Which Way?

Over the past week I have been working on a sermon from Acts 16:16-32. In the opening verses, Luke tells about about a woman who followed them as they walked through Philippi. Luke describes this woman as possessed by a demon. I know that it is not popular to suggest that a person is demon-possessed. Some might suggest that she was a confused person, perhaps an individual who struggled with mental illness. Mental illness and there are individuals who suffer with these illnesses, but this woman was not mentally ill.

To understand these verses we need to consider the time frame they are set in. Paul had just recently been called by the Spirit of God to bring the Gospel to Macedonia. In the early part of Chapter 16, Paul, and his team, went searching for a place of prayer in Philippi that met by the river. This was likely a Jewish community of prayer that met in the distinctively Roman community to pray. Jews were despised in those days. When Paul met this community, and its founder Lydia, he introduced them to the Gospel. On that morning a church grew out of a community of prayer. This may have been the first church in Europe.

Luke goes on to tell us that as they were going down to "church" this possessed woman followed them. For "many days" she followed them and shouted out, "These servants are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" One day Paul turned around, looked through her to the demon, and commanded the demon, through Jesus Christ, to come out of her. A great day of liberation occurred.

It may be difficult to understand what had occurred. Why would a demon possessed woman proclaim the Gospel? Is that not proof that she was merely mentally ill?

There appear to be certain passages that many individuals have pre-loaded as mp3s in their brain and with little trouble they are replayed in out minds. But the "recording" can be misunderstood because we lack enough information. In those days there were multiple associations with the term "Most High God". Christians, and most Jews, will understand this to be Yahweh, the One True God. But, there were other understandings in Philippi. Many Greeks of that day saw Zeus as filling that role. Today there are others. Also, today we hear the words "the way to be saved" to refer to trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (If only that the whole world would understand this truth and come to Christ. May God be praised!) But in those days, and today, there are individuals who teach there are many ways. In verse 18, Paul set this woman free. Why did it take multiple days before he acted? I don't know. But he did and she was set free from the demon that made a slave out of her.

When you encounter individuals who are confused and misled by false belief, do you take the time to share the Gospel with them that they may be set free and find faith and salvation in the One True God? Or, do you pass them by? Today. Stop! Love them and share the truth!

Pastor Al