Acts Part 49 | Serving Amidst Adversity | Acts 28:1-10

Even after a brutal shipwreck and months of hardship, the Apostle Paul arrives exhausted on the island of Malta and chooses not to withdraw in self-pity. Instead, he continues to serve others—gathering sticks for a fire, receiving hospitality with humility, healing the sick, and pointing people to Jesus.

This passage shows us a powerful key to weathering life’s storms: faithfully serving others for the glory of Christ. When we feel like isolating or giving up, serving others (in both practical and spiritual ways) shifts our focus, strengthens us through God’s grace, and becomes a powerful witness for the Gospel.

Paul’s example reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and serving others—whether in small, unglamorous tasks or bold acts of faith—is one of the best ways to overcome adversity.

Transcript

Storms And A Malta Shipwreck

SPEAKER_00 0:00

So Acts chapter 28. When life's storms roll in, do you find yourself wanting to kind of become a recluse, shut the door to the world, and just dwell on the problem at hand? I think that's a natural tendency. I've been there. But let me ask you: do you think that is the best strategy for weathering storms in your life? I know that has not worked well for me. And today I don't know what storms you are going for, what metaphorical storms you're going through. I don't know if it's relational. I don't know if it's financial. Maybe it's physical, maybe it's mental. But whatever it is, I encourage you to listen today. And you say, Well, I'm not going through anything right now, but just wait. Am I telling the truth? Because that's life. And today, I want you to know that in Christ we can weather any storm. In Acts chapter 9, we find Paul's conversion. And now we have followed his over quarter century ministry. And as we've seen, oh my goodness, it has been riddled with tribulation. Can I get an amen? At this point in the story, when we get to Acts 28, Paul has just experienced a literal storm that resulted in a shipwreck. And by God's grace, all 276 passengers aboard swam safely through the frigid and tumultuous waters, and they made it to this island called Malta alive. God spared their lives. Now, when Paul gets to this island called Malta, can you imagine how exhausted he must have been? I mean, this is winter time. They swam through these waters, and they, you know, it the exhaustion was more than that. I mean, they were in the waters fighting this storm for weeks. They are tired. Paul is exhausted physically, and how many know that will impact you mentally as well? And so Paul gets to the islands exhausted. But what we're going to see in the text today is that during Paul's time in Malta, he does not just sit back and ruminate on how horrible his ministry has been. Like, though it's been successful in many ways, he doesn't sit and brood and, you know, just dwell on the fact that it has been riddled with many dangerous toils and snares. What does he do? He continues to faithfully minister to the people at Malta. And I would just say, and he does this for the glory of Christ. So here's my thesis for you today. Here's my argument. One of the keys to weathering life's storms is to faithfully serve other people for the glory of Christ amidst those storms. That's not easy, is it? You know, science backs this up. There was a 2013 Harvard study that says volunteering and serving others can combat depression and improve mental health. An Ohio University study showed that acts of kindness is even more beneficial than therapy and other traditional methods of treating different mental health disorders. Now, that is not just true for depression, but it is true for any storm we are experiencing. I think it is highly more effective to go out and to serve others than it is to simply dwell on what we're going through. Now, I know the argument some of you will make, especially if, like me, you battle clinical depression. If the storm is so overwhelming in your life, how many can attest to this? You don't even feel like getting out of bed in the morning. Like it's it takes every ounce of energy to just get up and then to take a shower almost seems overwhelming. And you can't even think about doing anything for anybody else. That's a great argument. And I have been there. Do you think Paul ever felt that way during everything? I mean, when he was stoned or beaten or imprisoned or falsely accused, left for dead? I would imagine so. So how does Paul weather the storm and keep serving people amidst all of that adversity? Well, let me just take you back a couple chapters to Acts chapter 26. And this is part of Paul's defense to King Agrippa. He's been through all of these horrible things. And here's what he says to Agrippa. To this day, this is verse 22, to this day I have had the help that what comes from God. Through stonings and shipwrecks and beatings and imprisonment, Paul has continued to serve others. Why? Because God has helped him. And the great thing is if you are a believer, the gr uh a believer, the great thing is this that you don't have to do these things alone. You don't have to conjure up the energy yourself to weather storms in your life. You have the grace and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen. As a matter of fact, in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul is talking about this thorn in the flesh. We don't know exactly what it is. Some think it was something health-related, some thinks it was his eyesight, some think it was like a church member that was driving him crazy. That's what I think. Um but he prayed for the Lord to remove it, and the Lord said, No, three times he prayed. But listen to what he says in 2 Corinthians. Here's what the Lord said to him: He said, But Jesus said to me, My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Beloved, it is only by the strength and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we can continue at all in adversity. And it is only by the strength and the grace of Jesus Christ that we can especially serve others. In Acts chapter 28, we learn what it looks like to serve amidst adversity. So I want to point you first to chapter to verses one and two and chapter 28. And here's where I want to start. Serving others, just as important, begins with humbly receiving service from others. Do you hear me? Serving others begins with humbly receiving service from others. So look at verses one and two. After we were brought, this is Luke writing, after we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed us because it had begun to rain and was cold. Now jump down to verse 7. