Lord Jesus Our Provider
The Lord Jesus Christ is about to reveal to Apostle Paul that he “must” appear before Augustus Caesar.
He must preach Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God to him. And nothing will prevent him.
Apostle Paul continues to navigate his fourth missionary journey, but he had recently experienced shipwreck and he was washed up on an island unknown to him.
However, the island was “unknown” to them until they made land. Then, they recognized where they were.
“And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita” (Acts 28:1).
It’s interesting that the Bible describes the passage of all the passengers from the shipwrecked boat to land as “escaped” (Acts 28:1).
Again, when the Lord sends us on a mission, as He did the Apostle Paul, He makes provisions for us and him along the journey respectively.
Consequently, “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” (Acts 28:2).
Learn How the Lord Jesus Operates
Note how the Lord Jesus continues to make provisions for Paul after the shipwreck and how all the other passengers from the ship also benefited from them.
This is an important principle of how the Lord God operates. Sometimes He blesses a nation by blessing one man.
Take Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and Jesus as examples. The Lord God in blessing them He has blessed their nation. Many nations!!
However, everything that the Lord God has, Satan has his version of it.
For example, if the Devil desires to kill a person a whole nation could suffer as a result of it.
Do you recall what happens when our Lord Jesus was a toddler?
Then, the spirit of Satan, operating through King Herod, murdered all Jewish male children two years or younger living in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16).
These were innocent babies. But he wanted to kill only one baby, baby Jesus.
Our Savior – Jesus Christ
So, in an attempt to murder Jesus, he thought it necessary to kill all Jewish boys in Israel of that age.
Do you remember what happens when Moses was a baby?
At that time, the spirit of Pharaoh, which is a spiritual name for Satan, decides to murder baby Moses.
Similarly, to Jesus’ situation, to achieve this he would need to slay all Hebrews baby boys born within a certain time. So, he did (Exodus 1:22).
The objective of this slaughter was one baby. Even baby Moses. But God made provisions to preserve and sustain them.
He kept Jesus and Moses from the Enemy. And He will keep us too!
Earlier, I wrote that when the Lord God gives us a word, hell instantly begins to come against it.
And in doing so, it impacts the things we experience.
For example, the Lord told Paul that he “must” preach to Augustus Caesar, the king.
Since then, the things that he had experienced have tried to prevent him from going to Rome and to see the king.
This was the major reason for Paul’s trip to Rome. This was his fourth missionary trip. He is to preach Jesus Christ the Son of God to Caesar!
His Influence on Our Environment
However, some of these experiences happened to supply an opportunity for Satan to kill him.
First, there were problems at sea, then the shipwreck, subsequently the soldiers desire to “kill” all the prisoners, and now the bite of a “venomous beast”, a deadly snake.
“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” (Acts 28:3).
Many people may perceive this as a natural thing, but I see the influence of Satan on our environment.
He operates through the people and the animals on the earth. And he does this to kill us (Acts 27:43).
Inform yourself about this. Read “Living Soul“!
He also utilizes it to pressure Paul and us to abandon our “mission”.
“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.” (Acts 28:4).
Therefore, it wasn’t just the “heat” of the fire that caused the “viper” to bite Apostle Paul, but Satan’s intention to stop him by killing him.
The snake-bite should have killed him. The snake was venomous. Its bite has killed others.
Thus, his unseen effect on the snake.
“And [Paul] shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm” (Acts 28:5).
Conclusion
Christ Jesus Our Lord Will Keep Us
So, if the Lord Jesus Christ has spoken a word over your life, hell will come against that word and against you, but nothing could kill you.
“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” (Acts 28:6).
No trap of our Adversary could kill us. No earthquake, no car accident, not even a bullet could end our life until we have accomplished the will of God.
Friends, brethren, don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid. But be bold and courageous for we are not alone.
“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” (Isaiah 54:17).
It’s crucial that we stay focus and continue to the end. Our experiences are impacting others.
And how we react to these trials could influence the unbelievers. It could affect their perception of us and of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:6).
They may become Believers in our Lord Jesus because of the testimony of your life.
The Lord Jesus Gives Life
In closing, here is another reason why it’s crucial that we persist to the end. It could testify to someone that we had an encounter with Jesus.
Thus that person will see Christ in us and desire him and that could lead to the saving of his or her soul.
While Satan utilizes anything including “natural disasters”, sickness, freak-accidents, helicopter crases, animals, and people to achieve his objectives.
On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ is radically different. He only uses people. And he promotes life. He does not take it.
Finally, folks stop blaming the Lord God for the untimely deaths of people. He has nothing to do with those (Ecclesiastes 7:17).
They die before their time because of the works of the Devil. That’s why is important for all of us to repent and turn to the Lord God before we die.
Don’t turn to a “Holy Father” or to the Pope for they can’t save you!! They need Christ for themselves.
Jesus declares, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
