Shake it off

Acts 28:1-6

Paul on his way to Rome was shipwrecked and landed on the Island of Malta. It was cold and rainy and the people on the island though barbarous were very kind, they lit a fire to keep them Paul and the others warm. Paul collected sticks to keep the fire going, but when he was placing the sticks on the fire a viper came out of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

When the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

That's why you can't judge people by their outward appearance, you might just miss your blessing. You see when the heat is on the enemy has to come out of hiding. When he is flushed out into the open he strikes out at the first thing in sight.

Luke 10 :19 says "Behold I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you." When you think the storm is over another one strikes, but when you have been through a storm, you have experience you know what to do. Paul shook the viper off into the same fire he was running from. You have to send the enemy where he belongs, Paul knew his authority and he used it.

Mk 16:8 says "They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they hall recover." We as believers need to begin to use our authority despite the trials and storms. Paul had just come out of a storm but he was not laid back , he was vigilant, he recognize the enemy. Your adversary the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We have been given the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose, so whatever is binding you, you need to shake yourself loose from. Whatever is hindering you, whatever the enemy is trying to use to latch onto you to destroy your life, its time to shake it off and be free. Acts 28:1-6Acts 28:1-6You are what the Word says you are. You can do what the Word says you can do. You can have what the Word says you can have. Begin to believe that. Begin to say it out loud in faith