.

I was shown that Chief Mukuni feared the loss of his dark powers—and that would be true. He would lose his dark powers; but he would become a leader of his people into the worship of the one true God, into the blessings of the gospel of grace, and into abundant life. The curse of the Creator and true God would begin breaking and reversing to blessing upon him, his people, and his land. With repentance, he could take up the cross of Christ, learn of Christ, and lead the people out of curse and judgment into the blessing of El Shaddai. But it would require the greatest courage and humility—to be stripped of the garments and crown of Satan/Lucifer and to abandon everything in which he has trusted to trust Jesus Christ alone as the Source of all life and blessing. All other gods and goddess spirits would sit in the dust as no-gods. Only by the grace of God and His heart of mercy and compassion will this happen.

The Chief is said to have within him a stone swallowed in the transfer of power as tribal chief. It is called a living stone. Yet the Lord says to him that a Livingstone was sent to his tribe to point the way to life eternal (1 Peter 2). The Lord in the heavens laughs as the kings of the earth plot and conspire against Him and against His anointed. (Psalm 2) He comes to avenge the elect. He comes to establish His dominion over the earth (Psalm 24). He comes with fire to purge and prepare the holy Bride of Christ. He comes with a sword to smite and to strike down His enemies. He comes with the mighty rushing waters of the Spirit whose voice thunders from the heavens, for He comes to avenge His holy Name and take up the cause of the weak and oppressed, to take up the cause of those who sit in darkness, to stop the bloodshed of the innocents and the selling of souls into slavery. The Lion of Judah roars, the Ruler of the kings of the earth takes His position now.

And as to the children of Ebenezer Orphanage, they were happy, so happy with the clothing, new underwear, belts, shoes, toys, pencils, books, and your gifts of love to them. I told them the story of Annabel and other animal stories. When I told them about Daniel Baker Craig [one of their many cats] and Stephen said DB behaved like a monkey, they burst into laughter. Then I told them about the grace of God and the love of Jesus. God is good.

Prayer changes things.

See Mission to Zambia and Zimbabwe for a report on the trip to Africa.

For His glory,

Mary Craig

Walk worthy of the Lord…
Giving thanks to the Father…who has delivered
Us from the power of darkness, and has translated us
Into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we
Have redemption through His blood, even the
Forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the
Invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by Him were all things created, that
Are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
Whether they be thrones, or dominions,
Or principalities, or powers: all things were
Created by Him, and for Him: and He is
Before all things, and by Him all things consist.
(Colossians 1.10-17)