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.

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But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 2 Timothy 3:14

I get a lot of spam email. Most of it can be divided into two categories– how to lose weight and how to get rich quick. The thing is, I know how to lose weight. Everyone does. Take in fewer calories than you burn. If you do that, you will lose weight, guaranteed. This plan is sometimes expanded to eat right and exercise, but it’s the same idea. Continue with the plan, be consistent, and in time, weight loss happens.

Oh wait – I left out the key spam word – easy. Every email promises an easy way to lose weight. Eat what you want. No exercise or effort is required and the pounds drop off.

Of course, there’s no such thing.

It’s the same way with getting rich. We all know how that happens. Spend less than you take in. Save, invest, and wait. It’s not hard or complicated. It just takes discipline and patience.

The emails, however, assure you that they know the secret to wealth. Buy their book, invest in their scheme, or take their course and the money will roll in.

If it were true, they wouldn’t have to resort to spam to find takers.

That’s the echo in Paul’s words to Timothy. “But you,” you be different. Don’t be like everyone else around you, ready to take the easy way and the quick fix. You be disciplined and patient. You stick to what you know. You continue in the things I taught you.

The advice is relevant for us today. Don’t fall for slick marketing, systems, and strategies. God grows us, and grows His kingdom slowly, patiently, with discipline. Want more intimacy with God? It takes time to develop. Want a more vibrant prayer life? It takes discipline. Want to do a better job sharing your faith? It takes practice. No shortcuts.

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In one short verse, Paul encourages us to do three things.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope.
We know what we’ve been given and forgiven.
We know what awaits us.
We know it’s a sure thing.
Don’t take it for granted or push it to a corner of your attention.

Be patient in tribulation.
The hard times will come. Or they are here.
Affliction, trouble, testing.
Endure, hang on, and watch for the reinforcements.
Watch for the redemption in the midst of the hard stuff.

Be constant in prayer.
Constant means steadfast. Devoted.
It is the very breath of our life.
Don’t get discouraged when the answer doesn’t come instantly.
Hang in there.

Do three things. Three little, not-so-little, things.

How much will change if we do them?

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As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Sometimes we make things more complicated than they have to be. However, simple doesn’t always mean easy. Take the Christian life, for example. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry instructing and encouraging believers in the hows and whys of new life. In the letter to Colossians, he gave a two-verse summary that is worth a closer look.

Why does it matter?

Paul builds on what he has written previously with “as you therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord.” In this case, the ‘as’ is used like ‘since.’ So, since you have received Christ Jesus the Lord. Not His doctrine. Not a membership in His church. You have received Him, the anointed sovereign of the universe living in you. This was not a decision entered into lightly. (Hopefully.) The implications are staggering. But because of that decision, everything going forward must be different.

The Christian life is active.

Walk in Him. It is a way of life, a manner of living. Receiving Jesus is not an intellectual exercise or an emotional experience primarily, although emotions and intellect are involved. In fact, we’ll talk about intellect later in this post. But Christ saved us to do things, to do His kingdom work. We do that each day, patterning our lives after His. We maintain close communion with the Father. We tell people about the hope in the gospel. We serve others. We show compassion and mercy. We treat people with dignity.

It is as much unseen as seen.

We usually don’t see a tree’s roots. But there is often as much below ground anchoring and nourishing the tree, as there are leaves and branches above ground,. A good deal of our Christian life, especially the growing, happens behind the scenes. This means our growth is going to happen in private moments, in quiet times, when we are alone with God, studying, praying, listening, and learning. If we don’t invest effort here, we will not be sufficiently anchored or nourished.

It’s a process.

In the Greek, built up is a continuous action. The Christian life is an immediate reality as soon as we believe, but it is also a process. We are built up in Him day by day, step by step, experience by experience. Since it’s a process, it requires time and patience. But the end result is that we are established in the faith. Solid. Mature. Unshakable.

It involves intellect.

