We all can have a Prison

Acts 28: 25-29

Jan and I have a cousin who is serving seven years in a federal prison for making some very bad choices.  He had asked Christ into his life before any of this happened, but had let the culture guide his heart and mind and did little to feed his spiritual life.  He has now served more than half of his time in prison and he and I exchange email often.  I’ve been to the prison and it is called a low security prison, but to visit it requires that you fill out in advance a paper with personal information and when you arrive on the time and days that he can have visitors, you must come empty handed, no cookies, no books, and you wait for a guard.  Next you go through two large gates an it becomes apparent that you are now in a prison with two large fences with razor wire and you are going to a building that is also separated by those fences from the prison.

Our cousin has become a student of the Bible, in a little over three years he finished more Bible studies than is required by many in seminary and is putting Scripture to memory, and isn’t that great.  It’s wonderful, but knowledge without application will set us up for a big fall called pride.  I’ve tried to encourage him to begin sharing his faith in prison, to ask the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher, to teach him how to apply these truths while confined, for we all have been to many Bible studies and came away with smarts but it did not effect the way we lived outside of the church setting.

Being a prisoner of Christ as Paul was and knowing that though confined to a cell with guards, it was not because of the breaking of man laws, but to serve in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  You will recall the second meeting with the Jewish leader and other Jews who came to hear Paul, this is doctor Luke’s account of what took place.  “And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.  And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: ‘Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never perceive.  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’  Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

Now that’s application and that is boldness in love, and we are told by the good doctor that Paul lived there two years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.  Never forget he was not free to go to them, but his life and his message was such that they came to him. 

I’ve come to understand that we all can have a prison, it may be our title, our status, our wealth, or lack of, and unlike my cousin many have no understanding of the prison they are in.  If you are a follower of Christ, and cannot share your faith because of fear of man, you are in the worst of prisons.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do not lose sight of the Goal

Acts 28:17-24 

The goal, the goal, do not lose sight of the goal.  But have we been tricked in some smooth and fraudulent way to take our eyes off the goal that is each of our calling as Christ’s ambassadors?   For most of my life as a Christian this saying has permeated; “Do not discuss politics and religion with those you do not know well.”  How did your faith, what you believe about God and His free gift of Salvation get put in a sentence with something as ungodly as politics?  Where did the message come from that tells you not to share your faith with family, friends, and neighbors, for in doing so you might turn them off?  Turn them off, from what, is showing a love and concern for their eternal life in some way going to send them to a different hell than what the devil, the deceiver, has planned?  It is so important to understand that God did not design hell for people, it was designed for Satan and his angels, but many good people will choose that because they are full of self, and are living independently of God.

The apostle Paul never lost sight of the goal!  He had been in Rome three days when he calls the local leaders of the Jews to meet with him; then he explains what has happened to him and how he came to Rome on an appeal to Caesar.  Then Paul tells those listening: “For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” (Acts 28:20 ESV)  The local leaders share that they have not received any letter from Judea about him and no one that has come to Rome has spoken any evil of him.  But they had heard much about this new sect, these followers of Jesus of Nazareth and all they heard was against, not for.  So they set a date to come back and hear more of Paul’s views on this new sect, and they came back in greater numbers, and some believed, but others did not.

How is Paul’s setting up those meetings in keeping with the goals Christ had for him?  Do you recall what Jesus said to him on the journey to Damascus; sure you remember, Saul ask who was talking to him and Jesus said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” but do you remember that Jesus gave him this calling, this goal; “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  (Acts 26:18 ESV)
If for some reason you have been conned into believing that Paul and preachers are the ones with that goal, then you have been duped.  Do you recall Jesus’ commission to each of us; “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) 

The goal, the goal, that is what the Spirit of Christ is saying to each of us, and we should listen intently and take to heart these words from the apostle as he spoke to those in Philippi; “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.(Philippians 2:14-16 ESV)   With that heart desire, set your mind on this; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)  Remember the goal is when you see His face and He says as Paul did about Timothy, for I have no one like you, a kingdom minded follower.


