Discerning a Divine Moment

7th Sunday of Easter 2025

We live in a world increasingly hostile to the truth of God's Word. The pressure to conform to popular secular, as well as Christian, views is immense. We sometimes feel pressure to stay silent when we know that injustice is happening, to hide our faith in the ministry of Christ.

It’s tempting to soften the gospel, to avoid calling out sin, especially when certain voices are so loud. It is tempting to keep silent and to keep our heads down so as not to draw unwanted attention in the face of spiritual bullying. All Christians must understand the commission Jesus gave to His Apostles, to make disciples of all the world (Matthew 28:16-20). The Great Commission was a call to stand firm in Christ’s teachings, not their personal beliefs, and He calls us to stand firm—regardless of the cost.

The lesson in Acts begins with Paul and Silas confronting a spiritual subjugation—a girl enslaved by a “spirit of divination,” who loudly proclaims their identity as servants of the “Most High” God. Notice her persistent shouting in the text, which initially appears as a declaration of truth. In actuality, it was a disruption to God's purpose. We are told that Paul is annoyed and so calls out the demon. A bold and calculated move upon the part of Paul.

Paul was deeply distressed—not annoyed but troubled[1] —by the girl’s spiritual bondage. Her loud proclamation was a sign of her captivity, and Paul’s response was to free her, even if it meant facing opposition. Like Paul, we are called to expose darkness and stand for truth, even when it draws criticism. It is hard to risk being misunderstood for the sake of Christ. Unlike Paul, many Christians are ill equipped to handle being the mouthpiece of God and often misspeak, misquote, or misrepresent the Gospel, even though they have the best of intentions.

When our biblical identity and truth clash with prevailing cultural opinions, one of two extremes can come about. There can be a temptation to shrink back, to be silent and hide who we truly are. Or, if our personality is bolder, we may seek to be like Paul and call it out. We may try to shout louder, be more vocal in our approach. Especially today, in a world of extremes, when we feel so emboldened we may like a video online, repost an inappropriate comment, or just completely pull the nuclear option on someone. Whether it is shrinking or bold proclamation, each of these extremes can be problematic. Knowing the right path as Christians can sometimes be difficult to discern.

Have you ever held back from speaking biblical truth out of fear of being labeled "the wrong kind" of Christian? How many of us sometimes prefer comfort over faithfulness? Or on the other extreme, have you ever stood your ground, but bit off more than you can chew? You know in your heart you are right, but seeking the right scripture, or teaching becomes elusive. So, you resort to your fundamentals, and you end up exactly where you did not want to be. Is one extreme better than the other?

When Paul cast out the spirit, the response was immediate hostility rooted in greed and the preservation of societal norms. The owners of the girl (yes, it is often overlooked that she was enslaved) lost their profitable income, and they stirred the crowd against Paul and Silas. Morally Paul was justified in what he did. He freed the girl from the spirit, and without any real value, her owners would be understandably upset. Paul’s actions carried consequences, he and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown in prison.

Living out our faith often comes at a cost. The world will resist, sometimes violently, when its systems are challenged by God's justice[2]. Being willing to risk one’s reputation, comfort, or even safety to stand for God's justice and righteousness, instead of remaining silent is noble, and it is good to seek to live your life like Paul and the other Apostles. However, we must know what it is we are called to do and speak. Societal norms change. Just as Christian interpretation of the scriptures change. Paul was pushing the envelope when he challenged the societal norms with this healing. He was also perpetuating Jesus’ ministry—Jesus was often taunted by demons which he expelled with haste (Matthew 8:16, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39, Luke 4:33, Matthew 8:28-34)

During the Civil Rights Movement, many believers faced imprisonment, violence, and even death for standing against racial injustice—faithful resistance often costs everything. Society was changing, too slowly for some, but changing none-the-less. Now, I don’t believe there is anyone in polite society today who believes that people of a certain color should be made to drink from a different water fountain, or use “colored only” bathrooms. With all that said, there were Christian pastors who preached separate but equal was the will of God, because it was the will of the courts. They misrepresented the spirit of Jesus’ teachings by using cherry picked scripture to keep a status quo. They, in their fear, pushed against a kairos[3] moment in God’s plan. Ultimately, they were proven wrong, but not before many people were hurt and even killed in the process.

As followers of Christ, we must be prepared to face opposition, knowing that our victory lies in Christ, not in worldly acceptance. We must be willing to call out injustice, as many churches did when society said not to. Unfortunately, many Christians were silent, maybe because they were scared, they didn’t want to be called out. They believed all of God’s creatures are made in the image of God, but didn’t know how to convey this concept. Not knowing how to articulate their feelings, some resorted to violence out of frustration and innocent people died. Real life is hardly ever as black and white as the history books tell us.

Those who were mad at Paul and Silas did not want their status interrupted. They used the societal laws and their beliefs to get revenge against Paul and Silas. They yelled so loud, that others began to yell too, until Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and thrown in prison.

We saw Paul use one extreme to free the girl from the evil spirit. Then the mood of the story changes. Once he and Silas were in prison, we see another extreme. They were not belligerent or defying authority as prisoners. They prayed, and they sang hymns. But do not mistake Paul’s sudden meekness for sudden cowardice. Despite their suffering in prison, Paul and Silas refused to despair—testifying to us that faith does not depend on circumstances but on the sovereign power of God. Discerning God’s plan, however, takes learning to discern. As citizens of heaven, we are called to love loudly—defend the oppressed, speak truth to power, and resist every form of injustice in many differing ways.

