The Demon of Distraction

00:00:00 Speaker 1: For God is not a god of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the Saints. First Corinthians fourteen thirty three. Gracious Father, we thank you for being a God of peace, not confusion, as you remind us in First Corinthians fourteen thirty three. We ask for a clearer mind to discern your will in all things. Remove any distractions and doubts that cloud our thoughts, and help us to see your path clearly. Give us a pure heart, o Lord, that desires to act upon your will with courage and faith. We reject all confusion and fear, trusting that your spirit will guide us into all truth. Bring clarity and purpose to our steps, that we may walk faithfully in your ways. May we be vessels of your peace, shining your light in a world that needs your order and love. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. This is the Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories told with a cinematic touch and heartfelt reflection. Remain here for another story on Jesus and Demons, and as always, make sure to follow this podcast and share it with a friend. Paul and Silas walked parallel to the river's edge with some Philippian believers. The water's current was steady and refreshing, just like the sound of their prayers. They had met there each morning for the past two weeks, enjoying pockets of bliss and tranquility before each day's madness. Paul closed his eyes and turned his cheek toward the rising sun. Its warmth was all in compassing, and Paul could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Silas felt the same. Both men felt like Philippi could be where they established deep roots. As they approached the city's edge, they were ripped from their meditations when an abrupt shriek interrupted their prayers. 00:02:23 Speaker 2: These men are servants, said the Most High God. 00:02:28 Speaker 1: The voice cried out with every ounce of strength that could muster. The shrill sound caused the hair on the men's necks to stand on end. 00:02:37 Speaker 2: They proclaimed a way of salvation. 00:02:41 Speaker 1: The voice was oddly high pitched, although it was true, there was something sinister about the voice. Paul looked around for the source of the sound and spotted it. Peeking from behind a corner of a wall was a slave girl. Paul looked and sent something deeply unsettling about her. Paul stared into her eyes. At one point they had been a brilliant blue, but since her possession, they had slowly taken on a glassy gray hue. From the outside, she was human in appearance, but it was soon clear that something ominous had taken hold of her. Her skin was ashen and her eyes were sunken, with a piercing stare that sent shivers down his spine. Her movements were twitchy and jerky, as if she were in a constant state of agitation, like a spider dancing on its web getting ready to catch its next meal. It was challenging to describe exactly what made her seem so otherworldly, but there was no denying the fear and disgust rising in their guts as they watched her approach them. It was as if she was a puppet being controlled by some malevolent force. Her body language distorted and erratic. The way she spoke only added to their unease. Her voice was high, with a dark undertone, making even the simplest phrases sound unnatural. There was something deeply unsettling about this girl, and Paul knew immediately that she was a foreboding sign of things to come, The girl followed them as they entered the city. Her twitchy steps and high pitched laughter followed them around every corner they proclaimed a way of salmasion. She shouted without ceasing, desperate to ensure everyone heard her proclamation. With each shout, the girl struggled to to inhale more air into her lungs than was comfortable, all with the hopes of crying out even louder from her small frame. The group said good bye to one another. Some left for their homes and others for work, but the girl followed Paul and silas. Her eyes and smile seemed enormous compared to her bony face. Shrieks of pain occasionally broke her incessant chanting, until eventually the girl was taken away by a group of men. As it turns out, the girl was a pythoness from Delphi, an oracle used by counselors, priests, and politicians to tell the future. The girl was possessed by a strange and malicious force, a demon of Satan. The men who took her away were part of a syndicate profiting from exploiting slaves and prostitutes. 00:06:04 Speaker 2: We often think of demons with deep voices and scary motives trying to lead people away from Jesus. But if you've been a church leader for any amount of time, you know that often demons present themselves as proclaimers of truth. Sometimes their tactics aren't about spreading lies, but by packaging the truth in a way that drives people away. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We're almost done with our miniseries on Jesus and Demons. Today, we're diving into a fascinating episode from Acts, chapter sixteen, Verses sixteen through eighteen. It's a story that combines the supernatural with the all too human experience of being downright annoyed. Yes, even the apostle Paul had days when someone just got on his nerves. 