UNEXPECTED MIRACLES
Acts 28:1-11
IN YOUR
DARKEST HOUR, GOD COMES TO YOUR RESCUE
V:1. 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.
A.
When God gives wisdom and foresight, there are
times when you need to speak up
And give others the wisdom that God has
given you.
1.
During Paul’s four missionary journeys, he
traveled the Great Sea. He knew the
Dangers of travel by ship when the seas raged. Some things you know by
common
Sense. Some things you do by divine intuition.
2.
Earlier in the voyage by ship, when sailing
became dangerous, Paul gave the
The captain the insight that he had which was ignored.
Acts 27:9-11
So Paul warned them, 10 "Men,
I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to
ship and cargo, and our own lives also."
But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the
advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship.
3.
Even though you are ignored, you should still
voice the wisdom of God.
Acts 27:22-26
But now I urge you to keep up your
courage because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and
God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up
your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told
me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
4.
The men who failed to listen to the earlier
warnings were more receptive when what
Paul predicted happen.
5.
God protects us from seen and unseen dangers.
6.
God has a plan for your trouble.
7.
As Paul predicted the ship ran aground in Malta.
B.
We are not going to die until the good work God
planned for us is complete.
1.
The trip to Rome by ship was God’s design.
2.
Sometimes God allows our journey to be sidetracked
to different places for
The sake of the Gospel.
3.
The 276 men on the ship owed their lives to the
faith of Paul which He used
To encourage them in the Lord.
GOD SHOWS
HIS POWER THROUGH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
V: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, 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.
A.
God is always at work on our behalf.
1.
God prepared the hearts of the people of Malta
to receive all men on
The ship and to provide for them doing their 3-month stay.
2.
Once on the Island, Paul continued to serve the
men.
3.
In His efforts to keep the fire going by
gathering wood,
He was bitten by a poisonous snake.
4.
The snake bite was God’s design for the people
of Malta to be introduced to
Paul’s faith in Him.
B.
The Islanders expected that Paul would die after
being bit by that snake,
and Somehow justice would be served.
1.
God used the snake bite incident to show the
Islanders and the 276
Men of the ship the power of the true and living God.
2.
Paul gained instant favor with the people of
Malta with his faith.
3.
We never know how our faith in God affects the
minds of others
Around us.
4.
This unexpected side trip was a blessing to all.
5.
People on an out-of-the-way island were
introduced to God.
BLESS
OTHERS AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED
V:7. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius,
the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days
entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever
and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on
him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the
island came and were cured.
A.
God never misses an opportunity to bless those
who come in contact with men
Of faith.
1.
Notice the two-way street of blessings.
a.
The Islanders blessed Paul and the 276 shipped
wrecked men.
b.
Paul under the power of the Holy Spirit blessed
the whole Island
Population with the miracles of healing.
2.
God can work from the bottom up. In this case,
he worked a miracle in front
Of the men of the Island which got the attention of the chief official of
the
Island.
3.
God used the Chief official to display Paul’s
faith in Him
4.
Having been entertained by the Chief official,
Paul was introduced to
the father who was sick.
5.
Notice Paul’s procedure.
a. First, Paul interceded with the official's
father in prayer
b. Second, Paul placed his hand on the father.
c. The power of Paul’s faith in
God healed the father.
6. We should
never miss an opportunity to pray for those in need.
7. The
work of the Gospel is never done.
All the
sick on the island were brought to Paul and were healed.
8. Paul’s
faith had a lasting impact on this small island.
9. We
should use our circumstances to advance the Gospel.
HONOR GOD
AND HE WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO HONOR YOU
V:10 They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to
sail, they furnished us with the supplies
we needed.
A.
Our faith in God and our hospitality cause
others to be hospitable to us.
1.
Life is not all about us, it is about advancing
the Gospel.
2.
When things don’t go as planned, we need to
understand that God
Is in the plan.
3.
If we continue in our faith, God will work
miracles in our troubled
Situations.
B.
The faithful journey with God always leads to
unexpected blessings.
1.
Faith grows in troubled times.
2.
Paul was falsely accused and, on his way, to be
tried at the hands of the enemy,
But continued in faith till the end.
3.
We have no indication in the text that Paul
preached Jesus or that anyone on
The island was saved.
4.
I cannot imagine Paul not using the opportunity
to praise God to advance the Gospel.
5.
This is an example of how God prepares hearts to
receive us and as a result
Allow us to preach Jesus
6.
When we serve others, we store up future
blessings.
7.
Whatever happens to us, God allows it for the
sake of the Gospel.
Rev. M. Mitchell
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