1. THE VIPER OF CRISIS
Acts 28:3
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.
There is a mysterious law of trouble. Often Trouble does not come singly. When facing a storm it does not rain, it pours. Do you remember Job?
There is a day of trouble.
Psalms 86:7
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee:
for thou wilt answer me.
What made Paul stand firm in his day of trouble? Faith in the promises of God.
a. God told him
Acts 27:24
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
He was not a victim of circumstance. God had a plan. Satan, storms, vipers, demons and men were not going to stop God's agenda. He WILL testify in Rome. Do you have a mission? Do you know God's agenda in your life? No demon, no storm will stand in your way.
b. He didn't call for help to loosen its hold. In such moments friends are few. Whatever has come to cripple you, kill you...look unto the Lord.
c. He remembered the words of Jesus
Mark 16:18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
That is why we urge you to read your bibles.
By faith anchored in God's word believers shake of vipers of trials, temptation etc.
2. THE VIPER OF CRITICISM (v.4)
Acts 28:4
And 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.
People love to think the worst of others. Jesus spoke about a people who died when a tower fell on them. Some in Jerusalem where saying those people must have been the ultimate sinners. Job’s friends quickly jumped to a conclusion that he was a hypocrite had committed some terrible sin.
You must learn to shake off the viper of false accusation, the viper of slander, the viper false judgements, the viper of stereotype.
You Can’t Stop People Having Negative Opinions about you. We can either adopt these opinions or simply say, "They are entitled to their opinion but it is irrelevant to me." Shake that viper into the fire.
Notice how quickly they changed their mind. When Paul didn't die he must be a god.
This is another tendency among men...so and so is prospering, he is blessed, he has bought a new house. He must be man of faith, walking in all the commandments, living a holy life.
In life the same viper will bite Paul and a murderer.
In a space of few hours Paul is shipwrecked and saved, he is destitute and relieved, bitten by viper and miraculously healed, labeled a murderer and then called a god!
Where does that live people's negative opinion? Shake it in the fire!
Unfair criticism has the potential to wear you down.
Moses – Num. 11:1-14
3. THE VIPER OF CYNICISM
Acts 28:6
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.
When he shook off the viper from his hand, yet they still expected Paul to die. So they gathered, watched and waited for him to collapse. Paul went on his life.
You don't have to answer every critic. Just continue with the will of God in your life.
Nothing frustrates critics more than success.
God will use your success to silence and condemn the tongues that rise up against you.
Live a god fearing life.
1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
4. THE VIPER OF DISCOURAGEMENT
i) Any ordinary person could despair and be discouraged with that pressure in your life. But God had a reason.
ii) There was a problem. The preacher was a prisoner and was not at liberty to move freely among the people. God again stepped in and prepared a venomous viper. That whole episode was supposed to bring all the Islanders to the Preacher and with their hearts open.
iii) If you walk with God, "vipers" have a kingdom purpose.
God declares,
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
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