Nelio was Alex's youngest cousin, about six years younger than him.  He was a rather shy reclusive type of person.  He followed the path that the rest of the youth did by trying drugs and listening to dark Heavy Metal music.  Alex had been witnessing to him gradually over the past nine years.

     Alex excitedly continued, "I was so glad to hear this that I went up to his house to visit.  Then we decided to go to a church that he had walked past in his neighborhood.  He's never gone into this church but he feels led to go there, so we went.  It was Bible study night and only Nelio and I showed up other than the pastor and his wife.  They told us that they had been on a fourteen day fast and praying seeking God about reaching the lost with the gospel and deliverance."  

     I replied, "Oh wow, that's great.  You really witnessed to Nelio a lot this past summer when your brought him to the Amusement park." 

    "Not only that, just wait until you hear the rest",  he said excitedly.  "We were singing some praise and worship songs together and then all of a sudden Nelio began to manifest something.  He then went into the bathroom because he felt nauseated and said that he smelled alcohol, but he hadn't been drinking at all.  I think it's a spirit of generational alcoholism.  I think Nelio had some deliverance spontaneously just by worshipping God!"

     "Oh wow, that's great!" I said.  "And Nelio doesn't even know anything about deliverance.  God sure works in mysterious ways!  But you did say that the pastor and his wife had been fasting for fourteen days."  

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     Alex continued, "But that's not all! Then Nelio suddenly asked to be baptized and the pastor said he'd do it at his house this coming weekend!"   Alex was so excited.  I was hoping that he would then start attending that church so he would not be so isolated.  I knew he would at least attend the Baptism because he had been praying for Nelio for the last nine years. Alex's fears were gripping him hard once again however.  He confessed to me that he was dreadfully afraid of seeing his cousin Sonya at the baptism.  

    "That's ridiculous Alex!  Why would you be so afraid of her.  All she did was yell at you."   I told him.

    "You don't understand."   Alex gasped.  "She released something when she yelled.  I have never seen her like that before.  She was hollering and shaking so hard that she even drooled.  It really frightened me.  I cannot see her right now, but I want to go to the baptism.  What if Nelio invites her?  After all she is his sister."

    Trying to reassure him I suggested,  "Why don't you just call the pastor and tell him of your concerns.  Maybe he can help you."   I was hoping that the pastor could talk some sense into him.

    He did call the pastor.  I was with him when he made the frantic call over his cell phone.  "Pastor Riley, I really want to attend my cousin Nelio's baptism but I am afraid.  You see, I do not want to run into my cousin Sonya."   Pastor Riley tried to quote some reassuring Scriptures to him but it did not calm Alex down.  He became more and more frantic.  I wondered if the pastor would dismiss Alex as someone who is just plain paranoid.  Instead he patiently tried to reason with him.  

    "It's a Jezebel spirit.  Something in her is controlling over me.  I can't be near it.  I just can't!"   Finally pastor Riley told him they'd pray.  Alex agreed and listened quietly.

     Nelio decided not to invite Sonya so that Alex would attend.  I thought that was so unfortunate.  I wanted Sonya to enjoy the baptism as well.  I wanted to see them reunited.  In the following months Nelio joined the church fellowship but Alex continued to stay at home.  I didn't understand why Alex didn't take advantage of this opportunity for Christian fellowship.  

       Nelio knew that God was calling him despite how strange Alex was acting.  God even attends to little details.  Nelio told me later, "At the baptism we ate afterward and they even served my favorite cake and they didn't even know I liked orange cake!"  The Lord knows how to give good gifts his children. I am sure the Lord arranged for Nelio to have his favorite cake. Imagine what good things the Lord has in store for us in heaven knowing our preferences.

    I couldn't understand why Alex would be so paranoid of Sonya after he'd been the one to witness to her about Jesus Christ and then also led her to receive deliverance.  The enemy truly does come to "...rob, kill and destroy."  (John 10:10).  I marveled at this because God had begun such a good work among his family members.  Couldn't he see that?  Why was he so bound?

 

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