Word of the Day: Demon-Possessed
Controlled by or as if by a supernatural force
The Book of Acts is full of action, and here is where the disciples are alone, meaning Jesus was not physically with them, but they had the Holy Ghost, who was their guide. This book represents a comprehensive picture of early church life and history. The theme for this book is to continue what Jesus had come to do and to teach. I also must emphasize that the book of Acts has been taught wrongly and poorly. Some churches have started their church philosophy based on one chapter, sad to say, but this book provides so much information on how to run a church. Some teach you that the Holy Spirit is received the same way as in chapter 2, but Paul teaches us that you receive the Holy Spirit once you accept Christ.
Today we will talk about a young lady from Philippi who was a slave girl. The slave girl was also considered to be a businesswoman the same as Lydia; the only difference is that her business was to make someone else rich and not her own. Her way of business was through the "spirit of divination," or the other term "the spirit of a Python" For those of you who don't know what a python is, well, it is a snake who lives in the Eastern Hemisphere, and it's the most venomous snake in the world, sounds very creepy. Her masters made money from this girl as she told the truth as well as she predicted the future to thers through this spirit. Being a slave girl was a social problem back in those days as it is now, but Paul did not attend to them as his main goal was always to deal with the spiritual problem.
Social problems have always existed. We could talk about the enslaved people, the poor, the orphan, and many other issues. As a Christian would say, our cities are full of social ills or 'sins". There is nothing wrong with a Christian wanting to help in those areas, but the main focus should always be to get the person right with God to be right with man.
Back to the slave girl, this girl was profitable to their masters, and due to the Roman laws, she was under the mercy of her masters. Sometimes we could be so ignorant to know the power of Satan. Some churches like to play the game of getting demons out of other people, which we should always stay away from. When Jesus was on earth, he wanted no testimony from evil, so why it is so easy for some "Christian" to think they know better than Jesus.
Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
When the demon-possessed girl saw Paul, she declared what they were doing: "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." What she was saying was the truth, but Paul was not pleased with it as she was declaring the truth very loudly, and that is how Satan works. Satan wanted those people to have her attention instead of Paul's. Those people who heard the Gospel were distracted; Satan did not want those people to get saved; this girl was his instrument to attack the Gospel. Have you ever been to a prayer service, and when you start praying, you hear someone else whispering their prayers? I easily get distracted, and it is hard for me to concentrate when someone is making noises around my time with the Lord, which is precisely what this girl was doing. Paul did not need her help to announce the Gospel.
Acts 16:17
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
This is the moment where it gets fascinating; Paul was frustrated and grieved for this demon-possessed girl, and this is when Paul said: "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour". Two significant events happened here; first, we see the spirit left instantaneous; secondly, she was no longer an object to her masters as she no longer possessed this demon of divination. Her chains fell off! Her soul was free!
Acts 16:18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
When her masters noticed that she was no longer demon-possessed, they took Paul and Silas to the marketplace unto the rulers. They complained that Paul and Silas were trouble in the city; this is why we need to pray for our cities and our leaders; we need more Christian leaders in our government. People like these masters are the ones who place liquor stores near our schools, and they pass laws to legalize drugs that will hurt our children and our society; they profit from destroying other people's lives. Paul and Silas were beaten almost to death because her masters were no longer collecting money, which we call corruption nowadays. This corrupt law protected the masters instead of the girl.
Acts 16:19-22
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Conclusion: We learn from this lesson that although some laws: drugs, pornography, alcohol, and cigarettes, might be legal, it does not mean that it is okay with God; it is called sin. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.1 Corinthians 3:17 If you are a member of a social program, remember that the main focus for those people is to get right with God so they can be suitable with society.
Comments