Sermon Tone Analysis

Playing chess as a kid

Acts 16:16

This girl was possessed by a spirit.

Divination is the process of revealing godly secrets or telling the future.

The men that owned her were prostituting her oppression.

They were making money from her suffering and her oppression.

It's too easy to look around today and see the same thing.

We are held hostage by:

Addiction: drugs, alcohol, porn, shopping, vanity, money, power, status, stuff.

We are held hostage by:

Influence: depression, anxiety, anger, self image.

All of these things possess you and oppress you, keeping you from living the life Jesus died for you to have access to.

And the enemy will always be there to profit from it.

These things will keep you from fulfilling your call and your purpose.

The devil doesn't have to get you to follow him, he just needs to get you to stop following Jesus.

Why would an unclean spirit proclaim God's servants and the way to salvation?

Why would an unclean spirit proclaim God's servants and the way to salvation?

These spirits were trying to gain some credibility and convince people that they were aligned with God and what God was doing.

If we think that they represent or proclaim Jesus, then we will give them an ear.

The devil manipulates the things of God in an attempt to pull people away from God. (the serpent in the garden) he will twist God's words, manipulate your understanding of His truths, question His commandments and distort our view of who God is and in turn, who we are.

Before we know it, we are walking around doing things that we think are Godly, but in reality are far from Him.

What things in our lives attempt to align themselves with Jesus?

What things does the enemy use to try to look like Him and mimic Him and may seem to point to Him but are really only trying to destroy what God has established and gain influence for himself?

music, pulpit, stage, bible knowledge, influence, accomplishments

Then the things that God has established and ordained also become distorted and nothing like what God intended them to be.

marriage, family, sexuality, gender roles, truth

satan draws close quietly and attempts to distort and destroy from the inside.

The attacks of the enemy are not a one time thing.

They are ongoing.

They will begin small and seem nonthreatening so that we will ignore them and allow them to continue.

They seem easily overcome and at times as if they are helping us.

They come in the name of justice, equality, progress, fairness, love, tolerance.

And the enemy makes these things sound so good, and we feel as if we are doing good by aligning ourselves with these things.

And as we support or sometimes ignore them because we don't feel they are relevant, and give them space in our lives to exist, they will grow in their boldness and in the influence they have on us and the people around us.

What sin has creeped it's way into our life?

Very innocent at first, but now has a powerful grip and influence on our lives.

I'm sure we can go around the room this morning and make a list.

What better way to get you to let your guard down than to appear insignificant.

affairs, addictions, lives are broken

Sin always introduces itself as something innocent.

There may be some of you here today playing around with that innocence.

Allowing that voice, thought, urge, to follow you around just like this girl did to Paul and Silas, whispering in your ear, saying all the right things.

Justifying your thoughts, waiting for you to give in.

It will not go away because you ignored it.

Sin requires a response!

How will you respond to it?

Paul finally responded responded to the spirit by casting it out of the girl in the name of Jesus Christ.

Paul finally responded responded to the spirit by casting it out of the girl in the name of Jesus Christ.

Paul finally responded responded to the spirit by casting it out of the girl in the name of Jesus Christ.

He recognized what they were, what they wanted, and how they would try to get what they wanted.

Because He knew those things, He also knew how to overcome them.

When Jesus cast out spirits, He no longer let them speak.

He knew the lies they would spew and the words they would twist.

They had taken enough and said enough that Jesus would silence them and order them to leave.

He recognized what they were, what they wanted, and how they would try to get what they wanted.

Because He knew those things, He also knew how to overcome them.

It is possible for you and I to also recognize lies and deception.

It's possible for us to be prepared and equipped to overcome as well.

It’s a chess game.

By being in the Word, reading your bible, learning more about who God is, His character, His promises, His power and His example through Jesus.

By spending time in prayer allowing God to speak to us and reveal things to us.

By seeking to be the example of Jesus in every way, every day to everyone.

Jesus set the example for our lives in so many ways.

He not only came to provide salvation, but to also show us how to have the abundant life today.

He didn't just say, believe in me so that you can go to heaven when you die.

He said, follow me now and I will give you rest, hope, love, purpose, future today!

He set the example and showed us how to live.

He is the Creator of all things, therefor He has authority over all things, including satan, spirits, earth, wind, waters, and He has authority over you, but He waits for you to want Him, to choose Him, not just to be a part of your life, but to be Lord over all of it.

Jesus does not just want a piece of you.

He doesn't want to sit in the passenger seat, He doesn't want to be you navigator or your co-pilot.

He doesn't want part-time custody or limited visiting hours.

He doesn't want you only when you have time or only when you are in trouble.

Jesus wants all of you or He want none of you.

Being a Christ follower means we have to surrender our lives, completely, to Him and only Him.

When we do this, we begin to live with a different perspective on life.

We see people as Jesus sees them.

And when we see each other as Jesus sees us, we begin to change everything we do!

Paul finally got so annoyed and distressed over what this spirit was doing that he cast it out in the name of Jesus.

When are you going to get fed up enough with the sin in your life that you finally call on the name of Jesus to cast it out?

When we get to that point, something amazing happens.

The spirit came out of the girl that very hour.

For however long she had been possessed by this spirit, she was now free.

That is why Jesus came, to set us free from the chains of sin.

Whatever you are struggling with in your life, Jesus can set you free from it.

He didn't promise that we would never struggle again, but He promised that we would have what we needed to get through the struggle.

Look at what happens next.

The girl's owners got pretty upset that their wallets just took a hit, so they took the two men to the authorities and demanded justice.

It’s funny how people really don’t care about what happens until it effects their lifestyle.

The girl's owners got pretty upset that their wallets just took a hit, so they took the two men to the authorities and demanded justice.

These men did not bring an accurate account of what had just happened.

Instead of telling the truth (these men cast a demon out of a girl), they threw false accusations and racist comments towards them in an attempt to get others on their side.

How far will you go to get your way?

What price is too steep when it comes to getting what you want?

We see it all too often today.

People willing to destroy the lives of others if it means getting what they want.

Their tactics worked.

Paul and Silas were not only arrested, but beaten and chained up.

Why?

What had they done wrong?

Did they deserve this?