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Let me take this opportunity 
again to sincerely thank you all as a church and thank the 
leaders of this church. And as a, honestly, I think of 
just the fellowship we have had, the relationship we have enjoyed 
together, and just the outcome of that relationship. It's beyond what I can describe. Once again, just to say how you 
have helped us to put up the structure that we have back in 
Kenya. I keep saying that this standard 
of that structure is so high May the Lord help us that the 
gospel stays no lower. In other words, may the gospel 
be indeed even higher than that structure. It would be terrible 
if the structure is so high, but the gospel be diluted. It's our prayer that that would 
not be the case, but that the Lord will honor the word that 
is preached there, even when I am away from that place like 
right now. So the passage that was read 
is a fairly long passage, and you may wonder, is this man from 
Kenya going to put us here to listen to all that passage opened 
up? No, it's not the whole passage 
that I'm going to preach from, and therefore I'll not keep you 
for too long. But the reading of that passage 
is helpful, was helpful, so that we have a broader perspective 
of what I have to say. I'm calling my preaching this 
morning kept by the power of God. Now, I have been, you may 
ask, why have you chosen to bring this preaching to us? I have 
been preaching through the Gospel, through the Book of Acts, after 
previously, a number of years back, preaching through the Gospel 
of Matthew. But I've been preaching through 
the Book of Acts. And my last sermon back home 
was indeed a part of the passage that we've read this morning, 
and that is chapter 27 from verse 39. to 28 verse 16. And so I thought, instead of 
manufacturing something new just because I'm coming among you, 
I thought, honestly, why don't I bring God's Word that I did 
bring to my own people back in Eldoret. And not just because 
I was too busy to prepare something new. Indeed, I was busy to the 
last moment. However, The passage holds some 
great teachings for us today. And as it was, I trust, of help 
to our own church back in Eldoret, dear friends, I trust as we look 
at portions of this scripture, you will be able to say, oh, 
okay, one, that is God's Word, but two, yes, it is relevant. kept by the power of God. You see, Dr. Luke took it upon himself to 
give us the record that we have here in the book of Acts. And he has traced, ever so faithfully 
led by the Holy Spirit, of course, the journey of the Apostle Paul. Indeed, his ministry, of course, 
he began right from chapter 1 of Acts, verse 1, all through. But then when it reached the 
stage that the Apostle Paul was introduced, Then, Dr. Luke then 
concentrates upon the apostle Paul, and he's done certainly 
a great faithful work. But as you come to the end now, 
nearer the end of the book of Acts, Luke has concentrated quite 
a bit in telling us, giving us details regarding the journey 
that Paul had for Rome. And within this journey, surely 
we are going to learn something. But it is a journey that was 
fraught with ever so many experiences, many challenges. Because as we 
read it, we saw that it was a very stormy journey. They experienced a shipwreck, 
you know, a very severe one. And Paul's life and the life, 
of course, of the others who were with him were in danger. It just goes on. When they finally 
found themselves in this beach called Malta, it was a strange 
place. They didn't even know the name 
of the place. And then, amazingly, these strange 
people showed them hostility. They were total strangers to 
each other, but then they were shown great hospitality. But 
then, as we see also, the experience that Paul himself went through 
is highlighted where he's bitten by a viper, a snake, yet he was 
not injured. But then that led the community 
there, the people of Malta, call him a murderer. And then when 
he didn't die as they were expecting he would die, they changed and 
called him a god. It's just a whole mix of, you 
know, one thing upon another. One could ask this question. Please remember Paul was such 
a faithful servant of God. And God had told him, indeed, 
standing you must stand. For example, chapter 27, verse 
24. Do not be afraid, Paul. You must 
stand before Caesar. In other words, you must reach 
