The Spirit of Divination is Not of El Elyon
After the most high God spoke to Apostle Paul in a dream, then the latter continued to demonstrate that he’s a servant of El Elyon.
So, let’s continue with our Book of Acts Bible Study. Today, our primary reference is Acts 16:16-21.
As Paul and his fellow traveling companions and brethren journeyed to attend prayer, they had an unforgettable experience.
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying” (Acts 16:16).
Note, there’s a time for prayer. Remember there is a time or season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Devils Know The True Believers
The fact that this female “possessed” “a spirit of divination” could amaze many people. But just as there are prophets of God there are “soothsayers”, and they are not of God.
Like this young woman, these are people who could tell you things about yourself, others, and events like dreams that they didn’t learn from another person. The spirit told them. They could “divine”.
“[She] followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
What Does the Most High God Mean?
Allow nothing to divert your focus from God. According to Wikipedia, and this is true, the phrase “the most high god” means El Elyon.
However, don’t get side tracked.
Similarly, Got Question is also correct to say that the “God Most High or LORD Most High means that there is no god, idol, or created being that should be worshiped or exalted above Yahweh, the LORD, because He is superior in every way.”
Additionally, declaring that the phrase, the Most High God is one of the names of God could be acceptable.
Nevertheless, in the Holy Bible, there are eleven references of the Highest God. And the context of all is identical. They all have one thing in common.
“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” (Acts 16:18).
Why did this declaration by the diviner irritated Paul? Wasn’t it true? Had she become a nuisance to him? And was this justification for what he did later?
These are some of the questions people ask about this encounter.
Who is El Elyon?
A prophet of the most high God is a “Seer”. He sees things and event of the future now. Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel and Jesus Christ are prophets.
“(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)” (1 Samuel 9:9).
So, a Seer sees future things and inform the leader, usually the king, of what he sees. Seers were amongst those who would counsel the king, (2 Samuel 24:11).
A Seer or a Prophet was the middle-man between God and humanity. And especially in the context of a nation, he was the intermediary between Him and Israel.
God would show him things of the future. He would inform the king and a wise leader would act on his advice and experience success.
The Spirit of Divination is Not For Hire
On the other hand, a “Diviner” through the spirit of divination, couldn’t necessarily see future events and things, but such a one could interpret dreams and give advice about one’s current circumstances and situations.
However, when a person has a spirit of divination, he or she shouldn’t render his or her services for money, (Micah 3:11).
This was true amongst the Children of Israel. But other nations could do whatever they desire in this regard.
Therefore, one of the things which ignite anger in Paul was the misuse of this gift that this particular young woman possessed.
She was a slave. Because of the “spirit of divination” that she had, her masters had a source of income. They were charging a fee for her divination.
In the past, a prophet of the most high god and a diviner would hear counsel from God communicates His desires to the king of Israel. But these men were manipulating this woman. She would offer advice to people in exchange for money. Today, people who do this are called psychics.
Is The Phrase The Most High God a Name of God?
Let’s continue! “[She] followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
What this young woman says about Paul and his brethren is absolutely correct. They, indeed are servants of the highest God and they are also revealing to the people “the way of salvation”. Note, it’s one way. One path! The only route to God is through Jesus Christ.
Mainly, because there is salvation through no other name or person except Jesus Christ, (Acts 4:12).
However, before I go any farther let’s investigate three things concerning Paul’s action. These three features encompass mainly, to whom, how, and when.
First, this servant of El Elyon didn’t speak to the young woman; instead, he commanded the spirit that was in her.
Paul Uses His Authority in Jesus Christ
If we are servants of the Most High God, then we must operate in His name. The phrase “The Most High God” is not a name! But it’s a description of a role.
This is exactly what Paul did when he commanded the spirit. He said, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (Acts 16:18).
Every servant of God utilizes His name in everything that he or she undertakes.
Finally, note that Paul didn’t have to wait around to see the result after he acted as an ambassador who comes in the name of the Lord.
For the spirit, obeyed. It came out of her “the same hour” (Acts 16:18). God honors the words of His servants who come declaring their hearts’ desires using His name: Jesus Christ.
Now They are Angry With Paul and Silas
Many people get angry if they lose money. In this instance, it was the loss of future income that made “her masters” mad.
“And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,” (Acts 16:19).
And now, all that befalls them from these slave-owners, is a result of their lost income. Seeing that the spirit of divination had obeyed Paul, now the former diviner was as other young women. Ordinary! She no longer had any means to provide information about anything supernatural or mysterious.
But the owners must propose legal and lawful arguments to the court to have them arrested and punished.
Therefore, they “brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,” (Acts 16:20).
One, they were foreigners. Natives own rights in their homeland over tourists any day. Paul and Silas are Jews, and they are Macedonians.
They Defended The City
Two, they assume the role of custodian for “the city”. Not once did they mention that they had lost revenue.
Instead, they became lawyers, not for themselves, but for the city and its people.