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island named Publius. Anyone named your kid that? Who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days? This is likely the governor of Malta. And he has a house big enough to host 276 people. I was just talking to somebody before service, and they said, Hey, man, we were packed out. We hosted 12 people during Easter. Well, imagine having 276 people at Easter dinner. But this guy showed hospitality. He humbly, and Paul, listen, when he arrives at Malta, he doesn't immediately go into apostle mode. And he is not too arrogant to recognize that he needs help from other people. Galatians 6 2, Paul says these words. He says, Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Did you notice that? Bear one another's burdens. He doesn't say to one group, well, you're really strong. Bear the weak people's burdens. No. You know what that means? You need me, and watch this. I need you. We need to bear one another's burden. Isn't this what Jesus did? Did Jesus come to serve? He said, I came to serve, not to be served. And Matthew tells us he came to give his life as a ransom for many, many for many, yet, yet, Jesus accepted the hospitality and support of so many people. And even when Jesus was displaying the greatest sacrifice and the greatest demonstration, the apex demonstration of his love for us when he was going to the cross, he even then allowed Simon of Cyrene to help him carry the cross. He didn't say, Ah, I'm Jesus. I don't need I'm Son of God. I don't need your help. No, he was tired, bloodied, and battered. Jesus allowed others to help him. This is interesting. I made the argument that God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, empower us to serve others, right? To weather storms. So what do you mean you have to receive the help of others? Isn't it God that helps us? Yes, but you know what? God generally works through very practical means. Like if you're sick, can the Lord heal you? Yes. And he can do it in a moment. But generally, what does he do? He works through doctors and nurses and surgeons and specialists. And do you know that the way that the Lord often ministers to us and helps us weather storms in our lives is through other people, particularly in the church? And this is hard for some people. I've really noticed this in Appalachian culture. Do you know people who will do anything for anybody, but they will not accept help or ask help from anybody? Now, can I just tell you what that is? Anyone want to say it? It's pride. We all need help. I seven years ago, some about that, um, I experienced probably the hardest trial that I've ever been through in my life. It was awful. I remember laying on my home office floor weeping, unable to move, unable even to pray. That's when I understood how the Holy Spirit makes groanings for us when we don't have even the strength to muster up words. So I was at home and I was doing what I shouldn't have done, dwelling, ruminating on what was going on. But you know what carried me through and brought me back to this church and gave me the ability to minister? Yes, God's grace. But you know what really helped me? How what the Lord used to help me? You guys. You brought me meals, you called me, you visited me, you sent me scriptures, and I'm telling you that encouraged me to the point where I was ready to come back and I was able to keep serving. So hear what I'm saying. Even this preacher needs you. We need one another to weather life storms. Look at verse 3 now. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on a fire, like, why does Luke go into this much detail? A viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. Now, I'm gonna leave you on a little cliffhanger right now. If you've not read it, we'll get to what happens in just a moment. But here's what I want you to see about serving. Serving others involves doing unglamorous, ordinary tasks. Think of this. I mean, this is the great apostle. I mean, the lion's share of the book of Acts is about him. He has traveled 10 to 12,000 miles by this point, going from city to city, preaching the gospel. He has been maligned, imprisoned, stoned, left for dead. So many people even think he did die, and Christ raised him. He's been a prisoner now for a long time. Yet, through all of that, he has planted churches. Whoa, what about fellow? He has planted churches. Please don't let that happen. I don't know if I could take it. He has planted churches. Can you imagine the thousands upon thousands, tens of thousands people, tens of thousands of people that came to the Lord because of his ministry? Do you know he even raised a man from the dead? All kinds of miracles. And yet, he's not above picking up sticks and putting them on the fire. Boy, that reminds me of Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Remember when John the Baptist said these words, the one who's coming after me, I'm not even worthy to untie his sandals. That was the second lowest thing you could do in the ancient world. That was, there's only one thing that was lower, one act of service that was lower than that. You know what it was? To remove the sandal and wash someone's feet that were filthy from the dirty roads. What did Jesus do in the upper room? He washed the disciples' feet. And then he said, Go and do likewise. Reminds me of a man that went to his pastor, a young man. He said, Pastor, I feel like I'm called to ministry. The pastor said, Wait right there, son. He went to the janitor's closet, got a mop, came back, handed it to him, and said, Go walk the bathroom floors. The pastor, the aspiring pastor looks at him and he's puzzled. I want to preach. And the point was: if you're not willing to mop the floors, you shouldn't be preaching. Let me say this: if you only want to serve others in big ways when the spotlight is on you, that's a sign of wrong motives. That means your service to others is not about Christ, it's not about those people, it's about your own image and your own honor. We call that vainglory. Serving others is often practical and unglamorous. And even these little acts of kindness can help you weather the storms of life. Verse 3. