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Title: Shake it off
Acts 28v1-5 and John 10v33-35, Psalm 86v6
Introduction
Ø Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Ø John 10v34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Ø This story that we have just read says God had brought them to the Island of Malta. This was not by choice. It was after a huge storm that had attacked in the sea and God had saved them through Jesus Christ when he spoke to Paul about the disaster that would befall them.
Ø They were starting just to begin resting after a trouble some and tough time. When they reached the Island they found kind people they helped them to set fire. It was cold.
Ø Be nice to people when you see them going through some stuff. Most of us laugh when we see our neighbors struggling. We should quickly rise up and start helping when we see our friends in need. They made the fire because it was cold. They wanted to make sure that these sailors where warm. What a good heart. Blessed be the Lord
Ø The people proved to be kind and sympathetic. The storm abated, but the weather was cold. We should learn to make a fire for someone when they are cold like these. As Christians we are known by love.
Ø The name of the island was called Malta or Melita. Malta means refuge. The residents of the island were of Phoenician ancestry. They were superstitious in their belief.
Ø Every superstition that have been reigning your life I cancel it in the name of Jesus
Ø They had just come to take refuge but as soon as they took refuge Paul was attacked with a venomous snake. They thought he was going die but he didn’t die.
Ø Have you ever gone through cycles like this, when you are thinking that you about to rest something happens to steal your joy and peace. The devil is a liar. Christ came to give life and life in abundance
Ø The bible says even the people/barbarians in the Island Malta/Melita thought Paul had escaped and justice had followed him. They believed that their goddess Justice had caught up with a notorious prisoner who was supposed to have drowned the sea. Not everyone thinks that you should have a good life.
Ø Have you ever come to a point where you are expecting people to feel pit for you but yet no one is feeling pit for you. They will be judging you instead of helping you. People will find reason for anything that is happening in your life. Don’t listen to them. They are not destiny helpers but the destiny destroyers.
Ø Its not everyone that will go with you to your destiny and celebrate your victory.
Ø People are very judgmental and less helping but I need you to shake it off today. Shake it off because if you keep it, its poisonous to your heart. It will destroy your heart. It will destroy your career, your future, your relationships and etc. Shake it off now in Jesus name. People will judge you by your appearances but shake it off. The devil is a liar.
Ø When they were in the ship God had told Paul what was going to happen but the captain refused to listen. When the disaster happened God gave word of wisdom to Paul of what could help them to survive the storm and this made them to reach the Island. Instead of sitting on a high place and enjoy his heroism, Paul started gathering firewood to increase fire that had been prepared with the barbarians.
Ø We need to continue working regardless of our positions and influence in the house of God. God is looking for workers in the church not bench warmer. Always try to find something to do in the house of the Lord to enjoy his mercy and covering.
Ø Regardless of your position be a team player or encourage someone.
Ø When he was bitten/struck with the snake, they expected him to die soon after. Some people have been expecting you to die soon because of the experiences that you have gone through; but I want you to shake it off in the fire. I am here to proclaim that you will not die but live to see the goodness of the Lord.
Ø And if you have been walking with the beast/snake (enemy) hanging on your hand I need you to shake it off. What was meant to destroy you today will be destroyed in Jesus name. We are more than conquerors. Roman 8v28-39
Ø Whoever dug a pit before you will fall into his own pit. Every tongue that rose against you I condemn it. I am here to declare that no weapon forged against shall prosper in Jesus name. (Isaiah 54v17)
Ø They expected Paul to swell up but he did not swell up. They expected him to die but he did not die. Let God frustrate every evil desire upon your life in the name of Jesus; the name that is above all names. The bible says every knee shall bow down and every tongue confess in heaven and in earth that Jesus is the lord to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2v10-11)
Ø Was the viper a weapon of the Devil. Yes it was.
Ø It was shaken off and died in the fire. We have got more fire in us. We need to know who we are in our trying times like this and you need Shake it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Dont lose heart, victory is certain.
Ø As Christians we must always be alert of such attacks such as viper.
Ø When these viper bit us they want us to change our minds and faith about God.
Ø 2 Corinthians 11v3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Ø 1 Peter 5v8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ø We should keep in mind that we are being watched by our enemy and people. We must use every opportunity to magnify the name of Jesus Christ.
Ø Ephesians 1:18-22 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ø They ended up calling Paul a god because their god had failed to killed him. Christ gave you so much power. No god of this earth will kill. No zvikwambo and zvidhodha mudhara will kill you. We burn them all in the name of Jesus.
Ø John 10v34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Ø Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Ø John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right/power to become children/sons of God—
Ø You have got dominion. Fear not you are gods. No created god will kill you or influence you.
Ø The bible says what the eye have not seen, nor the ear have heard, neither have entered the heart of man, are the things God have prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor 2v9)
Ø Fear not; God enables us to access hidden things for ourselves. God also reveals hidden things
Ø 1 Cor 2v10-15) 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,
Ø You are not subject to human judgements
Ø You were given so much grace with the Lord that nothing will harm you. You are blessed coming in and going out. You are enriched in everyway. You need to believe it and consciously know that.
Ø Paul says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1v4-9 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ø In the same book of 1st Corinthians 1; the bible says the preaching of the gospel is foolishness unto them who perish; 1 Cor 1v18-26 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
Ø We all have got the mind of Christ. No weapon forged against us shall prosper. Whatever will bit us will die.
Ø Greater is he that is in us than the one that is in the world (1 John 4v4) 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Ø For this reason was the son of God manifested that he should destroy all the works of the devil. 1 John 3v8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Ø After the snake incident Paul prayed for the father of Publius the chief man of the Island and many other sick people of the Island were brought to him and he prayed for them and they were healed
Ø You shall do many miracles in the name Jesus. John 14v12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Paul and it was well with him. You can also believe.
Conclusion
Ø Whatever had bitten you shake it off in Jesus
Ø Whatever is in you tummy shake it off in to the fire. Our God is a consuming fire
Ø Whatever have been stealing your dreams shake it off
Ø Whatever have been bringing fear to you shake it off
Ø At the Island of Malta there will be no attack. It's an island of refuge.
Ø Every challenge is any opportunity for God to meet with man
Ø Let us be aggressive today in our prayer to God
Ø Possess your possessions in Jesus name
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