Divining Divinity
Acts 16:16-19
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
Notice the spirit of God who gives wisdom versus the Satanic spirit of divination. We see a girl who is demon-possessed working for people who made money from her misfortune. Paul knew the source of her problem was spiritual. Acts 2:17 mirrors the Old Testament promise of Joel 2:28 which foretold the pouring out of the Spirit of God on all people. The Spirit of the Lord gives wisdom and illumination to the human heart as the Lord lights the lamps in Proverbs 20:37. For the Lord himself is made unto us wisdom according to 1 Corinthians 1:30. Notice the differences and contrast between God's spirit and the devils counterfeit.
She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."
The girl's lack of peace created a public disturbance. Yet we see Paul himself created a public disturbance by casting the spirit out of her. A loss of profit, civil unrest, trial, and even imprisonment accompanied his obedience to God. She cried after them daily. Note that she could only follow them proclaiming them to be through the devil's power who they said they were. Some of the devil's attacks are for the furtherance of the gospel. Spiritual affliction necessitated a spiritual deliverance. Demonic attacks must be dealt with on a spiritual level. At Ephesians 6:12, the apostles recognized it was not the person but rather the Satanic spirit leading her.
She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
Her deliverance came with power and authority. Nothing the devil could say or do can mirror the power of the Lord. Note how the devil's spirits often mimic or look like the Spirit of the Lord. For is not the devil's form or disguise as an angel of light in 2 Corinthians 11:14. How do we tell the difference between the two spirits? The Spirit of God gives wisdom and discernment to tell the difference. Casting out a demonic spirit required the Lord's power, his protection, and his authority on a battle that was not even in the physical realm. If you google how to cast out demons, your search results will give formulas, prayers, and rituals to complete. These in and of themselves are Satanic for they have no origin with the Spirit of God. We see Paul casting the afflicting demonic spirit out in the name of Jesus. Paul's reliance upon the Lord's authority rested in his relationship with him. A specific command was given to the demonic entity with a clear direction to come out of the fortune teller. The authority of Christ prompted a swift obedience to the greater power, position, and authority.
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
An attack upon a demonic entity may often precede a greater spiritual attack with a physical result. Greater spiritual attacks may come from other forces than the ones which had been cast out. Note the spirit of divination did not manifest itself again in this situation. These circumstances and the direness of spiritual warfare show why a relationship with Christ is so important. Acts 19:13-16 is an example of such; the Jews without Christ in this passage attempted to cast out the demonic spirits by their own power and authority to their hurt. Those without a relationship with Christ who do not serve him cannot cast out demonic forces. For the demons do not have to obey those without Christ's authority. What difference does a relationship with Christ make? 2 Timothy 2:12 speaks of the power and authority vested in Christ. Believers, through faith and communion, share in the governance of Christ. His power is our power. His position ours. His life is ours. His resurrection ours. His death is likewise ours. His sufferings ours to share. On the other hand, his glory is also ours to wear. The outcome of the exorcism was a civil unrest and a trial that resulted with the disciples being thrown in jail. God honored the power of his name. For the deliverance and victory began with him and will rest with him until the last day when the church's deliverance has been made complete. The disciples made it out of the prison because of "the blood of the Lamb" and for their testimony in Revelation 12:11.