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| Voice of Prayer:Picture by R. Twiner |
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. 7 In the same quarters, were possessions of the chief man who was name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. 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. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 10 Who also honored us with many honours; and when we departed they laded us with such things as were necessary.
Was away from home today, and the Bible I had with me was the King James Version. I had thought of Acts 28 when rising this morning and sensed in my spirit to read the first few verses of the "beast" located there. Yes, there it was written of the "beast and the barbarians".
Paul has escaped the ship that went aground and broke up. Those looking on saw Paul and the other prisoners leave the ship along with those who were guarding those prisoners. So each man made their way from the splintered boards to reach the beach of the island of the Mediterranean Sea. The barbarous people (foreigners) to Paul and the others showed much kindness to them. They, the prisoners, were invited to warm themselves in the fire prepared by the natives of the island and Paul helped them!
In this act of receiving kindness, Paul showed kindness and was captured by a snake in the fire. Paul shakes the snake off and the barbarous people watch him closely. In their expectancy, they are waiting for his hand and arm to expand violently. They were saying to themselves that this man escaped death in the sea, but the snake came to get him for certain. In their thinking he was a murderer and deserved the snake. Still they watched to see if their thoughts of Paul and justice of the venomous snake had come to pass. But after some time has lapsed, they determine within themselves that Paul was a "god".
Our faith in God has to be greater than the circumstance or of a situation outside of our control. Our whole trust should be in the God Who created the waves of the sea, created the serpents that crawl on the ground and know that He has hold of us every step of the way. It should not matter what the "problem" may be yet many hear a dire "report" of the dreaded C-word and faint. God did not create sickness. Sin created it. And it has developed over the many thousands of years, has it not?
When reading on Paul and his trip to Rome, he readily informed the captain of the ship and those who worked there including the centurion. In Acts 27 and verses 9-12. The centurion did not believe Paul but believed the master and the owner of the ship and of course they went head-long into a storm. The storm at sea covers verse 13 through verse 20 to verse 26 and then the ship-wreck and escape through verse 42.
Those who think they know best are usually wrong if they have not the Lord leading them through their days. It was apparent for those Paul had to travel with to Rome.
Acts 20: 23 Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in the city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. 24 But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself; if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news ( Gospel) of God's grace ( His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing and mercy.). 25 And now, observe, I perceive that all of you, among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the kingdom will see my face no more.
Paul had reverence for God. He had met Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was that road some might call hell bent for leather. He was bent toward religion and man's rules and not to God's ways and thoughts. In his own thinking he thought he was following rigorously for the Lord, but found he was fighting for the wrong side!
Here he is following the Lord's leading aboard the ship and still there are those who will not adhere to the wisdom of God. They had done their own thing for so long, they kept doing it and until it almost kills them or else does kill them. But Paul was told he was to go to Rome. Some the operative word was God would get him to Rome. And Paul was headed there when the shipwreck occurred. God had provided an island in a storm. He provided foreigners to minister life to and to reach the guy called Popular to be healed of dysentery. (some thought it was cholera)
Yeah, this chief guy was called Popular! On looking up the Hebrew for Publius I saw it was of Latin origin and had that meaning popular. And in the group setting on the small island, they had the same chief Popular, and had sickness as well.
In verse 10 there is the mention of the gift, it was signifying a present. The Greek word "timais" is pronounced tee-may........it is of recompense or present. 1 Timothy 5:15 Let the elders which rule well be accounted worthy of double HONOR!
This included everything these men would need to make their journey filled with supplies including clothing and food.
The sea could not take him, that is swallow him as Paul did what the Lord asked of him to do for the kingdom of God. God had them land on a Greek Island, and proved Himself faithful to Paul. Interesting that blessings came to others because of Paul's reverence for God.
We too, can have that kind of favor. We too can see the sea storms come, and snakes that kill but God is with us and He will see us through. Paul went among Popular and his family and friends and those who lived close by on the small island and no one could escapee the power of God to heal.
If only we would see the created things as they are and truly put God our Father above them, then we would find a chief Popular fellow who needs healing and then find others too who need that touch and prayer from God and then to find our arms filled with the blessings of God from others. Truly God is for us and where we are at this moment.
Would it not be good right now to lift His name, worship Him and let Him know we love Him and excited about the truth that storms can not swallow us, snakes can not kill us and devils cannot have their way, for God is with us to the end of the age.............Luke 28:18-20 NKJV 18 and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
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