Snakes Alive!
I'm not a big fan of snakes. I mean, they are beautiful creatures and I appreciate the many different types there are. But if I EVER see one in my garden, I will be setting a new land speed record as I bolt the other way. And so I cringe a little as I read Acts 28, as Paul stokes a fire with some firewood, and a snake crawls out and latches onto his wrist. Yikes...
Acts 28:3-6
3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Paul leaves Malta and heads to Rome where he is to face house arrest for who knows how long. All along his journey, people meet him and look after him and provide for his needs. And on arrival at Rome, the Jewish leaders are keen to hear what he has to say - especially since he was under arrest because of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
Acts 28:23-24
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
Paul just keeps going - witnessing to Jesus, despite the possible hostility it might bring. And people believe and are saved. Some have said that his imprisonment was one of the most fruitful times of his ministry!
Last Sunday night, we saw 12 people confirmed in their Christian faith at St Phil's. And each week we are seeing visitors walking into our Church services at St Mark's and St Phil's visiting and hearing the gospel, and many others over the past few weeks and months have made a commitment to Jesus and found eternal life in him. This is happening. Every week. Every month. And this is the work of God. This is the work of the Holy Spirit through us, God's servants.
As we now come to the end of the book of Acts - also known as "The Acts of the Apostles", what is your response?
If you look back over the past 28 weeks that we have walked through Acts, I hope you'll see that the Acts of the Apostles were actually the Acts of God himself, working through them. I hope you've seen the power of God in the everyday life of God's servants. And I hope you will see that this same God of all power is at work in us by his Holy Spirit today. As we share the gospel and people commit their lives to Jesus, we are God's servants bringing the same gospel to the same world in great need.
Will God act through us? Prayerfully, yes he will! He is able to do extraordinary things through ordinary people like you and me. As we head into 2023 - the year of Evangelism - please join me in prayer every week that He might continue to work powerfully through us, his servants, for his glory. And at the end of next year, we may be witness to seeing many more people have their names written in the Book of Life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the way you are at work in this world, in our church, and in my life. Please use me for your purposes. Help me to seize opportunities to open doors for the gospel in Ermington, Eastwood and a little bit more. Be with us all as your church that we might bring glory to your name through our life and witness.
Amen.