Encouragement

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On August 29, 2005, Katrina, a major hurricane hit the Gulf Coast with a vengeance. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama took the brunt of the storm with the City of New Orleans suffering death and damage and a catastrophic proportion. The city had to be evacuated with many of the residents relocating to Texas, mostly in Houston. This is not a rehash of that storm. I think history will show this storm and its affects will always be on our minds. But what I want to highlight for you is something happening in the unaffected Gulf Coast communities, particularly in Houston, that parallels an event from the Bible. Here is how you get through your Katrina.

After making an appeal to Governor Festus and King Agrippa to go before Caesar, the Apostle Paul was put on a ship to Rome. If you’re familiar with the account in Acts 27 the ship carrying 276 persons met a fierce storm, breaching its integrity along the waves and reefs, causing its stern to break into several pieces.

To get through your Katrina, the first thing you need to do is get to the right place. Those on the ship used pieces and other items from the ship and landed on the nearby island called Malta, about 60 miles south of Sicily (Acts 28:1). The citizens of New Orleans were eventually bused to Houston’s Astrodome away from the foul stench, polluted water and hot conditions. When you as believers are in a storm, the best place to go is not to the horoscope, gossip column, or those hanging out at the water cooler. The best place for you to go is to the church, altar, or other refuge where God’s presence exists. But getting there is not enough.

To get through your Katrina, you next need to be served by the right people. Who cared for the needs of Paul and his shipwrecked companions? It was the natives, or barbarians to those in Rome (Acts 28:2). Those who knew the territory and its resources are always able to provide the best service. Go back to Houston. It has one the top notch medical centers in the country. Is medical personnel is helping with the sick. The NFL’s Texans’ owner Bob McNair gave one million dollars from his personal account to help the victims. Several companies are interviewing for jobs and the local school district is opening unused facilities and enrolling children. Are you in a storm? Then talk to your pastor, Christian counselor or other believer who knows the word and will tell you the truth. Then you’ll be ready for the ultimate experience.

To get through your Katrina, the last thing you need to do is serve. In verse 3, Paul was bitten by a poisonous asp. But instead of keeling over, he wrapped up his wound and kept on moving. Now this was not because he had some mystical power. In Acts 23:11, the Lord told Paul he was to be a witness in Rome. He had yet to make it there so he could not have died at that time. But that’s not the beauty of this verse. The beauty is the fact that Paul was bitten because he was gathering branches. In other words, he was serving! Paul was serving his shipmates. There have been several stories in Houston where those evacuees who found homes and jobs went back to the Astrodome to help those still there. What an act of servant hood! And get this. In verses 7 – 9, Paul healed a leader’s father and several others, prayed for them, and no doubt brought many to Christ. This lasted for three months. After you’ve gone through your storm find someone who can benefit from your service. You are best qualified (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Here it is in a nutshell, and please, if you didn’t get anything else I mentioned, get this. Paul got to the right place, got served by the right people to the point where he was strengthened to serve those who served him. The people of New Orleans got to Houston and are being served by Houstonians. But you might question who the people of New Orleans are going to serve once they are strengthened? Let me put it like this, one day Katrina’s cousin is going to hit Houston. Guess who’ll be in position to help Houston. Who was in position to help you with your storm? Guess who’ll be in position in your church, Christian organization, job or community to help the next folks going through a storm.

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