PAUL THE APOSTLE ( PART 25 ) | THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY | LESSON FROM PHILIPPI ( PART 3 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3125
PAUL THE APOSTLE ( PART 25 )
THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY
LESSON FROM PHILIPPI ( PART 3 )
THE SOOTHSAYER WITH THE SPIRIT OF DIVINATION
As a Bible teacher, I underrated the significance of Paul's encounter with the girl possessed by an evil "spirit of divination". It was not until I did some research at the Delphi Museum in Greece that I realized Paul was not dealing with a minor demonic entity but a major territorial spirit.
The English versions of the Bible say she had "a spirit of divination"(Acts 16:16). The literal Greek word used to describe this young woman is Pythia.
She followed Paul and Silas and spoke of them as being spokespersons of Zeus, the Most High God, and said the people should listen to their words of deliverance in the same manner they listened to the words of an oracle. Of course, the Pythia was misrepresenting Paul and Silas. She was possessed by a demonic spirit and Paul delivered her.
When the Pythia's masters saw their hope for profit in Philippi was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities, and demanded the disciples of Christ be imprisoned. Paul and Silas were thrown in jail after being beaten with metal rods where they would later lead the jailor to faith in Christ (Acts 16:31).
Such a harsh and unjust treatment at the hands of an incensed mob towards Paul and Silas was the result of his spiritual warfare with a major territorial spirit of the Pythia.
Entire nations would wait with bated breath for an answer from the Oracle at Delphi. It is not an exaggeration to say that a woman's words ruled ancient civilization.
The temple at Delphi where she sat on a tripod to utter her oracles was dedicated to the god Apollo. Every major Greek and Roman leader, soldier, or politician would either personally travel to Delphi or send emissaries to Delphi to consult the Oracle. The influence of the Oracle of Delphi only dissipated after Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and the Roman world adopted Christianity as the official religion of the state.
Interestingly the Temple of Apollo was built on intersecting geographical fault lines at Delphi. The Pythia would sit on her golden tripod over two of such crevices in the earth which seeped out the fumes of ethylene, ethane, and methane--a cocktail of non-addictive but highly hallucinogenic gases to which the Pythia would add pungent laurel leaves.
As the gases were released, the Pythia would enter into a conscious trance as she considered the questions presented her. Swaying back and forth, she would eventually utter her answers in an archaic tongue which only the male priests could interpret.
Her answers guided the civilized world for the timing of wars, the establishment of new settlements, and the wisdom to appease the gods.
ABBA FATHER,
Your Word is mightier than a two-edged sword in casting down strongholds even of demonic spirits. Paul cast out this Pythia Spirit from the young woman stationed in Phillipi who controlled the mindset and destiny of the people there by her words alone.
But Your Word will nullify the false prophecies of the controlling demon that afflicted this soothsayer. Nothing much has changed in the world in the last 2,000 years. People still revere what You consider evil. People still consult mediums and false prophets and prophetesses. They still persecute those who preach the gospel. But in the end, Your servants will always win with the power of the Word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. That is the vindication of the saints in Christ engaged in spiritual warfare as they combat and confront the powers of darkness with the dispelling and conquering light of the gospel.
