NEVER BEING INTIMIDATED
If you walk in the Spirit, you will constantly be harassed by demonic powers. But you do not have to be intimidated by any demon power—anywhere, at any time!
Paul was continually harassed by demonic powers. He was preaching on the isle of Paphos when demons attempted to interfere: “…a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus…withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith” (Acts 13:6–8).
Barjesus means “son of Jesus” or “angel of light.” This was the devil standing up against Paul! But the Holy Ghost welled up inside of the apostle: “Then Saul…filled with the Holy Ghost…said…thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:9–12).
Paul, “filled with the Holy Ghost,” brought down all the powers of darkness!
It is not enough to be grieved by the attempts of Satan to harass you! In Acts 16 Paul was grieved—meaning “disturbed, troubled.” He allowed it for many days, but the Spirit of God welled up in Paul, and he said to the demon power, “That’s it—that’s enough! In the name of Jesus, be gone!” (See Acts 16:16–18.)
Beloved, we take too much from the devil! There comes a time when we, too, must stand up in the power of the Holy Ghost and say, “Enough—that’s it, I command you in Jesus’ name to go!”
When you take authority and command devils to flee, Satan will come at you with everything in his arsenal. Just after Paul had cast the demons out of the possessed girl in Acts 16:16–18, Satan started stirring things up. He enflamed the crowd against Paul and Silas—and suddenly they were in a terrible crisis!
The city magistrates had them whipped and cast into prison. And with every stripe on their backs, I can hear the devil saying, “So you think you’ve won the victory? You think you’re going to cast out my demons and take authority over me?”
The devil didn’t seem to know that the more you whip a servant of God who walks in the Spirit, the more praise you whip up from him! If you throw him in a crisis, tie him up with problems and troubles, he’ll sing, shout and worship!
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).
If we are to walk in the Spirit, then we must believe God for supernatural deliverance from every bondage of Satan. It doesn’t matter if God has to create an earthquake to do it. That is exactly what he did for Paul:
“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (v. 26).
Satan will try to bring upon you the most dreadful temptation or trial you have ever faced. He wants you to get bogged down in guilt, condemnation, self-examination. Dear saint, you have to arise in the Spirit and get your eyes off your circumstances and bondage. Don’t try to figure it all out. Start praising, singing and trusting God—and he will take care of your deliverance!