Author: missionspaul

Create the WOW moment

Acts 28:10 “They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.”

For 3 months the islanders supplied all the prisoners and soldier’s needs. Whatever it was whether food or shelter nothing was too much or beyond their reach of help. Don’t we just love such generous people? But there was of course more.

“They honoured us in so many ways.”

Honour: elevating someone else, high respect, esteeming them for who they are and what they have done.

In my culture we do this really well, when the person is dead. Not so much when they are alive!

‘Many ways’: we need to find new ways in fact many ways to bring honour to the person and their work.

We need to find the words.

We need to find the responses and the right reactions that will deflect from our thoughts and feelings to the elevation of the other. We need to become less …

We need to make things easier not harder for them. It is not just meeting any need but it is to imaginatively extend much grace to them beyond any hope they might have had. It is to act in such a way that the person is speechless. It is to create the WOW moment.

This is not about creating demi-god statuses or creating the thought that the person is perfect. They are not and we may not agree with everything they are doing or have done. We may not understand their course of action. But we choose today to honour and not dishonour their name even if they are all prisoners and are somewhat lesser than us.

Self-centred people cannot do this, they are incapable for it has to be about them or it has be about justice. Grace-givers are few, honour-hosts are even less. But today we all have the opportunity to be one, to be different, to stand out in the crowd and to honour someone who is alive.

 

 

Do something!

Acts 28:9 “When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.”

Some things have got to happen first.

‘Paul had entered the room where the father of Publius lay sick, he saw, he prayed and he laid his hands on the man and he was healed. When that happened, a crowd came knocking at the door and there was a revival in Malta.

In our longing for such revival scenes our thoughts are on an unexplainable move of God that causes masses to gather at the church in their need of Him. We have all prayed for such moves of God. The vision is easy and it is clear. But we forget that in every move of God there has been at some point prior to that event a move of man. God’s people have moved whether that be in prayer or in action. Recently someone told me that at the recent church prayer meeting only 2 people had come to it. If the Church isn’t going to move then why should God? Let me say it again, if Paul had not gone into the room of the sick man, if that had not happened, then the crowds would not have come.

Maybe your tomorrow is waiting for something to happen today where it can be said, “when this had happened …”

Your action today can be a catalyst for revival tomorrow.

You deal in single numbers today but tomorrow you deal with crowds.

You enter a room today but tomorrow a nation is cured!

Make something happen today, do what you can and tomorrow the unexplainable and what you cannot do may just indeed happen!

We need to be in the room!

Acts 28: 8 “His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.”

Publius had probably heard of the amazing protection Paul had from the snake. The people had believed Paul to be a god. Publius certainly believed it would be worth getting Paul into the room of his father who was ill.

Paul didn’t walk into the room announcing “I survive snakes therefore I can heal fevers, watch and learn!” So what did happen?

He went into the room to see the father. The Church is drawn towards the sick and those in need. We talk to the homeless, those suffering, the untouchables we embrace, those marginalised we engage. We ‘see’ what others don’t. Everyone is a person worth dignity and respecting of their humanity.

He went into the room and prayed. The Church prays. We talk to God. “What do you want to do Lord?” “Help this man, please heal him.” We intercede. We pray for others more than we pray for ourselves. We realise nothing is going to happen without involving God in what we do.

He went into the room and laid his hands on him. Paul would never forget when Ananias had laid his hands on him when he was blind from the Damascus Road experience. The Church lays hands on people who are in need. Jesus did and we do it. The touch of the Church with prayer is that of comfort and care, it is connection. Jesus had promised that the Church would pick up snakes but would also lay hands on the sick and they would be healed (Mark 16) and Paul was experiencing both.

Paul engaged with the man, he prayed and he laid his hands on him.

Above all, Paul was in the room. We need to continue to leave our place of rest and refreshment and get into the room. The Church needs to be in the room of those who need the Lord. Let’s walk right in today. Let’s accept every invitation and let’s put out more requests. Healings can happen if we can get into that room.

God’s provision is near you!

Acts 28:7 “There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days.”

