And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
2 Tim. 2:26 (NKJV)
Daily, on the streets of Philippi, Paul and company were followed by a girl announcing that they were “servants of the Most High God” (Acts 16:17). Most would love such an announcement, but not Paul. Paul was a man of great discernment, and he recognized that though the words were true, they were spoken by a demon possessed girl. “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14).
Paul becoming greatly annoyed cast the demon out of the slave girl who was a fortune teller. Her masters had profited from her. They had used her in a way similar to the human trafficking that occurs within the United States today.
Scripture does not tell us what became of this girl once she had been set free from the clutches of Satan, but we do know one thing. Somewhere there was a mom. This girl had a mother who may have been trapped in the same lifestyle. Perhaps, she was praying for her daughter with Lydia’s group of women by the river. Maybe her mother became a convert of the Philippi church. However, this girl was someone’s daughter.
Do you know someone like this girl who is trapped by Satan? They may be bound by alcoholism, drug addiction, a myriad of sexual sins, or even a false religion. Somewhere, there’s a mom. Your prayers for her child are the greatest gift that you could give her.
We also need to give them the gospel in love. Many times as Christians, we fall into the sin of self-righteousness, but if not for the grace of God, we could be bound by Satan ourselves. Observe those you meet today asking God to break Satan’s chains which bind them. Thank Him that He has set you free.
Heavenly Father,
I pray that You will break Satan’s hold on the lost. He has bound them into a life of alcoholism or drug abuse. He has blinded them with lies. Thank You for loosing his hold on me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Acts 16:16-20.
HIKING THE TRAIL
Do you know someone trapped by Satan’s grip? Pray for God to rescue them and save them. If possible, witness to them.
Originally posted on August 13, 2020 @ 8:20 pm