PBM Jan 2014

PHISH BOWL MINISTRIES

JANUARY 2014

“Chummin’ for Saints until the nets are full”

Matthew 4:19

 

My dear friends,

     Blessings to you all from the free world; OK, not so completely free for me, but I am half way there.  Community is a lot different than the picture that was painted for me by the fellas in the joint.  It has taken some time to focus on how my new phish bowl would work; but I can see Father clearly in my life.

     My first day here the Calvary family so blessed me by providing my needs and some wants, and they have continued to love on me.  Pastor Kevin, Barb, and others have shown me the love of Jesus and what our walk is supposed to look like confirming in words and action what we believe Christ is calling all of us to be and do and that is Love!  It is so easy to love lovable people, but what if you are called to love difficult people?  This is where the rubber meets the road.  When everything you think that Father should be doing is not what He knows is best for us.  We must continue to trust in Father’s perfect and loving plan for our lives.  You may be asking, OK Tim, why are you writing in this way?  I believe this is a good question.  Back in October and November we started to study about Peter and Cornelius, a Jew and a Gentile, I cannot help but to see a connection to my new life in some ways.

     I am coming from one world, one way of living and going to another world, another way of living.  A world where things are so different and I am so different in so many ways.  I am an outsider to this world and Father has sent me here.  Uprooted and replanted---not so much for me---even though I too reap the blessing, but more for others and the glory of God.

Acts 10:9-23 Peter’s Vision:  ⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.  ¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. ¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” ²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
     Let me start with a background picture about Jews and Gentiles.  In the OT, it is taught that the Jews were to be a light for the Gentiles, but somewhere that slowly became perverted to a teaching like this:   All Gentiles were unclean (unworthy) and God made Gentiles to fuel the fires of hell.     If a Jew happened to touch a Gentile, he would go home, burn his clothes and take a bath…not ASAP, but he would drop everything and announce loudly “unclean, unclean” or in Hebrew ‘tame’ [taw-may, tame].  So why does God need to get Peter’s attention?  Because He needs to change Peter’s viewpoint on how things are to be.

 ⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

     I find it true in many situations that when Father wants to do a work in me, He will get me alone and form a hunger in my soul; is that hunger for Him or for fellowship? Many times, that hunger is for me to be who God has called me to be.
     In Acts 9:32, it tells us that “Peter was traveling through all those parts (places).” Don’t overlook this.  God in His word is always really good at telling who the players are; I mean who the traveling companions are.  Peter is traveling alone.  Wondering.  Looking to see where and how Father is going to use him.  He’s hungry for something.  Is it healing Aeneas? (Acts 9:33-34).  Is it raising Dorcas from the dead?  (Acts 9: 39-43).  Many times in my own walk, it seems as if I’m traveling alone looking for His will at this time in my life.  (OK, I know that He is always with me so don’t get lost in thought).  Praying, studying, and doing ministry can get in front of me, but all of the time knowing Father has me in a holding pattern.
     For almost the first 30 days in the halfway house there was nothing for me to do.  I could not get passes out.  I felt like I needed to find a job, get set up in church and the list can go on and on.  But, Father had a plan and His own timing.  So, I was to sit, serve and trust in Him.  In His perfect timing, I received a Wal-Mart pass two days after Kevin returned from Israel.  Then I landed a job just a few days after I finished all of my required check in and registry.  He knows the time and I need to trust His timing. I can see this in Peter; OK Lord, you want me here, OK.  Go to Lydda, OK.  Stay in Joppa with a tanner, OK. Can we do this? I have to tell you the truth that although not in every hour of every day, but I continue to press on for the goal.
     Back to the text and vs. 10, “desiring to eat”.  This word –geuomai (ghyoo’-om-ahee) means to eat or taste.  This will be very important as we move on in the teaching.  There are those who will tell you that this is all metaphorical and yes in some ways it is, but don’t get it backwards.  Don’t let those who are Judaizers flip this teaching around to bring you back under bondage.
     And next, “He fell into a trance”.  A trance is: “a state in which the soul is unconscious of present objects being wrapped into visions of distant or future things”.  Father has Peter just where He wants him.  Still, he is in prayer seeking our Lord’s vision for Him, he’s not running around asking Bob, John, Dick, or Harry what he should do.  He is seeking the Lord, open to the Lord’s voice and look what happens:

 ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

     Due to room in this letter, I will not put Leviticus 11 but I do hope that you stop for a few minutes and read it.

¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

     “Kill and eat” what?  All kinds of animals, reptiles and birds; the problem was that the animals were mixed, clean and unclean.  On this sheet were all different kinds of animals and in the middle was a big, fat, dirty pig!  This is where we get the Greek term “Pig in a blanket”!  Sorry, I couldn’t pass it up…sorry…but that’s funny!
     The red letter Bible adds something to this text that is missed in non- red letter Bibles.  In verse 13, “Rise Peter, kill and eat” are in red, meaning this is Jesus speaking to Peter and in verse 14, he knows Jesus’ voice, “Not so Lord”!  I just wonder for a moment when is Peter ever going to get it?  Here he is again rebuking Jesus.  But the cool thing is that this does not faze Jesus for one moment.  He knows and loves Peter right where he is.  He has no problem setting Peter straight, “What God has called cleaned”.  Stop, not clean, but cleaned, past tense, the cross is done.  Jesus has risen for our sins.  We who belong to Him are cleaned, it’s done.
     This is the point in the teachings that some twist to fit their own teaching and not Father’s.  Kill and eat; we have covered eat already, now kill.  Greek: Thuō (thoo), which is an action word-do, sacrifice, slay.  So the first part of the teaching is clear; it is about food as well as men.  We know this by going to Galatians 2:11-21.
Galatians 2:11-21
¹¹ Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? ¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.  ¹⁷ “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

      So, kill is kill and eat is eat.  Food may have been the first consideration, but Peter would soon understand the greater message.  Why is man, Greeks or Gentiles, the greater message over an issue of the Law?  It is because of love.  God is calling us to love one another, not fight over the law.
Romans 14:1-14  Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. ² For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. ⁴ Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.  ⁵ One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.  ¹⁴ I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.  ¹⁹ Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. ²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. ²¹ It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. ²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

     So, what does Peter do about this new concept?

¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. ¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” ²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

     Peter went way with them.

Acts 11:12   Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
     Though Peter chose to travel in public with three Gentiles, he was careful to take six believing   Jewish brethren with him as witnesses for two reasons.  One was that a Jew needed the witness of two or more during any type of dissension and 2) Peter anticipated the argument from “those of the circumcision”.
Acts 11:13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,
     In closing, in verse 20, the Spirit tells him “…arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them”.   The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity speaks, whereas in verse 13, Jesus is the one speaking and back in verse 4, God the Father (Abba) knows Cornelius’ prayers.  Things such as this are very important to see our God as a 3 in 1 God and passages such as this one clearly point to that:

     Father-knows

     Jesus-instructs
     Spirit-leads
     And Peter does what each of us is to do, he goes!  See what his travel instructions are: “Doubt nothing, for I (Spirit) have sent…”  Note to self from the Holy Spirit:  “Doubt nothing, for I have sent you to the Phoenix Center”.

     To my family behind the walls, I miss you daily and my heart aches for our fellowship.  Know that you are in my prayers and how I love you so.  Father knows the day and time we will see each other in this world or in the next.  As you know, at this time, I cannot directly contact you.  Let all of the saints know this; living right, living in the Light.

     If any of you need to contact Phish Bowl, you may do so through Barb as we talk weekly.
Semper Fidelis!

Love, Timothy (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

PBM is an outreach of:
Calvary Chapel Loveland
276 E 29^th St
Loveland, CO   80538
To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact us at the above address, attn.:  Barb

PBM Dec 2013

 PHISH BOWL MINISTRIES

December 2013

“Chummin’ for Saints until the nets are full”

Matthew 4:19

 Dear friends and family,

 Timothy would like to express his gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his release from FCF  October 2013.  He is currently residing at The Phoenix Center and has just secured a job.  He has agreed to work for this gentleman until October 2014 when his parole should come through!

Tim is looking great as you can tell from these photos and is actually able to relax a bit.  Our Father is keeping him very busy in this new phish bowl as you knew that He would.  Yep, you guessed it, he was asked to start a Bible study on day two of his arrival to TPC.  Answer:  Of course!  He assists in the kitchen, even helping to prepare the Thanksgiving meal and then serving it later.

