The Hidden Snake

Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Act 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

This is as Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 16.

Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

There are cults who handle deadly snakes to show how spiritual they are. Is it faith they have? perhaps so, but it is also tempting the LORD. We are not to go looking for trouble, or snakes, but if God is with us, we shall be victorious.

In the evening church service a snake puppet was used to convey the story of the serpent being one who brings doubt. "Has God said?" He wants us to doubt God's word. In the back of the church there was a small stir, a lizard had entered the sanctuary; one of the men removed it. This is as the serpent, he comes in unexpectedly, to steal attention away from the word of God. He may come at us unexpectedly in the natural, as with the serpent that Paul shook off in the fire. He may also sneak up on us with lies and doubt, to steal the word from us. Know the enemy, stay close to Jesus, study the word and resist the devil in what ever way he comes to you.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.