The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:14-18, “And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, ‘These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.’

18 And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ And it came out at that very moment.”

This is a contrast of two women: Lydia was a free woman, who came to faith in Christ

through the preaching of the Apostle Paul. The other woman was a slave, who was

controlled by a demonic spirit. It is a contrast that exists today. Some people are free

in Christ and others are controlled by the devil. Both women heard the same Gospel.

Lydia was amenable to Paul’s message of Christ because she was already God-fearing.

The salve-girl taunted Paul and Silas by ridiculing their message of salvation. Note that

Paul was patient, putting up with the slave-girl’s taunts for “many days.” But enough

was enough! Recognizing that it was not the slave-girl herself, who was speaking these

things, but a demonic spirit, he addressed the spirit in the Name of Jesus Christ,

commanding it to come out of the girl –and it did!

While these two experiences are real and true, they also represent the kind of people

we have in the world. Some are open to the Gospel, and they trust the LORD quickly.

Others, are skeptical and often ridicule and argue against our witness. We must be

careful not to blame the individuals entirely. Satan still infests the lives of people, who

rail against our message. Patience and prayer are our keys to victory. Just don’t give up.

Like digging a well, it takes time, energy, and faithful patience. But the water of salvation

and freedom is there, and the break-through lies in the Hands of the LORD.

Faithfully praying for you each day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”