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Irritated?



Acts 16:16-24 (NKJV)

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 





17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 





It was true what the girl was saying, but how the girl was saying it through the help of a demonic spirit made it a distraction.  







What we are saying must be directed by the Holy Spirit whether it is true or not to be it effective. 







Zechariah 4:6  (NKJV)


‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.




18 And this she did for many days.







Why did Paul put up with this for days?  Don't you think that it got old. Why didn't he stop it at once? 








But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 




What would have Jesus have done?   He would have not directed the demon out until told to do so by God, His Father.  Just like Paul.





John 12:50 (NKJV)

... whatever I (Jesus) speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”






19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone,




How could her masters make a bunch of money off this girl's predictions? 




Because some of it was right.  Some of it was stuff nobody else could know, but it wasn't God.  




Don't mess with demonic stuff like palm reading.  You are opening yourself up to be tricked.  






they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.




Paul curing this woman caused a whole new set of problems for Paul. 




Ultimately, God used this situation to found a Church in the city of Philippi.  



We have a letter in our Bibles named Philippians written by Paul to them. 


Philippians 4:10-13 (NKJV)

10 But I (Paul) rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 




11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 




12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 




13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 




Keith Moore, Faith Life Church

https://flcmedia.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/productvideo/1015-InTheSpirit-01-SpiritOrFlesh-HD.mp4


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