It's important for you to know God's Word, but it's also more important for you to believe the Word that you know. Jonathan Evans says, when we take God at His Word, we're able to live life beyond our circumstances. You can be in a storm, but you can be changed in the storm because you have God's Word. This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans.
No matter how much you've experienced and overcome in your life, sometimes it seems like the next crisis is waiting just around the corner. Well, true or not, Pastor Jonathan Evans reminds us today that God can take us safely through the storm. Let's join him as he brings us a lesson from the life of Paul, who, although he suffered perils from shipwreck to snakebite, found the faith to shake it all off.
In Acts 28, you see that they have come to a place called Malta, and the natives showed extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire for Paul and everyone who had come off the ship. But when Paul had begun to help get some wood, because of the heat, a viper fastened itself to his hand. And the people who were around at that point said, yeah, he ain't gonna make it. He made it out to sea.
But now that this viper's got a hold of him, surely he's gonna swell up and die. But Paul, being full of the Holy Spirit, just shook the creature off, and he suffered absolutely no harm. I wanna help you understand a little bit of the story before the story so that you can understand how Paul got here. In chapter 27, he's in a storm.
He's a prisoner on a ship. And he just went through stating his case in front of Felix Festus and Agrippa, because of his belief in Jesus Christ and the belief in the resurrection. And then he appealed to Caesar. Well, as a prisoner, they put him on the Schinterian ship, and he was a prisoner on the ship, headed to Caesar.
While he was on his way to Caesar, he hit a fierce storm, a big-time storm. But then in chapter 27, if you look at verse 23 with me real quick, verse 23 in chapter 27, Paul says, For this very night an angel of God, to whom I belong and to whom I serve, stood before me, saying, Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you. Paul then says, Therefore, keep your courage, men. For I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. Because I have a promise from God, it doesn't matter that I'm in the storm, even though the storm is still real. Because I have a promise from God, he says, I believe it will turn out exactly as he has told me. So now Paul moves from a prisoner in the storm to the captain in the storm, even though he's in the same storm, still wearing the same shackles. So you can be in a storm, you can be a prisoner to the storm because the storm ain't going nowhere, but you can be changed in the storm because you have God's Word.
If you believe, it's going to turn out exactly as he said. So it's important for you to know God's Word, but it's also more important for you to believe the Word that you know. You always know whether somebody believes the Word versus what they just know about the Word based on their disposition in the storm. See, if you're a prisoner that's becoming the captain, that means you know the Word and you believe the Word. But you can know the Word and still be a prisoner and never become the captain because you have to believe the Word, not just know the Word. Psalm 27, 13 says, I am confident in this, that I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
Do you know the Word or do you believe the Word? It goes on and on, Hebrews 13, 5, the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me. Therefore Hebrews 10, 23, we can hold fast and hold tight without wavering because God can be trusted with his promises. Therefore Deuteronomy 31 verse 6 and 8, I can be strong and I can be bold. I do not have to fear because the Lord my God is with me wherever I go. He will not fail me nor will he forsake me.
Do you know the Word or do you believe the Word? And it's all dependent upon your courage in the midst of a storm. Paul says, listen, we're in a storm. I originally perceived that I wasn't going to make it. I originally perceived that we were going to lose the cargo. We were going to lose our lives.
I originally perceived it one way. But now that I have gotten a word from the Lord, I perceive it a totally different way. I just wanted to start out by just giving you a good word for those of you who are in a storm, that God is with you, that God will not fail you, that God has already given victory to you so you can walk in the storm, have courage in the storm because you will make it. There is no better word than hearing you will not die.
You will live. Paul received a good word from the Lord. In verse 26, after he says in verse 25, therefore, keep your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told, but we must run aground on a certain island. Now, run aground means wreck.
He has no control. It says he's being tossed in the storm, yet even though he's being tossed, he realizes and recognizes that there is a stop that they need to make. In verse 41 through 44 of chapter 27, you see, but striking a reef, verse 41, where the two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. Verse 43, but the Shinterian wanting to bring Paul safely through kept them from their intention because they wanted to kill all of the prisoners and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land. Verse 44, and the rest should follow, some on planks and others on various things from the ship.
And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land. Then they found out when they got to the island that the island was called Malta. So I had to figure out what Malta meant. And when I looked at some external resources to figure out what Malta meant, it means refuge.
Come on, man. Paul knew, prophetically, in this storm, I got to get to a refuge. I know what God said. I have assurance in what God said, but I'm still in a storm. So while I'm in the storm, waiting on Rome to come, waiting on the destiny to come, waiting on the purpose to show up, waiting on the storm to end, I need to huddle in a refuge. Do you know what the Bible says about God being your refuge? That God is our refuge all throughout the Psalm, it says if you're going through a storm, you need to take refuge in God. Psalm 7-1 says, oh, Lord, my God, you are my refuge. You protect me from those who pursue me. Psalm 16-1 lets you know, protect me, oh, Lord, I take refuge in you. Psalm 46-1 says the Lord is my refuge.
