In Acts 28:1-6) “Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god”. This a story about Paul being a prisoner on a ship on his way to Rome after defending his faith, himself, and appealing to Caesar. There was a storm that wrecked the ship. As the men were grabbing things to hold onto the centurion commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first, and get to the land, and the rest, some on boards, and other parts of the ship. The soldier planned to kill the prisoners less any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion wanted to save Paul, he kept them from their purpose. And so it was that they all arrived safely to the land called Malta when it was daytime. Paul was protected by the hand of God, amid perils onshore as well as on the sea.
The men just came out of the sea after fearing for their lives, exhausted, wet, and cold. The barbarians showed them kindness by receiving them and starting a fire. Paul helped to gather the wood for the fire and a viper ran out of the heat and latched onto Paul’s hand. A venomous bite will take you out instantly and a poisonous bite will gradually get into your system over time to poison you. When the islanders saw this, they said no doubt he is a murderer, who has escaped the sea but vengeance suffereth not to live. Why did they call Paul a murderer? Did they know of him? Were they superstitious people believing that if a viper went after killers? Did they know about his past? Paul would be the first one to tell his past. He wasn’t ashamed of what he did to Christians because he believed what he was doing was right at that time until God changed his mind. He would testify about what God has done in his life and what God has delivered him from. Paul shook off the snake immediately and didn’t give it a chance to bite him. The people thought surely, he would swell up and die. Being that he didn’t drop dead they called Paul a god.
I want to focus on verse five, “And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm”. Paul immediately shook the snake off of his hand. He didn’t give the snake a chance to bite him. Paul shook the snake off of his hand immediately. Can you imagine this? As soon as the snake latched to him, he shook it off. How much better we would be off if we would do the same thing. If only we would shake it off, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”. Do you have any toxic people in your life? Do you have any poisonous people in your life that you need to get rid of? Use them as your measuring rod of where you are in God. Do they push your buttons? They are unhappy, angry, and full of hate and they want to infect you. They are just a messenger of Satan. When they unleash their venom shake it off.
“lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”. 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul shook it off and felt no harm. Throughout Paul’s ministry, he sufferedtrials and persecution for the sake of Christ. He was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and betrayed. He often went without food, sleep, and shelter. During his Roman imprisonment, I am sure he felt alone at times with no other person to support or defend him.
Listen to what Paul said about his sufferings, “I have worked harder and put in prison more often, been whipped times without number and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night in a day adrift at sea. I was stuck at sea during the nighttime. I have traveled many long journeys; I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from all people; the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I faced danger in the cities, in the deserts and on the seas. I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but were not. I have worked hard and long enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold without enough clothing to keep me warm. Paul suffered for the cause of Christ. This was just one man. What does that say to you and I? The religious folks, the church people wanted to kill him. While going through his struggles in life he said, “Then besides all this, for I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches”.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Paul felt the weight on his shoulders of getting to the churches to preach the Word. He was more concerned about souls than his own life. Paul had such boldness when testifying about the Lord. No matter what Paul went through he didn’t let that stop him. I don’t think any of us have experienced all of what Paul has been through. The Word lets us to know that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”. I Corinthians 10:13 If God has brought you to it, He has already made a way of escape from the situation. We have to look unto the hills from whence my help cometh, My help comes from the Lord. The creator of heaven and earth. When God opens the door of escape there are times, we linger too long instead of running for our lives. That’s no time to be thinking it will get better. If the situation is separating you from God; run! If the situation has you in a place that is not glorifying God leave it alone.
Paul also, had a thorn in his flesh. “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong”. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Paul desired that God would remove the thorn in his flesh, Each time he said, My grace is all you need. God’s power in me works best in my weakness. Is that our testimony today?
Do we have this attitude? I am glad in my infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, in need, and distresses. While this is going on God is up to something. Five different times Paul was given 39 lashes. I am sure that the pain that was inflicted upon him left scars and affected his body.Do we have this attitude? I am glad in my infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, in need, and distresses. While this is going on God is up to something. Five different times Paul was given 39 lashes. I am sure that the pain that was inflicted upon him left scars and affected his body.