Rome. Your intention of going to Rome must be fulfilled. And 
yet he's going through these challenges. life-threatening 
challenges, mistaken by the people who saw him. And then someone 
really can wonder, and we are right to wonder, is God's word 
true? The God who had promised him 
that you must stand before Caesar? The God who had said all this 
was traveling with you? They will be safe as it were, 
but here are situations that are genuinely threatening. Does God keep his promise? Does 
God keep his promise? You can turn those set of questions 
just a little around and you can ask, what do you say when believers 
suffer? What do you say? How do you respond 
to that? If Paul has been promised to 
reach home, and a true believer for that matter, but he's suffering 
like that, what do you say? You know, friends, for Paul to 
reach Rome and carry out the unfinished work, surely it could 
only be that he was kept by the power of God, of course, through 
faith. Now, that point is important. And you may be wondering, you're 
talking about Paul. He lived many years ago. And 
obviously, you're setting before us the book of Acts. But that's 
just a history, and it's past. We're living here today. You 
see the same set of questions are proper for us to ask. Can God be trusted? When God 
says something, is his word true? Will his promises come to pass? What of us a believer if you 
should suffer? whether in terms of your business 
not being successful, or falling sick, and such sickness that 
you do not see an end to it all, and you wonder, does he care? Will I pull through? and things like that, even to 
the extreme. What of when there are calamities? What of when something happens 
and not only non-believers, but believers, people you know, become 
a part of the victims in that, you know, an accident happens, 
and someone you know A relative, a close friend, but a believer, 
what do you say? Back in Kenya, yesterday was 
Saturday, a community, relatives from a given area, buried 26 
people who had hired a vehicle, a bus, to go and bury their relative 
in another area. But in the process, then the 
bus plunged in and killed 26. And so they thought the best 
they could do is to have a mass burial. And it was a very moving 
scenario. What do you say when that happens? And of course, believers among 
them. And shortly before that, there was another bus accident 
carrying, ferrying people from the place of work and as they 
were crossing the railway line, then the train caught up with 
the bus and over six people died. And shortly before that, just 
in one week, shortly before that, an aeroplane, a light aeroplane 
with six people on board, as they took off, and they didn't 
fly for five minutes, and then it all caught fire. and fell in a community, in an 
estate, and the housing in that area were completely burnt up, 
and people living in that area and some in their houses were 
burnt beyond recognition. And it's like, where is God? 
What has happened? Often people would say, For that 
to have happened, then there is a reason behind it. Often, 
as even in this passage, we are going to see people begin to 
say, wow, there must have been great sinners or something like 
that. So what do we say when difficulties come upon believers? And so I trust, dear friends, 
that this passage will help us to think of those issues which 
we can only respond to that, kept by God's power, then we 
will be able to reach the end. And indeed, Paul experienced 
that. So this passage then, and specifically 
we look at verses Acts 27 from verse 39 to 28 verse 16. Something interesting though 
as we look at this passage is this. These people, when they 
found themselves in this island called Malta, and they were complete 
strangers to that place, we are not told. They stayed there a 
total of three months, because obviously, Paul and the rest, 
their aim was to reach Rome as prisoners. But there was no ship 
that could then take them because their own had indeed experienced 
a shipwreck. So they had to stay there till 
such time when there was one. And indeed, finally there was 
one three months later. The three months we are not told 
much about. In fact, we are hardly told anything 
about their stay there in three months, but two. We can get two 
helpful things that happened in Malta. and then draw a conclusion. So I have three points here. 