Consequently, they accused them. They are foreigners and their presence and doctrines are inappropriate for us as Roman citizens.
“And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans” (Acts 16:21).
None of this was true! Paul knew this for he too was a Roman too, (Acts 22:25-27). But he didn’t resist this evil.
But this is how Satan works. He twists things and uses words deceitfully to deceive the weak and simple.
Melchizedek Worships the Most High God
Earlier, I explained that there is a common theme amongst all Scriptures that describe the Lord God as the most high god. Now, let’s investigate them.
Starting with the description of Melchizedek king of Salem, for he “was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18) and ending with him in Hebrews 7:1, all these references have this one quality.
They all utilize the term “the most high god” not so much as a name, or designation, or a position of superiority but as worship.
Let’s examine the first occurrence of glorification. The Scripture first utilizes the phrase in question to inform us to whom Melchizedek belongs.
Thus, the Bible says, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18).
So, here the Bible is merely establishing Melchizedek’s relationship to God. He’s a priest of the Lord God.
In the next verse, it makes full use of the identical description of highest-god to identify Abram. It does this through Melchizedek’s speech. For he informs us that Abram too belongs to El Elyon.
These are his exact words: “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19).
Abram Learns From the King of Peace How to Revere El Elyon
Even though he was blessing Abraham his focus was elsewhere. It’s not on Abram but on God.
See how the Scriptures tell us that both men belong to the Highest God. Then, comes the worship of Him.
“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” (Genesis 14:20).
Saying “blessed” isn’t the factor that qualifies his words as worship. It’s the context. He’s the owner of heaven and earth and he delivers your enemies into your hands. Thus the worship of Him.
Note how Melchizedek starts out, by magnifying the Lord God and he ends the same way.
Melchizedek is giving the Lord God glory for His deliverance of his servant Abram.
He says, Bless is Abram who belongs to the most high god and bless is the most high god. He was worshipping the Lord God.
Later, as Abram confronts the King of Sodom he will mimic Melchizedek’s teaching of adoration. And similar to Melchizedek, first, he identifies Him, then he reverences Him.
Learn How Not to Worship the Most High God
“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,” (Genesis 14:22).
See how he uses Melchizedek’s words. Any time we show adoration of the Lord God we should utilize His own words to do so. Melchizedek’s words are the Words of God. They are Jesus’ words.
In a later post, I will explain this. He’s Jesus Christ. Introducing him here is just to foreshadow him.
The second incident of worship of the most high God occurs in the Book of Psalms. It shows us how not to worship Him.
“Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies” (Psalm 78:56).
“But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow” (Psalm 78:57).
So, if we fail to obey the Words of the Most High God, then we fail to worship Him. We cannot adore Him in disobedience. We must obey Him! Obedience must precede worship.
Next, even a heathen king recognizes that utilizing the phrase “the most high God” demonstrates worship of Him.
Such was the case of Nebuchadnezzar. He has moved from a proud and self-centered king or person to a worshipper of God.
Even a Heathen King Adores the Most High God
“Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire” (Daniel 3:26).
Again, similar to Melchizedek, King Nebuchadnezzar was adoring the Lord God with words. He addresses Daniel, yet his focus, like those before him, was not on the servant (Daniel) but on El Elyon, Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Note that the Bible mentions “servant” or “servants” sometimes when it speaks of the highest God. And what servants do to their master? We worship Him! Glory to the Lord God for there is no god above Him.]
Next, just as heathens respect the Lord God, even demons and devils adore Him too. Observe as a man with “unclean spirit” or a devil does just that.
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him” (Mark 5:6).
Below, note how the worship of the Lod God by the devil manifest.
He shouted “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not” (Mark 5:7).
Could Devils and Demons Worship the Lord God?
The evil spirit in the man was paying homage to the Lord God. This manifest itself in what the “spirit” says through the demonic.
This wasn’t the only time this happens in the Bible. Recall, a similar incident happened with Paul and the woman with the spirit of divination.
“[She] followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
This was the spirit of divination speaking through this woman. In other words, this was the spirit speaking and not really the woman.
And by saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God,” this evil spirit was demonstrating worship of Him. So, again this devil in this woman was worshipping the Lord God.
And as Jesus did, so too did Paul, for the former speaks to the devil in the man and the latter speaks to the evil spirit in the woman (Acts 16:18).
Servants of the Most High God we Must Know how to Conduct Ourselves
Therefore, in exploring this, let’s dissect the remainder of Paul’s experience with this female in Acts 16.
Now, as servants of the most high god, we must know how to conduct ourselves. Many Christians do the wrong thing at the right time.
Consequently, the Highest God will not honor their words and work. We must do the right thing at the right time and the most high God will always confirm our actions.
For example, as I and the Holy Bible have always maintained, don’t pray for the sick. The Lord Jesus Christ never instructed us to do that.
Click on the link above and read what you should do concerning sick people according to the Word of God.