When the world demands silence or conformity, will you be a voice of hope and truth? Will your life declare the kingdom of God? Paul and Silas, chained and beaten, trusted in God's power to break the chains—literally and spiritually. Their faith was a witness that the Lord’s power is greater than any prison or oppression. Suddenly, God shook the prison, breaking the chains of every prisoner. The jailer’s life was at risk[4], but Paul and Silas didn’t run for the hills as so many prison escape movies have taught us to do. They remained in their prison cells, and instead offered the prison guard love, forgiveness, and the gospel—leading to his salvation.

Many believe the abolition of slavery in America was a divine act, carried out through the perseverance of faithful believers praying and acting for justice. But it wasn’t done is a vacuum. God used those who understood the law, more importantly how to change it, to change societal expectations. He also used those who understood the Gospel of Christ to change the beliefs of popular Christian theology[5] to more effectively reflect the mission of Christ in his ministry and the commission given to Paul and the other Apostles.

One important lesson we can take from Paul and Silas; it is important to stay with those still in bondage—whether spiritually or socially—and proclaim the gospel of liberation with love and humility. A deeper lesson is it is more important to seek discernment through the Holy Spirit to determine the kairos moments of God’s plan for humanity.

We are told often by pastors and preachers not to hide our faith but to live boldly, “Our lives are testimonies of hope amid darkness.” That we are to “stand with the oppressed, pray for justice, and speak biblical truth in our communities.” I believe the lesson of Acts 16 is, “Do not retreat in fear or silence, but also, do not be the crowd who just went along with those who shout the loudest.” Instead, let your life be a testament to the hope found in Christ.

Commit to living out your faith actively—whether through prayer, service, or speaking truth—Studying the Word prayerfully, actively, and in community, trusting that the Lord will use your witness for His glory. Let your life reflect the values you discern in Christ. Prayerfully commit to living out your principles actively—whether through repentant reflection, service, or honest communication—and by studying thoroughly, engaging actively, and collaborating with others, trusting that your actions will have a positive impact in those Divine Moments. Paul was uniquely qualified in his discernment. As an Apostle instructed by the risen Christ, he fully understood that God’s plan was perfect and beyond his control.

We are told by Luke of his reasoning for doing what he did, but we can read between the lines to discern what it means for Christians today. Remember, the only way to understand God’s plan for us is to engage with God as much as possible—prayer, study, and accountable actions. When culture opposes biblical truth, especially as we understand it, we are called first to discern God’s plan, that kairos moment. We may be called to resist with love, prayer, and unwavering faith. One day it might be boldly calling out injustice or peacefully praying and singing. Only through discernment can we know for sure. The darkness we face may be great, but our Savior’s light is greater still.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, empower us by Your Spirit to stand firm amid opposition. Give us the guidance and courage to seek your will in all we do, to speak truth, love boldly, and trust in Your sovereign power to save. Make us faithful witnesses, shining Your light into the darkest places, and may our lives testify to Your liberating grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

[1] The Greek word διαπονέομαι (diaponeomai) is translated as annoyed but can also mean troubled. Paul, knowing that this girl was possessed, may have felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to free her of the possession. Despite the consequences, Paul cast out the demon. His actions had repercussions that God used for His kairos moment in the prison.

[2] God’s justice here refers to the kairos moment that we are sometimes faced with. Often, what God want’s and what we want are not in sync. However, it is God’s plan which is perfect, and we are the ones who must conform to the kairos moment. How we react in such a moment is not only a test of our faith, but an acknowledgement to God’s sovereignty.

[3] kairos (Ancient Greek: καιρός) is an ancient Greek word meaning 'the right or critical moment'. It is one of two words that the ancient Greeks had for 'time’: the other being chronos (χρόνος). Whereas the latter refers to chronological or sequential time, kairos signifies a good or proper time for action. In this sense, while chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative, permanent nature. (Thayer, 1885)

[4] It is suggested that if the jailer had lost his prisoners, he would have been punished or even killed for letting them escape, even if it was not his fault. Once again signaling a societal understanding that those in power will blame those whom they have power over. To trust in God’s plan is to trust in God’s power to save us from our human proclivities.

[5] For a deeper dive into changing theology, I would recommend looking at commentaries from pre-1950. Many of these commentaries reflect a narrower understanding of the gospel. Many of the theologies would make even modern Christian fundamentalist seem to be liberal in their understanding. It is important for us as Christians to know that this is not new. Christ founded his ministry on pushing the Jewish temple-based religion further than they were comfortable with. For example, look at the teachings in Matthew 5 where Jesus uses the phrase, “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” This example in the sermon on the mount (Jesus’ most famous sermon) is a call for the Jewish people to be better than the law conscripted them to be.

Bibliography

2540 Kairos [Book Section] / auth. Thayer Joseph H. // Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. - [s.l.] : Hendrickson Publishers, 1885. - 2021 - 15th printing.

5547 Chronos [Book Section] / auth. Thayer Joseph H. // Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. - [s.l.] : Hendreckson Publishers, 1885. - 2021 - 15th printing.

Interlinear Bible [Online] // Biblehub.com. - Nov. 29, 2024. - https://biblehub.com/interlinear.

NIV Study Bible [Book]. - Grand rapids, MI : Zondervan, 2011.

NRSVue // NRSVue Holy Bible with Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. - Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2022.

The Westminster Study Bible [Book] / ed. Powery Emerson B. [et al.]. - Louisville, KY : Westminster John Knox Press, 2024.