“God’s Guarantee”

(Transcript of tape #19)

  4/27/99 4:05:23 PM

Q. Define what a guarantee is:

A. A formal assurance that something is a represented or that a specified acts will be performed.

It seems like guarantees don’t measure up anymore. A particular item we purchased has a guarantee – men’s! They stand behind their product for different time intervals with different restrictions. It has so many limitations on it that it seems worthless. It goes on with our politicians it seems like they talk out of both sides of their mouths. Their words, their guarantee is only as good as the moment, they change with the world’s opinion.

Praise be to God Almighty you and I have a guarantee in the Heavens, we have “God’s Guarantee”! When you and I come into a covenant with the “Creator of all” we can bank on His Words! If you have claimed God’s guarantee then rest easy because He cannot lie, see the following:

• Titus 1:2 says, :In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
• Hebrews 6:18 says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

I have been in several different kinds of trials in the past few months in my life. As I have gone through them I tried to learn from God’s Word. I have learned to claim God’s promises or guarantees to make it through these trials with victory. I thought it would be good to share these with you. It’s my prayer you can receive these and be better prepared when the enemy attacks.

Q. Do you put your faith and life in John 3:16, meaning the Lord Jesus Christ?

A. “IF” you have believed in the heart and confessed with the mouth Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for your sins making Him Lord of your life then rest easy! You now have His guarantee working in your life.

• Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
• John 5:24 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

If you have believed in God’s grace, in His Word and made that your life then you can claim His guarantee, guarantee of eternal life! This is just one of His promises for you. You have to get into His Word and claim all your Father has for you.

We have to hold on to that guarantee with all of our might. Satan your enemy wants to come and take it from you. When Satan attacks we must follow Christ’s example and use the Sword of the Lord His Living Word as weapons of war. Tell Satan to get behind you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tell Satan he is a liar and the father of lies (John8:44). If we let him he will come into our minds he’ll take the Word, God’s promises out of our hearts. He does this by creating doubt that makes God’s Word null and void in our lives. We learn that from studying the “Parable of the Soils”, as I like to call it in Mark chapter 4. In your home study time cover the full thought, for sake of time we’ll cover just a couple verses:

• Mark 4:4 says, “And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.”
• Mark 4:15 says, “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”

Here we see Christ teaching you and I from the natural so we can more easily understand the spiritual. Satan is compared of the fowls of the air that swoop down and pick up the seeds in the field. Our heart is the field and the Word is the seed. If you don’t take care of a field, weeds will come up and take over the field making it useless.

Satan is going to be there to test or better said to tempt you and me. God will allow it in certain situations to see if we’ll follow His Word or be pulled away from His guarantees.

As long as you and I know Satan’s MO.(method of operation) we’ll be ready for him. Our Father is so good to us because He gives the intelligence for this warfare. All we have to do is partake of it.

Now that we have laid some ground work turn to the book of James and let’s be built up by our Father’s Word:

• James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

“My brethren”, James is speaking to all those who have put their faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So we need to pay heed to something that is for us. He tells us to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations. Count was translated from the Greek word “hegeomai” meaning to lead. This is very interesting to use a word meaning to lead, lead yourself into joy. In order to lead one must take action. We’re to direct or lead our feeling in the “way of joy”.

Q. Why joy and not happiness?

A. Happiness is something that comes from the outside, things or situations around you and me. While joy is will or a decision of our hearts and minds that comes from the inside! James tells us to go in the direction of joy. Our flesh will argue with us and tell us something contrary.

Q. We are to be joyous when?

A. When we fall into divers temptations. Fall was translated from the Greek word “peripipto” meaning to fall into something that is all around. In other words when Satan comes against us it will be from all directions. Praise is to God Almighty for His presence and grace. Remember the children of Israel going through the desert with God leading them and bringing up the rear and draw strength.

Satan’s attacks will be of all kinds in all ways because we are all different. Divers was translated from the Greek word “poikilos” meaning motley which is multicolored, varied, of a great variety. I love what I heard a preacher say one time about the multicolored temptations. He likened them to “blue Monday” or black Friday”. These temptations are different kind tests and trials that enter into our lives. We need to understand these trials before we can lead ourselves into joy.

Q. What’s the purpose of a trial?

A. We say we believe in God’s Word, we say we’re Christians. This trial is to see if we have enough faith to be convicted, convicted of being a Christian. Ultimately to make us a better, purer Christian that God can use for His glory! Let’s turn to the Old Testament for an example of this proving and testing. Turn to the great book of Deuteronomy please:

• Deuteronomy 8:1 says, “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.”

The Word of God was what the children of Israel were to live by in order to “enter” into the Promised Land and Old Testament type of “Heaven”.

• Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
• Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

The #40 in Bible numbers means probation. Just as they were on probation to see if they would be faithful we are too. This proving, testing is to see if we are going to live by God’s Word. We have free will, it’s our choice, and it’s our faith. Just as Christ told Satan in Matthew 4 we must live by the Word of the Lord not the bread Satan offers.

• Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Our faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. We must take in more and more of God’s Word in order to have the faith to lead ourselves into joy. Our lives are just a test run at the eternity, are you passing? Everything goes back to God’s Word and us knowing & working it:

• Proverbs 3:1 says, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:”

“My son”, no gender here it could say my child. The key to being God’s child is keeping His Word. God Almighty is no different from your earthly father in the sense of you knowing what he requires of you.

• Proverbs 3:2 says, “For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
• Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:”

We are to “write” God’s Word on our hearts so we will have knowledge to take us through these trials. We are the ones who must do the writing. I can’t write for you or vice versa, it’s an individual thing. The more we write the more faith we possess to strengthen us this trial of life.

• Proverbs 7:1 says, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
• Proverbs 7:2 says, “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”
• Proverbs 7:3 says, “Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.”

We came here for a second witness to the importance of writing God’s Word on our hearts. As we keep our eyes on the Lord and His Word and work His Word in our lives we will live. When we do this our faith increases in God’s guarantees especially in times of trials.

These trials will make us or break us it all depends upon our foundation. If we’re founded upon the “Rock” then they will make us stronger, stronger in the Lord! You and I will become more like what we take into our lives and hearts. So when these trials come we need to draw closer to our strength the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at David’s prayer for a teaching example:

• Psalms 17:3 says, “Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.”

David says that God Almighty has proved his heart. Let’s understand what prove means and then we will understand better about leading ourselves into joy during trials! “Prove” was translated from the Hebrew word “bachan” meaning to test, especially metals. Gold is a precious metal to mankind. They used to test gold by refining it with fire until they could see their reflection looking back at them in the gold. The refiner could only see his face when all of the impurities had been burned out of the precious metal. The question is can God Almighty see Jesus’ face in the midst of our trials (fire) or only the impurities? Knowledge is how we can count it all joy brother and sisters when we fall into a temptation! Turn to the book of 1 Peter please:

• 1 Peter 1:6 says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”

Manifold was translated from the same Greek word as divers we studied in the book of James “poikilos” meaning multicolored. Peter like James (second witness) for us to jump for joy when we fall in to the manifold temptations.

• 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Mankind as I said earlier puts a lot emphasis on gold. Peter says that our trial is more precious than the purest gold. Gold will one-day burn up with this world, where will you be? Gold is $275.oo dollars an ounce now, 16 ounces in a pound times 160 pounds (my weight) equals $704,000! My trial is worth more than that monetary amount because it’s only temporal while through Christ Jesus I’m eternal!

This “knowledge” helps us when we’re in a trial knowing that ultimately it’s for our good. Our good, God always works things out for our good if (here is another guarantee):

• Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Jesus Christ the Living Word will not ever leave us comfortless. His Word brings knowledge that enables you and I to count it all joy in the midst of our trials of life we looked at in the book of James. Remember as you grow in the Lord climbing the ladder of sanctification Satan will attack. He knows the closer you get to the Lord the more dangerous you are to him and his evil plans. Satan will attack more frequently and in other deceptive ways.

Let’s look to the Word for another example. The apostle Paul was determined to fulfill his part in the Lord’s Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Satan attacked Paul continually trying to steal that Word and create doubt. Paul was arrested for preaching the Gospel and could have been set free from his imprisonment but he chose God’s way instead. Turn to Acts please for documentation:

• Acts 26:32 says, “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”

Paul stayed on the ship sort of speak meaning he stayed on the Lord’s path. Speaking of the Lord’s will:

• Acts 23:11 says, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

Paul knew that he had God’s guarantee to go to Rome no matter what Satan did he could not be stopped. In your home study time look at Acts 27:1-8, for sake of time we will start with verse 9:

• Acts 27:9 says, “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,”

In other words the hurricane season was here being this was after the “Day of Atonement” or about October 1. Paul admonished meaning he gave them a strong warning with miss-praise.

• Acts 27:10 says, “And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.”

Perceive was translated from the Greek word ”theoreo”. To give you a better understanding of this Greek word it’s the source as to where we get our English Word Theater. It means to be a spector of something or someone. God Almighty had given Paul a vision of knowledge as to what he would encounter.

• Acts 27:11 says, “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”

Let’s think about this for a moment and let it sink deep into our minds. Paul gave them warning, warning from God Almighty but the centurion listened to the “tongue” of the master. These were going through a trial because they refused to listen to God while Paul was being purified! Master was translated from the Greek word “kubernetes” meaning helmsman.

