Bible ReadingActs 16:16-19 “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. 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.’ 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. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.”
[45:06] [45:40] [48:12] [48:26] [52:05] [58:20] [01:03:46] [01:09:29]Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
[01:07:08]2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”
[01:06:42]Matthew 4:1-11 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
[01:07:43] [01:07:50]Acts 19:13-16 “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
[50:52]Observation questions- In Acts 16:16-19, what details show that the slave girl was being used by other people, and what happened to her masters when she was delivered?
- What was the slave girl shouting, and why could those words still create confusion even though they sounded true? [55:00]
- In verse 18, who did Paul actually speak to—the girl, the crowd, the masters, or the spirit? [01:04:31]
- What repeated pattern appears in Matthew 4 when Jesus is tempted by the devil? [01:08:00]
Interpretation questions- Acts 16 shows Paul becoming exasperated, but he still responds to the real spiritual problem. What does that suggest about the difference between being irritated by somebody’s behavior and discerning the deeper bondage underneath it? [01:01:07]
- Acts 19 shows that Jesus’ name cannot be used casually or borrowed from somebody else’s faith. What does that reveal about the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing him? [51:02]
- If the struggle is not against flesh and blood, how might that change the way a believer understands conflict at home, at work, or in church? [01:07:08]
- The slave girl’s freedom brought trouble for Paul and Silas. What does that say about how people sometimes react when deliverance interrupts money, control, or comfort? [01:10:08]
Application questions- Is there someone in your life whose attitude, noise, or behavior has made it hard to see their pain? What might it look like this week to look past the surface and see the brokenness underneath? [01:00:20]
- When frustration builds in your life, what name or what habit do you usually reach for first—your own strength, anger, shutting down, or the name of Jesus? What would it look like to respond differently the next time? [57:32]
- Jesus’ name is not a magic word or a password. What helps keep a real relationship with Jesus from becoming empty religious language in daily life? [57:37]
- Where have you been fighting the wrong enemy lately? Has there been a situation where you mostly saw a person in front of you, but the real battle may have been spiritual? [01:06:53]
- Jesus answered the devil with the Word. What Scripture has become a real weapon for you, and what area of life right now needs a word from God hidden more deeply in your heart? [01:07:43]
- Not everybody celebrates when God brings somebody out. Have you ever experienced resistance, criticism, or distance after trying to obey God? How did that affect you, and how do you need strength to keep going? [01:09:29]
- Somebody needs to be positively impacted in Jesus’ name. Who is one specific person you may be sent to encourage, pray for, or speak hope to this week? [58:08]
