Let Your Will Be Done Daily Manna

SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2023

TEXT: Acts 16:11-24

11. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,

12. and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.

13. On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.

14. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.

15. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.

16. One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.

17. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.”

18. She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

20. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews

21. and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.”

22. The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

23. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely.

24. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

(New Revised Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: THE INFLUENTIAL NATION

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something. It is the ability to convince people in order to gain their support.

Philippi was very influential because it was the leading city in gold mining and spring water (vs. 12). But it was without the fear of God.

Today, as we celebrate Nigeria’s influence in Africa and the world, we have the task of preaching God’s Word for people to hear and be converted (vs. 14).

This will go a long way in addressing the evils of witchcraft, kidnapping, banditry, worldliness, idolatry, etc, pervading the world.

Some people, like the slave girl in verses 16-17, have used the name of God for their personal gains. But Paul would not allow the demon in the girl announce the truth about him.

So he turned around and addressed the evil spirit in her and she was delivered. Like Paul, we must be spiritually alert and careful not to link the work of God or the things of God with demon-related activities. Truth cannot be mixed with evil.

QUESTION: Has your influential position helped you address evil and speak the truth at all times?

PRAYER: Oh Lord, help me to use my influential position to address evil, speak the truth and preach Your word for men to be saved, in Christ’s name. Amen.