(Read Acts 16:16-25)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” After ministering to Lydia and her entire household, Paul and Silas continued on their missionary journey. One day, as they were going down to the place of prayer, the team met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her master. Let me pause here long enough to say that I am sometimes baffled why so many Christians don’t believe in the existence or power of demons. The Bible is very clear that Jesus encountered many demons and so did the Apostles and Elders. I don’t acknowledge their existence to somehow glorify satan or his demons, but if you think they don’t exist, then you are fooling yourself and you can be easily deceived when dealing with demonic activity.
The demon-possessed slave girl followed Paul and Silas, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” She did this day-in and day-out as Paul and Silas were ministering to people. Finally, one day Paul got so exasperated with the demon in the girl that he turned and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Instantly the demon left the girl and with the demon, the girl’s ability to tell fortunes left as well. The girl’s master was furious. With the demon gone, his money making machine was shut down.
The master and his crew grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. The Bible says, “They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison.” The head jailer was ordered to make sure Paul and Silas didn’t escape, so he put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Paul and Silas had done nothing wrong. All they did was release God’s power to set a girl free from a demon. And for this they were brutally beaten, imprisoned, placed in maximum security (in the inner dungeon), and then further secured (with their feet in stocks) within the most secure portion of the prison.
After all they had been through you would think Paul and Silas would curse God. You would think the two missionaries would complain to God. You would think they would throw in the towel on their faith and quit the ministry. But no, these men had God’s Grace on their lives. They were Graced to preach, evangelize, and minister to the lost at all costs. No matter what they faced, God’s Grace was on them to keep going. In the midnight hour, at the lowest of lows, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God! While they prayed and praised, the other prisoners listened and heard about Jesus! At their lowest point, they were still operating in their divine Grace to reach the lost. Tomorrow we will see what happened next.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Don’t be afraid of the devil or demons. Fear fuels satan’s power over you. If you are in Christ, Christ is in you, and the Father has filled you with His Holy Spirit, then you have power over the kingdom of darkness. Don’t allow fear to stifle your power. Exercise faith to release the power of God to spoil every attack of the enemy.
2. Fulfilling God’s assignment for your life will not always be easy. Paul and Silas were brutally beaten, imprisoned, placed in maximum security (in the inner dungeon), and then further secured (with their feet in stocks) within the most secure portion of the prison; all for doing the will of God. God never promised you a perpetual picnic, but He did promise to never leave, nor forsake you. So no matter what you are facing this morning, remember that God is IN you, ON you, WITH you and FOR you!
3. You have the Grace to keep going. Paul and Silas refused to quit. They refused to throw in the towel. They did not back down or cave-in. Paul and Silas were bullied, beaten, battered and bruised, but they kept going and God blessed them richly for it. No matter what you are facing this morning, you have the Grace to keep going!
4. Don’t let your circumstances stop you from operating in your Grace. Paul and Silas were in the inner dungeon, physically hurting from the pain in their bodies, shackled to the point that they could barely move, but at the midnight hour, at the lowest point, they prayed and sang praises to God. And guess what? Not only did God hear them, but the other prisoners heard them as well. Even at their lowest point, Paul and Silas were reaching the lost, ministering the Gospel, lifting up the name of Jesus. Have you allowed your circumstances to steal your joy? Have you allowed your circumstances to cause you to stop operating in your Grace? No matter what you face, never stop operating in your Grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing Grace towards me. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. You tailor-made my purpose and You also gave me the Grace to fulfill it. You developed Your expectations of me, and You also equipped me to do everything You expect me to do. You knew I would face opposition. You knew the enemy would come up against me and my purpose. You knew it would not be easy. You knew the good and the bad I would experience. And Father, You Graced me for it all. I have the Grace to accept the good graciously, not allowing myself to get over into pride. I have the Grace to face the bad head-on, never giving up, caving in or quitting. I have the Grace to overcome every attack from the enemy. The devil has no power over me. Demons have no power over me. I am covered by the Blood of Jesus, Your Son. I am filled with Your Holy Spirit. I am called according to Your purpose for my life. I am anointed to receive divine insight, wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding. And I am Graced to face it all. Come what may, no matter what I face, I am determined to operate in my Grace. Your Grace towards me shall not be in vain. No matter the pressure, opposition, challenge, or attack, I shall continue to run my race with Your divine Grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
