#BibleLesson Timeless Truths Disrupted Life - Part 1



16 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. 17 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.” 18 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.
19 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. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:16-25
The girl in this passage was demon-possessed and Paul knows it.
  • Your life can be disrupted even when doing the right things.
  • It's okay to wonder why sometimes it seems that God does nothing to help.

Paul and Silas were going through that very situation.

SPIRITUAL CONFLICT OFTENTIMES LEAD TO DIFFICULT PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
The Enemy does not want to leave you alone.
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Matthew 12:43-43

  • Satan is the master of delusion.
  • It's probable that this girl is not the only client of those profiting. 
  • Don't listen to Satan's voice when he says you can't get out of the circumstance.

REMEMBER, GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER.

  • God has a direction and a plan for you.
  • God establishes order out of chaos.

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
1. Paul speaks the power of God.

  • When/Whatever you think you can or you can't... it's true!
  • God is in heaven for you and wants to bless you.
  • Pray your faith.
  • Don't wait until a crisis.
  • God in heaven hears your voice on Earth.
  • Prayer does/can change things. That ball's in your court.

2. Paul waits for the right time.

  • The Holy Spirit does not release Paul and Silas until HIS time.
  • This is when you ask, "What is God doing?"
  • At that point, what are you doing to do?
  • WAIT!
  • Only God knows what a heart needs for transformation and revival.
  • Admit God's plan it BEST!

3. Paul and Silas begin praying and singing hymns to 
    God...
even though their situation is terrible!

  • Paul and Silas are physically spent but singing because they know God is working things out.
  • You have to have patience and faith in God.

Thanks to Pastor Tony Miller for the primary teachings in this post.

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