Acts 28:3&5 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“Success Factors” are the essential IQ/(Intelligent Quotient), EQ/(Emotional Quotient), technical and operational skillsets that are essential to differentiate superior performance from average. The success of a person is measured by their performance objective (quantifiable results) and subjective (behaviour and competencies). Our success in life hinges on our response to challenges and crisis.
“Every challenge on the earth must first be won in the spiritual realm before it manifests in the natural realm”.
While Paul was taken as a prisoner of Christ to Rome, the ship that took the prisoners was caught in a storm which tore the vessel into pieces. The prisoners swam themselves to safety to a nearby island named Malta. There Paul helped to ignite the bonfire for the shivering prisoners to warm themselves, but a lethal viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. This was a very venomous viper that could kill a person in a few minutes but Paul shook the snake into the fire and suffered no harm! The tribal hoard of the island expected Paul to swell up, convulse and die. They concluded that God’s wrath had come upon Paul so he survived the sea but was to be bitten and killed by a snakebite. However, when he did not die, they then decided that he must be a god. This miracle opened the door for Paul to minister and heal the sick on the island.
Paul had an invisible robe of righteousness that the fangs of the venomous viper could not penetrate. Holiness is our shield of protection and the mantle of power.
Success Factors:
- Hurricane: The way we face hurricanes of health issues or financial and relational challenges will set the stage for our success.
- Humiliation: In a few minutes the humiliation of Paul was turned into honour. To the pure in heart, the sting of slander, rejection and sarcasm will set the stage of honour.
- Holiness: Holiness is the bulletproof that protects our reputation, revenue and rewards.
“Holiness brings honour, success and power”.
Prayer: Father God, I will choose to walk in holiness that makes me powerful and influential for you. Amen.
Leave a Reply