He's my ready help in the time of trouble. All throughout the scripture, you see the Lord is the refuge for those who are in need. Paul didn't say we must make a stop in revenge. He didn't say we must make a stop in reversal.
He didn't say we must make a stop in rebellion. He didn't say we must make a stop in anything other than refuge in this storm. There are some people in here who are in storms and you've received a word of assurance. But let me help you know something, that the storm doesn't stop just because you've received some assurance. But while you're waiting on your change to come, I dare you to take refuge in Jesus Christ.
Can you get to the refuge in any way you can get there? I don't care if you have to swim in his grace, jump on the plank of his word, or grab hold of him in prayer. Whatever you need to do to get to that land is where you need to get to because Paul knew he had to make a stop. That's why the word says to meditate on his word day and night, for you will be like a tree firmly planted in streams of water that yields its fruit in its season.
Its leaf will not wither and whatever you do, you prosper. Why? Because you took refuge in God. Paul says, I'm in a storm, I've received assurance, so I got courage now, but it's still dark and it's still raining and it's still cold and I'm still out of control. But if my life is going to wreck, I want it to wreck in refuge.
There are some people here whose life is breaking up. There are some things that are breaking up at the stern and you feel like you're almost there, but you're not quite there and the storm is still raging and you think about all of these humanistic fleshly ways that you want to go about finding refuge. And Paul is saying, make sure you find refuge in one place, God himself. You find refuge in Jesus Christ.
So how can we be sure we've found that refuge in a storm? Jonathan will answer that in just a moment as he continues this message from his 10-part audio series, Survivor. If life struggles feel overwhelming, these powerful lessons can provide the encouragement and perspective you need to get you through successfully. In this series, Pastor Evans will help you break free from self-reliance and find confidence in knowing that God is fighting your battles alongside you. We'd love to send you all 10 full-length messages on CD, USB, or as instant digital downloads, our way of thanking you for your support in keeping the alternative broadcast reaching people here and around the world. And as an added bonus, we'll also send you Dr. Tony Evans' daily devotional, Life Under God. This popular resource offers daily encouragement and biblical wisdom to help you walk in step with God's will. This is a special limited-time offer, so don't wait. Visit tonyevans.org or call us at 1-800-800-3222, where a friendly team member will be happy to assist you. Again that's 1-800-800-3222.
I'll repeat that contact information for you after part two of today's message and this. It's beyond a Sunday sermon, a chance to really dig into the Bible and the kingdom in a new way, anytime and anywhere, because it's all online. The Tony Evans Training Center, in-depth courses on all kinds of topics, cultural transformation, intro to expository preaching, Jude, John, Hebrews, Old Testament, New Testament, and so much more.
These aren't sermons, they're teaching courses to help you engage, understand Scripture, and not just to hear about, but to explore the kingdom of God on your own. Find out more at tonyevanstraining.org, tonyevanstraining.org. How do you know that you're in the right place when you're experiencing a storm? He says in verse two of chapter 28, he says, the natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. He's in a refuge, and what does he get out of the refuge? He gets comfort, care, and community. He got comfort, care, and community in his refuge.
He shipwrecked on a place where even though it was still raining, notice in verse two, it's still raining and it's still cold. It's still bad weather, but he's still in a refuge because in the bad weather, he's receiving encouragement, he's receiving comfort, care, and don't forget about community for all of those who would prefer to stand alone while being in a storm. The refuge has comfort, care, and it has community in it. Why is the community so important?
Because they're natives to Malta. In other words, they know how to operate in a refuge. Paul doesn't go to the refuge and hang out as a leech. What can you do for me? Warm me up, kindle me a fire, preach to me, sing to me. I just need help.
I got all this stuff going on in my life. Paul says, uh-uh, it's not going down like that. I'm going to get up and I'm going to go get some wood to help these natives out because one of the things that helps you when you're cold and it's raining is you provide service in the own refuge that you went after. So Paul wasn't a leech in the refuge. He was a servant in the refuge because they're kindling a fire when it's cold. If they're kindling a fire when it's cold, that means it's hard for the fire to stay kindled. So Paul, for his own fire, had to go get some wood to keep the fire ablaze and people wonder why it starts good and then it falls apart.
You ain't doing nothing. You got to go get some wood and put it on the fire so that the fire can stay ablaze. That's why it's important when you're down and when it's cold to not only find a refuge but to serve, that whatever you need, you're providing. He needed the wood so he went and got it. This is where Paul is and he's shaking off the storm because of the assurance of God's word but then he finds a refuge and a place where he can receive comfort, care, and community but he can also serve for the very thing that he needed in all 776 passengers. He was serving because if you didn't know it, you're going through it but a lot of people are going through it. There's 276 people on this boat. There's a lot of people who are going through what you're going through. Now you're always the centerpiece of your own story.
It would be nice if you went and picked up some wood and served because there's a lot of people who need to be warmed up, not just you or me. But while Paul was serving, while he picked up the wood, it says a viper, verse 3, but when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on your hand. Ooh, a snake? Man, I don't mess around with no snakes. Even a viper, one of the most poisonous snakes in the world, various kinds of vipers, but one of the most poisonous snakes in the world fastened itself to Paul's hand because of the heat.
