“But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” ~ Act 28:5
REFERENCE:
Yesterday, we read about a venomous snake biting Paul while the natives of Malta expected that he would swell up or suddenly fall dead. However, Paul just shook the viper off into the fire and continued his activities. After observing him for a long time and seeing no harm come to him, the natives changed their minds and said that Paul was ‘a god.’
When bitten by a snake, the venom attacks the brain, shutting down the central nervous system; the victim is paralyzed and experiences muscle and tissue breakdown. The same happens when you allow the venom from negative spoken words to get to your brain or heart. It causes you to shut down, lose your zeal for life, experience mood swings, and harbor defeatist thoughts. You lose your sense of identity and even think suicidal thoughts.
Paul had a fire burning around him, into which he shook the serpent. Likewise, you need to stir up the Holy Spirit’s fire in you by spending quality time with God in prayer and study of the word, joining brethren in worship and service in the vineyard. The fire helps you to separate a stick from a viper, friends from foes, and good from evil. Fire means judgment for the ‘serpent’ (satan); it burns away everything of the devil in and around your life.
Instead of worrying about vipers and their venoms, fan your spark into a fire. Keep burning for the Lord, stoke (fuel) your fire of passion for God and for your life’s mission. Rekindle the fire of your love for your spouse, for your academics, for your career, etc. Don’t leave any room for satan to dampen your spirit; it is only when a meal is cold that houseflies can land and feast on it. Stoke your fire and watch the serpent scamper away in terror.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Acts 2:3, 1 King 18:36-39 & Isaiah 62:2
CONFESSION:
They waited for a long time, expecting some evil to befall Paul, and nothing happened – I declare that those waiting for harm or evil to befall me will be disappointed. What they expect will not happen. The natives changed their opinion about Paul and called him a god. Those who previously called me a bad name will begin to pronounce a new name over me – a name that the mouth of the Lord shall name. I neutralize the venom and free myself from its influence. I shake off all vipers into the fire – the vipers of heartbreak, failure, betrayal, insults, and past mistakes. I fan my fire into a flame. I am aglow with the Spirit.
