Posts that reference the book of Acts

What we can learn from a demon-possessed girl in Philippi

What we can learn about spreading the gospel from Paul's encounter with a demon-possessed girl in Philippi

In Acts 16, Paul arrives in the city of Philippi. Not long after his initial contact with Lydia, he and his companions were on their way to prayer when they were confronted by a slave girl who was demon-possessed. Unlike the demon possessions in the gospels where the victims were unfit for society or stricken with physical ailments, this girl had the ability to foretell the future … kind of. But she was able to bring in a handsome profit for her owners. In verse 17, she loudly proclaimed, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

She was one hundred percent correct.

Paul and his friends were absolutely servants of the Most High God. Most High God was a regularly used Old Testament name for God. And the whole reason that they were in Philippi was to preach the gospel, the way of salvation. She nailed them. So why was Paul so irritated with her?

It was the demon talking, not the girl.

But the demon was telling the truth. Isn’t that a good thing?

Actually, it presents several problems which may give us some insight as we carry out the gospel.

Since the demon was saying the same kinds of things Paul was saying, the hearers would have a hard time seeing the difference between the occultism the girl and her masters were promoting and the life-transforming gospel Paul preached. The logical conclusion then is if the words were the same, then it really didn’t matter which one you followed, right? It’s the “all religions are the same” argument that we still hear today. That argument is patently false. Christ alone saves us by His atoning death as a result of His great grace, mercy, and love.

Second, Paul refused to accept the “help” of demons when it came to spreading the message of Christ. Granted, Romans and Greeks put a lot of stock in divination and having their message “certified” might have opened doors for Paul and his team. However, he was determined to seize the opportunities God presented him and to walk through the doors the Holy Spirit opened. He had enough discernment and faith NOT to partner with those who would ultimately undermine the gospel, no matter what kind of promotional advantage they offered. Even when it resulted in a riot, arrest, and jail. We, too, have to be wise and discerning as we carry out the Commission Jesus gave us.

Finally, no matter what the girl was saying, the reality was that she was in bondage, not to her owners, but to the demon that controlled her. Her “testimony” was empty and meaningless. Paul knew that until she was free of the demon and her heart changed, it didn’t matter that her words were true. We encounter people all the time who can use all the right “church-y” words but their hearts and lives show no evidence of transformation. We like Paul need to recognize what the root problem is. While we may not be able to command the chains to fall away, we can pray to the One who can.

So what can we learn from Paul’s encounter with a demon-possessed girl in Philippi?

The gospel stands alone among all other religious systems and messages.
In carrying out the gospel, make sure the only spirit helping is the Holy Spirit.
What’s in the heart matters, not the words.

Sinai and Pentecost

By Paula Wiseman

Last week we looked at the connection between the Tower of Babel and the Day of Pentecost. This week I want to show you a link between Sinai and Pentecost as another example of God’s complete, amazing redemption.

Sinai

In Exodus 32, we can read the account of the golden calf. According to Exodus 24:18, Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days. When he left he never said how long he’d be gone – he didn’t know. All he said was that Aaron was in charge. The people, clueless when it came to following Yahweh, were much more familiar and comfortable with idolatry like they had known in Egypt. Let’s face it, when we’re pressed, we go with what is comfortable and familiar. But God did not choose them, redeem them, call them His, and enter into a covenant relationship with them only to stand by and watch them go back to worshipping idols.

God was justifiably angry. You can read the details and Moses’ intercession for the people in verses 7-24. Note that when Moses saw with his own eyes what was going on, he was angry as well. In verse 20, Moses ground the calf to powder and dispersed it through the Israelites’ water supply. Then he issued a judgment.

Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’S side–come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Exodus 32:26-28

The people were given an opportunity to repent and identify themselves with Yahweh and His covenant. The Levites immediately did. (Remember Aaron was from the tribe of Levi. They weren’t blameless, just wise.)

Those who didn’t repent received God’s justice instead of His grace. One of my favorite commentaries offers some insight into why God responded so decisively at this moment.

“God revealed to [Moses] that a fight was underway over saving truth. If the idolatry were allowed to continue, many people in ancient Israel would turn from saving truth to condemning falsehood, from the promise of eternal life with God to destruction in hell—and since Israel was the repository of God’s saving truth at this time, allowing the idolatry to continue might have affected the potential for eternal life of countless future generations of Israelites and Gentiles alike.”
New American Commentary – Volume 2: Exodus.–

So the Law came. The people were given a chance to repent and chose not to and 3000 were put to death.

Pentecost

As the book of Acts opens, Jesus goes back to heaven and leaves the apostles in charge, with instructions to wait in Jerusalem. Unlike Aaron and the Israelites, they didn’t get frustrated and impatient.

In Acts 2, after the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s coming, Peter and the other apostles made their way to the Temple grounds where a crowd was gathered. Each of them began to preach in a different language, ensuring everyone there heard and understood.

Then Peter preached his famous sermon. Its essence was simply the Messiah came and you crucified Him.

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36

Worshiping and following anyone or anything else now was idolatry.

