EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL FOOD FOR THE DAY - 2023 SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2023 TEXT: ACTS 16 : 11 - 24* TOPIC: THE INFLUENTIAL NATION

 

*ACTS 16 : 11 - 24 NIV*

11:From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis.

12:From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13:On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

14:One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

15:When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

16:Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.

17:She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”

18:She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

19:When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

20:They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar

21:by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

22:The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.

23:After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

24:When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

*THE INFLUENTIAL NATION*

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behaviour of someone or something. It is the ability to convince people in order to gain their support.

Philippi was very influential because it was the leading city in gold mining and spring water (vs 12). But it was without the fear of God. 

Today, as we celebrate Nigeria's influence in Africa and the world, we have the task of preaching God's Word for people to hear and be converted (vs. 14). 

This will go a long way in addressing the evils of witchcraft, kidnapping, banditry, worldliness, idolatry, etc, pervading the world. 

Some people, like the slave girl in verses 16-17, have used the name of God for their personal gains. But Paul would not allow the demon in the girl announce the truth about him. So he turned around and addressed the evil spirit in her and she was delivered. 

Like Paul, we must be spiritually alert and careful not to link the work of God or the things of God with demon-related activities. Truth can not be mixed with evil.

*QUESTION:* Has your influential position helped you address evil and speak the truth at all times?

*PRAYER:* Oh Lord, help me to use my influential position to address evil speak the truth and preach Your word for men to be saved, in Christ name. Amen.

*FOOD FOR THE DAY - 2023*