This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "A Mission Out Of Tradedy", 11/18/2012

A MISSION OUT OF TRAGEDY

 

ACTS 28:1-10

 

The Apostle Paul and 275 others were on ship to Rome which got caught in a storm and tore apart. The ship ran aground and was broken into pieces by violent waves. It was by the grace of God that all on the ship survived. God is bigger than all our storms.

GOD IS OUR REFUGE

V:1. "And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita."

  A. When you trust God, He will bring you through the storms of life.

       1. God has a place of refuge for us.

       2. God is our refuge.

  B. God will not leave you in the dark.

       1. God will give you the understanding you need when you need it.

       2. God will place you where you need to be for the next step of your life's journey.

       3. You are never lost from God.

  C. Some of God's blessings are universal.

      1. He blesses the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

      2. They all were saved out of the storm.

 

GOD PROVIDES

V:2. "And 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."

 A. Barbarous=barbaroi= a foreigner, non Greek, a strange language

  1. The native language of the people of the Island of Melita was not Greek.

  2. God can inspire strangers to bless us.

 B. The native people on the island took care of 276 strangers.

  1. God can use your sorrow to cause an outpouring of help.

  2. Kindness is a virtue that God places in the hearts of people.

 

SATAN'S MISSION IS TO KILL YOUR JOY

V:3. "And 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."

 A. The devil is always busy.

      1. They were saved out of the storm and the devil showed his presence

          immediately.

      2. Paul was busy being helpful to others.

      3. The devil was busy being discouraging.

          a. The devil knows in your weakest moment it is easy for you to become

              discouraged.

          b. In the midst of great kindness, the devil will attempt to distract us from

              rejoicing in the grace and mercy of God.

  B.  Devilish behavior is sometimes directed at the one who is being helpful.

      1. Definitions

        a. Fastened=kathaptoo= bind on, lay hold of.

        b. bite= dakno=strike with a sting

      2. A viper came out of the fire.

         a. This snake was out of its place.

         b. Animals are usually afraid of fire.

         c. The text says that the snake laid hold of Paul's hand, but it did not say he was

             bitten.

      3. God controls the storms and He also controls the animals.

         a. Satan can't do anything to you that God doesn’t allow.

         b. What God allows to happen gives Him the glory.

         c. Let me suggest that God used the viper to draw attention to Paul's faith.

 

V:4. "And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said amongst themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live."

 A. The non-Greek speaking natives were superstitious.

     1. Superstition is Satan's playground.

         a. It sounds good, but it is not true.

         b. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy.

     2. In the middle of God's mission, Satan shows up to steal God's glory.

     3. The natives first reaction was that Paul was a murderer, getting what he deserved.

 B. Don't pay attention to superstitious beliefs.

     1. If Satan can get you  to believe in superstitions, he can steer your focus away

         from the Lord.

     2. If you trust man's beliefs, you can't trust God.  

 

YOUR DEFENSE AGAINST THE DEVIL IS FAITH

V:5. "And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm."

  A. When the Devil shows up, you have to "SHAKE HIM OFF".

      1. You must send the Devil back where he came from.

          a. If he came out of the fire, send him back into the fire.

      2. The Devil can't do you any harm.

          a. He can do only what God allows.

          b. Put on the full armor of God to "STAND" against the wise of the devil

 B. We are the Lord's children.

      1. We can take a licking and keep on ticking.

      2. Don't allow your faith to be shaken by the troubles that come into your life.

      3. You can be sure that when you are at your weakest point, Satan will attack.

      4. When we recognize our weakness, we can be strong in the Lord.

      5. Our weakness is God's opportunity to be glorified.

 

V:6. "Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god."

 A. The world will watch to see how Christians handle the trouble in their lives.

      1. If you fall down and break down, the world will have no reason to believe in the

          God you serve.

 B. The world will watch you closely for any evidence of weakened faith.

      1. They looked to see if Paul would blow up or fall down.

      2. If you blow up when trouble comes your way, that is evidence that you don't

          trust God.

      3. If you fall down and stay down while serving God, that is evidence that your  

          faith  is not in God.

  C. They changed their minds and said that he was a god.

      1. This is the purpose for snakes in your life.

           a. People need to see that you still trust God in the midst of trouble.

           b. People need to see that you still have joy while facing difficulties.

           c. People need to see that you still have peace in the midst of a confused world.

      2. When people see that your confidence in God is not shaken no matter

           what your circumstances are, they are more likely to believe in your God.

      3. Paul was not a god, but he had the spirit of God.

          a. The natives believed in gods, they just didn't know the true and living God.

          b. Paul used this opportunity to bring the natives to God.

 

  V:7. "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose

       name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously."

 A. When you trust God with your outcome, God will bring you favor with men.

      1. To please God, you must believe that He is and that He will reward  those

           who trust Him.

      2. Your acts of faith affect the lives of others.

 B. The chief of the island gave the whole group (276) favor.

     1. Not only did he give them favor, but he did it with joy.

     2. God will protect and provide for those who trust Him.

 

ANY SITUATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL

V:8. "And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him."

 A. Wherever we go, God has a mission for us.

     1. The prayers of the righteous accomplish much.

     2. The natives didn't know God, but they came to know His power through Paul's

         faith.

     3. Church begins when you start serving God.

 B. God puts trouble in our lives to challenge our faith and to draw others to Him.

    1. Paul used his gift of healing to restore a sick man to health.

    2. God has gifted each believer with the ability to serve others.

 

V:9. "So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed."

 A. Our lives can affect the lives of many other people.

    1. If we can bring one to faith, others will follow.

    2. God uses his healing power to draw people to Him and to increase our faith.

 B. God uses us as His missionaries.

     1. We should never get to caught up in our problems that we can't help others.

     2. Serving others in the mist of our troubles is a testimony to our faith in God.

     3. When we serve others, our troubles will seem small.

     4. Others will be drawn to faith in Jesus when they see us serving others because

         of our love for Jesus and our love for them.

 

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

V:10. "Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary."

 A. What goes around comes around.

     1. When you bless others, others will bless you.

     2. When you serve God, He will see to it that others serve you.

 B. When you honor God with your service and commitment, He will honor you with

      protection and provisions.

   1. God places us in the mist of people who can help us along the way of life.

   2. We are a dependant people. We all need each other.

   3. It is always good to be kind, because your kindness at some point will be returned

       to you.