SUNDAY SERVICE

At last Sundsay's service Pastor spoke on the passage from ACTS chapter 28, verses 1-10. The passage speaks about Paul, who after being shipwrecked along with 276 othrs, landed on the island of Malta. The natives welcomed them with unusual kindness and because of the rain and cold, kindled a fire to keep them warm. Paul helped out by gathering a bundle of sticks and laying it on the fire. However, the heat caused a viper to come out from the bundle and fasten itself on Pauls hand. The superstitious natives immediately concluded that Paul must be a murderer. But Paul shook the creature off his hand into the blazing fire. The natives still expected Paul's body to swell or immediately drop dead. When neither happened, they changed their minds and said he was a god!
After this, a leading citizen Publius, welcomed Paul and his companion to his house where they stayed for 3 days during which Jesus did mighty miracles through Paul. Publius' father was the first to be healed of a severe illness, after which the sick from the rest of the island came and were delivered and healed. When Paul departed, he and his companion were honored in many ways and the islanders provided them with all their requirements.
Pastor Robin made many inspired comparisons with Paul's experience and the shortsighted way most human minds, even today function. People easily jump to conclusions, being easily swayed by rumors and also indulging in rumor mongering. Thus, false allegations and baseless judgements are spread about innocent people. He noted that just as the viper did not come from outide but from within the sticks that Paul himself had gathered, the enemies who attack us often arise from the midst of people who appear to be our close, trusted friends. Just as the heat of the fire caused the viper to reveal itself, certain "hot situations" reveal people for what they really are: true faithful friends or enemies who seek to harm us. As the viper could not harm Paul, a chosen Man of God, but itself was thrown into the fire and burnt to death, if we are faithful in obeying Him, the Name above all names, JESUS, no one will be able to harm or hinder us from God's plan for our lives. Those who try will not only be unsuccessful, but will themselves be destroyed. After this episode in which the viper was destroyed, Paul rose to a highly honored position among the people and Jesus worked mighty miracles for them through him.
Pastor Robin then proceeded to demonstrate practically that what Jesus did for Paul at Malta, he does for his servants even today. Pastor Robin's preaching was followed by an unusual number of people being delivered from evil spirits and mighty miracles of emotional and physical healing. Those who are his close associates rejoiced all the more at what they witnessed on Sunday, because they were aware of vicious attacks that had come against him. No one can try harming a genuine man of God and expect to survive unharmed. Praise the Lord!