Casting out demons and being persecuted
Acts 16:16-25; 12/24/2023;
BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
When someone is baptized into Christ, Satan comes to disturb them. Lydia had just been baptized and had wonderful fellowship with Paul, Silas, Timothy, etc. Of course Satan is not happy, So what would it do? Then just send out the unclean spirit to disrupt the short-term mission team. Let’s look at the first point:
The unclean spirit entangled with money
The bible says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:10)” Evil comes from the evil one, so tempting people with money is a common tactic of Satan. First, the slave girl possessed by an unclean spirit. At this moment, Paul and Lydia were going to the place of prayer to hold a church prayer meeting. Satan dares to attack church prayer meetings, which shows how daring he is. The Bible says that a slave girl possessed by an unclean spirit came to meet them. The word πύθων/Puthon in the original text refers to the snake, guard Delphi (Delphi) in Greek mythology. This maid may even use different spells such as ventriloquism to confuse people. More importantly, after some silent operations by this maid, her masters can make huge profits. The masters mentioned here are not one master, but many, many of them.
Secondly, many days of disturbance cause annoyance. When Jesus was preaching in Capernaum, he met a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an unclean spirit. He shouted to Jesus: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God. (Mark 1:24)” The unclean spirit in today’s passage also shouted at Paul’s group: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” Not to mention, the unclean spirit knows everything but doesn’t repent! It only spoke once. The Bible says that it not only followed Paul, but also shouted like this for many days. It annoyed Paul because it probably thought Paul was easy to bully.
Finally, drive it out in the name of the Lord. Unknowingly, God’s servant “turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.” This is the greatest ability of a servant of God, which is to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Do you think Peter can be arrested whenever people want? Can Paul be imprisoned if people want? Can James be killed if people want? Can Pastor Wang Yi, Cao Sanqiang and other God’s servants be sentenced to jail if they want to? Torture if they want? The Roman Empire fell! Hitler is dead! Stalin is dead! Mao Zedong did not live to be eighty-three! Do you want me to go on? All those who persecute God’s children will surely end badly! If you don’t know, just read history and you will know. Let’s look at the second point:
Rather to choose the wealth with evils
When Jesus drove the demons possessed by two thousand pigs off the cliff in Gerasene, the residents of Gerasene asked Jesus to leave them because of the damage to their property. Everyone knows that life is good, but money cannot be forgotten! First, the nature of seeing profit and forgetting one’s righteousness. The Bible does not say how this slave girl made these masters hugely wealthy, but it is obvious that this is a community of vested interests. Having money can make demons push the wheels, and it is the evil spirit who uses ventriloquism and other magic to help them get rich. These masters should be wealthy and powerful in society, have good connections, and be in collusion with leaders and other people in power. The bible says, “But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. ” When there is no money to be made and the source of wealth is cut off, of course they will become angry.
Secondly, the high-sounding reasons. Now that they are in front of the leader, what should we say? It cannot be said that they have driven away the demons that we rely on to make money, thus cutting off our financial path. Maybe they are worried that the leader will ask: Why didn’t you tell me about such a way to get rich? Or in other words, the leader is already one of the masters and is just a secret shareholder. In short, they all need a high-sounding reason. Last Wednesday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that former President Trump was not eligible to be nominated for president in the state in 2024. This is a typical politically correct frame-up that does not hesitate to rob voters of their rights! Of course, they also need a high-sounding reason to accuse Trump of participating in the atrocity that stormed Capitol Hill on January 6, 2020.
Finally, the group rose up to attack and struck. The reasons given by these masters are valid. Needless to say, it is enough to say that they are Jews. As we all know, Jews are good at doing business and naturally have a lot of money. However, the Jewish lifestyle is relatively closed and generally does not interact with outsiders. What they eat, drink and use is different. In the eyes of outsiders, they seem out of place, have too many rules, are not understood by outsiders, and are even a little strange. Not only did they take Paul to the market to meet with the leaders, but they also met with officials. When the officials heard that someone wanted to change the rules of the Romans. How could that be? Seeing that there was still a chance to win the hearts of the people, he took advantage of the situation and “the officials ordered them to strip off their clothes and beat them with sticks.” Let’s look at the third point:
Free Worship in Bondage
Here it is, Paul and the team were beaten, with rods. look! Blessed are the servants of God who are beaten by these antichrists for the Lord’s sake, for they bear witness to the glory of the Lord. First, bondage in persecution. Since ancient times, wherever the gospel goes, it is inevitable that it will encounter persecution. Stripping people naked and beating them with sticks is not only painful to the flesh, but also humiliating. Just like when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, he was stripped naked, and suffered all the humiliation. A student cannot be higher than a teacher, and everyone who follows the Lord will also experience this kind of humiliation, without exception. Two years ago at Nordic Summer Camp, we were returning to camp from preaching downtown. Someone reported that a drunk man slapped a brother 20-30 times with his palm. I dragged my feverish and dizzy body out to see. When I saw the assailant, I asked him: Why did you beat him? The assailant came up and slapped my face. I feel very sad because this perpetrator has been an old friend for many years.
Second, praise everywhere. Paul and his team were beaten with rods for no reason, stripped naked and humiliated, thrown into prison, and had fastened their feet in the stocks. 怎麼辦？ What could they do? Cry miserably? Blameful and bitter? Complaining like Xianglin’s wife? Or thinking about how to find opportunities for revenge in the future? If so, what is the difference between us and the Gentiles? The Bible says: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,” This world does not know such people, nor does it deserve to know them! The key point is that when they sing to praise God, it is not a performance, but praise everywhere. I went to Jordan in August and when I walked through the passage of the ancient city of Petra, I couldn’t help but sing “How great thou art”! A brother from England heard my singing and stopped to praise God together with me. We all cried. We were moved to tears when we saw God’s wonderful creation!
Finally, the gospel was preached into prisons. In today’s sermon, the story is not over yet. It left a gentle sentence at the end: “and the prisoners were listening to them,” I won’t talk about what happened next. I will just say that Paul preached the gospel into prisons, which is of great significance. Because Jesus Christ became flesh, came to earth as a human, sacrificed his life on the cross, was resurrected and ascended to heaven, in essence, he came to a world like a prison to preach the gospel to us. While Christ was suffering on the cross, he still sang praises of worship: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)” Thank the Lord! Paul and Silas were “praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” Not only did they hear it, but they also had to witness the power of God!
Conclusion
Well, thank the Lord! The power of the Lord is to send the Holy Spirit, but when Satan is anxious, he sends out unclean spirits. However, we don’t have to be afraid because we can do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Let us pray……
Acts 16:16-25
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
