Paul's last Adventure

Transported to Rome Acts 28:11-16

There was some rough storms that Paul had to go through. From being blinded by the light(Jesus) to stoned and left for dead. I know we have all gone through storms some harder than others. Today we are looking into the storms of life that Paul had. Lets look and see if there is something we can take or learn from. We have looked at his past three adventures and last week we talked about the arrest in front of the temple and Paul being led to the head quarters of the Roman soldiers in Jerusalem. Here’s what the Holy Sprit says to Paul go tell them about what Isaiah told their fathers about the coming of the Messiah, and so he did. Many of them were looking for a king like David or another messiah that was to take them out of this bondage of the Roman empire to their own country again. Look at what happens there is a division among the people as to believe or not to believe that’s the question we all have to answer. At his arrest he was beaten to the point that the soldiers had to carry him to protection. Then he gave his testimony how Jesus found him and a new life began. Then he was put on a ship that was to sail to Rome in which a storm came up caused the ship to wreck on an island called Malta. Depending on the origin of the word if in Greek it portrays some sort of honey, if it’s in Phoenician it means a place of refuge. Either way you look at it the idea is the same for Paul the people here have accepted them in that they were trying to make them comfortable being cold from the sea, the rain is coming down, and they have started a fire for them, and Paul having a servants heart says I will get you some wood to place on the fire and in picking up the sticks or the limbs he also picks up a viper. Not realizing it but goes to throw the wood into the fire the snake feels the heat and the snake grabs Paul by the hand and Paul shakes off the viper right into the fire. We can look at this two ways one is Paul should have died from the snake bite it was poisonous as the natives were looking on just waiting for Paul to croak, but he didn’t. So now these people are looking at Paul as some kind of god knowing he should be dead. but look at this the snake the poison is just like the sin in our life if we are not living in the will of Jesus have not accepted Him as our saviour guess what is going to happen? We are going to be just like the snake and cast into the fire. Look at the result of Paul’s healing he was summoned to the presidents home healed his father and many others by placing his hands on them and praying. He was like a god to them. I would not suggest getting bit by a snake I can tell you from first hand experience it hurts. Now we are three months later and finally get to Rome and Paul was under house arrest which means he was able to be free as long as his guard was with him. This allowed him to go the the different places to preach, but look at what Paul does in the first three days Paul has all the Jewish leaders to his house. Here’s where Paul says I have done nothing wrong even the soldiers say I did nothing wrong and they put me under arrest to protect me. Here’s what I like those men that came to see Paul and listen to him said we did not receive any letters from Judea, we have heard about the new birth and we want to live it but we are not sure yet what to think. They were questioning the things that they had heard. Here’s what Paul is says in letters to Rome Faith comes from hearing, and now they are hearing the truth. Just like the Jewish people we have to ask ourselves is Jesus our master or not? Do we believe Jesus came to be our saviour? See what they were trying to understand is the same things we are looking at how could the disciples that lived with Jesus for three plus years not understand His life death, and that He was to rise again, the disciples that were with Jesus didn’t get it until Jesus rose from the grave. Then they the disciples had that ah ah moment. I need to learn how to do this. Look at this Paul took 3 verses from the Old Testament the book of Isaiah, and made them last 10 hours. I can’t imagine you all sticking around for 10 hours. what a day that would be. I get guff from the pastors about only preaching 20-25 minutes I can’t imagine what they would say if it was 10 hours. Look at what the writer in Hebrews 2 says we have to pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away. Paul says let it be known salvation is spreading to the gentiles as well and they will hear it. We have to praise God for that I don’t know of any Jews that go here, we are all gentiles and have the same choices the Jewish people had. Two things Paul did that was to preach the kingdom of God, and that Christ was crucified for you and me that we may be forgiven and believing in His name we would be saved. Look at this Paul was under house arrest and still able to preach and teach the word, what a change of events, Paul wanting to get to Rome now is in Rome not by choice but here non the less and wow he’s planting seeds of salvation. Let’s look at what Jesus says about understanding the word. Matthew 13:19

Matthew 13:19 ESV

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

Paul is able to speak to these people that are coming to his house, listening to his words and now we understand that Paul was bringing joy not only to his life of obedience to God, but look at how many people he was able to speak to about salvation. See the Jews were looking for an easy way out, they wanted God to rescue them from the Romans when had they just listened to God and obeyed His commands and kept their covenant they would not be in this position anyway. Here is what I want to challenge you with two things one enjoy the storms, don’t get bit by the snake, Satan, but have fun in this adventure as a Christian you are on. Two Know God is with you through the storms. Paul never gave up he fought the good fight as he says and I want you to fight the good fight. I once read something we can all ask ourselves are we going to finish well?