From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice

A Standard for All

Acts 28:11-16

As a prisoner of Christ, and you may say Bob, I have never been in prison, nor am I a prisoner of anyone, and if that is where you find yourself, you are in good company, for most of those who go by the name of Christian are in agreement with you.  So what does the apostle Paul mean when he shares with us that he is a prisoner of Christ?  It may be of some help to look at the word “Bondservant” and this is what Scripture states: Galatians 1:10, “For is it man's favor or God's that I aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser, I should not be Christ's bondservant.”  Often in the times of Christ a person would be required to become someone’s slave for a set time to pay back a debt, and sometime after that time they would choose to become a bondservant.

Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost for His Highest” the following on what it meant to be a bondservant of Christ: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . — Galatians 2:20

“These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus.”  Chambers goes on to state that few do this, and that would include this writer.
Paul refers to himself as not only a bondservant but a prisoner of Christ, and he was content to be dead to all things, do you understand that Saul was not that kind of man, but God gave him a new heart and a new name and Paul’s heart desire was to be crucified with Christ and live no longer for self. 
So I often wonder did Paul have bad days, days where he just let his feeler get him discouraged?  I’m sure that he did, but we also know that God sent His disciples to encourage Paul as we find in verses 13-16, “      And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.”
Jan, my wife of 47 years, often tells me I need to be patient and content, and guess what she is 100% correct and Paul was giving the same message to the followers of Christ in Philippi, we find it in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

A great man of God, Charles Spurgeon, said it this way: “Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are.  When your own emptiness is painfully forced upon your consciousness, chide yourself that you ever dreamed of being full, except in the Lord.”  It has become painfully clear that it is my choice to be content to be nothing, and in so doing, to have Christ as my life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

From disaster to Hope

Acts 28:1-12

It is possible to get a little enthusiastic, when things turn out in a manner that you hoped for but were not sure of?  Your on a ship and it’s going to the bottom and this prisoner named Paul, tells you that all is well, all will be saved, not one is going to die, and all you can do is hope that he heard his God correctly, and that his God has control over the storm.  Now it has happen, the ship is gone, but not one of the 276 has lost their lives, and guess what else, the place we ended up is on the island of Malta, and the native people are unusually kind. 

Now I’m not sure about you, but I’m impressed, no it’s more than that, I am amazed at this guy named Paul, is he a prophet, why is he a prisoner, and what is his Gods’ name?  You see I also am a prisoner of Rome, I’m a thief and a murderer, and it is because of Paul that the Roman soldiers did not kill me.  This is what took place, the native people kindled a fire and welcomed all of us, for it had begun to rain and we were very cold. 

I’ve been watching my fellow prisoner for 14 days, and this Paul, he was always showing kindness to someone, always going out of his way to help one of us, and now unlike me, he is gathering a bundle of sticks to put on the fire when a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand.  The people of Malta saw the creature hanging from his hand and they said to one another; “No doubt this man is a murderer.  Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”  Now we were all watching Paul and waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead.  And as I look back on it, the natives of Malta drew back from the fire and had their eyes fixed on Paul, I also stood by the fire keeping warm, and my eyes were also on him.

After sometime the natives changed their minds and began to call Paul a god, and all 275 of us who had been in the ship with him were wondering who is this man, how can he know the things that will happen, who is he?  Now I must tell you what happened next, the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days, his father was very sick with fever and dysentery.  And Paul ask if he could pray over him, and this is what happen, Paul prayed putting his hands on him and he was healed, and when this was known, people from all over the island came to Paul with diseases and were cured. 

Now I must tell you that 275 of us benefitted greatly from what Paul had done, we were all treated with honor, even me a thief and a murderer, and when we were about to sail after being there three months, they put on board whatever we needed. 