The viper on the beach, and then the healing of the sick there 
in that beach of Malta, and then finally in their arrival in Rome, 
we can say nothing but The God who keeps his promise. So, just 
three things that will, I trust, help us. And I trust it will 
be relevant. Now, the first is this. The viper or the snake on the 
beach, verses 1 to 6. We had read it, but we will be 
reading some portions of it, that when they came to find the 
name of this place and gotten to talk with the people, these 
people showed them kindness beyond measure. Remember, the number 
was quite high, 276 people. And so these people in Malta 
set fire for them and they were able to warm themselves. And at some stage, then we are 
told that Paul, of course, went to fetch firewood so that fire 
could keep burning and they get heat. And then we are told what 
happened there in verse 3. When Paul had gathered a bundle 
of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because 
of the heat and fastened on his hand. That's quite a sight. And Luke records that very clearly 
for us. I don't like snakes, even a green 
one. I don't trust them. Of course, when they're behind 
the thick glass wall, yeah, that's fine. I can go close and marvel 
at God's creation. But ordinarily, I don't trust 
them. Maybe many of you here, my son, 
when he was young, didn't think he could actually hold and put 
them on his hands, but I'm sure as he has grown big, he's got 
other things to care for, not snakes. But here then, Paul is bitten. just at that moment when he has 
gone to fetch more fire to bring, more timber, more sticks to put 
into the fire. then he's beaten. Well, quickly 
we are told then what happened, how people react in situations 
of accident, situations of calamity. Because in verse 4 we are told, 
when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, 
they said to one another, no doubt this man is a murderer. Though, it goes on, though he 
has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live. Wow. And ordinarily, that's the 
way many of us would have thought so. And that's the way many today 
think. Some calamity happens to anyone, 
and it's like, that must be a sinner. He must have been doing something 
bad, and now justice has caught up with him. And in Paul's case, 
they say, well, he escaped the sea, but justice has caught up 
with him. Obviously, there are moments 
there they must have told their story. It must have been said 
that, yes, we have these people. They are prisoners. We are taking 
them to Rome to stand trial. And so the villagers knew. And 
their rating of Paul is a murderer. And you know, any and every calamity instead of us making our own 
judgment honestly should cause us certainly to have a reflection 
upon God. He's the creator and therefore 
He's the one who allows any and everything to take place. And 
so any calamity should certainly cause us to reflect upon our 
relationship with God. God is holy, God is just. And so, friends, that needs to 
be understood. This God certainly hates sin, 
hates evil activities. And there are of course some 
wickedness, some sinfulness that when we live in, when we give 
ourselves to such sinful activities, of course the outcome would be 
disastrous. The outcome would bring harm 
to us. A young person who gives himself 
or herself to a life of fornication, of course, then, and only by 
God's grace, but by and large, STD, sexually transmitted diseases, 
that could very easily be the outcome of a life of fornication. Someone who gives themselves 
to alcohol, and continues to so live under the influence of 
that, are exposing themselves and what would happen? Their 
liver would be damaged. Someone who gives themselves 
to a life of gambling, whatever money he gets, he immediately 
thinks of, let me hope that I will get, and so they plunge their 
money in gambling. And I think you really would 
have heard of people who, that being their lifestyle, they've 
ruined their futures, their family, and things like that because 
of life of gambling. There are Lifestyles and things 
that when we give ourselves to, the outcome is undesirable. The outcome is almost obvious. But, oh, friends, we go wrong. We go wrong like these people 
in Malta. These people had made one-to-one 
connection where This man is suffering this, is experiencing 
this calamity, ah, then we know his sin has caught up with him. 
They just see any calamity and they make a conclusion that personal 
sin is involved. Oh, friends, that is wrong. That is wrong. God does not deal 
with us always like that. And therefore, we are not qualified 
ourselves to make that conclusion. People just think, should you 
be suffering? Then it's because of this sin. And therefore, You are receiving 
this punishment because of that suffering. That is wrong. I have 
said there are situations where that can happen, but it's not 
a blanket statement. You know, friends, suffering 
in life, as someone has said, is like rain that falls on all 
kinds of people. When I arrived in your country 
on Friday, it rained for the first time after a long dry spell. but portions of homes were not, 
you know, left without rain so that people could say, aha, why 
is that homestead having no rain when everyone else is enjoying 
this long-awaited blessing? Oh, well, it's because they are 
sinners. Often we want to think like that, 
but that is wrong. When we look at the scriptures 
in the book of Ecclesiastes, we see that indeed challenges 
like calamities would fall upon any and all. without distinction, 
Ecclesiastes chapter 9. And this is what we read. Ecclesiastes 
chapter 9. Just listen to these few verses. 