 He is able to get around town to different appointments via RTD bus system and his bicycle.  Wal Mart was quite the experience with all of the colors, merchandise and new things that are available.  Did you know that there is such a thing as a “smart car”?   One can get real meat that tastes like real meat at restaurants, and the food actually touches on the plate!  He has met some great brothers and this gives him awesome fellowship.  Pastor Kevin has been able to meet with him a couple of times over the past month…what a pleasure to be with his spiritual father.

Please drop him a line if you would like to; I know that he would enjoy hearing from ALL of you. I need to update his address from last month’s PBM as I was off just a little bit.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, no matter where you are or what your circumstances are.  Jesus is the same inside the walls and outside the walls and He loves each one of you.

May He bless you and keep you safe in His arms today and every day.

Semper Fidelis!   Timothy (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

PBM is an outreach of:
Calvary Chapel Loveland
276 E 29^th St
Loveland, CO   80538 
To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact us at the above address, attn.:  Barb

Timothy Tice
The Phoenix Center
8031 I 76 Frontage Rd
Henderson, CO  80640

Phish Bowl Ministries November 2013

PHISH BOWL MINISTRIES

November 2013

“Chummin’ for Saints until the nets are full”

Matthew 4:19

Dear family,

I am sitting here thinking of what to say with so much on my mind.  First, by the time this gets to you, I will still be in prison or I will be at a halfway house.  If in prison, I will be planning a Thanksgiving spread for the fellowship.  If in the halfway house, I don’t know what Thanksgiving will look like.  I do know that I will be thankful for being on the streets.  If in prison, then I will be thankful for one last Thanksgiving with the brothers behind the walls; but, for now, one day at a time, waiting for Community to pick me up.  However, this does not stop the work of the Lord.  Today, my head is in prison and I serve Him and His Church; here, today.  If tomorrow I am a slave in the free world, I will seek His will in my new phish bowl.

Peter is going to do just that here in Acts 10-11:18.  He is going to do something which no good Jewish man would ever do; he is going to the unclean Gentiles.  However, not just any Gentile, but he was going to a hated Roman conqueror.

 
Peter’s life since his first meeting with Jesus was never what he thought a good Jewish boy saw as his life following his Messiah.  This life was not going to have the best clothes, latest car, and the best motels with a 6 figure salary.  We never see that picture of Christianity until sometime in the 20^th century.  Instead, we see:

10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Father just rocked Peter’s world in one big area, kosher food, an outward way of showing righteousness and being clean!  This will lead to another big change, who is really clean and not clean?  Now in the last PBM, we already covered Acts 10:1-2, and the person Cornelius.

³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
The ninth hour or 0300 was likely one of Cornelius’ regular times of prayer as it was a custom of the temple.  An angel of God will be described further in Acts 10:30 that the angel was “a man in dazzling clothes” (NLT).  This is not the first time God has used a heavenly messenger. Other examples are:
               Exodus 3: 1-4:  The burning bush with Moses
               Numbers 22: 21-30: A talking donkey of Balaam
               I Kings 19: 1-44:  A gentle whisper heard by Elijah
               Jeremiah 13: 1-11: The strange object lessons of Jeremiah.
This is a veteran soldier whose “memorial offerings” and “prayer” are known before God.  Don’t miss this, Cornelius is not a Jew, but he is a devout God fearing man whom God hears. This is a new concept since Father was the God of the Jews only.  We sometimes get so caught up in the here and now that we don’t give room for Father to move us to a different tomorrow.  We hold on to ‘right here’ and ‘right now’, afraid of change and losing our comfort zone.  When I study the saints, what I see is them always looking to see where Father is working and then moving in the direction to follow Him.

Look at it this way: My church family, my friends, my safety are in Loveland, CO.  But Father has me going to Henderson Colorado where in my mind, I have nothing, but that is not true.  See, where the Holy Spirit leads, He will prepare the path before me.  For the past 7 years, I’ve thought about how I will join Calvary Chapel Loveland in ministry:  What will my role be? What work will I be doing? But all this time, Jesus has had His perfect plan being set down before me.  So, do I tell Jesus, NO, your choice is wrong?  Or, do I do what I believe a life which is sold out to Jesus should look like?  I am so looking forward to seeing what He has in mind as my role in His kingdom.