Once more, I’m letting my imagination take me into the story, I’m that fellow prisoner of Paul’s, and I’m going to Rome for a punishment that is deserved, but Paul keeps telling me that he has an appointment with Caesar that was ordained by his God, and His Son, and that he is not a prisoner of Rome, but of Jesus Christ.  Now I must tell you that I’m not sure of the other 274 who have witness these things, but I have put my trust in the hands of Paul’s God, and he has told me the following and I have acted on what I’ve heard.  This is what Paul told me;  “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

(Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Always Choices in the Strom

Acts 27:27-39

On August 3, 1970 Hurricane Celia hit the Corpus Christi area, and it seemed like an eternity but it was less than one day when people began to dig out of what was left of their homes.  Jan and I returned from my sisters place 60 miles away to find our home and possessions were gone or destroyed.  But we were not on a ship in the Adriatic Sea, and we had food and water and it had not been 14 days of being driven by the will of the storm, but that is where we find Paul in this account from doctor Luke.  Now it is night and the sailors suspect that they are near land, so they begin to take sounding and found they were at twenty fathoms and in just a short time found they were at 15 fathoms.  So they began to let down four anchors from the stern.

It came to my thoughts that you and others may not care about Paul’s storm, in that you are in your on storm, life has not gone well, and it’s hard to think about anything or anyone else at this time.  All you want is a safe place, if that is you then you will identify with the sailors who are lowering the boat under the pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, but their intent was to escape the storm.  In the middle of a storm faith often takes a backseat to fear, some of the sailors may have believed Paul when he told them the ship would be lost but all of them would be saved, but common sense said take the boat, save yourselves.

Often fear will drive us, and when fear takes over self is in charge of will, with little regard for others; so Paul tells the centurion what the sailors are up to and that for them to be safe they must return to the ship.  Look at doctor Luke’s account of what happen next: “As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”  (Acts 27:33-38 ESV)

Wheat was used to help lower the ship in the water and once at port could be sold, but just before making a run for the beach they threw out the wheat, cut the anchors and hoisting the foresail to the wind, and headed for the beach.  At this point hope is at a new high, and those 276 people are beginning to believe what Paul has said.  This can be the most dangerous time, for some are now putting faith in what they can see and often, most often it is not the seen but the unseen that is going to rock our lives.  In their case it was a reef and the bow stuck and the surf was breaking up the stern, and the Roman soldiers become the real danger.  If the prisoners escape they will suffer the punishment of the prisoners, and so the logical thing is to kill all the prisoners.  But remember God has promised Paul that he will stand in Rome before Caesar, so God put a soft spot in the heart of the centurion for Paul, he kept them from carrying out their plan.  This was the centurion’s plan and it was acted on: “But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” (Acts 27:43-44 ESV)

What can we learn from this: 1) storms last longer than we expect, and most of the time they come as a surprise.  2) That many will grow weak and lose all hope, look only to God. 3) When it looks as if your storm is over, watch out the enemy may have a reef and a Roman soldier that has another plan, but do not lose sight of what God has promised, for He is faithful and He will deliver you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

I Told You So

Acts 27:13-27

In the New English Standard version of the Bible, that I enjoy studying, this passage has a subtitle: “The Storm at Sea.”  If we take that as a metaphor of life on planet earth, then we all get places in the story.  For all of us have experienced life’s storms, it may have been the loss of a child, a marriage that sank in the turbulent waters of greed, lust, or just no commitment.  It may be the loss of a career or job, the loss of your health, and for many my age it is the loss of your best friend, or mentor. 

In the sea of life, we have this promise from Creator God, “            I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)  Could it be that we, who go by His name, do not believe Jesus tells the truth?  How often do the storms have to encompass our lives before we understand that this life is not a life of chance, but it has a Designer who governs the affairs of men?

Paul was given information by the Designer on what awaits them and shares that knowledge with those in authority, but who is Paul, is he more knowledgeable than the ships’ captain, or the owner of the ship?  This is so much like the warning we have from Jesus in John 16:33, they do the same thing as many of us, they go out to sea with no regard for the warning.  At first, it looks so good, and in your life has this not also been the case, all is well and then the winds of life change, the unexpected happens, and you are not prepared, and no matter what actions you take the boat is going down.