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, viper came out because of the heat, fastened on his hand. When the native people, listen to this, saw the creature hanging from his hand. I mean, you just imagine this little snake, this viper dangling, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer. Wow. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live. He, however, shook off the creature into the fire. Sorry if you're a snake lover this morning. If you are, you got problems. He shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or to suddenly fall dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune, came to him, they changed their minds and said, Oh, he's a God. Oh my goodness, I love this. Here's what I want you to see. Serving others involves, or let me say it like this: serving others is not based on what people deserve, but it's based on who Christ is. Think of this. These people in Malti, you've got to understand, these are barbaric pagan people. They believe in, you know, the Greek gods, and they've got their own gods. And they believe in something called the retribution principle. This is what Job's friends believed. Remember Job, as Ron mentioned, Pastor Ron mentioned? Job went through all these horrible things. And his friends come, you know, they came and they're trying to help him, but here's how they help. Job, what'd you do? Job, you got to have some sin in your life. God's striking you down. You better repent. And Job's thinking, man, I don't know what I've done. And this is what people think. I mean, today, even in the church, if you're really good, but if you're obeying the rules, like I know you do, you're gonna be blessed of God. But Jan, when you break the rules, God's gonna get you. Now, to be sure, there are consequences for sin, but you cannot assume when somebody's going through a storm that it's God's judgment upon them. So just imagine you get bitten by a snake and your friends don't help you. You're standing around a bonfire, uh, a snake latches onto your hand, and they're just looking at you, and they start going, Ah, justice is not gonna allow him to live. Goodness gracious. But here's what I love is we read on these same, let's just call them ignorant people, all right? Paul served them. Matter of fact, uh, you we're gonna read in a moment that a bunch of those same people came to him who were sick and he healed them by God's power. Why would Paul do that? Because his service is not based on what they deserve, but on who Jesus is. In Colossians 3, 23 and 24, Paul writes, Whatever you do, work heartily as for who? The Lord. Not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone have, don't raise your hand, this is on live stream, but you can wink at me or something. Anybody have an obnoxious neighbor? Always, I mean, picky about everything, always causing your grief. You know, your kids are loud during the day. I'm trying to read a book or you know, whatever. Am I speaking to anybody? Well, what do you do? They're eventually gonna face their own storm, right? They're gonna go through something. So, what do you do when that happens? Do you you you laugh vindictively and say, ah, you're getting what you know? Take that, neighbor. You don't touch God's anointed. Nah. Man, I had a preacher. Listen, I had a preacher that used to always say that every time something would be wrong, go wrong in a in a mean church person's life, he would say, Well, that's what you get for coming against God's anointed. Yeah, don't be so sure. So you've got that neighbor and they're going through something. I'll tell you what you do. You did you do what Jesus did for us. It doesn't the word say that while we were yet sinners, enemies of God, Christ died for us. So, how can we say, well, Lord, you know how obnoxious she is? Or he, ladies. Listen, you don't say, I'm not gonna help them, I'm gonna watch them suffer. No, you give your life for them. The fourth thing I want you to see about serving is this the ultimate goal of serving others is to point them to Christ. Publius, as we talked about, is a leading citizen of Malta. It's likely that he is, in fact, the governor, and he's generously housing as we looked at Paul and his companions. His father is ill with what's called maltese fever. It's a recurring illness caused by bacteria that comes from goat's milk. And Paul takes the effort to go visit Publius and he prays for him. What I want you to see is Paul doesn't just gather sticks, he prays. And God uses him to bring healing, and word gets out, and all these multitudes of people with diseases from Malta come, and Paul ministers to them and they are healed. Now Luke doesn't explicitly state this in the next verses. But I can guarantee you that Paul preached the gospel to the people at Malta. I mean, that's throughout Acts. It's he goes to a city, he preaches the gospel, they get mad at him, some accept Christ, some get mad at him. He's run out of the city, and he does this time after time after time. He shares the gospel with everyone. So I think Luke knows that by now we get the picture. Paul shared the gospel. And he praised for