THE SERPENT REVIVAL
As Paul journey's to Rome on a Ship, many unusual perhaps unwanted things occur, a storm, a shipwreck and a snake.... God brings the unwanted things into our life for His Purpose. Time to shake off that snake....
Acts 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. “a viper came out because of the heat”
Snakes lie dormant as long as it is cold. They aren’t even noticeable in cold settings. Snakes will show themselves in the heat of the fire, but it’s just to come out and try to intimidate to bite.
But look at the reaction to, “no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live” in other words you can run but you cannot hide.
They didn’t perceive what was happening. They don’t speak to God – they don’t have an intimate relationship with Him; they don’t live in constant fellowship with Him – because if they did then they would perceive what is happening.
Paul’s reaction v.5, “But he shook off the creature into the fire”
This passage tells us that kindling the fire brings out the snakes.
They were tired, weary, their strength was spent, they where in a confusing place and situation… but they took time to build a fire. The fire would comfort them. The fire would change their condition. (Cold and Wet, Warm)The fire would mark them… tell others where to find them. The fire would guard them from the elements (Rainy)
Here lies a spiritual key for our life
When you’re weary, weak, confused and just don’t know what to do… build a Fire!
Stir up those Holy Ghost Fires in the desolate place and watch what God can do.
That Holy Spirit fire will comfort you, will change your condition, and will mark you,
will guard you from this old world.
What does it take to ‘Build a Fire’?
THIS WASN’T A NEW FIRE… BUT A REKINDLED FIRE: they found a fire that had already been kindled, not looking for a new fire, a new fad passing by…I want to rekindle that same fire that burned in Acts the 2nd chapter. God is still moving.
Your life will be determined by what you do with those glowing embers. If we’ll rekindle it, we’ll soon see the flames and feel its power. The problem isn’t that the fires have gone out… God’s people aren’t stoking it and feeding it until our cities recognize that the church is on fire with the Holy Ghost.
THE FIRE HAD TO BE FED
As tired and weary as they where, Paul understood that the fire wouldn’t last long unless it was fed, Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, … If you’re waiting on someone else to build a fire for you, you’ll be disappointed… We must stir up that gift that is within us, we’ve got to feed that fire in our own lives.
IT HAD TO BE FED THEN AND THERE
Paul couldn’t wait for things to get better; He needed to build a fire. Learn to feed that fire when we don’t have anyone else to feed it. When you don’t know what else to do…
FEED IT THE DRY THINGS IN OUR LIVES
Some people wait for their lives to just erupt in flames I just rekindle that fire and take those dry attitudes, dry spirits, dry days, dry services, dry outlooks and watch the Holy Ghost set them ablaze again in my life.
FEED IT ON THE PREPARED THINGS IN OUR LIVES
It took effort on Paul’s part to “gather” that bundle of sticks…he was preparing for the fire. Is your heart, ready for the fire? Have you prepared the way for the Holy Ghost to burn anew in your life? Is your worship prepared before hand? Is your faith prepared before hand? Is your anticipation prepared before hand? Will God find a prepared alter for Him to rain His fire upon?
THIS FIRE BROUGHT OUT THE SERPENT
That old serpent the devil won’t bother the church as long as it’s cold and lifeless, but as soon as Holy Ghost fires begin to stir he’ll raise his ugly head to prevent it.
The serpent latched onto Paul’s hand, that which was stirring and feeding the fire.
The devil will do anything to keep you from being on fire for God… anything to keep you from stirring things up for God.
OTHERS ARE QUICK TO CRITICIZE
It took no time at all for somebody to be whispering about what’s going on with Paul.
The natives on that island begin to whisper among themselves. When the devil lifts his head in the midst of what God is doing, there’s always critics sitting back looking for some opportunity to judge what God is doing there. The enemy’s clan will declare… the church is going down, the serpent has won. The serpent even recruits church people to criticize they’ll say this must be God’s judgment against them.
HE SHAKES THE SNAKE OFF INTO THE FIRE
He didn’t defend himself or try and deal with this serpent on his own. Just stir up the fire a little more and the devil will have to go. That grip he has on your situation… he’ll have to let go in the heat of that Holy Ghost fire Shake him off in Holy Ghost worship, singing, and shouting. Paul could stand the heat, but the snake had to go.
HE FELT NO HARM
I like the result…Vs. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
The outsider when the devil attacks expects the church to get all puffed up and filled with the poison of anger, strife and division… but when we shake it off we feel no harm. The devil will want you to mad with everyone in the church… just shake it off. The devil will want you to be poisoned by depression & discouragement… just shake it off in the fire of the Holy Ghost. The devil will want you to give up and wait for death… just shake it off in the fire & go on. If you’ll just shake it off…you’ll make an impact on the lives of those around you.
THIS FIRE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING
I believe that that fire had spiritual significance because of what happened after this event. Revival starts when we stir up the fire and shake off the devil.
A REVIVAL THAT TURNS CRITICS INTO CONVERTS
Holy Ghost revival has a way of changing people’s hearts and minds. Don’t be angry at your critics or those who put you down…they may be the ones that become your converts in the end. God will work in your life in such a way that even your critics will have to admit that God is with you.
A REVIVAL THAT OPENS DOORS
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. No doubt that Publius had heard about what happened. They didn’t just stay in someone’s home, but in a man called the “chief man of the island.” Their godly influence was growing.
A REVIVAL THAT COVERS THE ISLAND
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
CONCLUSION: Do you need to shake off the devil tonight in the Holy Ghost fire?
Do you need to stir your life again until you feel Him ablaze in your life?
Do you hunger for a revival that will cover our area?