Do you look at Jesus with your list of what your life is to look like or do you look to see where He is and what work He has for you and just join Him, leaving the details up to Him?  I don’t know how we can read Acts and not see men, such as Paul, Peter, John and many others who, no matter what it looked like, did not follow the calling of the Lord.  Now days, we look back and say, “Wow, if I could live like that for you Jesus, that would be cool”.  But could we instead say “Lord, in spite of me and my flesh, please break me so that I can fully be used for the Kingdom”?However, if we look at all of God’s Word, this is not true.  God has always answered the sincere prayers of those who seek Him by sending the right person or the right information at the right time.
⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The angel tells Cornelius to do something and he does it, he doesn’t debate with the angel.  Cornelius wants God’s best and knows that to receive Father’s best, his life has to be worked out His way.  The picture of Acts 10 and really the whole Bible is of God setting events and individual lives to bring about His eternal purposes.  Father has a big, cosmic plan that He is setting in place, and He is using obedient servants to make it happen.  Are you in a place and of such a mind to be used by the Great Conductor?  Can you get ready?  God may just send someone into your Phish Bowl today who needs your help, wisdom or your gifts.  I wish to close on this thought:

A Gift to God:

Cornelius was generous in helping the poor.  Here are ten common excuses for not helping the poor and needy:
1.      They don’t deserve help.  Tell them to get a job and work, like the rest of us!
2.     God’s call to help the poor doesn’t apply to them.
3.      After I take care of my needs there isn’t enough left to help others.
4.     I would, but something might happen next week and I would need those resources.  God tells us to save up in case of an emergency.
5.     The money that I do give never really reaches the poor.
6.     I don’t know where to give, I don’t have the time to do the research, and I just don’t have the time to give.
7.     My little bit won’t make a difference.
8.     If God really wants me to give, He would give me more!
9.     God likes a cheerful giver, and I don’t have the gift of giving, so God is OK with this.
10.  If I give, then I would be the poor.

Luke mentions the habit of Cornelius’ care for those in need.  Acts 10:2, “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing, he gave generously to those in need…” (NIV).  And, the angel’s messenger did so as well.  Believers must never forget God’s love for the poor (James 2:5) and the importance of caring for them.

               Exodus 22: 22-27:  ²² “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; ²⁴ and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.²⁵ “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. ²⁶ If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. ²⁷ For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Leviticus 25:35-37:  ³⁵ ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. ³⁶ Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. ³⁷ You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.
Proverbs 14:31: “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy”.
Luke 6:21: ²¹ blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,    for you shall laugh.
Galatians 2:10 ¹⁰ They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
1 Timothy 5:3-5: ³ Honor widows who are really widows. ⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. ⁵ Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

Jesus could not have been clearer on the importance of the subject:
Matthew 25:44-45: ⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

The angel painted Cornelius’ action as an offering to God.  That is a beautiful picture of what our properly motivated acts of faith are like; they ascend to God like the smoke of the sacrifice.  This is the language of the Leviticus sacrifice (See Leviticus 2:2) and commonly applies to our prayers and good deeds in Christ’s name (See Phil. 4:18 & Heb. 13: 15-16).

Semper Fidelis!

Love, Timothy (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

PBM is an outreach of:

Calvary Chapel Loveland .276 E 29^th St.Loveland, CO   80538

To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact us at the above address, attn.:  Barb

Good news brothers and sisters!  As of today, October 28^th, Timothy has been moved to the Phoenix Center, 8031 Highway I-76, Henderson, CO  80640.

We praise our heavenly Father and His timely, perfect will and wait to see what He does next in Tim’s life!  AMEN!!

 

New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Phish Bowl Ministries September 2013

PHISH BOWL MINISTRIES

September 2013

“Chummin’ for Saints until the nets are full…”

Matthew 4:19

            It is so good to write you all…no, I really mean it!  I just had ‘the big surgery’ on my left arm two weeks ago and just today I have felt like writing.  I am healing well as planned with total recovery in around 3 months.

