What Must I Do To Be Saved?

We're into the Second Missionary Journey of the Apostle Paul. The gospel has gone to Greece. God led Paul and his team in a special way, to the city of Philippi. Timothy and Luke have joined Paul and Silas. The first convert on the continent of Europe was a Gentile woman named Lydia.

After Lydia believed in Jesus Christ, her entire household followed suit. She quickly prevailed upon Paul and his team to stay at her house which became the headquarters for the ministry in Philippi for as long as they were there. The next woman to gain the attention of Paul and company was quite a different story. It happened as they walked to and from the place of prayer day by day.

Acts 16:16-18: It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants [lit., slaves] of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

This slave-girl was particularly valuable to her owners because of the work of a demon. She was indwelt by a demon, described as a spirit of divination. The Greek word came to be used for demons who enabled their hosts to be able to tell the future. This girl was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling, and they wanted to branch out into this apparent new circle of clients among the Jewish women and the Christians.

She kept doing this for many days and Paul was annoyed by her, so he cast out the demon and they continued to preach the gospel. Had they ignored her, Satan would have been able to confuse the issue and infiltrate the little band of believers in Philippi with people who were there for the wrong reasons.

1. Locked In By God's Providence (19-24)
2. Let Out By God's Power (25-28)
3. Led By God's Preaching (29-34)
4. Living On With God's People (35-40)