Speaking up to protect the weak is something many a non-confrontational person may do in a situation that calls for it, but are we as quick to speak up for what’s wrong when the price we might pay is great and those we speak against are considered normal or protected by others?
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I encourage you to read Acts chapter 16 along with this short study.
“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. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.””
In the world today, just as in those days, there are many people who follow satanic-influenced religions, practices, and superstitions. These have become common places and widely accepted in the world today, just as they had in the times of Noah. Though Christians are taught to be against these things and have nothing to do with them, many are willing to let things slide by them unnoticed or allow some things in their lives in order to seem fair-minded or non-judgemental to society, or worse, their friends and family. Allowing these things in our lives as believers is called compromise. We cannot have one foot in the door of heaven while still dipping the other toes in the waters of sin and satanism. Yes, it’s satanism, and we are to have no part in it!
“And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.”
When Paul cast out the demon that was plaguing this young girl, he deprived her owners of their source of income and demonic power. Going against what was acceptable at the time, made Paul and Silas the enemies of the crowd that had gathered and witnessed it. Society was against them because they stood against what was considered acceptable. Christians today must do the same and stand against the accepted satanic practices that have become common placed, even if they seem harmless or small when compared with the repercussions of making a public stand against them. Though we must go in love, not anger, we have a responsibility to live and act separately from the world, denying the things which are not of God.
Maybe you didn’t realize that game, movie, book, or yoga class was demonically inspired, but once you know, you need to act. Remove those things from your life and don’t be afraid to share what you know with other believers so that they may remove them as well. Satan has a way of creating big messes, like a leaky faucet, one drip at a time. It may start out small but one day the floor will give way under rotten wood and a small mess becomes a huge hole in need of replacing.
“Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
The road we follow is not an easy one. Paul and Silas were taken to prison for going against the crowd. Suffering persecution in this life is part of the road we travel, but I can tell you for certain that the consequences of offending the world are far less than those of offending the one true God. We must be prepared for the battle, the capture, and perhaps the torture the world may enforce on believers in the days to come. As the world turns darker every day, accepting one evil practice after another with open arms, we are to stand firm in our faith and trust the God is watching over us. We cannot live for Him, if we are too busy trying to make the world accept us.
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
God was watching over Paul and Silas and did not leave them in prison to rot. Yes, they suffered at the hands of men for His name’s sake and they were saved because of it.
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
I pray today that you will let your light shine in this dark world and set yourselves apart from it. Have no fear of this world but have faith in Christ who died to save us from it. Have a blessed day little sparrows.
-ScriptureSparrow