10/23/2024
YOU DON’T NEED TESTIMONY FROM DEMONS
"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us…The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour" (Acts 16:16-18).
From what we just read, someone might wonder, why was Paul grieved, wasn’t the girl telling the truth? Paul and his companions were indeed servants of the most high God, and that’s what the girl was chanting. Well, Paul perceived that she was speaking by an evil spirit, that’s why he was grieved, turned to the girl and commanded the evil spirit to come out of her in the Name of Jesus, and she was instantly free.
The girl’s words might have been factual, but we don’t need the testimony from demons to tell us who we are. It brings to mind the words of Jesus in John 5:34, "But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved" (John 5:34). The Lord didn’t need human approval, let alone the testimony of demons. Mark 1:23-25 says, “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” The Father had already testified of Jesus, and His works also bore witness to His divine mission (John 5:36-37).
Likewise, Paul understood that no testimony from demons, even if factual, was acceptable. Some people might feel a sense of pride or validation if a demon were to recognize their spiritual authority.
However, we must understand that our validation comes from Christ, not from the acknowledgement of men or demons.
When the girl declared, "These men are the servants of the most high God," it was not a godly declaration but a deceptive act of the devil hiding behind her voice. Paul’s anger wasn’t from a human point of view; rather, he was spiritually grieved. This is why he commanded the spirit to come out of her. You must also reject any voice of the devil that pretends to speak for God, and cast them out when they manifest themselves.
Prayer / Confession
Dear Father, thank you for the authority we have in Christ Jesus. I stand firm in the truth of your Word, led by your Spirit always to discern every deceptive voice and reject anything that is not from you. My validation is from Christ alone, and I exercise his authority with boldness and wisdom, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Mark 1:23-25 NIV; Luke 4:41; 1 John 4:1
1-year bible reading plan
1 Timothy 5:1-25; Jeremiah 13-14
2-year bible reading plan
Hebrews 11:17-40; Ezekiel 22
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