When Paul and his team (Silas, Timothy, and Luke) walked the Egnatia Way down the main street of Philippi, little did they know that less than 200 yards away, two of them would be spending the night in the local Philippian jail!  After a wonderful mini-revival by the river, it seemed as if God was going to do a great work in this Roman city.  Lydia and her household were saved and baptized.  With her hospitality of opening her home, they had a nice place to stay.  

Then came the persecution.  Paul was annoyed that a demon possessed slave girl was following him around proclaiming that “these men are servants of the most high God and proclaim the way of salvation.”  Yes, the message was true, but he did not want the Gospel linked to the demonic activity of this diviner. 

Fortune telling was a common practice in Greek and Roman culture.  Demon possession is a real thing.  When people dabble and are curious into the world of the occult, it is possible for them to surrender their will to the influence of a demon.  Many people came to her masters and paid money to hear her predict the future or answer a question.  She probably spoke in some guttural supernatural tones as she gave her predictions.  The “spirit of divination” means “a python spirit.  In Greek mythology, Python was a snake that guarded the oracle at Delphi.  Paul cast out the demon which resulted in the loss of income to her masters.  They grabbed Paul and Silas and demand the city rulers do something.  They did.  Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned without a trial.  As you read Acts 16 you discover that the light of Christ and His Gospel shines brightest in the crucible of suffering. 

Following the earthquake, we have one of the clearest declarations in the entire New Testament on how to be saved – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”  Acts 16:31.  Paul and his team left the city, but not before establishing a strong missionary hearted and giving church.  He loved them dearly as is displayed in his letter he wrote them from Rome. 

20 centuries have passed and we continue to see the persecution of believers both in America and around the world.  Our hearts are saddened when we see unbelievers rejoicing at the murder of God’s children.  And yet, we are amazed at how God takes tragedy, like the death of Charlie Kirk, and turns it into a spiritual revival – with hundreds coming to faith in Christ.  What a demonstration of the love and forgiveness of Christ displayed by Charlie’s widow – even unbelievers have admired her supernatural response of forgiveness. 

Take courage!  As we heard at Charlie’s memorial service:

“Any attempt to extinguish the light causes it to burn brighter.”

“If you take down a tyrant, his power goes away.  If you take down a martyr, his power grows.”

“Let’s make it our goal to make heaven crowded.” 

How to prepare for Spiritual Warfare and Persecution:

A.  Be Alert.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8

            B.  Put on the Whole Armor of God, Ephesians 6:11-19.

            C.  Resist the Devil.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

            D.  Walk in the Spirit, Galatians 5:16-18.