Empty-handed ministry

Application

• “First impressions” may be correct or incorrect. As natural-born humans who have been forgiven and redeemed by the grace and mercy of God, do people recognize the hand of God working in and through our lives?
• Receiving people’s honor or respect sometimes usurps attention and negatively impacts the Gospel presentation—sometimes it enhances. Are people looking at us or the Gospel?
• Conclusion: When the Lord says, “You must stand before Caesar” it is certain—even when the trip contains unexpected circumstances, events, or stops along the way. Remain a faithful witness for the Lord, no matter how long the delay!

Bible Text

(1) When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. (2) 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. (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 his hand. (4) When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” (5) However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. (6) But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.(7) Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. (8) And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. (9) After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. (10) They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

-Acts 28:1-10 (NASB)