Chapter 9 from verse 1. But all this I laid to heart, 
examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds 
are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, Men 
does not know, both are before him. And then verse two puts 
it this way. It is the same for all, since 
the same event happens to the righteous and to the wicked, 
to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to 
him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. So there we are learning that 
calamities or sufferings would come upon all like rain that 
falls on all kinds of people. You see, of course, when a believer, 
when a godly person, when a Christian suffers, the ultimate purpose 
of a Christian suffering is to the end that their faith may 
be made better, that they would be more like Christ himself. Sanctification would go a notch 
higher as it were. Any either unexplainable or any 
calamity that I just call them calamity or suffering that falls 
upon a person should cause us to think of and see God's glory 
in it. And friends, maybe even a much 
clearer passage is in the gospel of John, John chapter 9. We find this incident. I trust you will agree that indeed 
that explains it. But John chapter 9, there in 
verses 2 and 3, if I begin from verse 1 for the purpose of context, 
we see this. As he passed, that's the Lord 
Jesus, as he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. So here is a situation, a man 
born blind from birth. Listen to the thinking of the 
disciples. Verse 2, And his disciples asked 
him, Rabbi, Rabbi, who sinned? Do you see that? Who sinned? This man or his parents? Why are they asking that question? 
Who sinned? This man or his parents? That 
he was born blind. Oh. Men see a calamity and immediately 
they think God's judgment was here. God's displeasure was here. And therefore, instead of saying, 
God, what are you teaching us here? It's like, what sin did 
they do? Verse three, Jesus answered, 
it was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the 
works of God might be displayed in him. That the works of God 
might be displayed in him. Oh friends, let this be a teaching 
for us. Our immediate response or reaction 
when we see something that we can't immediately explain, we 
should not see. Who sinned? I wonder what sin 
this person did. But that it should lift our thoughts 
towards God. You see, and there are other 
passages, of course, 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Verse 7, any of the 
things we go through today in life as believers should cause 
us to realize that there is something far higher, something much better 
for us in glory. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 
17. And so, don't judge God's relationship 
with people. based on an individual's suffering. We do that so often, but that 
is wrong. That is wrong, dear friends. 
And we do it even among, you know, those who profess faith. But we must not do so. Now, there 
is a passage in the book of Luke that I think captures this ever 
so well. Luke 13. Listen to the first 
five verses. I trust familiar to many of you, 
but it's really fitting in this particular incident. Remember, 
we are still trying to understand the reasoning of the people in 
Malta where they see something happen to Paul and their conclusion 
is like, aha, sin is involved. Chapter 13, verses 1 to 5, this 
is what we read. There was some present at that 
very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate 
had mingled with their sacrifices. That was bad. People engaged 
in offering sacrifices, and Pilate came and ordered their slaughter, 
as it were. And so, verse two, and he answered 
them, do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners 
than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this 
way? No, I tell you, but unless you 
repent, you will all likewise perish. Verse four. and those 18 on whom the tower 
in Siloam fell and killed them. Do you think that they were worse 
sinners, worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you 
repent, you will all likewise perish. You know, clearly from 
what we have seen in these passages, all calamities, all difficult 
experiences honestly should lead us to think about repentance, 
to think and reflect about turning from our own way to the living 
God. And that is what the Lord Jesus 
Christ is putting His thumb upon. And these people bring an illustration 
or an example saying, just think. What would you say to this situation? 
And the Lord Jesus knows their thinking and He says, come on, 
think right. Think right. Unless you repent, 
it will happen to you. In other words, unless someone 
repents, they will perish. Calamity may come either on the 
godly or the ungodly, but then the bottom line is repentance. So back to our passage, I know 
we have appeared to have wandered away, but here are people who 
see what has happened to Paul, and their conclusion is he's 
a murderer. They have had a rough experience 
in the sea, but coming to the land, justice is continuing, 
chasing after him, and there we are. Well, look at verse five. 