them. And here's the point Paul cares both about the practical and the spiritual needs of people. Let me give you an example of this because we don't always think of this, right? A lot of people in the church, they love serving, you know, the down and out and the marginalized, meeting those practical needs, and yes and amen to that. But what have we really done if we serve them practically but we don't give them the gospel? Let me illustrate this. We uh three years ago, Pastor Ron, we started working with Madison Home. And at that time, they did not have um the ability to house people in their own place. So what happened is during the winter months, seven churches would host the homeless overnight, one night per week for several months. We had all kinds of people come out and serve. We fed them, we housed them. And here's the thing after every meal, Pastor Ron would lead a devotion, and he would share the gospel. We had several, didn't we? Baptized. And do you know that somebody said to him, like another pastor, or to me one, I can't remember who who's who they said it to, but they said, We never thought of doing this. We just fed, you're a pastor, you never thought of sharing the gospel with people who are broken. And so the good thing is this they said, Hey, we want to start doing this too. And I think sometimes we just don't think about this. You want to know the best antidote to depression and uh when you're down in because of storms in your life? Lead somebody to Jesus. It's real hard to be depressed. I'm telling you, when when when you do that, here's the last thing I'll say: serving others represents Christ and his followers very well. Look at verse 10 with me. They honored us greatly, Luke says. And when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. They had lost all their cargo because of the shipwreck. And now the town lavishes them with gifts. Paul and his team have made such an impact on these pagan people that they these people cannot bless Paul and his companions enough. Think about that. People say today, lost people, don't they say a lot of negative things about Christians? They're all hypocrites, they're bigots. And I know some are, fair enough. It's an overgeneralization, though, isn't it? Let me ask you this, because often we feel like we have to defend ourselves, don't we? Oh, we're not all like this. What what if instead of defending ourselves, we just served people like Paul did, showing them what true Christianity looks like. Paul weathered numerous storms throughout his life by the grace of God, partly because he continued to serve other people everywhere he went. During uh during World War II, Cory Tin Boom and her sister Betsy were arrested and taken to Ravensbrook concentration camp for hiding Jews in their home. And there they lived in a flea-infested barrack and endured starvation, hard labor, emotional abuse, you name it, it happened to them. What's interesting is that amidst all these horrors, Corey and Betsy refused to turn inward and dwell on their situation. They smuggled a tiny Bible into the camp and they held worship services. And you know what was crazy? They realized that the fleas were a blessing because the the guards wouldn't come into the barracks. And they held worship services with the other women in the camp. They shared the gospel with other prisoners, and their attitude stayed positive because they were ministering hope and comfort to the broken and dying. I mean, this is wild. Betsy unfortunately ended up dying in Ravensbrook from disease, but Corey survived. She wrote a book called The Hiding Place, many of you have read. And in there she writes this life in Ravensbrook took place on two separate levels. Mutually impossible. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God, grew daily better. Truth upon truth, glory upon glory. And that was expressed through their service to other people. That service, that grace of God, his word, and their ability to help others in their greatest trial. Help them weather the storm. That must have been beyond anything we could ever think of there in Ravensbrook. Now, listen, not sure what storm you're facing today. But I want you to know whatever it is. I know there's there's things that some of you are facing. Maybe it's a diagnosis that you you receive or a loved one received. Maybe your marriage is falling apart. Maybe your kids won't talk to you. Maybe work's really challenging right now. Maybe you lost your job. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's mental health. Whatever it is, I want you to know by God's grace, you can weather the storm. And one way to come out of that, and I know this because I suffer from deep and dark depression, and I so I sympathize with those of you who do. I believe in therapy, sometimes medication is necessary, but I have found in my own life one of the greatest things I can do is to keep serving. A lot of my storms outside of depression, a lot of my just everyday storms, life storms, you know where they come from? Ministry. Dealing with ministry problems. And this is so ironic. You know the way that I get through I weather ministry storms? It's to keep on ministering. Dr. Buskie, did you experience that? Because when I just sit at home and ruminate, oh, I'll become undone. I just keep ministering. And by God's grace, he brings me through. Can I get a witness from somebody that's been in here, been with Christ, walking with Christ a long time? Has he brought you through anything that you never thought you'd get through? Has he brought you through something that should have crushed you? Has he put you back together when people thought you were broken beyond repair? So if you're new to this today, I want to tell you whatever you're going through, God can fix it. God can fix it. We serve a good God. He's omnipotent, he is all powerful. And listen, God doesn't always get us around storms, but like Paul, even if there's a shipwreck, he'll get us safely to shore. Amen?