In Acts the story is about capacity and conflict between Paul and an evil spirit that had taken over a slave girl, the struggle between the truth of God and the deceits of the devil. This story explores slavery and true freedom. This girl was a slave twice over, to her owners and to the evil spirit that possessed her.
In our Gospel Reading Jesus prays for the generations of disciples, including us, who will witness love to others. The goal is for all to become one heart and mind. Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you (John17:21).
However, the story in Acts is one of argument and conflict. At the centre is the slave girl who can see into the future and is exploited to make money for her owners. She is trapped by slavery of mind, body, spirit and emotions.
Paul becomes annoyed and angry because she follows him with continual taunts and jibes, stirring him up. She tells him he is a slave to God and this is true, as he did describe himself elsewhere as ‘Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ.’
However, slavery to God gives us freedom from being captive to our own thoughts and desires and into relationship with God, creator of the universe. Then we are able to rely on God and do all things through God’s power not our own. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians:3.17)
Who or what are we captive to? We can be captive to our own deceiving spirits. We can become slaves to addictions such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, destructive relationships and online activities. Or slaves to an image, therefore not being true to our authentic self that God created us to be. We then become enslaved to a false image of ourselves based our own thoughts, choices and prejudices. People are slaves to whatever masters them. (2 Peter:2.19)
Paul casts out her demon and the girl is healed. Her owners are furious to lose financial gain and they stir up trouble for the disciples. The disciples are convicted on trumped up charges, beaten and put into jail. However, even in these adverse circumstances Paul and Silas sing praises to God! Then the power of God acts through an earthquake and their chains fall off. Paul tells us to: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstance.
By staying put in prison Paul and Silas witness to the jailer who is ready to take his life rather than face the consequences of his prisoners escape. The jailer and his family become Christians and offer hospitality, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, The Holy Spirit, who gives us freedom from our worst instincts and releases us from destructive impulses.
Let us be thankful for the Holy Spirit who gives us true freedom from every kind of slavery. We see the power of the Holy Spirit at work throughout the book of Acts. The message is simply to believe in the Lord Jesus, be saved from ourselves and receive the gifts of relationship with The Holy Trinity.
Angela Stewart, Lay Minister.