Q. What is the helms role or job on a ship?

A. The helm turns the direction of the ship; the ship is stirred by the helm in other words. God’s Word is guaranteed mankind’s is not. You and I cannot ever put God’s Word aside and listen to man.

This is why we must write God’s Word on the table of our hearts as looked at earlier. Whatever is in abundance in our heart is what we will speak.

• Matthew 12:34 says, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Our speech turns our whole life for good or bad. Good or bad depends upon what we have in abundance in our hearts. Let’s document that:

• James 3:3-4 says, “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.”

Note the word helm here in James and the word master we covered in Acts. Just as the master’s speech effected him it did also “all” of the people in his world. Our speech turns our whole life we must be very careful as to what we sow in our hearts. We are to write (store) the Word in our hearts so we can follow the Lord and not the world. As servants we will end up like Paul at some point. The question is will God Almighty see our face or Jesus’ face? This is the trial of our faith, an attempt by Satan to hinder the Lord’s word. Let’s go back to the book of Acts:

• Acts 27:12-14 says, “And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close byCrete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.”

They sailed and listened to the wrong speech, it seemed so right but they opened themselves up to Satan’s attacks even more. Arose was translated from the Greek word “ballo” meaning to throw. When we don’t follow the Word we open the door for Satan “to throw” his darts at us. This storm is driving the ship away from its destination. Satan is always opposite of God’s direction!

• Acts 27:15-16 says, “And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:”

It’s interesting to note “Clauda” means lamentable or to feel deep sorrow. I can imagine the people wished they had listened to God when they suffered great lost. Let’s listen to God first and learn from their mistakes.

“We had much work to come by the boat” was a statement probably meaning they had a small lifeboat being pulled behind the ship. They did not want to lose it so they had to get it aboard the ship. The Lord Jesus Christ is our lifeboat and we had better keep Him in front of us leading the Way! When we follow Him we will make it through the storms of this life into life eternal!

• Acts 27:17 says, “Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven.”
• Acts 27:18 says, “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;”

They under girded the ship doing all humanly possible to hold the ship together. Mankind can only do so much and then…. It’s funny the things we deem so important and valuable of this world mean little as death closes in! We must live like today is our last then we won’t get caught up in the temporal possessions. Note they keep enough grain to eat (verse 38).

• Acts 27:19 says, “And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.”

Tackling was translated from the Greek word “skeue” meaning the yard, which supports the sail, the sail and all of the ship furnishings. These might have been tied together and dragged for a brake. In this fast paced world don’t wait to long to put on the brakes of life!

• Acts 27:20 says, “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.”

“No small temptest” is a storm as pouring rain by implication the rainy season as in the winter. The Greek word “cheimon” translated winter mostly. There is a deeper teaching here if you have ears to hear. I admonish you to study and pray deeply on this verse to see and hear!

• Acts 27:21 says, “But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.”
• Acts 27:22 says, “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.”

Paul had been praying and fasting to God Almighty to quieter of the storms, the Peace speaker. God said through Paul that no life would be lost. As long as we stay in the ship of Jesus Christ we will not lose our lives!

• Acts 27:23 says, “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,”
• Acts 27:24 says, “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”

Our Lord is always with us, remember He said even unto the end of the world. Here once again we have another one of God’s guarantees. God told Paul to fear not remember Acts 23:11 about being brought before Caesar. This is an example for you and me to stand on what God have told us through His Word! We can’t listen to Satan’s lies more then God’s truth. The Lord showed Paul that he and all of the 275 others would be saved.

• Acts 27:25 says, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Do you believe? Remember we covered verses stating that God Almighty cannot lie!

• Acts 27:26 says, “Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.”

God is in control, complete control at all times. Here God is going to turn something negative into something positive (good) because Paul can claim Romans 8:28 we covered earlier.

• Acts 27:27 says, “But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;”

The number 14 in Bible numbers means deliverance or salvation. The Lord delivered these men and Paul in the darkest night, the roughest part of the storm at midnight. You can’t see in the dark so hold on until the morning for that’s when joys (salvation) comes.

• Acts 27:28 says, “And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.”

The #20 in Bible numbers means redemption and the #15 mean rest. Don’t you love how great the Word of God is in teaching us, building us up in His faith! A fathom is a stretch of the arms (around 6 feet). They let down a line with depths of measurement marked upon it. All we have to do is stretch ourselves out to the Lord and we’ll find our redemption and our rest!

• Acts 27:29 says, “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”

Fallen was translated from the Greek word “ekpipto” meaning to drop away, specifically to be driven out of one’s course of life. Only we can do that by forsaken the Word of God. Satan will try but it’s up to us to let him have success. Driven out by the rocks, we know from Ezekiel 28 that Satan is called a rock, false rock. They are false rock that wants to drive you and me off our course of redemption and rest in the true Rock Jesus Christ!

