SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
Acts 28:1-6
Acts 28:1-6
And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the (venomous) creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.
5 Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.
6 But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
Suppose I promised you that you are going to heaven.
Suppose I promised you, you are going to have some trouble in your life.
This is what Jesus has done, Heaven is your destination John 3:16
He promise you that life of a man is but a few years but full of trouble Job 14:1
How will you respond when trouble shows ?
Will you complain to God or give up the promise?
Will you shake off the devil and move forward in hope?
There are times when God sets up your misery so through faith you can share your testimony with others.
BACKGROUND
On his final missionary journey, Paul against the advice of his friends
Decided to go back to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21). He was tried and convicted under Jewish Law, because he preached Jesus as the Messiah whom they crucified. The Jewish hierarchy planned to kill Paul secretly because they could not kill a Roman citizen. Paul’s sister’s son heard of Jewish leaders plot to kill him as he was transported from one prison to another. Paul appealed to Agrippa, The Roman official to be tried by Caesar in Rome.
GOD DESIGNED YOUR JOURNEY TO INCLUDE TRIALS
All believers are on a journey to heaven. God didn’t tell you how long your journey would take or what problems you would encounter on this journey.
He did promise you the end of the journey and some difficulties.
Paul had word from the Lord that he was to take the Gospel to Rome
Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
During Paul’s trip to Rome around November of the year, the ship encountered some rough weather and was broken up near a coast of the island of Melita where the entire crew of 276 men escaped. Paul was given the chance to preach the Gospel to the Natives of this remote Island.
GOD PREPARES HEARTS TO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL
You should never worry about what you will say to people about Jesus, because He sets up the encounter and circumstances for you to share your testimony. Recorded In Acts 19, Paul desired to see Rome. He went to Jerusalem where he was jailed then put on a ship to Rome.
The natives on the Island where the ship was wrecked show great kindness to Paul and the crew. They stayed on the Island for 3 months.
Upon swimming to the Island it was cold and raining. The natives of the Island perhaps witnessed the wrecked ship and the crew swimming to shore. They welcomed the crew and lit a fire to warm them.
GOD DRAWS KINDNESS FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES
The first thing we see is the kindness of the natives who could have easily killed them and taken all they had from the ship. It is my belief that God
Arranged the ship wreck at the island when the hearts of the men were prepared to meet Jesus and make life changing decisions.
Luke referred to the Islanders as barbarians because they could not speak Greek. While they didn’t speak Greek they did speak the language of kindness, pity, compassion with their show of hospitality.
YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO THE LORD INCLUDES TRIALS
The second thing we see is God keeping the promise for Paul to arrive in
Rome safety. The ship was broken into pieces, the sea was rough, it was raining and it was cold, but everyone on the ship was able to get to shore.
An angel of the Lord promised Paul that none would be lost Acts 27:22-23
God set up an incident to show His power and Paul’s faith. Paul gathered wood to keep the fire going. As he did, a poisonous snake hiding in wood leaped out and fasten itself on Pau’s hand. Paul without hesitation or fear shook the snake off into the fire. The natives on the Island thought the worst. He survived the ship wreck only to be killed by a snake.
He must be murder. The natives watched waiting for Paul to swell up and die. When nothing happened they called him a god.
GHOSSIP IN THE MISSION
The next thing we see is how human emotions change opinions based on what we see but not understand. We need to be careful before judging people without knowledge of the full story. He was a stranger to the islanders, but their opinions flip flopped by what they saw.
There is no mention of Paul preaching the Gospel, but I suggest he used this opportunity to preach Jesus. Based on what we know of Paul it was His history to establish communities of believers wherever he traveled.
No better time to teach the love and power of God among witnesses to a miracle. This was an excellent example of the salvation of Jesus. Saved by grace through faith.
Notice the details of the incidents, the shipwreck, the fire, the snake, fasten to Pauls hand, Paul shaking the snake off, the swelling, the watching and waiting, the miracle, the changing opinions of the barbarians.
