Paul - The Ideal Mailman (Acts 28)
Mitchell Kendall engraved this famous saying on the New York City post office, taken from Herodutus about the diligence of the Persian mailmen during the heat of their battles with the Greeks in 500 B.C.
"Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail, nor dark of night shall keep the courageous courier from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
This statement describes the way God worked through the apostle Paul to go all the way to Rome in the completion of His task of testifying to the gospel of the grace of God to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Many of us spend more time worrying about whether the plane will be on time or if all of our accomodations will be to our liking, but not Paul. He shook off the trials, troubles and opposition and thanked God while taking courage for the opportunities of preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost world.
1. God’s Preservations - (28:1-6)
a. God brought them safely through the storms so they landed at Malta. A tiny island measuring only 9 by 17 miles that today enjoys a Christian heritage left by the great apostle to the Gentiles
b. God used natives to show hospitality to Paul. God often uses the least likely people to extend His hand of blessings to us.
c. God preserved Paul by keeping him from being killed by a poisonous snake. The Lord is in the business of delivering us when we are doing His will. David wrote, "He heals all our diseases and redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with lovingkindness. Who satisfies our life with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles." (Psa 103)
d. God preserved Paul’s reputation so that the people who formerly thought he was a murderer, now claim he was a god. Paul had to correct both wrong perceptions through His works, statements and preaching. Do not be upset if people perceive you or your messages incorrectly.
2. God’s Power (7-10)
a. God demonstrated His power to Publius, the governor of the island through Paul’s deliverance as well as through the healing of his father.
b. I have had dysentery and fever in Africa and I know how debilitating it can be. Without the hand of God it can be a deadly disease.
c. The Lord not only used Paul to heal the governor’s father but also everyone who came to be healed. Many people are suffering needlessly because they do not come to Jesus or asked to be cured. James wrote, "You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you can spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:1-6)
d. The people on the island honored Paul and his cohort because they observed these were people who were blessed with special powers from above. When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even His enemies be at peace with him. (Prov 16)
3. God’s Progress (11-16)
a. The Lord propels Paul ahead to Sicily, Rheggium and on to Rome in a circuitous route. Sometimes the pathways that God directs us in our not the ones we originally plan for.
b. God had special brethren for Paul to stay with for seven days. Do not hesitate to have relationships with the people that God brings into your life.
c. God used the people that met with Paul and his company to encourage him and to cause him to give thanks. Remember that the leaders are often people who need special encouragement, appreciation and motivation.
4. God’s Preaching Through Paul (17-29)
a. Paul gave great explanations, evidence and personal examples of the kinds of ways that the Lord worked through His trials and temptations.
b. Paul gave many references to the the OT of the ways that the preaching of the Messiah would be rejected, but that he should not be discouraged or dissuaded.
c. Paul preached the scriptures with clarity emphasizing the kingdom of God that detailed the rule, reign and pre-eminence of the King over the Jewish people. NO doubt the Jews understood this yet, many chose to not place saving faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord. We cannot be put off when people do not respond to our persuasive attempts.
5. God’s Providence (30,31)
a. Paul was allowed to continue to preach, teach and even write Ephesians, Colossians, Philipians, and PHilemon during his house arrest period of two years here.
b. Paul preached of Christ without hindrance even though the Romans thought they were in charge. Do not get down when you see circumstances working against you. Realize that Col 1:16-18 indicate that Christ holds all things together and He is above all authorities and power and forces. He is pre-eminent and will control all things for His greater purposes. He still works all things together for our good as long as we love the Lord and are called according to HIs purposes.
People who worry without relinquishing the control of their spirit, soul, mind, emotions, will and body over to the Lord are in effect saying to God:
1. Maybe God doesn’t care
2. Maybe God isn’t good
3. Maybe God isn’t sufficient for all my deficiencies
4. Maybe God’s promises are not true
5. Maybe God isn’t in control
6. Maybe God doesn’t work all things for good for those who love Him.
7. Maybe God isn’t all wise in the trials He sends.
8. Maybe God isn’t a faithful Father
These are terrible things to think and to say. Let us think about what we are really saying when we fail to trust God for His pathways, progress and providential control of our life.
If we fall prey to the things we worry about the most. We will continue to experience self-destructive tendencies in a whirlpool of worry, but not the apostle Paul. He wrote, "Nevertheless I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." (2 Tim 1:11,12)
7. God’s Protection - IN accordance with Divine assurance all 276 on the ship were saved. His promises are never broken and He will do all that is necessary to get us to His shoreline.
8. God’s Providing - Shipwrecked company found not only safety, but sympathy, hospitality, help, cheer, provisions, comfort, shelter and we shall find the same as long as we are in the will of God. (Psa 34:22)
9. God’s Proving - Healings effected by Paul were a fine testimony to the grace of God in answer to prayer. His witness was not without results - most of Malta has claimed Christianity for 2000 years. The results may take a different form, but God assures that He is keeping records of how we are proving the will of God in our life. (Rom 12:2)
10. God’s Plannning - Completion of the voyage to Rome and Paul’s two years in prison show evidence od Divine direction. When Paul is at Rome it is a proper conclusion, climax and completion of the purpose of God in his life. It is also the proper ending of the book of Acts. It indicates that the word of God was spread without hindrance for the benefit of the billions to follow this episode’s fruits.
11. God’s Perspectives - The Lord completes Acts 1:8 directives throughout the ends of the earth through all of His servants who are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He keeps, honors and multiplies and blesses those in ways that are evidence of the life of Christ in, through and with them. All that is necessary is that they should trust, know, obey and yield themselves to His will. That is what Paul and that is what we can see repeated in millions of places around the world who use this man’s life as a role model for their own.
12. God’s Problem-Solving Abilities - Paul evidenced the Spirit’s ability to turn a problem into an opportunity for the gospel in Phil. 1:12-14 - "All of this has turned out for the benefit of the gospel and greater boldness to preach the gospel."
13. God’s Prevailing - Despite the opposition from man, from the winds, from the world, the flesh and the devil, nothing could deter Paul from completing the task God gave him. Let us remember that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. It is more important to believe than to have to expect that we will see work out the way we plan.
14. God’s Possibilities - Jesus said, "The things that are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 1:37) Let the Spirit of God envision in your mind all the great things He wants you to accomplish for His greater glory, purposes and commission. (Acts 1:8)
Be God’s mailman and never be deterred from carrying out your assignment.
Conclusion:
Let "Thank Him for the mountains
Thank Him for the valleys
Thank HIm for the things He brought us through
For if I never had a problem
I’d never know that He could solve it.
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
Through it all. Through it all. I’ve learned to trust in Jesus. I’ve learned to trust in God. (2x)
I’ve learned to depend upon His word.