That is where those on the ship with Paul find themselves, they have gone days without food, they throw away the valuable cargo, and then they did the unthinkable, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard, and many who read this have done the same with a mate, or a business relationship, and some even with their children.  Life seems to be at this point hopeless, and this is what B.H. Liddell Hart, a British military historian and strategist who lived from 1895-1970, had to say on the lack of hope: “Helplessness induces hopelessness, and history attests that loss of hope and not loss of lives is what decides the issue of war.”  And it also decides the issues of life, in parenting, in marriage, in health on the job and in the way we accept those who govern us; “helplessness induces hopelessness.”

Now the last thing I want to hear from my wife or from anyone is “I told you so,” but that is precisely what Paul does and it is recorded in Acts 27:21-26, “Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”

What I took from this is that God will put a Paul in my boat, and much of the time I will not listen to him, because he may not have a place of standing in this world, they may not even be an authority in the area of my circumstance.  And when the boat of life begins to take on water, and it is only a matter of time till all is lost, the last thing I want is to hear, “I told you so!”   This is not a time for anger, but a time to listen if your Paul is sent by the Designer, then you will have a plan that has hope, so I must not let pride keep me from listening to what comes after, “It told you so!”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Whom do you listen to?

Acts 27:1-12

Have you been to Rome?  I have not and yet it is one of the places in this world I have always wanted to visit.  We find in these twelve verses doctor Luke’s account of Paul’s travels and we might call it Paul’s travel log, and doctor Luke gives such great detail that it seems as if we are on the boat to Rome with Paul.  But before you sign up a few disclaimers are needed, Paul did not pick the time to travel to Rome, it was decided by those who put him in chains, nor did he choose his travel companions, it was not his itinerary, but you might say he was a guest of the Roman government.

As we look at the journal look at the detail that the Holy Spirit gave us through doctor Luke.  “And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

            Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.” (Acts 27:1-12 ESV)

I have kept travel journals both in business and family, but I have never been this detailed, the good doctor has made sure we are in the boat with Paul.  Have you ever perceived something and prayed that those over you would listen.  The one example that comes to my mind was as a child walking to church on Navigation Blvd. and I was up by mother and my brother and sister were walking about twenty yards behind us, when mother turned and said children run to me, now!  And they did and about the time they reached mother and I, a large truck passed us and it's trailer came free from the truck and went right in the field where they had been.  Mother spent sometime telling us that God had spoken to her about that truck and what was going to happen, and the importance of listening to God’s voice and obeying as Fred and Doris had done when she called.

Paul also was listening but doctor Luke tells us that the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to Paul.  So they set sail to Phoenix, a harbor of Crete.  These facts need to come to the surface; God had arranged an appointment for Paul before Caesar, so no matter what ship he got on he was going to end up in Rome, at some point.  But when God speaks and we do not listen, there is always a price that must be paid.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

May be the Hand of God

Acts 26:30-32

What seemed to others as one big mistake may be the hand of God arranging circumstances?   After Paul’s defense before King Agrippa, we have the King asking Paul this question: “In such a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”  Then we have Paul’s exchange; “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for the chains.”

“Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”  (Acts 26:30-32 ESV) 

Did Paul make a bad call, or was he about the Father’s business?  If you’re familiar with the Scripture it’s a no brainer, or is it, for I have no doubt Paul was a man who put on his pants one leg at a time or robe if you prefer, and he had channel One (The Enemies’ Channel) feeding him lies about what the Romans would do to him.  Yes, Paul had thoughts, emotions, and the will to choose just like you and I but he also had learned to listen to channel Two and hear the voice of the Spirit of Truth and to believe that God was able to not only use him to share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles, but to share the gospel with you and me.

Look at what happens to a man who is willing to surrender to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus; Paul broke his dependence on what he could do for God, and placed his hope on what Christ would do in Him.  He makes this clear in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Paul, being lead by the Spirit of Truth, gives us a road map on how to navigate the highway of this life.  He calls it a “Shield of Faith” in Ephesians 6:16, and he tell us that in all circumstances to take it up, and that it has the power to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.  And we have been warned by Jesus in John 10:10, that the enemy of our soul has come to steal and kill and destroy.  Most of the writings of Paul were written in a prison cell in Rome; it was probably in Rome that Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians, and this verse could be titled: “I am who God says I am!  “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:22 ESV) He also addresses this in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

(Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)

He also gave us this insight while in a Roman prison, “I can do all things through Christ” The Scripture that acknowledges this is in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” He also shares this truth in his letter to the Ephesians in 3:16.