Verse 5, He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and 
suffered no harm. They were waiting for Him to 
swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited 
a long time and saw no misfortune come to Him, they changed their 
mind and said that He was a God. What are people? So the story 
changes here. Paul didn't collapse. Paul was 
not hurt. And so their story changes from 
this is a murderer to this is a God. This is a person with 
unique abilities that only some God must be behind it. Of course, God, the true God 
was behind it, but they had no idea of this God. Our point, though, remains, our 
point here remains, dear friends, that we must not read God's dealings 
with people through calamities. And this is where, of course, 
those who are called the prosperity gospel preachers, the health 
and wealth gospel preachers, they go wrong in this matter. They think or they say the evidence 
that God's blessing is upon you, that you are a true believer, 
that you are in good relationship with God, is that blessings follow 
you. Blessing of health, blessing 
of wealth. And in the absence of any of 
those, then it's like, aha, something is wrong with you. And it's never, wait a minute, 
is God going to be glorified in this or that? No! It's like 
something is wrong with you. And that is where they catch 
the unsuspecting, where they say, come, we'll pray for you. Come, we'll get from you the 
demon of this and the demon of the other. And of course, as 
you know, I don't think it's any different in your country. 
They want money from the people who they pray for. And people 
are bound under these things. Well, these things must not be 
the case. Let's remember the Lord Jesus 
Christ Himself teaches us so clearly. In Acts 15, of course, 
we are told, of course, that there will be, John 16, excuse 
me, there will be trouble. There will be trouble in the 
world. And then the Lord Jesus Christ 
himself again says, take up your cross. And cross is an object 
of suffering. Take up your cross and follow 
me. But the gospel preachers, the 
health and wealth gospel preachers in our area and certainly just 
across the road, the noisy neighbors. They have nothing. They call 
the name Jesus too many times, but their Jesus is that of convenience 
and making sure they sway the people their own way. But note 
what the true biblical Jesus demands, a life of faithful obedience 
following after him. If God provides anything for 
any of us, Oh dear friends, it is to the end that we may be 
more committed to Him, that we may be given to pursue holiness 
so that we can live a life that pleases Him. I've taken long 
but I wanted us to see These things happened to Paul. This 
viper experienced this snake bite in the beach. And from it 
we learn Paul was after God's own ministry God had sent him, and 
God has promised him that he must stand in Rome before Caesar, 
and yet he's going through these experiences. Just before we get some areas 
of application, There is a little bit of information we are having 
in the second part now, the healing of the sick in Malta. The healing 
of the sick in Malta, verses 7 to 10 in this Acts passage of chapter 
28. So we see surely it's not only 
Paul, but others too were preserved from situation that could easily 
have brought their death. That bite of a viper could have 
led to his death. He was spared by God's grace. 
But now we are told in verse 7, chapter 28, verse 7, this 
truth, now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging 
to the chief man of the island named Publius who received us 
and entertained us hospitably for three days. And it happened 
that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery 
and Paul visited him and prayed and putting his hand on him healed 
him and this is a very gracious work that Paul did. a work of 
mercy, and so Paul healed him. But that was not the only thing, 
because then immediately after his healing, then verse 9, and 
when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island 
who had diseases also came and were cured. Now this is a very 
unique turn of events. Remember they had called him 
a murderer, they call him a god, and now one who certainly does 
them good. What is happening here? But Paul 
surely is demonstrating in this island that he is a true apostle. Now what is captured by Luke 
in those verses is the aspect or the perspective of the signs 
that follow an apostle. They are the signs of miracles, 
you know, mighty works. but an apostle certainly is one 
known to be bringing God's Word to the people. And so, he did 
not just, surely now, arguing from silence, but Paul did not 
just wholesale, you know, just provide healing right, left, 
and center without explaining from whom is this authority or 
this power coming? Knowing Paul surely, even in 
the sea, you know, and in the terrible shipwreck, Paul was 
always quick to explain about the God whom he served. And now, 
though Luke does not tell us, surely Paul must have told them, 
listen, I'm a preacher of the gospel, and I tell people about 
the God who created the world, the God to whom you are responsible, 
and the God, therefore, who also is in church and controls every 