• Acts 27:30 says, “And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,”

So many times when trouble comes people want to jump out of God’s ship. When they do it’s like the old adage saying: jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

• Acts 27:31 says, “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.”

Look at what Paul told them in this verse and take heed. Except you abide in the ship you cannot be saved! In your home study time look at John 15:4,7,10, &11 about abiding.

• Acts 27:32 says, “Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.”

Jesus Christ is our only way, door to salvation. We must cut loose from all other teachings or ways if not we will fall by the wayside.

• Acts 27:33 says, “And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.”
• Acts 27:34 says, “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.”

What a promise, not one hair falls from their head. The Lord Jesus Christ made this promise:

• Luke 21:18 says, “But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”

Not one hair of their head will fall if they partake of the “True Bread” meaning Jesus Christ. This health is speaking of salvation, and salvation comes only through that True Bread.

• Acts 27:35 says, “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.”

Paul gave thanks for the bread; we should follow this example. In order to eat of the bread of life we must see that Christ was broken for our sins.

• Acts 27:36 says, “Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.”
• Acts 27:37 says, “And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”

The historian Josephus was involved in a shipwreck where 520 men lost their lives out of 600 that was on board. That goes to show us how God’s hand was involved in the salvation of these 276 men here.

• Acts 27:38 says, “And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.”

The lighter they were able to make the ship the farther on the shore they could sail before running a ground.

• Acts 27:39 says, “And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.”

Note the word discovered it was translated from the Greek word “katanoeo” meaning to observe fully. God Almighty can show us things we would never otherwise see. With man this was impossible but with God all things are possible.

• Acts 27:40 says, “And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.”
• Acts 27:41 says, “And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.”

Remember in James 1:2 we learned to count it all joy when we fall into temptations. Here in verse 41 (falling into) we have the same Greek word “peripipto”. The ship fell into an area where 2 seas meet and was stuck on a sand bar.

The hinder part of the ship, the stern was starting to break up. Those men we not alone Jesus Christ was there. We need to follow Paul’s example and walk by faith and obedience. Those men could have jump out of the ship but they would have lost their lives. Hold your place here and turn to the Gospel of Mark please:

• Mark 4:37 says, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”
• Mark 4:38 says, “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
• Mark 4:39 says, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
• Mark 4:40 says, “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Our Lord is always with us in this ship of life. All we have to do is believe and we have another one of God’s Guarantees. We can count (lead ourselves) toward joy because in the midst of our trials God can turn them into something great, great for the kingdom of God! Back to the book of Acts:

• Acts 27:42 says, “And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.”

If a guard lost a prisoner then the guard lost his life. Satan still thought he could win by using fear on the soldiers. He will do the same to us if we let him. Remember fear is really faith in reverse!

• Acts 27:43 says, “But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:”

God will always have someone He can use for His will, remember the donkey?

• Acts 27:44 says, “And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”

All, all we’re saved just as God guaranteed!

• Acts 28:1 says, “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.”

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Could this be St. Paul’s Bay? Melita fully translated means affording honey and was located about 60 mile south of Sicily. Because Paul was faithful in this trial these people here had a chance for honey, honey in the True Rock Jesus Christ! Paul lived the Gospel and presented it before their lives. God can turn “all” of our trials into soul winning experiences “if” we’ll be faithful!

• Acts 28:2 says, “And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.”
• Acts 28:3 says, “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.”

Q. What do we do with our hands?

A. Work, work for our Lord fulfilling the Great Commission. Satan wanted to stop Paul’s hands from working but greater is He inside of you than he that’s in the world is!

• Acts 28:4 says, “And 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.”
• Acts 28:5 says, “And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.”

When it’s God’s time Satan the beast will be shook into the fire, the Lake of Fire.

• Acts 28:6 says, “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.”
• Acts 28:7 says, “In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.”
• Acts 28:8 says, “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.”
• Acts 28:9 says, “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:”
• Acts 28:10 says, “Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”

Look at what all God was able to accomplish through Paul because he counted it all joy in this temptation. Every time Satan meant harm God Almighty turned it for good. God Almighty wants to work the same miracles in our lives today if we will let Him.

This lesson was to help us keep in our minds that our Lord will always turn good over evil. As we follow Christ through these trials we become more and more like Him, more true and genuine and less impurities. Lord I pray in faith that you will grant to us the wisdom to count it all joy and stand on “God’s Guarantees” during life’s trials, in Jesus Christ name Amen!

If we can help you please contact us. The Lord will never let you down, mankind will but He will never will.

GAP Ministries

“REMEMBER GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!“