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4. The Founding of the Church at Philippi (Acts 16:11-34)
ACTS 16:16-18
16 It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” 18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
The world is so full of demons that John the apostle said: “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Even today we sometimes openly see the authority and working of cunning demons At the time of Jesus the demon-possessed raced to Him, the source of all light, and cried out: “What have we to do with you? You are the Holy One of God! Why did you come to destroy us?” In like manner the fortuneteller was impressed with the spirit of Paul and the love of his companions. She shouted: “Look out, people! These men are the apostles of God the Most High! They guide you so that you can be saved from evil spirits and death.”
This fortuneteller was known all around the city. The people smiled at her, and feared her at the same time. Many listened attentively to her pronouncements, and fell into the hand of Satan for asking her to reveal their future. Dear brother, we advise you not to go to a diviner or sheikh with the idea that they may heal you. Your faith in them binds you to their spirits. Paul became upset over the words of this demon-possessed woman. Why? He was disgusted by the strange voice coming from her innermost being. Paul did not consider her words to be good propaganda for his gospel, nor did he want to have the attention of the whole city called to his preaching by this deceiving spirit.
Paul also knew that the spirit of Satan, who is the father of craftiness and lies, is not the Spirit of Christ. He had no intention of supporting his preaching with the spirit of this diviner, even if she had pronounced many truths in the course of her lying.
Our God is not the Most High God among gods, spirits, and demons. He is the only, singular, and unique God, and there is no god beside Him. At that particular time the Greek world believed in many gods and spirits. The propaganda of the slave girl meant a corruption of faith in the one and only God of the gospel.
Moreover, the spirit of Satan did not know God, who is one in His essence. He did not know that He is the Holy Father, and that His Son Jesus Christ sits at His right hand, reigning with him in the unity of the Holy Spirit. The basis of redemption is only through the cross. The evil spirit did not confess that Paul and his companions were children of God, nor His servants. True salvation, however, not only delivers us from sin, death, and Satan, but also grants us adoption and second birth, as children of the Most High.
Thus the evil spirit denied God and the heart of salvation, even though he spoke about the Creator and His redemption. He distorted something wonderful, making it contrary to the design of Christ, who wants quiet reflection and meditation for man, and not spectacle. Through contemplation man can repent, hear the words of his Lord, reflect on them through faith, and be saved.
Paul recognized the girl to be possessed of an evil spirit. He saw her suffering soul and felt disgust at the impurity of the devil and his deception of millions. The apostle had mercy on the poor girl, and commanded the evil spirit to go out of her. He could not cast out the evil spirit in his own name, as Christ did. No, for the apostle of the Gentiles confessed he was unprofitable and unable, knowing that Jesus Christ is the only Savior. Thus he commanded the unclean spirit to go out of her in the name of Jesus Christ.
In fact, this unique name, the name of Jesus, is known in hell. Foolish people are blind, fanatical, and ignorantly religious. They do not know the truth of God. Paul’s words, however, showed who the true Lord is - the living Jesus Christ. Paul did not use the devil’s propaganda to support his preaching, but cast out the evil spirit from the suffering girl through the power of the gospel, saving her in her innermost self.
Even today the name of Jesus has great power. We cannot use this name any time we wish, but need to wait humbly for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul did not cast the devil out of the girl at his first meeting with her. Only after many days and after many prayers did he know for certain that Jesus himself wanted this. The whole thing was realized in one decisive statement: “In the name of Jesus.” Even today those who walk in the protection of His Spirit can cast out unclean spirits through prayer. So be watchful, dear brother, and do not do anything in your own name. Do not be tempted to use the name of Jesus to carry out your desires. Instead, submit to the gospel and to its Spirit, so that you may see the greatness of the Lord realized through you and in you.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, we thank You and worship You that You delivered the demon-possessed woman from the evil spirit. You are still the Lord of lords, even today. You free individuals from the devils’ bonds and fabricated lies. Open the eyes of millions that they may see false, religious lies, and be saved in the power of Your unique name.
QUESTION:
- What was a lie in the words of the demon-possessed fortuneteller? What was the truth that Paul spoke?