THE DEMON POSSESSED DAMSEL

ACTS 16:1

A. "AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US, WHICH BROUGHT HER MASTER GAIN BY SOOTHSAYING; THE SAME FOLLOWED PAUL AND US, AND CRIED, SAYING, THESE MEN ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHICH SHEW US THE WAY OF SALVATION" - ACTS 16:16-17
  1. What a dramatic testimony this was to speak of the mission of the apostles:
    1. "Servants of the most High God"
    2. "Which shew us the way of salvation"
  2. This truly sums up the mission of God's servants:
    1. To make known the way of truth to all who long for more light and truth - Acts 17:11
    2. To shew forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light - I Peter 2:9-11
B. DEMON POSSESSED DAMSEL
  1. A victim of Satan: - Matt. 15:22-28
    1. She was controlled by "the spirit of Python" - a serpent possessed her
    2. Divination was supposed to be able to predict the destiny of the individual or uncover the passed
    3. Divination was quite common even among the children of Israel; we would call it "soothsaying" - compare Acts 16:16-17 with Ez. 13:23; I Sam. 28:18; Deut. 18:10
  2. She doubtless, was a slave and her master used her to make money:
    1. She did what our modern fortune tellers do - pretend to know the inquirer's future
    2. Which in itself is a master deception of Satan himself - I Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Thes. 2:9-11
  3. God sent deliverance to this victim of Satan:
    1. Paul being grieved, burned and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out of her" - Acts 16:18
    2. This grace was promised to the gospel workers - Mark 16:17
  4. Deliverance of the damsel from the power of the evil power:
    1. Brought on persecution of the apostles - Acts 16:19-24
    2. But, also, another miracle of divine grace - the salvation of the Jailer - a would be suicide - Acts 16:31-38
C. HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFUL LESSON OF THE REDEEMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
  1. A demon possessed damsel is set free fro the bondage of Satan:
    1. That was the mission of the Son of God - "to set the captives free;" - Is. 61:1; Luke 4:18
    2. This work of mercy was a major part of his earthly ministry - compare Acts 16:18 with Mark 5:1-18; Mark 9:38; Luke 9:40; Matt. 8:16
  2. Picture, if you please, the untold human beings that are devil possessed:
    1. Not only in Africa or other Heathen countries
    2. But in the so-called civilized countries as our own country
    3. This fact makes it imperative for the gospel workers to have a living, close connection with Jesus Christ and His power to free the stricken victims of the devil
  3. Of course, Satan hates the liberation of his victims:
    1. He uses every means at his disposal to persecute the servants of God
    2. But that should never keep one back from helping men and women regain their freedom from the bondage of Satan - Acts 26:16-18
  4. As we move closer to the coming of the Lord:
    1. The conflict between good and evil will increase - because Satan knows that he has but a short time in which to do his dirty work - Rev. 12:12; I Peter 5:8
    2. But He that is with us is mightier than Satan, and He will give us glorious power to force back the powers of darkness
  5. What a demonstration of Divine power is so vividly portrayed in the liberation of the damsel:
    1. It must have great joy for her to be set free
    2. And what a wonderful experience of salvation come to the Jailer and his family - Acts 16:25-34


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