So the next time your actions seem like you made an unbelievable mistake, take a deep breath and let God show you how He is simply making a new opportunity to expand the kingdom of God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Imagination, what a wonderful Gift

Acts 26:12-29

Imagination, what a wonderful gift!  But it is no different than any other gift that God has bestowed on us; if it is not used it goes the way of high school algebra.   Will you ask the Spirit of Truth to allow you to be part of the crowd in the audience hall?   You are watching King Agrippa and Bernice enter with great splendor, it’s the first time you have seen the new governor Festus, and there is much hope that he will govern honestly and not like Felix.  The atmosphere in the hall is almost a festival event, and you wish your family could see what you are seeing, but it quite amazing that you, a common man, was allowed to witness such an event. 

Now I missed some of what Paul has said in his defense, but all of a sudden, Paul begins to tell about a journey to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, to lock up any of the ones who were followers of Jesus of Nazareth.  You may not believe me but these are Paul words: “At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

(Acts 26:13-18 ESV)

I’m just a common man, but my friend Reuben who was sitting beside me had heard Paul speak and was now also a follower of this Jesus of Nazareth, and he whispered in my ear, it is as he says.  I ask him to be quiet, for Paul was now addressing the King; “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:19-23)

Now I remember the teaching I had received as a small child at temple, and all that Paul was saying seemed to come together with the teaching of Messiah, and being lost in thought, it was as if I was awakened by these words from Festus the governor; “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” (Acts 26:24-29 ESV)

Reuben and I left the hall and we walked without a word for some time, and then Reuben stopped, he got my attention and he said, do you believe in Jesus of Nazareth?  Many years have passed since that day, but Jesus of Nazareth is still asking that same question.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

But take Heart

Acts 26:1-12

The chapter begins with Agrippa saying to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”  Have you wondered why Agrippa made such a statement?  We find that when the high priest came to the court before Felix at Caesarea, he had a spokesman, one Tertullus that laid out their case against Paul.  After asking the Holy Spirit, my teacher, to give me understanding and looking to the Scriptures, I began to see what others had said was the reason for granting this permission to speak.  “Then Agrippa said unto Paul... After Festus had made the above speech to him, and to all present, and had introduced the affair of Paul, who now stood before them: thou art permitted to speak for thyself; which a prisoner might not do, until he had leave; and this leave was granted by Festus the Roman governor, who was properly the judge, and not Agrippa, though the permission might be by both; and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "we have ordered", or "permitted thee.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)
Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense, and historians tell us that it was common for a person to raise both hands as they began to speak but we find that it is stated that Paul only raised one hand.  If you read down in the chapter to verse 29, you will find the answer that Paul was chained to a Roman guard, more than likely.
Paul begins his third defense before king Agrippa and the court in this manner: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.  “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:2-8 ESV)
Paul telling Agrippa, I’m an open book, and that book has been well read in Jerusalem, and from my youth I’ve been zealous for the traditions of my people and the things of God. I’m a Pharisee and I like all of the twelve tribes, and my hope is Messiah, or the Christ, and the resurrection of the dead.
As a follower of Christ it has become clear that the name of Jesus changes the way people view me, when the name of Jesus is used in a manner of gratitude, and acknowledgment of His great love for us, by paying our sin debt.   As Paul begins his defense, never forget that he is not a target for death because he opposed the name of Jesus of Nazareth for at the time he did he was the favorite of the chief priest and the religious leaders.  If you have not read verses 9-11, you will understand these words of Jesus to His followers: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice

