Philippians 1:1 - 6 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Sometimes you find yourself behind the 8-ball. Sometimes you have to dig out of a hole. You get the picture. You started to do something with great ambition, and then life takes a hard left turn - BOOM - you're in quicksand. It happens to everyone, even with the best plans and preparation.
It was no accident that Paul and Silas were in Macedonia. The Holy Spirit had given Paul a dream to go there and tell people the Good News about Jesus. There were in the right place at the right time.
But while they were there, a demon possed woman kept following them declaring "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." (vs. 17) While what she was saying was true, just because she was saying it, it devalued Paul and Silas' message. It was forcing people to choose who to believe. They were in a hole.
Paul finally had enough of it and cast the demon out of the women. (I'm sure the woman was glad about it.) But here owner, who used her to make money as a fortune teller had Paul and Silas arrested and thrown in jail. (Back in a hole.)
But this didn't discourage them, instead Acts 16:25 says, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
So what can we learn here?
When you are in the right place at the right time, Satan will attack. You can guarantee it.
Satan will try to devalue you and what you do. He will try to make you believe you are not worthy.
One solution often isn't enough to solve the problem. You may feel like you jumped from the frying pan into the fire. (You go from one problem to another.)
Don't listen to fortune tellers or gossipers (another wicked form of fortune telling) they never have anything good to say about you.
So what can you do?
Don't believe what hell or this world says about you. Only believe what God says about you.
Tell Satan to shut up and stop. It takes prayer, and it better be focused and en pointe.
When in the hole, praise God. God is your God when it's all going well. God is still your God when in the hole. Don't look at your problem. Look at your solution.
Read the rest of Acts 16 here. It turned out very well for Paul and Silas.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, be my God amid my problems. AMEN
Comments