00:06:53 Speaker 1: Each day, Paul and his companions walk the same path to pray, ultimately the end by the oracle. She tailed them and proclaimed the same thing. 00:07:05 Speaker 2: He's not a servant of the Most High God. 00:07:09 Speaker 3: Hear them, hear them, hear what they preach. 00:07:13 Speaker 1: Paul grew vexed by her presence. The louder this girl yelled, the more deterred people were by their presence. Paul knew that they could not be effective in the city as long as a spirit of distraction prevailed. Although the girl's words were true, they were spoken with frenetic energy and malicious intention. Not everyone who proclaims the truth is a servant of the truth. Her evangelism was a parody, a mocking imitation of Christ's message. 00:07:49 Speaker 3: My God, her voice is maddening. 00:07:52 Speaker 2: She's incessant in detracting people from our cause. 00:07:55 Speaker 1: What are we going to do? 00:07:57 Speaker 3: These men her. 00:07:58 Speaker 1: Servants of them all High God, hear them, hear them? Here? What they freeze? 00:08:09 Speaker 3: Shah? 00:08:10 Speaker 1: She shouted again, with the same unnatural cadence. The herald of evil veiled behind the truth of Paul and silas mission. Paul turned around in anger, but then paused when he saw her face. Her eyes were wide and her eyebrows were raised to the top of her head. Her smile was unnaturally large, spreading almost to the bottom of her ears. Behind me the wide eyes and smile, Paul caught a glimpse of the pain this girl was tracked in her own body. There was no doubt that trauma and abuse had invited the presence of such a demon to possess her. Now she was exploited with a profit of disgusting men. Paul stepped toward the girl and spoke to the demon that possessed. 00:09:04 Speaker 2: Her in the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her. 00:09:09 Speaker 1: The girl abruptly turned away, but tripped over her feet. She rolled in the dust, held her ears, and screamed. Paul and Silas remained where they were, watching her agitated demeanor. Slowly relax she lay there in the dirt still for a long moment, completely silent. Then, as if a new girl had emerged from the dust, she looked up at Paul and Silas with innocent eyes. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. Tears poured out after years of oppression. She bowed and whispered softly and gently, thank you. 00:09:55 Speaker 3: I don't have anything to repay you. 00:09:57 Speaker 1: Her voice was mostly the same, but it was clear that some one else was speaking. The demon was gone, and the little girl was restored. Before Paul and Silas could address her, she was taken by her owners. They dragged her around the corner by her hair. Paul could hear curses and questions being yelled at her. They heard whimpering answers, followed by the sounds of clamoring. Silas turned to Paul with sorrow in his eyes. This isn't good, Paul nodded. The two quickly tried to leave, but it was too late. The girl's owners furiously pursued them with clubs and swords. Being large Philippian men, they closed the gap between them swiftly and tackled Paul to the ground. Silas was a bit more trained in combat than Paul and managed to evade a few of their blows before being thrust against a wall and then held down with a blade to his throat. Soon formed around them as the men yelled, you think you can come to our city and ruin our business? 00:11:07 Speaker 3: You choose? 00:11:08 Speaker 2: I've no right to be here. 00:11:10 Speaker 1: Their shouts of accusations caused the crowd to quickly turn into a mob. They tied Paul and Silas up and dragged them by rope to the magistrate. Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and hoped to leverage that title in their defense, but they wouldn't get the chance. The magistrate sat atop the beama seat, finishing his final judgments for the day. The forum was a dangerous place occupied by corrupt politicians and nefarious actors. Paul could tell the second he saw the magistrate that he would not receive a fair trial. The men of the city thrust the two disciples forward and shouted at the magistrate. 00:11:56 Speaker 3: These Jews have caused trouble in our city. 00:11:58 Speaker 2: They've disturbed the peace and ruined our business. 00:12:01 Speaker 1: Height each customs unbefitting of Rome and treasonous to caesarr. This was typically when the magistrate gave the accused time to defend themselves. However, once he heard that they were Jews, he wasted no time with his judgment. He declared his verdict decisively and without hesitation. They took the men around the corner to the flogging post. The stone underneath a post was stained crimson with past floggings. Paul looked at it with intensity. Flashes of Jesus appeared in his mind. His Lord had been tied to a similar post before marching up to be crucified. Paul and Silas suddenly felt light, as if someone else was walking for them. Paul's feet did not feel like his own, His body was being carried by another, was being held by Jesus. They forced Paul and Silas to their knees and bound their hands to the beam. Paul leaned his forehead against the splintery beam and whispered to Silas. 