Let’s Lose Some Weight – 9

                                                             Let’s Lose Some Weight – 9

Subject – Shake It Off

By Rick Welborne

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                                                                                ¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

--Today I want us, in an indirect way, really think about the phrase “let us lay aside every weight”. We will be looking at one of Paul’s amazing adventures and how God came through for him.

--In Acts 27, as Paul was being transported by ship as a prisoner to Rome, a great storm arises and was so great that death to the almost 300 souls on board was imminent. 

--The Scripture says they were starving for fourteen days and they had completely lost hope they would be saved. You could easily say they were in total despair. Hopeless.

--In the midst of most certain fate, Paul proclaimed, "Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” Bad news/Good news. The ship will crash but you won’t die.

--Paul said for this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.’ 

--And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you. So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.” 

--Paul had certain faith in the plan and will of God as it had been revealed to him. He understood that this peace did not mean that the future did not hold suffering--actually he states that more suffering is to come. 

--Life Church, I cannot promise you things will not get worse than they are now but I can tell you that you can trust the God we serve. 

--But Paul was confident in the Word of his God and His God Who performs His Word.

Acts 28:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.
²  And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
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 on his hand.
⁴  So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live."
⁵  But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 

1. When All Hope is Lost.

--Have you ever been there? Things are bad and you cry out to God and they get worse. Wait a minute, what about that theology that says whatever I say will come to pass? But it doesn’t.

--It appears the enemy has you bound, tied up, and on your way for more trouble. Now you are in the storm of your life. It could not get worse but it does. You’re cold, hungry, and fearful.

--In the middle of your peril a crazy preacher or man of God says don’t worry because I have been talking to God and everything is going to be okay. Don’t you want to smack them sometimes?

--The preacher tells you your ship is about to crash and go down. And where is the good news, Preacher? There will not be any loss of life.

--Even though someone tells you not to be afraid doesn’t mean you will positively experience a lack of fear. Can you imagine the sounds, the screams, the debris, the darkness? Sounds like our world now. 

--Life Church, please never forget God’s way may be in the sea. Say what? The will of God may be thru turbulent waters and a rough sea. What seems like it might kill you may be salvation for you or someone else.

Psalm 77:16-19 (NKJV)
¹⁶  The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled.
¹⁷  The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about.
¹⁸  The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹  Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. 

--I know you will be surprised by this but I see missions in this story. We always want comfort but what God always wants is salvation of the lost. The natives of Malta needed the gospel. 

--His way, His will may be through the sea so that people can hear the gospel for the first time.

2. Unusual Kindness, a Fire, and Being Welcomed.

Acts 28:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.
²  And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 

--I have always loved the imagery here in this verse. The natives showed them unusual kindness, kindled a fire, and made them all welcome.

--The natives kindled a fire – after everything they had been through in the sea, these prisoners needed a warm place. Don’t you think people need church to be a warm place.

--People may come in looking like life has tossed them to and fro and they are just glad to be alive. They don’t need judgment, they need love, a warm place. Are you warm to new people or cold like the sea?

--The natives made them feel welcome. Do you have the kind of spirit that makes people feel welcome or are you the kind of person who pushes people away? How you treat people says much about you.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT2)
²²  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
²⁴  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
²⁵  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 

--Don’t tell me you are filled with Holy Spirit if you are grumpy, impatient, and rude with people. If you are going to speak in tongues, also, speak to people in kindness. Make everyone welcome.

--The natives showed them unusual kindness. I love what that is saying. They showed up uninvited and left debris all along their shore line but they treated them with unusual kindness.

--People are used to being treated rude and disrespectful by the world. Do you just believe if we treat everyone with unusual kindness, we might be able to lead them to Christ?

3. Shake It Off!

Acts 28:3-5 (NKJV)
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 on his hand.
⁴  So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live."
⁵  But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 

--Our verse that we used to create the name of our church tells us about the enemy:

John 10:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

--Paul has been arrested, he is being taken with other criminals to Rome on a ship, a mighty storm comes up, they are 14 days without food, their ship crashes, and they survive. Then a viper bites him. What?

--The enemy of our souls never stops attacking and accusing us night and day. He is ruthless and he obviously wants to destroy us especially if we are trying to witness or preach the gospel.

--The text we have been looking at for the last two months has told us to lay aside or get rid of every weight that ensnares us but I love the way Paul does this…He shook it off into the fire. Wow! Yes, I said wow!

 Hebrews 12:28-29 (NKJV)
²⁸  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
²⁹  For our God is a consuming fire.

--Again, what looks like bad news is only God glorifying His Name. The natives needed Jesus and God made sure Paul would be there to preach the gospel to them. Malta experienced revival. Time to shake it off.

--Pastor Rick, the enemy is attacking me and my family…Shake it off into the Fire!

--My body and my finances are under attack…Shake it off into the Fire!

--My family, my kids, my household is under attack…Shake it off into the Fire!

--I am having trouble getting through to my lost family and friends…Shake it off into the fire. 

--Lay aside every weight and Shake it off into the fire!

--Our God is a consuming fire!

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
²  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.