GOD Morning! July 28, How to Minister in the Middle of Your Mess

 GOD Morning! July 28

How to Minister in the Middle of Your Mess

Okay so to refresh your memory, here’s Paul the prisoner writing. He has just barely escaped death by drowning.

Acts 28 After we were safe on the island, we knew and recognized that it was called Malta.

² And the natives showed us unusual and remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.

³ Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

⁴ When the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice [the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.

⁵ Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.

⁶ However, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.

First of all, God wanted Paul to capture everyone’s attention. What if Paul had fell to the ground clutching his hand? Most likely he would have died. Instead, he simply shook the creature off. People are watching you and I. Let’s use every opportunity (trial) that may come our way to show God’s Glory!

⁷ In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the head man of the island, named Publius, who accepted and welcomed and entertained us with hearty hospitality for three days.

⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

⁹ After this had occurred, the other people on the island who had diseases also kept coming and were cured.

BOOM! Every time Paul encountered an opportunity to minister, he jumped on it. And as a result, all the prisoners traveling with him were treated fabulously.

¹⁰ They showed us every respect and presented many gifts to us, honoring us with many honors; and when we sailed, they provided and put on [board our ship] everything we needed.

When we minister in the middle of our mess, God will use others to minister to OUR needs.

¹¹ It was after three months’ stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.

¹² We landed at Syracuse and remained there three days,

¹³ And from there we made a circuit [following the coast] and reached Rhegium; and one day later a south wind sprang up, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.

¹⁴ There we found some [Christian] brethren and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

¹⁵ And the [Christian] brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage.

Paul thanked God and received new courage. That lets me know that Paul must have been a little down. But he didn’t let on, did he?

¹⁶ When we arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

¹⁷ Three days after [our arrival], he called together the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸ After they had examined me, they were ready to release me because I was innocent of any offense deserving the death penalty.

¹⁹ But when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any charge to make against my nation.

²⁰ This is the reason therefore why I have begged to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with this chain.

²¹ And they answered him, We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the [Jewish] brethren coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.

²² But we think it fitting and are eager to hear from you what it is that you have in mind and believe and what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.

²³ So when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth and explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

²⁴ And some were convinced and believed what he said, and others did not believe.

They came in large numbers. He poured out his heart to them! Some believed, and others did not believe. Sound familiar?

²⁵ And as they disagreed among themselves, they began to leave, [but not before] Paul had added one statement [more]: The Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:

²⁶ Go to this people and say to them, You will indeed hear and hear with your ears but will not understand, and you will indeed look and look with your eyes but will not see [not perceive, have knowledge of or become acquainted with what you look at, at all].

²⁷ For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.

²⁸ So let it be understood by you then that [this message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen [to it]!

²⁹ And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, arguing and disputing among themselves.

Don’t be surprised when people refuse to believe. It’s not you, it’s them. Just pray for them that their eyes will be opened, and move on to hungry hearts who are willing to listen and obey.

³⁰ After this Paul lived there for two entire years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him,

³¹ Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness and quite openly, and without being molested or hindered.

This amazing man was under house arrest. He could have just sat in a corner somewhere and waited for his trial to be over.  Instead, he used that time to minister to everyone who came by!

“Dear Jesus, please help me to keep focused on You. Please take my eyes off of myself and my mess. You have placed opportunities for ministry all around me! When I pour out, I reap benefits a hundred times over!”

 

Matthew 13:8 (NIV)

⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Praise You! Thanks for Your insight! I am encouraged today. Please mold me and make me into Your image. Thank You, Jesus, AMEN.”