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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Acts 16:17, this girl who was deeply involved in the occult and who was owned by pimps, followed Paul, shouting and screaming - "These men are servants of the most high God who are telling you the way to be saved." Every word is true. She is being fed the truth about Paul, but from a wrong source. It has been said that today she would have been welcomed as a founder member of the fellowship in Philippi.
This went on for a number of days. Paul ignores it and puts up with it for a few days.
Paul is not going to be diverted suddenly. He wants to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ first. The enemy will do anything to stop the preaching of the Gospel.
The day arrived when he became so troubled, that he has to deal with the circumstances and "turned round and said to the spirit, 'In the Name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her'." At that moment the spirit left her.
What she was saying was true - but it was not edifying, nor attractive. It was screaming and off-putting, because it was not coming from Jesus. Her motive was bad. Her source was corrupt. This whole questionable episode had to be confronted. Paul had to face up to reality, because she was not going to go away. She was not going to allow him to get on with his work. Paul discerned this.
The way we speak about Jesus - the way we speak about the Fellowship - the way we say things can be as important as what we say. Our life must be consistent with our testimony - hers was NOT. Our witness must be consistent with what we claim to believe.
It is vital that we do things decently and in order - in such a way that our testimony will draw people to Jesus Christ - and the source of what we say must be the Holy Spirit. Our aim must also be to ensure that the truth of God is saturated with the love of God.
All this was missing in what this girl was screaming.
When Paul was so troubled, he spoke with the commanding love and authority and power of Jesus.
There are times when we need revelation from God, so that we see the situation clearly, as it actually is. If you are facing a difficult awkward situation just now pray that God will give you discernment and wisdom.
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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