While Paul and his companions were still in Philippi, there was an enslaved woman who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul for many days and shouted to the crowd, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." Finally, Paul became annoyed because it was disrupting, so he turned around 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, and she could not perform fortune-telling anymore. Her owners realized they could no longer make money through her, so they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (Acts 16:16-19). (Second Missionary Journey Map).
Fortune-telling in Roman culture is pretty prevalent. Many people would go to fortune-tellers to know the future of their lives and business. However, fortune-tellers were empowered by evil spirits. They delve into black magic that taps into Satan's power. Satan is the master of disguise and lies. Satan can predict the future, but he cannot know the future for certain. Only God can know the certain future because He is the beginning and the end. Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." When Paul rebuked the evil spirit of the woman, Paul rebuked it in the name of Jesus and not in his own power. Only in the powerful name of Jesus can he rebuke and cast out the evil spirit of the woman.
Let us completely rely on the power of our God. Our God is more powerful than the evil spirits (demons) and Satan. God knows our future because our future is in His hands. All we need to do is to surrender our lives to Him, and He will guide us through this life. Let us not delve into fortune-telling or try to know the future apart from Christ. Many people fell into Satan's lies because they played with black magic and demonic activities. We have been set free from Satan's bondage. We are free in Christ. God has our future in His hands. Let us walk with Him daily and completely trust Him.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) Who knows my future? Do I trust God, who knows my future? Why is it important for me not to get involved with fortune-telling and black magic?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you are the beginning and the end. My future is in your hand. Please help me to walk with you and trust you completely. I praise and thank you for setting me free from the bondage of Satan. May you empower me today to do your will. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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