00:13:14 Speaker 3: Take heart, Silas, God will comfort us in our affliction. As we share in Christ's sufferings, we will be blessed. If we are afflicted, it will be for the comfort and salvation of many. Endure, my brother. Our hope is unshaken. 00:13:32 Speaker 1: As Paul uttered those words, the elector stripped them of their clothes, revealing paul scarred back. The slave owners watched with menacing smiles. As the elector stepped behind Paul and Silas rods firmly placed in their hands. They shook the rods in their hands with twitchy excitement, like athletes bracing for a race. The crowd was giddy with excitement, silently waiting for the gore to commence. Paul's forehead rested on the beam, He closed his eyes and uttered a prayer to his God. The first lash struck like lightning into Paul's back. The second was delivered to Silas. Neither shouted for the first lashing, but as blood poured from their backs, they began to shout in pain. The crowd roared their suffering, but both men remained resolute, assured that their suffering did not compare to the award that awaited them in Christ. 00:14:45 Speaker 2: Paul and his companions are in Philippie going about their mission. On their way to a place of prayer, they encounter a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination, a demon that enables her to predict the future. This girl, it isn't just any bystander. She's a money making machine for her masters, who exploit her condition for profit. As Paul and his team move around the city, this girl starts following them, shouting, these men are servants of the Most High God who are telling you the way to be saved. 00:15:17 Speaker 3: Now. 00:15:17 Speaker 2: At first glance, this seems helpful the free advertising, right, But after several days of this, Paul reaches his breaking point. Imagine trying to preach or have a conversation while someone trails behind you yelling at the top of their lungs. It's like having a parrot on your shoulder that won't stop repeating your last sentence. Paul's annoyance grows. Finally, he turns around and says to the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her and just like that, the spirit leaves her. Now, let's unpack this story because it's more than just an account of Paul's irritation. The slave girl was speaking the truth. She was proclaiming that Paul and his companions were servants of God. But Paul didn't want or need validation from a demonic source. Sometimes not all affirmations are beneficial. We must discern the spirit behind the message, and not just the message itself. This girl was doubly enslaved physically by her masters and spiritually by the demon. Her plight reminds us of those who are trapped in situations beyond their control, exploited by systems or people who prioritize prophet over personhood. Are we attentive to the modern day equivalents to this in our society. Paul didn't cast out the demon using his own power. He invoked the name of Jesus Christ. This emphasizes that the authority to overcome spiritual darkness doesn't come from us, but through Jesus. It's a potent reminder of where our true power lives. It's a potent reminder of where our true power lies. We have this treasure in earth and vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us Tewod Corinthians, Chapter four, verse seven. Paul's annoyance led to the girl's deliverance. Sometimes our discomfort or frustration is a signal that something needs to change. Instead of dismissing these feelings, perhaps we should consider whether God is prompting us to take action in our modern and rational world. Talk of demons might seem antiquated or even uncomfortable, but let's frame it this way. The spiritual realm is real, and there are forces that seek to distract, disrupt, and destroy. Be aware of the influences around you. Not every voice shouting truth is aligned with God's purposes. Pray for the ability to discern spirits and situations. Wisdom is essential in navigating complex spiritual landscapes. Remember that, like Paul, we have authority in Jesus's name to confront spiritual opposition. Remember that, like Paul, we have authority in Jesus's name to confront spiritual opposition. This passage challenges us to see beyond the surface. Paul's reaction wasn't just about silencing a distracting voice. It was about liberating a young woman from bondage. So the next time someone or something gets under your skin, pause and ask, is this an opportunity for God to work through me? Could my response lead to someone's freedom. Let's be a church that doesn't shy away from confronting darkness, that uses even our frustrations as fuel for God's mission, and that always acts in the powerful name of Jesus.