Unlike the Israelites at Sinai, this crowd understood exactly what Peter meant.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:37-39

See the similarities? Repent and identify yourself with the new covenant in Christ.

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41

Three thousand were rescued from death.

God is the only one who redeems like that. Have you repented and identified yourself with His new covenant in Christ?

We Cannot Help Speaking

By Paula Wiseman

For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

How was your weekend?
We cannot help speaking…

I don’t know how you can be so calm.
We cannot help speaking…

The world is such a mess. I’m not sure anybody has any answers.
We cannot help speaking…

You’ve been through this kind of thing. What did you do?
We cannot help speaking…

We’ve exhausted all our options.
We cannot help speaking…

I’m not even sure I have a purpose.
We cannot help speaking…

I’m tired of being lied to.
We cannot help speaking…

The opportunities are there. Speak what you’ve seen and heard.

Our Mission

By Paula Wiseman

“Your mission, if you choose to accept it . . .”

Most of us don’t consider ourselves special or notable. Changing diapers, doing laundry, or paying the bills are certainly not our typical idea of significant work. We are faces in the crowd, numbers on a list. One of Satan’s great weapons is getting us to forget who we are, to embrace this idea that we are nothing and nobody, incapable of doing much or leaving much of a mark.

The truth is, at the moment of salvation, Christ blessed us with “all spiritual blessings” (Ephesians 1:3) including eternal life! He also gives us the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our familiarity with the fruits may cause us to dismiss them. The fact is, all of these ‘powers’ are supernatural in origin and exercise! They are the proof of the presence and actions of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God called us as His own and He equipped and empowered us for a Kingdom work, a mission.

So what’s our mission?

Jesus spells it out at least four times in the New Testament.

(Matthew 28:18-20) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(Mark 16:15-16) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

(John 21:15-17) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

This commission embodies the essence of Christianity, calling us to share the love and message of Christ with others. The charge to Peter to “feed my sheep” underscores our ongoing duty to care for each other.

(Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

A witness is someone who tells what he knows. We don’t need lots of experience or training to tell what we know.

How did Jesus change my life?
Why He matters to me?
How are my daily activities different because of Jesus?
How is my outlook affected?
What difference does He make?

Our great responsibility

(Ezek 33:8) When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

The character of God hasn’t changed. If He held an Old Testament prophet responsible for not doing His job, we can expect He’s going to hold us accountable as well. But it’s extremely important to understand, our responsibility is limited to the “speaking out” part. We ARE NOT held accountable for someone’s rejection of the warning.

We have a tremendous responsibility and privilege to fulfill this mission. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish it. We can rely on God’s guidance, strength, and grace as we spread His love, share His truth, and make a positive impact in the world around us.

Let’s embrace this mission wholeheartedly.

Lydia

By Paula Wiseman

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14

Lydia was a seller of purple.
She was engaged with the people around her. She was a businesswoman, and the nature of her business put her in contact with the upper class.

She worshipped God.
In spite of being grossly outnumbered by idolaters and pagans, she held to her faith in the one true God, even though there was no synagogue and no support network.

She was receptive.
Because she was already worshipping God regularly, He responded with a deeper revelation of Himself and His ways.

She was obedient.
Immediately after she believed in Jesus, she was baptized.

She was influential.
Her whole household was converted and baptized as well.

She put her resources to work.
She offered her home and hospitality to support the missionaries in their work.

We can be engaged, devout, and responsive, too.
We can be like Lydia.

Wind and Fire

By Paula Wiseman

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. Acts 2:2-3

On October 8, 1871, a cold front moved across the upper Midwest generating strong winds. These winds caught small brush fires farmers had set to help clear land. A firestorm ensued, meaning superheated flames more than 2000 degrees F were pushed by winds over 110 mph. The firestorm engulfed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and eleven other communities. One eyewitness described how the fire seemed to jump the Peshtigo River. The fire generated its own tornadic winds and resulted in an area twice the size of Rhode Island burned. A conservative estimate of fifteen hundred lives were lost. It seemed nothing could stand in the conflagration’s way. It was the most destructive fire in U.S. history.

Wind and fire are an unstoppable combination.

Forty days after His resurrection, in some of Jesus’s final instructions to His disciples, He said they were to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the power from on high (Luke 24:49). Ten days later, when that power manifested, it came as wind and fire. Thousands upon thousands were saved. It was the most amazing day in the life of the church. From there the wind and fire pushed outside the city limits to the surrounding country and eventually the entire world.

On Pentecost by using wind and fire to mark the arrival of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God teaches us that nothing can stop the spread of the Gospel. Furthermore, its impact is unmistakable. Wind and fire harnessed and used for God’s purposes are powerful and productive.

Today the Peshtigo Fire has largely been forgotten. Buildings have been rebuilt. Survivors have passed on. The loss isn’t felt as urgently. Even in 1871, the tragedy was overshadowed by the Chicago Fire that happened the same day.

Today we know the name Pentecost, but other things have been built on top of it. People who felt the power have long since passed on. We don’t feel the need for it as urgently.

Wind and fire. They are still in use, still available. Pray we don’t become firebreaks and wet blankets.