[00:00:00] Let us pray, Grant together on our knees. Let us pray, Grant together on our knees.
[00:00:13] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, ever see all the meek.
[00:00:26] Welcome to Words of Inspiration with your host and teacher, Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:31] And now let's hear from Elgin.
[00:00:33] The wise man will hear and will increase learning and a man of understanding shall attain unto
[00:00:41] wise counsel.
[00:00:43] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you wherever you are and whenever you're listening
[00:00:49] to another discussion in words of inspiration.
[00:00:54] Today I wanted to talk to you about a very familiar story found in Acts chapter 27 and 28,
[00:01:05] regarding Paul and the island of Malta.
[00:01:12] What the story reminds us is that God's ways are above our ways.
[00:01:18] His thoughts are higher than our thoughts that he sees the end from the beginning.
[00:01:24] So even though we may be moving through a season where we don't understand why we have
[00:01:30] come into a challenging time, we have to have not only faith in God but trust that he
[00:01:38] has our best interest at heart.
[00:01:41] That he is going to use our lives to bring him glory.
[00:01:45] And so if he's going to use us to bring him glory then his plans are consistent with
[00:01:52] that outcome.
[00:01:54] So the account of Paul's shipwreck and his time on the island of Malta is found in the
[00:01:59] book of Acts, specifically Acts 27 and 28 as I mentioned earlier.
[00:02:06] This dramatic episode occurred during Paul's journey to Rome as a prisoner where he was
[00:02:12] being taken to stand trial before Caesar.
[00:02:15] The narrative begins with Paul and the other prisoners boarding a ship bound for Rome
[00:02:20] under the supervision of a centurion named Julius.
[00:02:24] However, their voyage was just fraught with difficulties and challenges.
[00:02:32] Despite Paul's warning about the dangers of continuing the journey, especially during
[00:02:37] the storm, the ship set sail for the port of Fair Haven and Crete.
[00:02:43] As they settled across the Mediterranean Sea, a violent storm known as a northeaster battered
[00:02:49] the ship for many days.
[00:02:52] The crew struggled to keep the vessel afloat, even residing to desperate measures such as
[00:02:57] throwing cargo over board and using ropes to secure the ship's hull.
[00:03:03] In the midst of the storm an angel of the Lord appeared to Paul assuring him that God's
[00:03:08] protection and promising that everyone on board would be saved.
[00:03:13] Encouraged by Paul's words, the crew and the passengers clung to hope amidst the turmoil.
[00:03:19] Ultimately, the ship fell apart and people either swam to the shore or floated to the shore
[00:03:26] on pieces of direct boat.
[00:03:29] Despite their harrowing ordeal, all 276 people onboard survived the shipwreck just as
[00:03:37] the angel had foretold.
[00:03:40] Upon their arrival in Malta, the local inhabitant showed kindness and hospitality to the shipwreck
[00:03:46] survivors, including Paul and his companions.
[00:03:50] As Paul gathered sticks to build a fire and lit the fire, a vibrant emerge from the heat
[00:03:56] and bit him.
[00:03:58] And Paul shook the viper off into the fire.
[00:04:02] However, Paul miraculously suffered no harm, which amazed the islanders and led them
[00:04:08] to regard him as a holy figure.
[00:04:11] In the time on Malta, Paul also encountered a man named Publius, the chief official
[00:04:17] of the island whose father was ill with fever and dysentery.
[00:04:23] Through the power of prayer and the laying on of hands, Paul'd hill Publius's father
[00:04:29] and all the other people on the island who were sick.
[00:04:33] So the blessing that the people on Malta received was the result of his shipwreck.
[00:04:40] Now to Paul and the other 275 people aboard that ship, that wasn't a blessing.
[00:04:46] They saw it as a great challenge.
[00:04:48] They saw it as their lives in peril, not realizing that in God's plan it was about the people
[00:04:56] in Malta.
[00:04:57] They were praying for a solution for their sick and God delivered it through Paul.
[00:05:03] So brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in well doing.
[00:05:08] Do not grow weary when you are challenged in the situation because you don't always know
[00:05:16] where it's going.
[00:05:17] You don't understand what God has planned.
[00:05:22] So be faithful, be diligent and let God lead.
[00:05:26] Until next time, God bless.
[00:05:33] Now I am coming home.
[00:05:45] Words of inspiration with oddly-me clean is a ministry of harvest international.
[00:05:50] You may write to oddly at Harvest International, post office box 6690, O'cala, Florida 34478.