The attack of the viper on the hand – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Acts 28:3-6 – Now when Paul had gathered a number of vines and put them on the fire, a viper, fleeing from the heat, struck his hand. And when the barbarians saw the viper hanging from his hand, they said to one another: Surely this man is a murderer, seeing that, escaping from the sea, justice does not let him live. But when he shook the viper into the fire, he suffered no harm. And they expected that he would suddenly swell up or fall down dead; but when they had waited a long time, and saw that no trouble came to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Introduction to Acts 38:3-6
In chapter 27 we see a great struggle fought by Paul in the shipwreck. This servant of God went through many difficult times for the sake of the Gospel. The adversary certainly attacked his life many times, with the aim of hindering God’s plan and spreading the gospel of Christ.
Development
Not unlike today, many true servants face great struggles for the sake of the gospel of Christ, for the sake of the Salvation of many.
We can make some comparisons to achieve a better understanding. We can use some elements of the text to emphasize an understanding.
THE VIPER: FIGURE OF THE ADVERSARY – OBSTACLE;
After arriving on the island of Malta, they soon had to warm themselves up. The word says that Paul, having gathered a quantity of vines to increase the heat of the fire, didn’t notice that there was a viper there. It bit him on the hand.
The viper reminds us of the cunning of the adversary in his attacks on the life of the godless man and the man of God. Just as the viper hides in the bushes, the adversary camouflages himself in order to strike us. We need to be vigilant and in communion with God in order to receive deliverance.
POISON: TRYING TO REACH THE BODY
Once the poison was in Paul’s hands, it was only a matter of minutes or hours before he perished.
The adversary tries to throw his poison into our lives in various ways. Notice that the viper struck Paul’s hand, and when we talk about the hand, it reminds us very much of the work we do in God’s work. God’s project cannot stop!
SHAKE IN THE FIRE: DEFEAT THE ENEMY;
We don’t need to list here all the ways the adversary uses to stop us, but it’s important to say that in the face of his attacks we need to act. Paul shook off the viper!
When we realize that there is a trap set before us, we need to act. It is through prayer, fasting and feeding on God’s word that we will be able to resist the cunning snares of the adversary.
Conclusion of Acts 28:3-6
We must be aware that we are being watched at all times, whether by the adversary or by the godless man himself, who is waiting for us to fall. This is how the men who were with Paul did it: they expected Paul to drop dead after the viper’s bite, but nothing happened to him, because he was under the hand of the Lord who was protecting him and watching over his life.
May we stand firm in our walk with the Lord, always remembering that he cares for us, and that we must be vigilant so that we don’t fall in the walk of faith.
Preaching Outline on Acts 28:3-6 – Now when Paul had gathered a number of vines and put them on the fire, a viper, fleeing from the heat, struck his hand. And when the barbarians saw the viper hanging from his hand, they said to one another: Surely this man is a murderer, seeing that, escaping from the sea, justice does not let him live. But when he shook the viper into the fire, he suffered no harm. And they expected that he would suddenly swell up or fall down dead; but when they had waited a long time, and saw that no trouble came to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
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