I mention this because this story is symbolic of the life of every believer in Jesus Christ. God can shipwreck us in places where the Gospel need to be preached.
Take a look at all the elements involved in the shipwreck
YOUR TROUBLES ARE DESIGNED TO CHANGE LIVES
1. The Fire we build a fire for ourselves, all headed to the lake of
Hell described in Revelation
2. The viper, the snake represents Satan hiding for an opportunity to
strike
3. Paul, a believer, servants hands valuable to God, a threat to Satan
4. Out of the fire the viper bit the believers hand. He is already
Doomed and desires to pull the believer down. Notice it was the
natives who lit the fire. Why did the viper wait for Paul ?
5. When Satan strikes we have to shake him off by faith
6. Islanders, nonbelievers observe how we handle adversity
7. They wait to see if we will fall or stand and be puffed up with pride
8. Opinions change when the world see you standing for Jesus
9. Barbarians, living in darkness become believers, brought to the light.
10. There was healing throughout the island in the name of Jesus
What did Paul say to the islanders about the miracle?
How did he thank them for their hospitality?
THERE IS HEALING WHEN YOU SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
Because of his faith, God gave Paul another opportunity to showcase the power of God to the natives. The Island chief, invited Paul and the group
To his home where he entertained them for three days. Publius the island chief’s father was sick with a bloody bowel, Paul prayed then laid hands on him and he was healed. The islanders brought all their sick to Paul and he
Healed them all. Prayer before work is an example throughout the Bible.
We are channels of God’s power
The Islanders were called barbarians because they didn’t speak Greek
Paul had the gift of tongues (languages) so he communicated with them in
Their language. While he healed their bodies, I am certain He prayed for their sin sick souls. This was Paul’s first priority. Paul used his gifts to bless
Those in his midst. By doing so he gained an audience for Christ.
When we bless others. God will bless us. The Islanders provided for Paul and the ship’s crew for three months until the next ship came and took them on their journey to Rome.
THE TURN AROUND BLESSING WHEN SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
Acts 28:10-11
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. ¶ 11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
KJV
Paul had the promise of arrival in Rome before he left Jerusalem. He was familiar with the trip, but not the circumstances that would occur during the trip.
Paul went into Jerusalem a free man but was immediately put in chains
And on trial because the religious leaders hated Jesus
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
The religious leaders hatch a plot to kill Paul by night
His sister’s son informed him
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
To prevent his murder in Jerusalem, He requested a trial in Rome before Caesar
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
Ship wrecked on the journey to Rome. Paul encouraged the 276 men
On board that no life would be lost
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
He had to swim on the boards of the broken ship to shore
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
SHAKE
Cold, wet, tired and hungry while warming himself by a fire he got bit by a
Poisonous snake
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
Paul’s eyes were focused on the promise, not the circumstances
He trusted God in his circumstances to get to the promise.
As a result of Paul’s trials on the journey to Rome, 276 sailers and the people on the Island of Melita were introduced to the Jesus and perhaps received their salvation
In Rome placed in prison
HE HAD TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
IN SUMMARY
YOU HAVE TO TRUST GO IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE TO GET TO HEAVEN
YOU GOT TO SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING WITH NATIVE THOUGHTS
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
WHEN YOU ARE HURT
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
WHEN YOU ARE WRONGED BY OTHERS
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
WHEN YOU ARE LIED ON
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
WHEN YOU ARE LONELY
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
WHEN GOD ALLOWS TRIALS IN YOUR LIFE
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF’
We must keep in mind that the Devil came to steal, kill and to destroy you.
If he can get you focused on the world, he can keep you from being focused on Jesus. The Devil’s purpose is to prevent you from going to heaven.
YOUR LIFE IS IN THE HAND OF THE MAN WHO CONTROLS THE DEVIL
SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF
