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“Paul’s Annoyance” By Kirk Hunt
This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Acts 16:17-18 NKJV
The girl was possessed by a foul spirit. She could supernaturally see the who of, and what of, Paul and his ministry team. To Paul’s annoyance, she followed them around and disrupted their ministry of the true Gospel. Paul, vexed by the situation, responded.
It was all wrong. The innocent girl should not be possessed by an unclean spirit. The foul spirit told the truth, but in a way deliberately intended to disrupt the life and true ministry of Paul and the other missionaries. Something had to be done. In the name of Jesus Christ, Paul exercised power against the enemy.
Paul did not start a crusade against divination or diviners. Instead, he cast out the nervy devil that sought to block the Kingdom of Heaven. In a single stroke, he set the girl free, and re-opened the door to ministering the Gospel.
Believe it or not, your annoyance with that opposing situation is a good thing. It tells you where you need to start in building God’s Kingdom. Respond as Jesus would, no matter how annoyed you are.
Think: The object of annoyance and frustration may be where I should minister.
Pray: “Lord, help me to use my annoyance for building Your Kingdom.”
Copyright © July 2014, Kirk Hunt
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