Phish Bowl Ministries January 2012

Phish Bowl Ministries
January 2012
Matthew 4:19
“Chummin’ for Saints…until the nets are full”

Saints, as we enter into this New Year, it seems that a lot of people are talking about December 21, 2012 as the “end of time.” Not that I buy into it, but I will use it to ask a question: What if it really is the end? What if this year is your last one to get right with Jesus or reach that family member or talk to the guy next door about Jesus? What if we only had 12 months to live, how would your walk look different?
The early church was blessed with undeniable miracles taking place. The Apostles were teaching life changing truths but a large number of people hung back, stayed on the sideline. They refused to join in, opting to watch from the bleachers. Beware of hesitancy to commit. Being part of God’s work is time consuming and has a lot of responsibilities. However, when you refuse to jump in and get dirty, you’re missing out on untold blessings. You are choosing a mundane life on the sidelines, an unfilled life in Christ.
What makes Christianity attractive? People were attracted to the early church because of its love for one another; God’s power at work by the generosity, sincerity, honesty and unity of the members and by the character of the leaders. Saints, have our standards slipped; should we not return to our first love if time is really so short? We need to make the truth about God the center of our witness.
William Barclay once said: “The way to spread Christianity is to be Christian…Jesus sends us out not to argue men into Christianity, still less to threaten them into it, but to attract them into it; to live so that its fruits may be so wonderful that others will desire them for themselves.”

(Acts 5:12-16) And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (NKJV)
The Apostles were preaching boldly about Jesus right in the temple courts. We see that large crowds would gather and because of the power of God and the faithfulness of his people, the gospel was spreading, taking roots, and bearing fruit in lives.




Acts 5:12) And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. (NKJV)
Solomon’s Colonnade was part of the temple complex built by King Herod the Great in an attempt to strengthen his relationship with the Jews. Keep this in mind when the believers met at the temple, they were without a doubt in ear shot of the same religious leaders who had conspired to put Jesus to death.
I’ve read a lot about the Apostles’ power to perform miraculous signs (semeia) and wonders (terata) and what I have learned is this; we don’t all agree! But this I do know and you can take it to the bank: The miracles were from God, but administered through the hands of the Apostles, to convince Jewish on-lookers of the credibility of the Christian message and movement.
(Acts 5:13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (NKJV)
I’m going to refer to my study bible for their commentary. “The terminology of this verse seems to refer to association on intimate terms-the watching community respected the believers but likely found God’s direct and obvious work through them to be intimidating. Some may have been afraid to face the same kind of persecution the Apostles had faced while others may have feared a fate similar to the one which fell on Ananias and Sapphira. This may simply be a reference to the fact that no more hypocrites or pretenders dared to join the group. Persecution has always had a tendency to separate the curious from the committed, the fakers from the followers, and the make-believers from the true believers.” Life Application Bible.
Acts 5:14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (NKJV)
Luke goes on to explain that despite many unbelieving Jews hanging back, the Spirit was working. Many were still coming to faith in Christ.
Acts 5:15-16) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (NKJV)
These verses have two things which I want to expound on: The Word was beginning to spread beyond Jerusalem and secondly the phrase “Possessed by “evil” spirits.” Evil (unclean) spirits or demons are ruled by Satan. They were not created by Satan, because only God can create. Evil spirits and demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion and thus became perverted and evil. At times, these evil spirits enter peoples’ bodies, take up residence and control them. However, a believer in Jesus the Christ who is indwelt with the Holy Spirit can not be possessed. The Bible is clear that a house can not be divided.
So this brings us back to “This is your last year” and what are going to do with it? Did your encounter with Jesus change your walk (life) or does your walk (life) still look the same? Do you tell God, “When I retire, then I will get into the game?” Or, “Jesus, that’s just not what you are calling me to.” I don’t have the answer for your walk, all I can do is my walk and to pray that you don’t waste this last year.

UPDATES:
This is the third month in group and we are currently learning about victim impact. This has really worn me down. My boss even needed to give me a couple of days off. I have to look at my crimes from the view point of my victims, to see their pain and look at their scars which I have caused to understand the full price of crime. I am not doing much more than group. We have something to do almost every day.
Pray that I can become the man of God whom Jesus wants me to be and that I may use this time and situation to glorify Him who is my King!

Saints, I pray for you and love you. Remember that it is a life journey to understand that God will not disappoint us. There is soul healing in God’s loving Word and in the Church of the Messiah’s Misfits. Remember my chains as I remember yours. Watch. Hold fast in the faith. Be brave and be strong to the end. Let all you do, be done in love!


Semper Fidelis!

I Corinthians16: 13-14

Phish Bowl Coffee House, P.O. Box 153, Loveland, CO 80539.
http://inthephishbowl.blogspot.com
An outreach of Calvary Chapel Loveland