Conflict Over Deliverance

Baptist Daily Devotional
Sep 16
2 min read

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | September 16 2025 | Acts 16:16-21

KEY VERSE: “When her owners realised that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.” Acts 16:19. (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Deliverance brings freedom, but it also exposes selfish interests. When the slave girl in Philippi was freed from demonic oppression, her exploiters lost their source of profit. What was a moment of liberation for her became a moment of anger and conflict for them. This passage reminds us that whenever the gospel transforms lives, there will be opposition from those who benefit from bondage. The gospel is not only spiritual—it disrupts unjust systems, challenges exploitation, and confronts evil at its roots. Paul and Silas acted in the authority of Jesus Christ, but the owners of the slave girl saw only their financial loss. The marketplace became the stage for conflict, proving that gospel deliverance often provokes resistance from powers—spiritual, social, and economic—that thrive on oppression.

This text teaches that deliverance exposes hidden interests. The girl’s healing revealed her owners’ true motives. They did not care about her dignity or freedom; they only cared about their profit. The gospel unmasks selfishness and calls us to value people over possessions. The second lesson is that the gospel disrupts systems of exploitation. True deliverance not only sets individuals free but also shakes the foundations of unjust structures. Whenever Christ’s power breaks chains, it threatens those who profit from oppression. Thirdly, we can learn that opposition is part of faithful ministry. Paul and Silas were seized and dragged publicly, not because they had done wrong, but because they had done right. The same Jesus who said “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33) also assures us that He has overcome the world.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

When God uses you to bring freedom, expect opposition—but do not fear. Stand for the truth even when it threatens worldly interests. Ask God for courage to remain faithful when the gospel you proclaim shakes systems and provokes resistance.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, help me to see people the way You see them—not as tools for gain but as souls in need of freedom. Give me boldness to stand for truth, even when it stirs conflict. May my witness always honour You and reflect the power of deliverance in Your name. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

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DAILY word study: DRAGGED

The word “dragged” in Acts 16:19 comes from the Greek helkō, meaning “to pull or seize by force.” In Scripture, it is often used to describe forceful actions—such as dragging a net full of fish to shore (John 21:6) or drawing someone against their will (James 2:6).

In Acts 16, the masters dragged Paul and Silas to the authorities not because of crime, but because the gospel had disrupted their profit. This mirrors how the early church often faced hostility, not for wrongdoing, but for challenging unjust systems (see Acts 4:1–3; Acts 17:5–6).

Reflect on this: Being “dragged” for Christ may look like suffering or shame, but God turns such moments into platforms for His glory.