Publius was Rome’s representative on Malta and Paul. Luke and Aristarchus find themselves being welcomed into a place of luxury for 3 days. Anywhere is luxury after weeks at sea tossed around in a storm, but this was probably the best place to stay on the island. Was it just for the 3 or for all the prisoners? Luke doesn’t say except for 3 days he was there experiencing fine dining.

GOD HAS PROVISION NEARBY

You may have gone through the biggest storm of your life and you didn’t know exactly where you were but God did! You were so grateful that you found land you didn’t care where it was but God cared!

You see, your haphazard, accidental, fortunate parking of your life battered and bruised was actually within the co-ordinates of your God who cares for you. Nearby …

It could have been anywhere on the island, but it was nearby …

Today you may wake wondering how you will get through this day, God has provision nearby.

Today you may wake wondering if you need to find a new starting point, you don’t, you can start again right now, because nearby …

God is near you all the time!

 

A dangerous fascination with the unusual!

Acts 28:6 “The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”

People will either demonise you or worship you.

They will condemn you or elevate you.

They will expect the worst or conclude you are perfect.

People are not content living in the average, or the normal, the pendulum has to swing wide for them. To see the unusual they are willing to wait, even for a long time, the miracles, signs and wonders, the dramatic is worth waiting for.

But boredom soon changes minds. The usual stays and the mind cannot cope. So we reinvent our thinking, we let go of our last conclusion and we create a new one which is equally as exciting. This is not a murderer after all, this is a god!

If leaders lead in to this they will attract the followers, for a time.

If preachers preach this way, they will receive responses, for a time.

But discipleship and spiritual health are determined when nothing unusual takes place. Maturity grows when the pendulum isn’t swinging so wide. Maturity is appreciated in the non-exciting times when men/women are neither the devil incarnate nor worshipped as gods. The problem is people will sacrifice all that for the pursuit of the unusual. Yet we live in the usual, it is meant to be that way. Be careful with what fascinates you.

Get rid of that snake!

Acts 28:5 “But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.”

Whilst the crowd around you may be offering an internal enquiry as to why you are experiencing such an attack, don’t listen to them, don’t ponder what they say, just shake off that attack.

Many won’t see what you were doing when the snake launched at you, they will judge you on that attack and not where it came from, they won’t see it came out of the place of serving, nevertheless just shake it off.

There will always be people who want to write your obituary based on their assessment of your situation, whilst they are talking realise you are not finished yet and shake off that what says you could be.

Snakes are not for carrying around, don’t boast about the enemy and what he is trying to do, don’t make a circus out of your situation, the enemy doesn’t belong in your life, just shake it off.

Don’t expect people to help you, they have their own problems, yours gives them perspective about their own, so don’t wait for help just shake that problem off you.

Don’t think of the safety of the snake, don’t place it somewhere comfortable that it can come back to bite you, it has to be destroyed so shake it off in the fire.

Today whatever has landed on you that is out to destroy you, remove its sting, shake off its power, no weapon formed against you can prosper and every word that comes in judgment then simply condemn.

Shake off that snake!

Looking at the snake and not the Saviour

Acts 28:4 “When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

We get a glimpse of why the islanders had probably shown unusual kindness.

“Poseidon, the king of all the sea gods must have allowed these battered and bruised seamen to be saved. However, the goddess Justice has now stepped in and this man is most likely a murderer, he wasn’t saved at all, he must have simply escaped death from Poseidon, but now Justice has caught up with him. Let’s watch him die.”

We hear this kind of thing all the time:

“He got what was coming to him.”

“There is little doubt that our assumptions are correct.”

“He deserves it.”

“There must be something wrong. That kind of thing just doesn’t happen.”

Today people may see the snake on your hand, they may see the danger that you are in and their assessment may be a million miles away from the truth.

The trial that you are facing today does not reveal your deeds of yesterday nor your future tomorrow.

If you are going to serve then you will meet the snake. People are going to misjudge you, misinterpret you, misquote you, misunderstand you, mishear you and misread you! They are going to miss it when it refers to you! They will do all this because their eyes are on the snake whilst your eyes are on your Saviour. Let people say whatever they want, you have not time to engage with them, to defend your position, to state your case. There is only thing you must do but that is for tomorrow’s blog!

