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Reference Text: Acts 28 vs. 1-5- 1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.
3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
The background to this incident was that Paul and 275 other people on board a ship going to Rome, have escaped a 14 day windstorm and thunderstorm on high sea, that would have drown the ship and all the occupants; and they have now arrived safely at an Island called Melita. Just as they were settling down, a viper ran out of a log of wood and fastened itself on the hand of Paul. Paul would have been killed by a viper in this passage if not for the power of God in him that enabled him to shake off the viper into the fire.
Two pertinent questions we need to seek answers for, from the reading of this passage are:
- Why did the viper attacked Paul, out of the 276 that have escaped from the sea storm and arrived at the Island? Why Paul, why not any of the other 275 people?
- What was the agenda of the viper, that was described in the passage as a venomous beast?
- The viper in this passage stands for Satan. Immediately, Paul gave his life to Christ, Satan has been pursuing him causing him several afflictions. The sea storm that Paul and 275 others escaped from was engineered by Satan. And now that Paul has escaped to the Island, Satan the stubborn pursuer materialised as a viper to attack Paul again.
- Today, every power that has vowed to pursue you for evil from cradle to grave, every power that has been pursuing your life since you were born, every power that has been pursuing you since you gave your life to Christ shall die in Jesus name.
- Of course the mission of the viper is to kill Paul by Poisoning. The viper is described as a venomous beast in the passage, and the inhabitants of the Island of Melita expected Paul to die from the poisoning of the viper immediately. Acts 38 vs. 6. Today, I pray that any viper assigned against you physically, every serpent sent against you in the dreams, any power of satan delegated against your life, shall be roasted by fire in Jesus name
- The viper that fastened itelf on Paul’s hands stand for the spirit of oppression, the viper stands for the spirit of infirmity, the viper stands for stubborn pursuers, and the viper stands for the spirit of death. But we give glory to God that Paul was able to shake off the viper into fire and suffered no harm.
There is a listener or reader of this message whose life has been tied by a viper and needs to shake off the viper to receive deliverance.
Paul was able to shake of the viper because he is a son of God. Today, you too can receive the power to shake off the enemy, if you make a u turn as Paul die and decide to follow Jesus.
If you want to experience that same deliverance, then run to Jesus Christ today. Say this confessional prayer as you surrender your life to Christ.
Father in the name of Jesus, I come to you, just as I am. I confess I am a sinner. I repent of my sins and plead for forgiveness by the blood of the lamb. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite the Holy Spirit to rule my life in Jesus name.
If you have said that prayer, you are not a child of God and a born again Christian. And You have power to shake off the viper.
Luke 10 vs. 19 says God has given us power and authority to trample on snakes and scorpions.
Awesome. Praise God. He IS our guide!
Am so blessed today by y through your sermon thanks so much.