by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Acts 28:1-6
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 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.
8 lessons from a shipwreck
Why did God goes into details in a simple shipwreck incident?
Point 1
At times you won't know where you are
- You're gonna be safe and shipwreck
- when storms comes, direction not always straight and convincing
- we're hanging in the middle of nowhere
- we must remember God is also in control of the storms in our lives
- we must learn the difference between direction and location
- direction is more important than location
- the plank could take you to where the shop cannot take you!
- plank is the last best thing
Point 2
Leaders must serve as well as be served
- no matter how good your gifting, how great your anointing or how great is your ministry you must serve
- Paul was shipwrecked but he was serving at the same time by picking up sticks to build fire
Point 3
When you're building fire, expect the enemy to be disturbed
- people who pick up sticks to build fire that attract snakes, fire in bible is a spread of the kingdom
- if you're seeking to build fire for the kingdom you will disturb snakes
Point 4
The enemy's attack is often on your hand
- why is the hand so significant in scriptures?
- because the hands is the vital part in our ministry. Lay hands, impart blessings, we do..., giving With our hand
- the purpose of devil's bite is because our hands can be a mighty tool for God because then we lose confidence and will fade away
- when we build fire, we are passionate and we will attract the snakes and bite our hands
- come in the form of disappointment, hurt, spouse, criticism, unbelief, insecurity, because devil wants to immobilise you
- we must learn to see behind what you can't see behind these things
Point 5
The enemy doesn't have to kill you to be on you
- even though Paul was not dead but it (snake) was still holding on to Paul
- not dead but something was holding on in their lives
Point 6
Action is required for victory
Why Paul was unharmed?
Because Paul shook it off, he took action
- be passive is no good, we must do something
- never expect a snakebite to go off automatically
- we believe victory is our blessing and inheritance, we must also confess and take action
- Viper have hollow teeth, if you do not shake it off fast enough then you're giving it time for the poison to come through the hollow teeth to kill you
- you could be alive but still suffering from years and years ago until you shake it off
Point 7
Let the good you're building, deal with the enemy against you
- Paul let the fire deal with the snake
- Nehemiah was building the wall and some people came and tell him to come down but Nehemiah said he cannot come down, Nehemiah let the fire deal with the bites
- let our success deal with the opposition
- don't debate the enemy, let the fire deal with it
- people will criticise, we must learn to shake off and let the heat of fire to deal with it
Point 8
Learn to recognise the opinions that really matter
- don't let opinions of others shape your conviction
- Paul put no value at all to those who make opinions
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