situation that would take place in one's life. And because of 
that, then, this God brings healing upon you. That surely could have 
happened. But again, it's arguing from 
silence. But another element is just the 
way these people responded, how they reacted in verse 10. They had been cured, and we praise 
God for that. Verse 10, they also honored us 
greatly. And when we were about to sail, 
they put on board whatever we needed. And again, it's something 
small, but it's really a demonstration. We are not told how many people 
would have been saved, but we are seeing here A life that must 
have been touched by the gospel and demonstrated by the power 
of the Holy Spirit in healing these people that their hearts 
were warmed towards Paul and his other people. So they supplied 
them with all that they needed. So in this healing we see God 
is at work. The Word is not mentioned, but 
God is at work through His Apostle, always working, doing the will 
of His Father. Well, quickly, friends, let's 
conclude with what conclusion do we draw? The conclusion we 
draw is they arrive in Rome, in the third place, arrival in 
Rome. In a nutshell, God has kept his 
promise. God has kept his promise there 
in verses 11 to 16. After three months, we set sail 
in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria 
with a twin, God's figurehead, putting in at Sayrakas, we sailed there, stayed 
there for three days and from there we made a circuit and arrived 
at Regium. And after one day, a south wind 
sprang up, and on the second day, we came to Puteleon. There, we found brothers like 
that. We found brothers and were invited 
to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. And the brothers there, when 
they heard about us, came as far as the forum and our peers 
and three taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked 
God and took courage. This really is a wonderful conclusion 
of what has happened. Paul is finally in Rome. And there in Rome, the brothers 
came from far distant lands. They had heard about Paul. They 
had received the letter that he had earlier written to them, 
and for them just to hear that Paul has come. They came from 
a long way. And it ends beautifully by saying 
at the end of verse 15, Paul thanked God and took courage. A little phrase, but really, 
or a little sentence, but powerful. Paul reflects on all that has 
happened. Look, for example, in chapter 
27 verse 24. where it is written, do not be 
afraid, Paul, you must stand before Caesar. In fact, even 
much earlier, in chapter 23, I believe, verse 11, the same 
truth had been given to him. The following night, the Lord 
stood by him and said, take courage, for as you have testified to 
the fact about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome. And between that time or those 
times to the time he's in Rome, think of what Paul has gone through, 
dear friends. Think. And what do we make of it? There 
were loads of challenges. Challenges upon challenges. But this truth, that Paul was 
kept by the power of God. So what lesson do we draw when 
we think of Paul in this matter? Surely we learn this. Whatever 
happens to one in life, and here we are thinking of Paul. These 
things fall within the purpose or purposes of God. Everything 
you can imagine. In the case of Paul, there is 
the storm, there is the shipwreck, there is the viper. Think back 
in Jerusalem before he moved to Caesarea. There is the Jewish 
leaders breathing fire against him, who caused him to languish 
in Caesarea for two years and even more. Think of the riots 
back there in Jerusalem. Nothing. will separate Paul from God's 
love. Nothing will cancel, will thwart, 
will frustrate God's purpose for him. And that should encourage. How should it encourage you and 
me, believers in this worship today? How should that encourage 
us? Peter puts it exactly, and that is where this idea of kept 
by the power of God, 1 Peter 1 verse 5, that we are kept by 
the power of God through faith. And that faith is honestly humbling 
ourselves in God's hand, humbling ourselves in God's hand for his 
will to be done. Dear brother, dear sister, think 
about your life and what you have gone through in the past 
and what you are going through right now and you do not know 
tomorrow. This that Paul drew and which 
caused him to draw encouragement needs to be ours. that whatever we are going through, 
and remember, the emphasis on the difficulties, the challenges, 
the frustrations, the failures, the disappointments, we may extend 
it, the calamities, the sufferings, illness or illnesses that doesn't 
just seem to get any better. If you are a believer, then you 
are kept by the power of God. and God will bring his purposes 
to come to pass. He did it for Paul and he is 
a God who has not changed. This God is powerful. I said it earlier, this point when I arrived here on Friday. there was the rain and so that 
was quite a welcome experience from, you know, for you dear 
ones here. I also came from Eldoret and 
there is rain there. I could take some little pride 
that I have brought rain from Eldoret to you because I came 
and you got your rain and it is raining in Eldoret. But that's just a little pride. 