The snake can live in the place where you serve

Acts 28:3 “Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.”

In a beautiful picture of servant-leadership we see the Apostle Paul doing what many could have done but didn’t. He helped to build and keep the fire going for everyone to get warm in the rain and the cold.

He had single-handedly held the morale of everyone on board together. He had tirelessly stood his ground because he knew God had called him to Rome. He had been alert to any plan the crew had for escape for he knew everyone would be saved. He encouraged where needed and gave advice even though it wasn’t received. Here he is serving the people. But look what happens … a snake is driven out from the fire and coils around his hand.

The lesson is that the trials will always continue. You are never immune from them. You have given everything, survived the storm, served as best as you can and literally poured out your life for others and even then a new trial can suddenly latch on to you. If the storm doesn’t kill you the snake will try its best. The snake is different to the storm because it will not give you any warnings, it will just launch at you from nowhere, when you least expected it to. You were doing your best and from within that act lurches the snake.

It attacked the servant hand that was helping others. The enemy of your soul will do all he can to cut off your impact to others.

We must be alert in every fire that we build. Others may be commenting on how beneficial it is and many other positive remarks. The picture may be a beautiful one. However, stay alert because from the most beautiful picture can come an enemy attack that will do its best to shut you down for good.

What have I learnt from trying to get ELIM UK to host ELIM GLOBAL?

Acts 28:2 “The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.”

Next week Elim UK will be hosting 100 Elim leaders from 32 nations over 2 weeks. My office has looked like a military war room as we have tried to plot flights, pick-ups, train and bus times and tickets, accommodation and schedules. Above all we have been working hard in contacting churches to host these leaders and for many at short notice as the leaders get news of their visa success.

I have often marvelled at the cultural hospitality found in so many places of the world. I have been shown such kindness, honour and love from people who do not have much at all. But what about my own culture, does my own people have the same kindness? I have learnt:

• To host people in your home is an honour.
• Hospitality is a gift and when it is seen it is an astonishingly beautiful act.
• Our homes belong to God.

The soldiers and prisoners land on Malta, the island name means refuge and the islanders did not disappoint.

• They showed unusual, extraordinary (Amplified) kindness. In the process of finding UK hosts my office has marvelled at the people who have gone the extra mile. We only asked for one thing but then they have said ‘but we will also do this, we will transport from here to there, is there anything else you need?’ When that happened I would be amazed. Why? Because it was extraordinary, it wasn’t usual, it was unusual, it was surprising hospitality.
• They welcomed everyone. It would have been understandable for the islanders to welcome the centurion, Julius, or his soldiers, but they welcomed everyone which included the prisoners too. It is easy being hospitable to nice people or people of good standing. This is why it was incredible hosting. In the organising of this event I knew certain UK hosts would have certain global leaders because they are already friends. But to see people say we will gladly take care of people who don’t speak our language and are not the same as us culturally has been a blessing.
• They did what was needed. Everyone was rain-soaked and it was still raining, they were all cold and the islanders knew what they should do, they built a fire to keep everyone warm. “You should have heard what he said?” That’s what I said as I came off the phone from one UK Pastor agreeing to host.“What do you need? We will do whatever is necessary!” Life is easy with such people! When people are cold you need a fire built. When people are coming you don’t need cheer-leaders at the airport you need people with cars at the airport. When people are coming on to our island you don’t need a map of good guest houses you need houses that will be open for guests. When people arrive you don’t need promises for the future, “Not this time but count us in next time”, you need help now.

That’s what I have learnt!

Arrivals lounge

Acts 28:1 “Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.”

The Message: Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta.

Amplified: After we were safe on land, we found out that the island was called Malta.

You may not know where you are today, that will come later, but you made it. You got through this last chapter, you survived the storm and though you are rain-soaked, battered and bruised, you are safe.

Sometimes knowing where you are not is all that is needed. I am not on the sea anymore. I am not in the place of fear, of darkness, of being tossed about, manipulated by forces that are unpredictable and stronger than me. “I am not there anymore. I am saved from that place.”

The next thing to happen will be you will compass your life, you will find out where that storm really took you, but for now, the main thing is you made it.