The good start to the work in Philippi then changes through this encounter with this slave girl who predicted the future (v16-18).

This girl has been wonderfully delivered from the control of an evil spirit. She could not predict the future but evil spirits helped her know certain things about people which convinced them that she did know the future.

With the evil spirit cast out of the girl, her power was gone and her owners were not happy and so they had Paul and Silas arrested, beaten and then imprisoned (v19-24).

The Gospel confronts evil and demands a change in people’s lives, which normally is not very popular. The world today is happy with a Gospel of private belief but not one that impacts your life and the life of others. The true Gospel though shakes things up, it challenges sin, it confronts evil and demands change and repentance.

As Christians we do not go out of our way to annoy people, but there is something wrong if what we believe, say and do, does not challenge others. Is it possible your life is not challenging others around as it should?

We see here that there is a price for being different and in confronting evil. We need to be gracious always, but we do need at times to be willing to risk friendships with others in standing for Christ. Are you ready for this?