God didn’t save us to be robots, marked by mindless obedience. He reveals His precepts, His character, and His purposes. That revelation engages our minds. We think about what He’s told us. We consider the implications. We meditate on that truth.

The Christian life requires the right attitude.

Thanksgiving. Not pride. Not with an agenda to advance. Not with entitlement. With thanksgiving.

There you go. Two verses. No rules or rituals, but an authentic life that transforms us as it points others the Christ. You just have to live it out.

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We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1

The grace God gives us because of Jesus Christ is a precious gift. We can’t begin to place a value on it.

Sometimes, though, we don’t value it. For example . . .

His grace gives us talents we don’t use.
Opportunities we don’t take.
Ministries we avoid.

His grace provides forgiveness we don’t receive.
Guidance we don’t follow.
Standards we don’t embrace.

His grace affords us a position we don’t aspire to.
Access we don’t avail ourselves of.
Intimacy we don’t enter into.

Paul pleads, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.”
Don’t squander it.
Don’t ignore it.
Don’t waste it.

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My son wrestled in junior high and high school. After his first meet, we came away with a new appreciation for Ephesians 6:12. In the verse, Paul reminds us who the actual opponents are, but the verb wrestle reminds us the nature of the struggle we are in.

It is intense. Wrestling can’t be accomplished from the sidelines. All of the boys, from the 6-year-olds on up, were locked in mini battles of strength and strategy. Every match was personal and very hands-on. They gritted their teeth, their muscles strained, their faces reddened and they came away sweaty. All after 3 one-minute rounds. If a boy let up, even for a split second, his opponent sensed it immediately and usually seized that opportunity to pin him.

If we decide to root out the sin in our lives, or engage the evils of society, don’t be surprised if things quickly intensify, requiring our full effort. Those battles can’t be waged by proxy, either. We have to engage. In competitive wrestling, points are deducted for failing to engage the opponent. If we don’t step up, we lose more than points.

It is exhausting. Even though the actual matches were just a few minutes out of the day, nobody had to tell my son when it was bedtime. On match days, he had his lights out before 9 p.m. It was more than just the physical exertion. There was mental preparation, there was a tremendous emotional investment and there plenty of nerves to deal with. I saw my share of tears from competitors of all sizes, more often from frustration and disappointment than physical pain.

We see the same thing. Every time we try to do the right thing, it becomes a battle. We mentally prepare for each situation (sometimes, that’s called worry). We pour our hearts out. Sometimes we get thrashed. It’s no wonder we often feel wiped out spiritually, emotionally and mentally. But yet, we rarely take the time to rest and regather. That’s asking for burnout or real damage to our faith.

The boys who listened to their coaches were more successful. Some boys entered their matches convinced they knew what they were doing and didn’t need any help. Other boys soaked in every word the coaches told them before the match and during. Even when they lost, they had a better match and gave their opponents a tougher time.

The Scriptures are full of instructions on how to deal with evil in and around us. We can toss them aside and forge ahead the best way we know how and face quick, humiliating, painful defeat. Or we can take those words to heart, imitate Jesus and follow His ways.

The boys found extra energy when the crowd got behind them. We scanned the mats to see if there were any of Alan’s teammates to cheer for.

We are no different. If we have the prayer and moral support of others, it’s easier to keep battling. We need to commit to supporting each other as well. One of my favorite moments of the day was when one of the 8-year-olds asked Alan how his first match went. Alan said he got pinned. The other boy put a hand on Alan’s shoulder, “Get ’em next time.” You can be sure, there will be a next time. Don’t shy away from offering a word of encouragement, dropping a note or breathing a prayer.

f course, in competitive wrestling, the kids are on their own. The coach has instructed them, practiced with them and prepped them, but once they step on the mat, it’s all on the individual boy’s shoulders. Jesus doesn’t leave us to fight our battles alone. He equips us, and then He promises to wrestle with us, even through us. More than that, the final victory has been secured.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

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