When I am struck with a thorn, test, trial or storm; God’s grace is sufficient for me, for when I am weak; I am strong in God. My spirit man becomes stronger as I exercise my faith. When insults and reproach come, I am identified with Christ. Necessities, hardships, and lack cause me to draw closer to God. Persecutions are innate in this walk; Jesus was persecuted. There is nothing more distressing than being hung on a cross. Paul said I take pleasure in this that I suffer for Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong. When we are going through those tests, trials, and storms of life we are being built up in our faith. God is going to bring us out on the other side of it whatever it is as long as we don’t give up. It is not the end of the world. “You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3 You are coming out stronger, bolder, and even more on fire for the Lord.
Colossians 1:24) Paul says to the community there: “But part of my work is to suffer for you; and I am glad, for I am helping to finish up the remainder of Christ’s sufferings for his body, the church.” “In all things, we suffer tribulation: but are not distressed. I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. We all partake in the sufferings of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9) We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3 God is working on us and through us when we go through. You are coming out on the other side.
When we are going through life and the enemy attacks us. God has permitted him to do so. If God has allowed it, there is a purpose for it. There are times we open ourselves up to the enemy and we cause suffering to ourselves and those closest to us. Even in this God is working. God will only let us go but so far before He reigns us back in. It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Why is that? Because I have learned your statutes. Take responsibility for what you have done or allowed to happen. I messed up, I stepped out of bounds, and I want God to get me out of this mess I have created. This is when we begin to seek Him like never before. God will let us sit right there in the mess we have created.
You know how when a baby is getting a little older and they make a mess on themselves? They begin to cry, they may hide from you, get comfortable in it like they didn’t do anything and, in some cases, they go get the diaper for you to change them. If they go and get the diaper that’s a topic for another time. They want you to hurry up and clean them up. But God says, no I am not cleaning it up, you clean it up. I will leave you right there so you can learn some things about me, yourself, and others. When the trial comes don’t sit in it and let it spread all over the place, don’t hide it, cry out to the Lord to help you, seek sound counsel and God doesn’t need our help in some cases. He knows what He is doing in our lives. We can go ahead of God and make things worse.
Whatever you may be going through shake it off. Don’t let it get in your mind. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:5 You have to cast down those thoughts. They don’t like me, they don’t love me, they don’t appreciate me, they have rejected me. You meditate on the hurt; then it gets in your heart. Now you treat them differently. When you become offended and allow it to latch on to your soul. Now you have a problem with them, your behavior has changed towards the person. It’s your problem and not theirs. They don’t even know they have offended you. So who is wrong in that? The other person has gone on with their life. You have to rise up and shake it off.
We mess up when we don’t address the situation and sit there in the mess. We know we have been hurt but we don’t do as the Word has instructed us to do. Matthew 18:15-17. That’s pride when you say, “I am not saying anything.” Humble yourselves and get it right. You know when a baby has the runs and it goes up their back, down their legs to their socks. Instead of messing all over the place, it is floating around in your mind, your heart, and your soul. Clean yourself up!
I have been lied on in the church. It didn’t offend me, I didn’t take offense to it, there was no need to address it because I know it wasn’t the truth. I treat the person as if it never happened to me and in love. “He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.” Proverbs 17:9 There have been many times when I had to go to my brother and my sister to get it right. I refuse to allow the enemy to separate me from the Body.
Don’t let it in; Don’t let it get in your heart. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life”. Proverbs 4:23) You have to work to not let it affect you. Not to blame the other person. Why did it bother you? Is there something that you are working on, they have struck a nerve or something you haven’t addressed? You have to clean it up. Proverbs 19:11) “Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment”. James 5:16) “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” We make ourselves sick at times. Because we don’t confess the mess and put the work in to get it right. Instead we point the finger and blame others. It’s our responsibility to shake it off no matter what it is.
To be continued….
