Some think of the Devil as an amusing, ridiculous character with horns and a tail! God doesn’t! God warns us that the Devil can appear as “an angel of light” - someone you would think was out to do good, but who is really intent on doing evil! (2ndCorinthians 11:13-15.)
See if you can recognise him at work in different ways here.
For many days a girl followed the Apostle Paul, and his friends as they went around Philippi. She kept shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved!” (verse 17) Although she was telling the truth, no doubt her loud, mocking voice only amused and distracted the people. What this girl was doing was evil in disguise. You see, this “slave girl had an evil spirit … She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune telling.” (verse 16.)
Paul became so upset by this poor girl’s condition “that he turned around and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.” (verse 18)
Her wicked, greedy "owners" were furious that she was no longer controlled by the evil spirit. What evil could they do against these men who had brought deliverance to her in Jesus’ name?
“They seized Paul and Silas and … dragged them … to face the authorities and said, ‘These men … are throwing our city into uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us…’” (verses 19-21.)
By pretending to be concerned about the customs and laws of the country, those wicked men won the support of the officials and the people. But no doubt there was at least one person who was not fooled by their evil in disguise - the girl who, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, had just been set free from the evil power that had controlled her life.
She knew the real reason they wanted to punish the servants of Jesus was their greed and wickedness. And that’s what made them ignore the miraculous change Jesus had made in her life. They certainly did NOT want the power of Jesus Christ to have control of them, and to change their SINFUL lives! (John 3:16-19.)
I wonder do YOU want Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, and change YOUR life? Or will you also say "NO!" to Jesus, and maybe try to disguise your evil choice by becoming enthusiastic about religion, or social concerns?
You may fool others, and even yourself, but you WILL NOT FOOL GOD! (Galatians 6:7-8.) To reject Jesus, and choose some other priest will mean you will be rejected by God, and condemned forever, no matter how well you disguise you evil decision! (John 3:36. Acts 13:37-52.)
In Philippi the officials ordered Paul and Silas to be given a severe beating, and to be thrown into prison. Do not conclude that evil has won!
Read Acts chapter 16, verses 16-24.
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