SPIRIT OF DIVINATION:
Acts 16:16-18 NKJV
[16] 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. [17] 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.” [18] 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.
The word of God is the only lasting solution to divination and deception. If we will learn to walk in God’s word and declare His word against the forces of evil, we will be able to expose and defeat all acts of deception against us.
This slave girl who followed Paul and Silas for days, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God, was exposed by the Holy Spirit. Paul then cast that spirit of divination out of her and that spirit came out instantly. That slave girl was set free from that spirit of divination that enabled her to deceive many through fortune telling. May God set us free from all deceptive influences in Jesus’s name. Amen !
Again, in Acts 8, we read of Simon, the sorcerer, who deceived most of the people in Samaria, from the least to the greatest, through astonishing acts of sorcery. This man was so popular and powerful that people called him the great power of God! Yes, friends, evil forces can also work miracles. Pharaoh’s magicians also did (Genesis 7:10-12, 20-22 & 8:6-7, 16-19).
Through the powerful preaching of the gospel of Christ by Philip, accompanied by the many powerful miracles of healings and deliverance, Simon, the sorcerer, also came to believe in Christ and accepted Him as his Saviour, even though future events proved that he didn’t give his heart completely to God.
This is the reason why working miracles alone is not the sign of true righteousness. Jesus says that it is by their fruits that we shall be able to differentiate between the good and the bad (Matthew 7:15-20). Friends, it is now time to be very discerning, take our stand on the word of God and deal squarely with these deceiving spirits that have crept into the church.
Mark 16:17-18 NKJV
[17] And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; [18] they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
This is the power that every Believer has. Let’s exercise it!