I don't have the power to make the rain. And if I claimed any 
power, then last night my power was tested and found wanting 
because last night there was just one mosquito in my bedroom. And that one mosquito spoiled 
my night terribly. So here is a rainmaker from Eldoret 
but cannot handle just one mosquito to enjoy his sleep. We are talking 
about a God who is in full control of everything for the good of 
his people and for his glory. Dear brethren, whatever be your 
challenge at the moment, be like Paul and take courage. And of course, when you are with 
your brethren, I think when you're a loner, then that's a challenge. Please, let's not be loners. 
But here, Paul coming into contact with these believers, Most of 
them, maybe all of them he had never seen before. They only 
heard about him and read his letter. But coming among them, 
like you people have so graciously welcomed, what an opportunity 
for me to be encouraged. We need one another to be encouraged, 
please. bear that, take courage. Our God is powerful and is able. And let me close by saying this 
to those you are hearing God's Word But deep in your heart, 
you know you're not a believer. You come, you love to come here, 
you love to hear the gospel preached here. Maybe someone has told 
you about this place, and you come here maybe week by week, 
or you're visiting like me today, though I was here a couple of 
years back. But here you are, you have listened to God's Word. Paul's journey, as Luke wraps 
up Paul's journey, this journey of Paul, dear friend, who you 
know you are not saved, you know what should curse you? As an unbeliever, this is an 
encouragement to curse you, to cast yourself upon this God Cast 
yourself upon this God. He's able. You can trust him. Paul trusted him every bit of 
the way. And Paul was a human being like 
us. Of course, Paul was with other 
people, apart from Luke and the other brothers that he was with. The rest were not believers. 
They had the opportunity to see Paul live a Christian life before 
them. Luke does not tell us that just 
by the experience of this journey, some of them came to faith. But 
I'm pleading with you, pleading with you. If you're not saved, 
here is opportunity. See what God does in the life 
of believers around you, with you, and trust this God. Often, when we talk with people, 
they say, I don't know, I don't want to take a step of faith 
because I don't know whether I can make it to the end. It's 
not by your strength. You would be kept by the power 
of God. Know that place, and when you trust this God, He will 
deliver you. Oh, everyone here, there is encouragement 
for us to think of this God who is able and who calls. Through 
the Lord Jesus Christ, put your trust in Him, and you will not 
be put to shame. Let's pray. Lord, our God, The 
Apostle Paul is showing us that you are in full and genuine control. He trusted you. Luke reports 
that. And wherever Paul and every opportunity 
he came, every experience he went through, he wanted you to 
be glorified. This morning, Lord, we are glorifying 
you. And you treat us, you deal with 
us through your Son, the Lord Jesus, in whom we find acceptance. And therefore, Lord, do forgive 
us, us believers, where we have doubted you, where we have stood 
back or made our way back when you were telling us, no, trust 
me, go on, trust me, come on, move on. And yet we have stalled, 
we have stopped, we have turned back. Lord, have mercy upon us. And then for those of our friends 
here who are not saved, but they see your word, what indeed you 
have done to your people, the Apostle Paul and those who believe, 
and they can see the lives of the people in this church, not 
perfect, People are not perfect here, but there are people here 
who truly love you. So we pray for the unbelievers 
that they can trust you. Oh God, work, please work so 
that your name is glorified. Do hear our prayer. Even children 
among us, may they know this is a God who can be trusted. 
Hear our prayer. For these things we pray in Jesus' 
name, amen.