upon the cross, fulfilling the Scriptures. The ancient texts spoke that the Messiah will crush the head of the serpent while the serpent will bruise His heel.
The serpent failed to harm me in any way. He had no power over me. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high and lofty thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. I had put on all of God's armour, so that I was able to stand against the schemes of the devil. I did not wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
Having done all, to stand, I stood firm, having my loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. I had my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all, I took the shield of faith, wherewith I was be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. I took the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And praying in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication, I had quenched the fiery darts of that serpent devil. I shook it back into the fire where it belonged. I wasn't going to dance around with serpents in the fire. I had authority over them.
The islanders waited, expecting my hand to swell up or that I suddenly fall down dead. After waiting a long time and seeing nothing was happening to me from the poisonous snake bite. They reversed their opinion about me and said that I was a god. I was considered to be one of their gods. They thought that I was an immortal god, immune to death.
Nearby were lands belonging to the governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He received us in a friendly manner and put us up for three days. Now it so happened that Publius' father was lying in bed, sick with fever attacks and dysentery. I went in to him and prayed. I laid my hands on him and healed him. The same hand that the serpent bit was the same hand that brought divine healing. After this happened, the rest of those on the island who had ailments came to me for prayer and were healed. They heaped honours on us, showing us every respect. When the time came for us to sail, they provided us the supplies we needed. They presented many gifts to us.
It was after three months' stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers, the gods Castor and Pollux as it's figurehead. We landed at Syracuse, the capital city of the Island of Sicily and remained there for three days. From there we sailed across to Rhegium, a maritime city on the coast of Italy. From there we followed the coastline as our guide. A day later a south wind began to blow, so we made it to Puteoli, a sea port in Italy the following day. There we found brothers in the faith who invited us to spend a week with them. Luke accompanied me. From there we went on towards Rome. I was on my way to Rome by divine plan.
The brothers there had heard about us and came as far as Appian Market and Three Inns to meet us. When I saw them, I thanked God and received new courage in my heart. When we arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but he allowed me to stay by myself, with a Roman guard of course. I had arrived in Rome, the capital city of the free world in the Province of Italy. The splendour of Rome, the great city built upon its seven mountains, beside the Tiber River. Only Luke, the "beloved physician" was with me in Rome.
Three days after our arrival, I called a meeting with the local Jewish leaders. When they had gathered, I said to them, "Brothers, although I have done nothing against either our people or the traditions of our fathers, I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans, being under Praetorian Guard. They examined me and were ready to release me, because I had done nothing to justify a death sentence. But when the Judeans objected, I was forced to appeal to the Emperor. Not that I had any charge to make against my own people. This is why I have asked to see you and to speak with you, for it is because of the hope of Israel that I have these chains around me."
They replied and said to me, "We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the brothers who have come from there have reported or said anything bad about you. But we do think it would be appropriate to hear your views from you, yourself. For all we know about this sect is that people everywhere are speaking against it." So they arranged a day with me and came to my quarters in large numbers. From morning until evening, I explained the matter to them, giving a thorough witness about the Kingdom of God, making use of the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets to persuade them about Jesus being the Messiah. Some were convinced by what I said, while others refused to believe.
So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after I had made one final statement, "The Holy Spirit spoke well in saying to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet." Then I read out of Isaiah on an old parchment.
Go to this people and say to them. You will indeed hear and hear with your ears but you will not understand. You will indeed look and look with your eyes but you will never perceive. For the heart of this people is hardened and calloused. Their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes. For fear that they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,and understand with their heart, and so return to me that I would heal them.
I ended by proclaiming unto them, "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they are listening!" After I said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.
I remained in Rome for two whole years in an apartment that I had rented for myself. I continued to welcome and receive warmly all the brothers in Christ who came to visit me. I dictated letters to all the Churches that I had visited. It was in Rome that I finally without hindrance, openly proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.
I am Paul, I am the least of all the apostles. I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted God's church. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and immovable. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Amen - so be it.
Final Hour. #18
It was dark, extremely dark. I had not known such thick darkness like this before. If that darkness was a reflection of hell then I never wanted to go there. I was sick with sorrow, as I was in a dungeon in Rome. My soul was seeking to find rest. Ones soul can only find rest in God alone. My soul was full of troubles, and my life was drawing near to the grave. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ felt so near to me. I knew that He would never abandon me. God looks down from the height of His sanctuary, from heaven does He behold the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoners and to loose those that have an appointment with death. Christ was abiding in me, the hope of glory. I was in chains, a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Gentiles. I was in chains for preaching His Gospel. I was surrounded by thick darkness, yet I wasn't alone. God was with me.
Even though I found myself in a dark dungeon and in chains, I was in the perfect will of God. The master of the darkness was trying to flood my mind with questions that were contradicting God's purpose for my Life. The devil is a master at sowing lies and discord. He will always try and get you to question the promises that God has made for your life. In the Garden of Eden he got Eve to question what God had said. He also got Jesus to question the Scriptures in the desert when he tempted Him, "Has God said?" I had to cast down those vain imaginations and every high and lofty thought that exalted itself against the knowledge of God. I had to take every dark thought captive and bring it into subjection to the obedience of Christ. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against princes that rule in the invisible heavenly realm. Darkness enveloped all around me but I refused to allow it to take a hold of me. I refused to give the devil a foot hold.
I had to remain in the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit. For who knows the thoughts of a man exce
pt the spirit of a man. Who knows the thoughts of God except the Holy Spirit of God. I had to continue to walk according to the Holy Spirit's promptings, for He knows the thoughts of God. I had to have the mind of Christ. I had to gird up the loins of my mind. I couldn't afford to laps and begin thinking like a carnal man. I had to have the same thought patterns in me, as they were in Christ Jesus also. I was determined to resist the devil steadfastly. He parades himself all over the world like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Having done all to stand, I stood against him girded and clothed with all of God's armour. I had put on all of God's armour and stood firm during that vile battle against the darkness.
The sound of my chains inspired me greatly. They were a reminder that I was a bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was chained to Him and for Him. I am crucified with Him. I am buried with Him and I am raised to newness of life with Him. When Christ died, I died. When He was raised from the dead, I was raised with Him to this new life. Christ, the Messiah