What to Do When Bad Things Happen to us, in this passage.
Acts 28:1-10, we see Paul demonstrated to us how important it is for us to Shake It Off
Acts 28:1-10
Introduction
Paul with the people who had a shipwreck on their way to Rome came to a small island located south of Sicily, the island of Malta, today it is not far from Italy.
When they arrived on the Island, the people there were extremely caring people toward the crew that came from the water
They made a fire for the cold victims of the shipwreck.
Later, they started changing their attitude toward the victims especially Paul because he was bitten by the poisonous snake.
And in their mind, they think that the reason why Paul was bitten by the snake is as a result of his wicked heart and behavior.
They believe that he deserved to be bitten by the snake. After watching him, and expecting him to die of the bite, and through the power of God, he survived and felt no harm.
And may I tell you that every one of us can shake off the challenges Satan throws at us on a daily basis.
Paul had to shake off three things in the passage, and likewise every one of us today can learn from the life of Paul, and shake off some things.
1. When you are stranded
Paul was physically stranded, he was cold, wet, hungry, and tired after two weeks of struggling to live.
It is like being homeless during harmattan season or being in the snow for those who experience the snow.
2 Timothy 4:16-17
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2. When you are Wounded
He had a snake bite
Things were not just alright for Paul
shipwreck-cold-hunger-snake bite = Owo Aye
You might not be wounded physically like Paul, maybe your own wound is internally, emotionally, and mentally.
Sometimes you will be bitten in the Christian life, and you can’t just continue to stir at your wound, you need to shake it off, and move on with your Christian life.
3. When you are falsely accused
Paul was branded unjustly
They called Paul a murderer when they saw the snake bite him, they had the wrong idea about the man before they got to know him. There are times that people have the wrong idea about you before they get to know you.
But Paul shook it off.
Sometimes, we allow trials to paralyze us because we do not learn to shake them off. And this is what I want you to remember, tough times never last, tough people do.
Shake it off
How to shake it off according to the Bible
According to the Passage, we will see how Apostle Paul shows each of us how to shake off adversity.
1. Trust God’s Word
Take God at his word. The Lord told Paul he would make it to Rome, and a snake bite was not going to stop him to achieve what God wills for him.
Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
There are times that adversity will come our way, and one thing that will keep you going is to trust the Word of God.
Do you have God’s promise you can claim every time you are faced with trials?
2. Keep Going
When Paul was bitten, he shook it off and kept serving the Lord in his difficult situation.
Distraction will come on your way, but you must be determined to shake it off. Satan wants to stop us from doing what God has given us to do and stop us from being what he wants us to be.
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Satan will give you so many things just to discourage you, distractions and discouragement so that you can lose focus, you need to keep going for the Lord.
3. Serve Others
Paul was serving others even when he was wounded, he was not seeking the sympathy of others, he was not stirring at his wound, but shook it off, and served others.
One of the ways to shake off adversity is to serve others, there are people that you can help, comfort, and encourage.
4. Remember God is in Control
Circumstances give the Christian the opportunity to be tried and tested in the presence of the unsaved observers.
Let’s watch him, they say.
Let’s see how he would react to this
| Gen 50:20 | But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. |
Any circumstance out of my control is in the will of God.
Conclusion
What started as the disaster of a shipwreck became a blessing because Paul was willing to shake it off.
Have you been stranded, wounded, branded, shake it off, and keep going for the Lord.
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