Acts 27:39 - 28:16 | Part 53
Two kinds of love:
Agape- out and up
Self - inward
2 Timothy 3:1-2 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
When someone says they love you…
Acts 27:39-44, 28:1-16
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. 40 After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. 41 But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.
14 days in a storm in the ocean
Is this anyone’s brand of nightmare?
Have you ever been seasick? Horrible
Old-school anchors were keeping them basically in one place. These had to be cut to try and make it to shore
Sand bars are out from the shore, they hit one
Bow (front) and stern (rear). The boat is breaking in half
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
Workers on the ship
Prisoners on the ship. Supper stressful for everyone
Soldiers were going to kill the prisoners because if prisoners ever escaped, the Roman process dictated that the soldiers would pay with their lives
Once safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold.
Malta literally means “Island of Refuge”
Point #1: God is Lord over all physical problems, Lord over all natural occurrences in nature, and Lord over all of your issues and hardships
Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Testing in hard times, also we are tested in good times
3 As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Paul, all of the Roman soldiers, and all of the people on board have made it safely to shore
Paul is helping gather wood for a fire
The locals are helping them
Snake happens
Point #2: Sometimes, our hardships are for other people to learn about God’s incredible faithfulness through our pain
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Works out for you
Works out for those God is calling through you. Most of the time it is not just about you
5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Paul shakes it off and is fine
The locals know it is a poisonous snake, and now believe Paul is a god
Ministry in Malta 7 Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Why were the people so hospitable?
They were all in need and needy people help others in need in order to survive
How needy are you?
Sometimes we can guage how needy we are by how much we care for others in need. Very needy, help a lot. Not very needy, tend to look the other way
Point #3: Your needs being cared for by God should translate to you thinking about and meeting others needs
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Agape love goes out, and lifts UP^
8 Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.
Paul has been gifted by God; therefore he gifts others
All gifts from God are to be given away
Rome at Last 11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods as its figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
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