The Ad hoc King

Acts 25:13-27

It has been my experience that the new person in charge has many folks that want to meet them, and it matters not where they are in business, politics, or church life.  The reasons I’m sure run the gambit, but for many it is to find favor, to let the person know they have some importance and that they may be of some help to them.  We see Agrippa the king and his sister Bernice playing nice to Festus by coming to Caesarea to greet him.  It appears that the three of them hit it off because we are told they stayed there for many days.  So it may help us to have a better understanding of who Agrippa is: “The King Agrippa who comes to pay his respects to Festus was Marcus Julius Agrippa II (A.D. 27-100), son of Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-25) and great-grandson of Herod the Great (Mt 2:1-23). Brought up in Rome in the court of Claudius, he was a favorite of the emperor, though too young to immediately succeed his father at his death in A.D. 44. In A.D. 50, following the death of his uncle (Herod of Chalcis, A.D. 48) he was granted the petty kingdom of Chalcis, northeast of Judea. He had supreme power in Jewish religious life, for the Romans gave him the right to appoint the high priest and custodianship of the temple treasure and the high priest's vestments (Josephus Jewish Antiquities 20.213, 222). He was the last of the Herodian line.”  (Source is: IVP New Testament Commentaries)

With that background it is easy to understand that Agrippa had a good understanding of Jewish life and control over the high priest gave him unbelievable power.  This is the account of how Paul’s name came up in one of their conversations: “And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”  (Acts 25:14-22 ESV)

It is the next day and it time for this Ad hoc king and his sister to come before the prominent men of the city, and they enter with much pomp, with the military tribunes, and then Paul is brought in.  Festus lays out what the Jewish leaders have done to Paul, and because by Roman law he has wronged no one, and in that Festus needs to write a letter to the emperor about what Paul is being charged with, he is very happy to place the ball in Agrippa’s court. 

What kind of letter would you write to the emperor about Paul?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Our Value package will Change

Acts 20: 17-27

How often we read something in Scripture and if we stop and ponder on what we read it becomes clear that we still have a way to go in the understanding of those truths.  Love is beyond my understanding, that God so loved you and me that He asked His Son, His only Son to step out of being worshipped as Creator God and take on flesh and become lower than the angels that He created.  I am so glad that God does not require understanding to enter into fellowship with Him, just faith that He tells the truth.  So with that confession, shall we enter the deep waters of believing without yet understanding, and to you who have been blessed with a deeper faith, please pray for many of us who by faith in a big God are saying, Lord, show me how to finish my course.

Paul has called the elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him, and this is what he shared: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.”  (Acts 20:18-23 ESV)  How many of you are signing up for that mission trip? 

As I read the next verse it became clear to this writer that I’ve got a long way to go before I can understand these words, and most of you who are reading this are in the same boat with me.  “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 ESV)  Reading this it became apparent that I do account my life of value, but the answer that is very convicting is to whom?  Paul’s life was of great value to our Lord as is yours; in fact, God demonstrated His love for us in that He paid our debt payment for sin.  Paul’s life goal was to share Christ with all who he came in contact with, because Christ was not just the center of his life; Christ was his life.

Look at verses 25-27, “And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”  As I finished these verses this thought lingered; what I need is not more knowledge, nor is it understanding, what I need is faith, a faith that is willing to obey, a faith that is trusting that my God is able to part the rivers of life so that I can bring honor and show others the way to my Lord Jesus Christ.  In our church paper I read, Mission Trip to Casa Hogar, Matamoros, Mexico, to finish construction on a dorm at the children’s home.  My first thought was not God send me, but they are killing people right and left in Mexico.  Fear will keep you from doing the will of God, it also will teach you the value you place on self.  If God calls you to go He is able to protect you, but if we allow Jesus to do it all for us, then our value package will change and I will be convinced that Jesus is able to protect me from all harm, but if He chooses not to, I will still trust only in Him.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Religious bad men are the Worse

Acts 25:1-12

Paul has been given a promise from Jesus while in a Roman prison in the city of Jerusalem.  It was after his meeting with the high priest, the religious leaders, and the tribune that he had his soldiers go down to the meeting, taking Paul by force because he feared the Jews would kill him.  “It was the following night that Jesus stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11 emphases added)  Now when Jesus spoke to Paul Rome may not have been penciled in on his calendar, and it may have seemed to many whom Paul shared what Jesus had promised him, that Paul heard what he wanted to hear.  It had been two years and Felix has been replaced by Porcius Festus, and he had been the procurator of Judea for days when he arrives in Jerusalem. 

