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Living Hope SDA Church

Christian Martin

When the Serpent Bites

Today I want to invite you to come with me in your mind's eye to the Mediterranean Sea.

Along the coast and along the routes of a sophisticated Alexandrian ship, its destination is to an Italian port carrying a large cargo of merchandise and a total of 276 passengers and prisoners, sailors and soldiers.

The date of this particular voyage was late September or early October in the early part of the first century.

So winter was drawing near, making any travel in the seas both risky and life-threatening.

When they came to their 14th night at sea, they suddenly found themselves approaching the shallower waters that pose great danger.

They threw cargo overboard to lighten the ship, whatever it took to increase the chances of survival.

Finally, the day dawned, and the land could be seen.

But the entire crew did not know where they were.

And so they sailed into a bay with hopes to run their ship onto the beach.

They found themselves in doing so encountering violent waves among massive rocks and the inevitable took place.

My message today is entitled, When the Serpent Bites.

Our Father in Heaven, If there was ever a time that we needed you, it's now.

Not only because of the way that world events are unfolding right now, but also because there is an enemy that lurks about.

And as your servants, Lord, as modern day disciples, we need to be aware of how the enemy operates.

So give us eyes of faith, Lord, to see the unseen.

Give us understanding, Lord, of today's meditation on Your Word.

And we Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayer.

The book of the Acts of the Apostles, found there in the New Testament right after the Gospels, is a book that is 1 of my favorites.

If only because it contains stories that are adventurous, stories that are dramatic, Stories that reveal the power of God at work among men.

And yes, it even contains 1 about a shipwreck.

As I give you some background to the events leading up to Paul's voyage, Acts chapter 24.

Paul's enemies, made up of high priests and elders, they brought several strong accusations against Paul to Felix the governor, as recorded in verses 1 through 9, accusing him of disturbing the peace and going as far as calling him a creator of dissension among all the Jews, Jews throughout the world.

However, after hearing the accusations, Felix delays a decision on the case according to verse 22.

And He grants Paul some degree of freedom, likely because he knew that in his heart of hearts, he knew that Paul was innocent.

And so Paul is now brought to Festus, who's the governor of the Roman Empire of Judea, where Paul's enemies, once again, they make several accusations against him.

But Paul, being a Roman citizen, appeals to be tried in Rome for more than 1 reason.

But he makes that appeal, a right that every Roman citizen had.

But before that happens we have chapter 26 now.

Chapter 26 records that Paul first stands in chains before King Agrippa and Bernice And a wealthy and influential audience where he recounts his conversion story, his calling to the Gentiles, and he affirms his loyalty to God.

Let's read verses 19 and on, Acts chapter 26 verses 19.

Notice his words in the presence of Kennegrippa.

It reads, therefore, Kennegrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent, turn to God and do works befitting repentance.

For those reasons, the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come.

That he would be the first to rise from the dead and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

Paul boldly claims that the Messiah was killed but raised from the dead.

Evidently, Paul is now taunted by the powerful rulers before him, and he's not taunted by the charges made against him, and Paul shows no fear.

Paul, having appealed to Caesar now, is now transported to Rome by ship, and his voyage to Rome begins as it's recorded in chapter 27.

So there you have the general context, events that led up to now, what unfolds in chapter 27.

The first from Caesarea to Myra, that's the first, and the second, a long and dangerous passage consisting of tempestuous winds and violent waves.

By the way, if you take a look at verses 9 and 10, there in chapter 27, Paul, he warned about embarking on a voyage like this, during this time of the year, but his warnings were ignored.

And no doubt, So I think about the warnings he gave.

Because remember, he wrote to the Corinthians that he had survived shipwrecks, not just once, but 3 times.

He knew what it was like to be in dire circumstances with little to no hope of survival.

So they embark on this second voyage, and as they do so, the winds were blowing gently or softly as mentioned there in verse 13.

The weather seemed favorable for a journey and so they did.

But it didn't take long for it to get frightening, very fast, from 1 day to the next.

Within a few days, as the ship was tossed to and fro by the massive waves being pushed along by that mighty southern wind, All hope was lost.

Notice verse 20, Acts chapter 27, verse 20.

Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and no small tempest beat on us, All hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

There was something extraordinary about this man.

A man of steadfast loyalty to the gospel of God, who would not allow the devil to steal his power.

A man who was single-minded, focusing on Christ and Christ alone, who would not enable the devil to kill his love and loyalty to Christ.

A man whose unwavering faith would not allow or permit the enemy to destroy his sound mind.

In the midst of the storm, Paul knew that God was still in control.

While the sailors let go of the anchors and left them in the sea, Paul lifted up his ties towards heaven and proclaimed, you alone are my anchor.

When the sailors with years of experience, no doubt, dropped to the floor in fear.

Paul stood in the midst of them and said, Acts 27, verse 21, But after a long absence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, Men, you have listened to me, you should have listened to me, and should have not sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.

And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

For there stood by me this night, an angel of the God to whom I belong and to whom I serve, saying, Do not be afraid, Paul.

You must be brought before Caesar, and indeed God has granted you all, you all those who sail with you, therefore take heart men, for I believe God it will be just as it was told me." Paul, Paul spoke with hope, He spoke courage to these fearful men.

And although they were encouraged, no doubt, They were in imminent danger as they approached the bay.

Having to make an immediate decision, they decided to run the ship on the beach.

And they cut the anchors, They loosened the tiller, they raised the sail, and they made a beeline towards the beach.

But in doing so, the ship, it hit the reef, and it began to break up with the violent waves that beat against it.

If there's no question in my mind that the unseen enemy is trying now to destroy Paul.

But In a moment of desperation, the centurion gave the order to save life, if at all possible.

For prisoners were not to escape under any circumstances.

No question in my mind that this unbeliever, this centurion, little did he realize that it was the Spirit of God who was directing his commands.

Verse 42, and the soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners lest any of them should swim away and escape.

But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard and get to land.

And the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship.

And so it was that they all escaped safely to the land.

It was literally every man to himself situation.

Some held on to anything that they could hold on to, anything that was floating and others swam in the cold, ice-cold water to try to get to land as quickly as possible.

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When the Serpent Bites

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