The beloved physician Luke shared as Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke himself went, “to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation”, and in chapter sixteen and verse eighteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “being grieved, turned and said to the spirit … come out of her” where we read:
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
The verse begins, “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, ...” Luke began with the words, “and this did she many days” which means “and the damsel continued proclaiming her words about Paul and his companions for numerous and an abundant number of sunrises to sunsets”. “But Paul” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul whose name means small or little”, “being grieved” which means “existing as troubled, displeased, offended, pained and worked up”, “turned and said to the spirit” or “converting and turning about or around and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the evil essence, demon or depersonalized force” the following words. Luke shared how the “damsel” continued to make her declarations about “Paul and his companions” for a great number of “days”, and finally “Paul” was so “troubled and displeased” with her that he turned around and spoke to the “evil spirit” the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” Luke continued with the words, “I command you” or “I, Paul, order, charge and announce to you, young maid servant” “in the name of Jesus Christ” which means “in the name and everything the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering which belongs to Jesus, whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate, who is the “anointed One and Messiah” “to come out of her” or “for the evil spirit that possessed the damsel to arise, go forth and be expelled from her”. “And he came out” which means “and the evil spirit forsook, escaped and emanated from the young maid” “the same hour” or “the selfsame time”. Luke shared how “Paul” ordered the “evil spirit” to come out of the “damsel” in “Jesus Christ's name”, and it emanated from the young girl in that very “hour”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” eventually tired of the “damsel” making her declarations about him and his companions, and he turned around and ordered the “evil spirit” to leave her body in Jesus' name. The “evil spirit” left within that “hour”, and the girl was forever changed by her deliverance. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with every one through His Son Jesus even if they are possessed by an evil spirit. Those who yield themselves to Him will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life. Let all who read these words allow Jesus to come into their lives, and permit Him to move out all other influences that take control of them.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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