When Paul and Silas were on the mission field, a slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination started following the team, declaring, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
The Bible says the girl did this for many days before Paul finally cast the devil out of her. For years, I was taught that Paul waited “many days” (v. 18) because he was trying to discern the spirit that was operating so he could cast it out. I believe that teaching is in error—and the truth holds a key lesson for us all.
It’s clear that Paul already knew the spirit the servant girl was flowing in. Scripture reveals, “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling” (v. 16).
Hindering God’s Work
Essentially, she was the town witch—and everybody knew it. Indeed, it didn’t take any discernment to understand what spirit she was tapping into. This servant girl was widely known in the city as one who had demons that could tell fortunes.
The Matthew Henry Commentary says, “She was actuated by an evil spirit, that dictated ambiguous answers to those who consulted her, which served to gratify their vain desire of knowing things to come, but often deceived them. … Many came to consult this witch for the discovery of robberies, the finding of things lost, and especially to be told their fortune, and none came but with the rewards of divination in their hands, according to the quality of the person and the importance of the case.”
By following the apostles and proclaiming to the city who they were, this servant girl was actually hindering God’s work—even though what she was saying was absolutely true. Of course, it didn’t take Paul “many days” to figure out she was a distraction. They could not make a move without being noticed because she announced their coming. Doubtless, this caused some—especially those who stood against spirits of divination—to put their guards up against the gospel message that could bring salvation to their households.
I believe Paul discerned quickly—not after many days—that a spirit of divination possessed the servant girl. Why, then, did Paul wait many days to cast it out? Clearly, the girl was in error. Clearly, she was deceived and deceiving others in the city with her fortune-telling. Clearly, she was merchandising people for the sake of sordid gain. Clearly, she was in bondage to this demon and also to her human oppressors who profited off her false prophecies. It seems he would be doing everyone a favor by rebuking this devil straight away.
So why did Paul wait many days to rebuke the spirit? I believe the apostle was waiting on God’s timing. In other words, Paul knew what spirit he was dealing with but he was seeking understanding from the Holy Spirit about how to handle it. The Bible says Paul was “greatly annoyed” (v. 18). I’m sure it didn’t take “many days” for this servant girl to annoy him. But he waited on the Lord’s timing to take action.
Don’t Get in the Holy Spirit’s Way
Here’s the lesson, especially for prophetic types who tend to see the error everywhere: Just because we see error, deception or even heresy doesn’t give us a license to rush in with guns blazing and fire bullets of rebukes. Just because someone is hindering God’s plan doesn’t mean it’s our job to set them straight. Just because the Word of God speaks against a certain sin, for example, that doesn’t give us the right to play Holy Ghost in the person’s life.
Am I saying that we tolerate sin? Am I saying that we ignore devils? Am I saying that we tolerate Jezebel? God forbid! But there’s balance in all things. When we discern an enemy working in someone’s life, the first response should be prayer. When we are faithful to pray for a person or situation, it helps us keep a right spirit. Lord knows, it’s easy enough to become like the sons of thunder and want to call down fire from heaven. But remember, Jesus rebuked John and James for being so quick to rebuke.
We need to pray, and when the Holy Spirit—who is far more patient than we are—leads us to speak to the person, then and only then should we speak. We only know in part—and we don’t know if the Holy Spirit is on the verge of a breakthrough with the one in error. We don’t know if that person is on the edge of repentance. And we don’t know if our correction will push them further away from the God who is actively wooing them. Again, we can’t play Holy Ghost. That job belongs to One and only One.
As we keep praying, if the Holy Spirit wants to use someone as an instrument of correction, you are first in line to serve God’s purposes because you kept a right spirit. So, again, don’t be so fast to issue a harsh rebuke to a brother or sister. Don’t get in the Holy Spirit’s way. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Rom. 8:14).
Yes, yes, people are doing this with me, everywhere I go! “Oh, she’s here, or oh she’s there!” It’s gotten to be like,”Where’s Wanda!”
Or, they show up and come on my buses with pretend cell phone conversations about my past, and I KNOW there are NOT 10 million demon informants, that an actual human is giving them their information. The Lord did warn me of a VooDoo practicer, tho. God is GOOD, but it was getting to the point of me calling them out in my anger and frustration and that doesn’t work. I had to truly repent, get back to His Love and not the bull in the China shop! LOL
He said, ” Remember, the battle belongs to Me, let me fight it, I’m going to put an end to them for you and you just get in the way?, LET ME FIGHT!!!”
And yes, you can use this ?
Thank you so much for the word you shared. I just knew deep down in my heart that was true and so many times I was put down because they were right and I was wrong. Its threw what you share has made me understand my self. I thank God for you and truth.
I have and still am going through something similar. The Lord has told me that I have to “outlast “ this spirit. Twenty years ago, I drew a line with the witchcraft in husbands family. That made my in-laws angry over the years. I can’t even begin to tell you the frustration that this has caused. I hate confrontation, I would rather not do it. The one time that the Lord told to say something, I was very uncomfortable doing it but I can Not stand it when someone is twisting scriptures and arrogantly boasting about how they can sin all they want and God will never punish them. I have heard that 1000’s of times. And when I simply obeyed, she played the innocent victim ever since. Milked it, that I was the unforgiving one. At the time, they were committing adultery for 10 of those years. Now,what is mixed up is they accuse me of all that. She has gotten family members involved. They have meddled in my relationships with my daughters and my prodigal son, (which is none of their business), along with my birth family. It is a extremely grievous situation because I can’t do anything but pray that this spirit of fear that plays them is broken off of their lives. They have sown so much discord in the family, sent emails to where I work, to my church, stirring up offense, also harassed people on my Facebook page. They don’t fear God at all. Then I hear about the calamities that happen to them because of the discord, they still don’t get it! People have died in this family from sudden calamities and they reason it away. We , I , need a breakthrough with this family.
Thanks for the teaching
Surely av learnt something