There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus

Acts 16:16–18“It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.”

After the conversion and baptism of Lydia and her household in the city of Philippi Paul and his companions were going to the place of prayer by the river as they did once before when they met a group of women and Lydia (v.13), as they went along a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met them.

Whenever there is spiritual progression, you can expect spiritual opposition from Satan. Satan will use anyone to oppose you from praying, reading God’s word, attending church, and doing the work of the ministry.

Luke writes that this slave girl has a spirit of divination. In the Greek, the text reads that she has “a python spirit.” The word Python is a reference to a snake in Greek mythology that guarded the oracle at Delphi, which was a sanctuary in central Greece. Apollo the god of prophecy killed the snake. The priestesses of Apollo at Delphi were able to predict the future. Later the word python would come to mean a demon possessed person through whom the python would speak through.

This slave girl had a spirit of divination possessed by a demon that spoke through her to predict the future which brought her masters much money.

God warned his people not to turn to mediums who consult the dead, and spiritists,

Leviticus 19:31 “‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

Yet today we have professing believers who pay money to demon possessed mediums and spiritists to call up their dead love ones, or to tell them their future using palm reading, tarot cards, or the use of astrology. Any believer doing this nonsense doesn’t trust in the all wise living God, and they’re defiling themselves by opening themselves up to demons.

Leviticus 20:6 “‘As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”

Remember that Satan himself is called a serpent in Gen 3 who deceived Eve;

2 Cor 11:3 Paul was afraid that the same serpent who deceived Eve by his craftiness, would deceive the minds of the Corinthian believers and led them astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ;

and in Rev 12:9 John writes about the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; who was thrown down to the earth and his angels (demons) were thrown down with him.

Satan and demon possession is real and they seek to deceive whomever they can. Demons cannot possess believers because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Scripture says, Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world. But demons can oppress, harass, and tempt us. On the other hand, non-believers can be possessed with demons.

Some non-believers today, especially celebrities, who are infatuated with snakes are either knowingly or unknowingly under demonic possession. (see celebrities).

Satan never ceases from trying to disrupt the gospel

Acts 16:17“Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

Satan made sure that the demon possessed slave-girl would keep following after Paul and his companions; and she never ceased from crying out to everyone that Paul and his men were bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation. What the demon was saying through this slave girl was true God is the Most High God Psalm 78:35 “And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.”

It was true that Paul and his men were proclaiming the way of salvation. There wasn’t a problem with her message. The problem was with the messenger.

Demons recognize and acknowledge Jesus’ divinity and authority.

Mark 3:11 “Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!””

The man with the unclean spirit who nobody was able to bind him, even with a chain.

Mark 5:6–7 “Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!””

James 2:19 “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and tremble.”

Satan was using a demonic spirit through the slave girl to proclaim a truthful message. 2 Cor 11:14-15 says, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. This is how Satan infiltrates the church with false teachers who disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness to corrupt the church.

Acts 16:18“She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.”

Paul was annoyed he had enough of this demon possessed slave girl. He didn’t want people to assume that this demon possessed slave girl who was known for telling fortunes, was associated with them and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t going to compromise his witness. As a believer you cannot associate with immoral people because others will assume that you are just as immoral as the company you keep, and it will compromise and ruin your witness as Christian the gospel of Jesus Christ. Too many today are willing to compromise their Christian character just to be friends with immoral unbelievers. Scripture speaks against this and warns believers not to do so.

Psalm 1:1 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”

Prov 22:24-25 Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

1 Cor 5:11 But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 15:33“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.””

2 Corinthians 6:14“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

And we are told by Luke that Paul turned to the demon that was speaking through her, Paul knew exactly that the source of her message was demon, and he also knew that Jesus Christ has authority over demons, so he commands that demon in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And the demon came out of her that very moment. The once demon possessed salve girl was restored to her right mind. Luke doesn’t say if the girl became a believer. What he does let us know is that there is never a delay in deliverance when the power of the name of Jesus Christ is at work. Just know that God will not allow Satan or his demons to hinder the advancement of the gospel and that He has the authority over demonic attacks, for there is power in the name of Jesus.

I want you to know that as believer you are in a spiritual battle, but be encouraged for Scripture says 2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down stronghold. Whatever darkness that has tried to come over you know that there is power in the name of Jesus. If you know of anyone who is under demonic attack with fits of anger, under the influence of sexual immorality, drugs or alcohol, or having thoughts of doing wrong to themselves, or if they’re blinded from the gospel, call on the name of Jesus for there is power in the name of Jesus.