July 11, 2022
DISASTER OR DIVINE OPPORTUNITY? Luke wrote how the people on the island of Malta welcomed them with kindness after their ship wrecked on its shores. It must have been a wonderful relief after the terrifying time they had at sea, being blown from Crete to Malta by a storm. The sailors had lost their ship
July 11, 2020
PAUL’S MINISTRY UNDER ROMAN STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS What Satan meant for evil, God used for good. The Jewish leaders that brought charges against Paul in Jerusalem actually ended up elevating his status, so that he preached before soldiers, centurions, governors, kings and even Caesar. His appeal to Caesar resulted in an all-expense-paid trip to Rome (albeit
July 12, 2018
PAUL’S MALTA MISSION
Paul spent three months on the island of Malta after being shipwrecked there. He healed people from all over the island, including the chief official’s father, in the name of Jesus. What should’ve been a disaster turned out to be a divine opportunity. Paul had been rejected in Jerusalem, but he was honored in Malta. The gospel was going out to the Gentiles.
July 11, 2015
What the evil one meant for ill, God used for good. The Jewish leaders that brought charges against Paul in Jerusalem actually ended up elevating his status, so that he preached before soldiers, centurions, governors, kings and even Caesar. His appeal to Caesar resulted in an all-expense-paid trip to Rome (albeit with shipwrecks and snake bites). Paul had a flourishing ministry at Rome while staying under house arrest in his own little “rented house.” He wrote several letters during this first “imprisonment” known as the Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. It’s amazing how God can use difficult circumstances to increase gospel access and receptivity when we are willing to be used in spite of them.
July 11, 2014
Paul was under house arrest in Rome for at least two years (Acts 28:30). During this time he was able preach the gospel without restraint to all who would listen. What the enemy had meant as death, the Lord had turned into a platform for declaring life. Paul’s captivity led to great freedom for his ministry and hearers. Instead of focusing on his difficult circumstance, Paul saw it as an opportunity to preach Christ. I wonder how many Roman guards became Christians during this 2 years? They were Paul’s captive audience day after day as he taught from the Scriptures.
July 11, 2011
Perhaps Paul’s greatest season of productive ministry took place while he endured being put in chains, shipwrecked, snake-bit, and then under house arrest in Rome. The darker the circumstances, the brighter the light of the gospel in Paul shone.