            I have a praise report and this is a God-thing.  I have been accepted to Community Corrections which is a halfway house.  I am waiting on an open bed space which could be up to 6 months.  Now some have asked, “What does this mean for Phish Bowl”?  Nothing.  I might have to wait a month to send a teaching, but as soon as I can write, we will continue our walk through Acts.  My hope is that with me on the street, PBM will be able to expand the work that needs to be done; OK, I don’t like the term “needs to be done”.  I’m looking forward to how Father wishes me to serve Him and the saints.
            So with all of that, let’s take a look at Acts.  We are going to dive into Acts 10:1-11:18 with Peter witnessing to Cornelius at Caesarea.

Acts 10-11:18 NKJV

Cornelius Sends a Delegation:  10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision:  ⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”  ¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea:  ¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.  ¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”  ²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius:  ²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”  ³⁰ So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Preaching to Cornelius’ Household:  ³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles:  ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.  Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter Defends God’s Grace:   11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”  ⁴ But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

            Let me start with a disclosure:  In between my surgery and working on a parole plan which I still need to finish, my study time has taken a hit and I don’t want to cheat you out of any good tid-bits.  So, if it is OK for this month, let’s just cover some key points.  Next month when my hand does not hurt and I am back on schedule, we will return to line-by-line teaching through Acts. 

In His earthly ministry, Jesus had said that the Spirit of God was like a wind blowing unpredictably through men’s lives (John 3:8), convicting them of their sin and drawing them to Himself (John 16:8,13).  In the early church, the first nine chapters of Acts were mainly directed to the Jews.   But suddenly in Acts 10, the Spirit is going to work in the life of a Gentile Roman army soldier.  This is a turning point in church history.  The one true God-the God of the Hebrews-was about to unveil His eternal plan, hidden in plain sight throughout the age:  “There is no longer Jew or Gentile…you are all Christians…one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NLT).  And the Book of Acts will continue with this singular message.  The Word was spreading and the Church was growing, founded solely on the crucified and resurrected Christ.

Acts 10: 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Cornelius was a Gentile of Italian decent.

Centurion: a part of a cohort, a regiment of the Roman military.  A legion numbered about 6 thousand men.  Each legion had ten cohorts of about 6 hundred men.  The cohorts were divided into centuries of a hundred men and each century was commanded by a centurion, something like a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps.
Caesarea: a city approximately 30 miles north of Joppa on the Coast; was the capitol of Judea under the Roman procurators.
            Church history records that the first non-Jewish, gentile Christian church was located in Caesarea.
            I would like to take us down a side road for a moment.  At no time in the New Testament does Jesus rebuke a military man for being in the military.  God wants to reach others in many walks of life.  Now because of frequent outbreaks of violence, Roman soldiers were stationed throughout Israel to keep the peace.  But, most Romans were hated as conquerors.  As an army officer, Cornelius was in a difficult position.  He represented Rome but somewhere he was conquered by the God of Israel. In the second half of verse two, four things about Cornelius are pointed out:
1)    He was devout.
2)    He was God-fearing.
3)   He was a generous giver.
4)   He was consistent in prayer.         
                    Just by reading this description, it seems that Cornelius was the real deal.  The term for “devout”-eusebes-, is used only here and in 10:7 to describe one of his soldiers.  The term “God-fearing” is more of a technical term for a Gentile who attended synagogue and followed the Jewish laws but had not been circumcised.  This is different from a “proselyte” who was more thoroughly committed to Judaism.
                    Cornelius’ story demonstrates to us how willing God is to use extraordinary means to reach those who desire to know Him.  God does not play favorites and does not hide from those who want to find Him.  Father sent His Son “to seek and save those…who are lost”  (Luke 19:10)  because He loves the whole world which includes Peter, Cornelius and you.  Even at this moment, Father is drawing men and women to Himself (John 6:44).
                    “OK, Tim, I get this part, but what will happen to the heathens who have never heard about Christ?”  What about them…?!  This question is often asked in the light of God’s justice.  Cornelius wasn’t a follower of Christ, but he was seeking God.  Therefore, God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ.  Cornelius is an example that God rewards those who seek Him (see Hebrews 11:6).  So, ask yourself this question, “Could you be the Peter in some other Cornelius’ phish bowl just waiting to hear the truth about Jesus Christ?
  
                        My hand is hurting and it needs to rest, and so do I.  Saints, live life in a way that shows that you believe in His forgiveness and serve grace, a hundred proof, to those around you.

Semper Fidelis!
Love, Timothy (I Corinthians 16:13-14)
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