And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. —Acts 16:18
This slave girl performed sorcery and divination for the profit of her owners. When Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi she followed them around shouting, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
Second Corinthians 2:11 warns us not to be ignorant of Satan’s methods. What she said was true, but her source was demonic. Although this seemed like good advertising, she was only trying to expose them so they would be arrested, beaten, or run out of town.
The devil is not to expose us; we are to expose him (Ephesians 5:11). If Paul had let her go on, people would link the gospel with the things of the devil. Expose Satan at every turn. Expose him in the horoscopes and in the psychics. Expose him in the ritual and the religious. Expose him in the lies and in the deceptions. Give no place to his work in your life.
Don’t allow Satan any opportunity to wreak havoc in your life, but resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).
Jesus, empower me to test the spirits
and expose the devil wherever he
rears his ugly head. Devil, you
are under my heel and I bruise
your head in Jesus’
name. Amen.
