There are many other versions of this machine planted around the world today. They do still exist. That woman’s prerecorded voice is still engrained in my head—crazy accent and all. Sometimes, when I see a quarter, I remember that saying that replays through my mind, “Give me a quarter, I’ll tell you your fortune.” Are you familiar with this game or saying? As I type this, I realize I need to pray and ask God to erase it from my memory. He can do that! Nothing is too big or too small to ask God.
The world says, fortune telling is all fun and games, but the Bible shows us differently. Though the world makes us think fortune telling is innocent, the Bible directs us otherwise. I decided to dig deeper into the wealth God gives us through His word. I read again about the encounter with the Apostle Paul and Silas and a psychic in the book of Acts. I thought about how we need to guard our hearts and minds and see the dangers that come with any form of divination.
Acts 16:16-24 says, “Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, ‘These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.’ She did this for many days. Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ And it came out right away. When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, ‘These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.’ The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks,” (CSB).
Paul and Silas, men of God, were on their way to prayer, doing God’s work, when they were met by a girl who was possessed by a spirit of fortunetelling. This spirit, though evil, still recognized the way of salvation, God’s servants, and the Most High God. This spirit declared and proclaimed this day after day for many days, until Paul turned and addressed the spirit head-on and said, “’I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ And it came out right away,” (CSB, Acts 16:18).
Anything that is not of the Lord opposes the Lord and His work. There is no room for it in our lives. It needs to be addressed head-on. Galatians 5:19-21 defines sorcery clearly as a work of the flesh.
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God,” (CSB).
In the Old Testament, Leviticus 19 outlines the laws of holiness. Leviticus 19:26 says, “…You are not to practice divination or witchcraft,” (CSB). Leviticus 19:31 says, “Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God,” (CSB).
Reading God’s Word reinforces Truth and God’s ways. Fortunetelling, that might be thought of as a simple, little game, is not a game after all. The Bible is clear: steer clear of divination, witchcraft, sorcery, fortune telling, and the demonic forces that are associated with it.
What is it that may feel harmless or trivial in your life that contradicts the word of God? If God brings something to mind, pray about it and search it in the scriptures. See what God says about it! Maybe it’s not something you are actively involved with today but were associated with in the past. Do as Paul did. No matter the consequence, recognize it, turn and face it head-on and declare, “In the name of Jesus Christ be gone.” As a child of God, saved by His grace, when you surrendered your life to Him, you were given full authority because of His death on the cross and resurrection. Games aren’t always games! Be alert!
How can you make Monumental Moments and live to multiply His movement today?
