'Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. '
Acts 28:1-10
Once they arrived at Malta {the island of safety that the Lord provided because of the shipwreck), the people there showed them unusual kindness and generous hospitality while they were there. That is the favor or the Lord!!! Those who were with Paul were witnessing God’s favor, protection, guidance, miracles, and providence. God was using Paul and His life to glorify Himself and attract His prodigals to Himself. As Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and put it on fire, a viper was driven out by the heat and bit him and latched onto his hand. The people there automatically assumed that it was the God of Justice not allowing him to live and assumed he was a murderer. However, God glorified Himself once again and validated Paul by not allowing Paul to be affected by the snake bite and allowing him to shake the snake off into the fire. The people changed their minds and decided instead that he was a god. Publius was the chief official of the island whose father was sick in bed Paul went in to see him and after he prayed over him, he placed his hands on him and healed him. This resulted in all the sick people on the island coming to him and being healed.
Whenever our time is coming to an end in some arena of our lives whether it be a particular ministry, a job, a neighborhood, a relationship, etc, things may begin to be difficult and may even become stormy and shipwrecked. Before God instructs us to jump ship, He will usually provide a “Malta”. Once we arrive there, it will probably become evident that we are in the right place as we experience God’s favor in various forms, like kindness, providence, peace, fruitfulness in ministry, miracles, signs, wonders, and things working out. I love how God works and how He confirms things. If He does not want us somewhere, He begins to stir things up and as we inquire of Him what is going on, He will show us whether we are to stay or leave. We are not to leave every time things are stirred up, but He will make it clear to us so that we do not abandon ship at the wrong times. He is not going to leave us stranded anywhere. He always guides us.
A snake bite can represent any attack of the enemy that has the purpose of poisoning us or causing us spiritual harm or difficulty. God will glorify Himself by not allowing the venom to harm us or defeat us. By His Spirit, we have victory and can fling that sucker into the fire while suffering no ill effects!!! Hallelujah!!!! This victory can serve to wow others with His power and even draw people to Himself while increasing our faith. What an awesome God we serve!!!
Acts 28:1-10
Acts 28:1-10 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pi | New International Version (NIV) |
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pi
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Once they arrived at Malta {the island of safety that the Lord provided because of the shipwreck), the people there showed them unusual kindness and generous hospitality while they were there. That is the favor or the Lord!!! Those who were with Paul were witnessing God’s favor, protection, guidance, miracles, and providence. God was using Paul and His life to glorify Himself and attract His prodigals to Himself. As Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and put it on fire, a viper was driven out by the heat and bit him and latched onto his hand. The people there automatically assumed that it was the God of Justice not allowing him to live and assumed he was a murderer. However, God glorified Himself once again and validated Paul by not allowing Paul to be affected by the snake bite and allowing him to shake the snake off into the fire. The people changed their minds and decided instead that he was a god. Publius was the chief official of the island whose father was sick in bed Paul went in to see him and after he prayed over him, he placed his hands on him and healed him. This resulted in all the sick people on the island coming to him and being healed.
Whenever our time is coming to an end in some arena of our lives whether it be a particular ministry, a job, a neighborhood, a relationship, etc, things may begin to be difficult and may even become stormy and shipwrecked. Before God instructs us to jump ship, He will usually provide a “Malta”. Once we arrive there, it will probably become evident that we are in the right place as we experience God’s favor in various forms, like kindness, providence, peace, fruitfulness in ministry, miracles, signs, wonders, and things working out. I love how God works and how He confirms things. If He does not want us somewhere, He begins to stir things up and as we inquire of Him what is going on, He will show us whether we are to stay or leave. We are not to leave every time things are stirred up, but He will make it clear to us so that we do not abandon ship at the wrong times. He is not going to leave us stranded anywhere. He always guides us.
A snake bite can represent any attack of the enemy that has the purpose of poisoning us or causing us spiritual harm or difficulty. God will glorify Himself by not allowing the venom to harm us or defeat us. By His Spirit, we have victory and can fling that sucker into the fire while suffering no ill effects!!! Hallelujah!!!! This victory can serve to wow others with His power and even draw people to Himself while increasing our faith. What an awesome God we serve!!!