I would have lost my mind. I can't talk about the snake too long because some of y'all tonight will kick your spouse in your dreams thinking that there's a snake on you. I'm not trying to embarrass my wife but there's been a few times where she kicked me and I'm like, what are you doing? I had a dream about a raccoon. Girl, ain't no raccoon in this bed kicking me.
So don't kick your spouse. I'm just saying that in the story, there was a viper in the refuge. So understand that vipers are in the refuge. Just because you take refuge doesn't mean that there's not a viper waiting to snap at you. There are vipers in the refuge. You can go all the way back to Adam and Eve, there was a snake in the refuge because the snake is the final stand to take you out before you make it to Rome. He went through the storm, he found the refuge, he got through the shipwreck, and now here comes a snake? You got a storm, a shipwreck, and a snake, but he has God's assurance and he has a refuge and the snake is the final stand to try to take him out before he makes it to Rome. So I want to make sure that you understand so that you have an awareness and an expectation that even though you have comfort, care, and community and you're serving to make sure that the fire is still kindled, while you're serving to keep the heat going, because of the heat, the viper will come out and snap you on the hand.
That's what it says. It says that because of the heat, the viper came out and bit him. Therefore, as you're beginning to get warmed up to the idea that you're going to make it, as you begin to get heated with encouragement, as you begin to get heated and encouraged with courage and you begin to stand on your own two spiritual feet to move forward in the calling that God has for your life in spite of the storm and in spite of the rain and in spite of the cold, that heat is a signal to the enemy that I need to make one more stand to bite this believer before they get to Rome. Because I don't know if you know a whole lot about snakes, but snakes are cold blooded. Them snakes cold blooded.
Satan is cold blooded. And so because they're cold blooded, remember, it's raining and it's cold. Snakes can't move well when it's cold. If you're cold, they ain't going to bite you because they're cold blooded. So they don't move when it's cold. They get stiff when it's cold.
But if you start heating up, they get loose. You start warming up, that's when they'll bite you because they get all their energy when a believer starts warming up. Satan is cold blooded.
He ain't going to do a whole lot when you cold, but I dare you to start heating up. He'll start moving too because he wants to bite as the last stand before you get to where God is calling you to. So you can have assurance, you can have a refuge, but I want to make sure that all the believers are aware that there is a viper in the refuge who will strike at the point where you start believing it.
And what does Paul do? All of the people in the refuge, even the people who are from the refuge, say, oh, yeah, he messed up too bad in his life. We helped him before. We can't help him now.
He's out of there. That's what they were. You get bitten by a viper, I'm going to be like, oops, nothing I can do about that one. I can't help you with that snake.
That's what they did. But Paul didn't check out. Paul got bitten by that snake and said, man, if you don't get up off of me.
There is a practical side, the spiritual side is the assurance of God's word, taking refuge. But there is a practical side that sometimes as believers, we need to realize that we have the power to just shake it off. That Paul didn't get bit by the snake and analyze the species and how bad it hurt.
He didn't say, oh, my God, it's a snake, ugh, it's a viper, ooh, it latched instead of struck in recoil, oh, my gosh, look at the stripes, that means it's venomous, it's 12 feet long, look how round it is. He had time for all that, that that's not going to help you get this thing off of you. The way you get it off of you is with movement. I have assurance of God's word, I've taken refuge and I'm serving and this thing is still biting me. I will still do what 2 Corinthians 5 says, I will walk by faith, I will keep moving even though I'm being bitten. I have to continue in the word of the Lord, I have to continue moving forward in the assurance that I've received with God's word even though I'm being struck. There is a practical side to shaking off a viper and it has to do with your movement based on the assurance of God's word in your life. And Paul has been through too much to stop now with a little snake on his hand.
You have been through too much to let what's biting you now take you out. Paul is operating with the power that he has and he's saying, man, I got caught up on the Damascus road, went blind but now I see. I was in prison with Silas, we praise the Lord and he shook us out of them shackles and then I was set free. A kid fell off the roof and he died and then I had the power because of the Holy Spirit to raise him from the dead.
I went through Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. I went through a storm and a shipwreck and you mean to tell me this snake is going to take me out? We've been through too much and we've come too far. Pastor Jonathan Evans with a lesson in faith from the life of Paul called Shake It Off. Now if you'd like to hear the full length version of this message, you can receive it on CD, USB thumb drive, or as an instantly available digital download. It's part of Jonathan's 10-part series called Survivor.
And don't forget that special double offer I mentioned earlier. You can get all the lessons in this series bundled along with Dr. Tony Evans' popular daily devotional book, Life Under God. Both of these resources are yours with our thanks for your donation to help make this listener supported program possible.
Make the arrangements today at 1-800-800-3222 before time runs out. That's 1-800-800-3222 or visit tonyevans.org. Some battles in life can't be won with strength. The path to victory is found only through faith. Tomorrow, Pastor Evans reveals how God works through those who depend on Him, not those who rely on themselves. I hope you'll join us for that.
