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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Acts 16:18, Paul sets a girl free from an evil spirit which was controlling her. She was released from that evil spirit which controlled and dominated her life. This too can be part of mission, but how often is that taught today?
She was a slave in more ways than one. Now she is released but release for her meant financial loss to her owners. When the hope of personal profit is gone, trouble usually comes.
Some people want to make money and they do not mind how they do it. They exploit human weakness, and when the Holy Spirit moves, such men are going to lose business.
When her masters saw how they were going to be the losers, they seized Paul and Silas, and brought them to the rulers. Look at the first accusation - verse 20. "They are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar." What exaggeration! What lies! "They teach customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practise."
Was the immorality they had been involved in lawful? Legal? If revival came to our town consider for a moment those people who would lose money. Do you think they would remain quiet? When God moves it is disturbing.
Paul and Silas were more than a mere nuisance. But these nuisances have got to be silenced. This thing has got to be stopped.
Apply the law of God to those who are not disciples and they will fight. Reveal a genuine move of God to those who are not disciples and there will be a reaction!
A crowd rose up against them. Their clothes were ripped off. They were beaten severely and thrown into prison, into the innermost cell - the high security cell - which usually was a dark dank musty cold filthy place. And their feet are in chains.
Now this was also unlawful and illegal! There is not a word of outcry, but Paul had touched a source of easy money. He had touched the financial comfort of certain men, and these men were furious.
Was this what God brought Paul and Silas over to Europe for? And what was going through the mind of young Timothy? What was he thinking? What was he learning about being a disciple of Jesus Christ in the front line?
Paul and Silas had only been in Europe a few days, and already they are in prison as a consequence of their ministry? What a change from Lydia's home! Those who openly challenge the domain of satan in some way can expect to bleed! As you study the book of ACTS are you really prepared for such suffering, remembering that in our world today many thousands are experiencing sore persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ?
Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns to God. No complaining - no pity party! Their positive witness influences that jail. The jailor and his family are soon to become believers in Jesus Christ, as a result of Paul and Silas being illegally imprisoned.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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