Upon the arrival of Festus you would expect the leaders of the Jewish people to talk about important matters like the cruelty and dishonesty of Felix, but those items were not on the list, at least they were not at the top of the list.  A prisoner by the name of Paul, being held in Caesarea, was all they wanted to talk about.  It is a must to recall that the leaders of the Jews are very religious folks, and what was their end game?  They wanted the new guys to win favor with them by asking for a trial in Jerusalem for this guy named Paul, who Festus has not yet met.  And why Jerusalem, because a plan was in place to ambush the soldiers, and kill Paul, but it should never be forgotten that religions’ end game is death.  We should never forget these words of two men from our history: “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it with religious conviction.” -- Blaise Pascal  “Of all bad men religious bad men are the worse.” --C.S. Lewis

The new Procurator listened and then he said, you who have authority come on down to Caesarea with me and we will examine this Paul.  Now this is doctor Luke’s account of what took place next.  “After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”  (Acts 25:6-12 ESV)

Many a Christian has had a word spoken to them by our Lord, and after a few months, have dismissed it.  But Paul is not surprised, for long ago it was established that he could trust the promises of the Lord.  If you raise the covers of your mind and look, what will you see, “But God”! 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do you know a Felix?

Acts 24: 22-27

Do you recall the Scripture where Jesus states; “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  (Matthew 7:7-8)  As we explore Felix’s actions over two years, you must ask the question, was Felix a seeker or just a guy with a plan? 

The Scriptures tell us that Felix had accurate knowledge of the Way, so he understood why the Jewish leaders were out to get Paul, and he did not pass judgment, but used the excuse of wanting to hear from Lysias the tribune before making any decision.  It depends on whose calculator is used, from Caesarea to Jerusalem is between 53 and 78 miles and Lysias has already given a written account, and we should note this fact, that Lysias is the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem and his legion was headquartered in Caesarea, so it seems highly unlikely that for two years he did not visit Caesarea.  What does seem accurate is that Felix did not want to render a verdict. 

We also need to note that God was giving Paul protection and the freedom to share the good news of the risen Lord, while being free to have any of Paul’s friends visit, he had the Roman guards watching over him.

So as my friend David Flemming would often say, that’s just false whiskers, and he meant that the excuse for not buying was not the real reason.   So it seems that Felix had other reasons for keeping Paul incarcerated, and the answer is found in the following verses. “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” (Acts 24:24-25)

If you wonder what alarmed Felix so much that he told Paul to “Go away for the present,” it was about the coming judgment and the need to repent.  I often refer to this as conversion, the person believes but is not willing to take the step of faith, and not willing to bow their knee to the control and authority of Jesus, so they never enter His rest.  But in Felix’ case it seems that was not true, he was fearful, but that is what happens when one is convicted of sin, but Felix was also a man who had a reputation for corruption, cruelty and base lusts, and he lived for what was in it for Felix.

We find all we need to know about Felix in these verses: “At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.”  (Acts 24:26-27 ESV)  Do you know a Felix? A better question may be are you a Felix?  The old expression often used in sales (WIIFM) “What’s in it for me.”  Do we not have a culture built around that motto, and if that’s where you find yourself, go beyond the actions of Felix, not only be converted but bow your knee in faith and ask Jesus to forgive your sins of wanting to be the authority of your live.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Before the Judge

Acts 24:10-21

Have you been brought before the judge in a civil or criminal case, what thoughts came into your mind, maybe it was, I sure hope he or she is fair, a person of integrity, and a person who will act on what the law states.  While living in the Houston area of Texas, I was summoned to jury duty and it was a case of the police being ask into a home by a wife in a domestic fight between a husband and wife.  Now while stopping the fighting the officers noticed white power in bags, in plain sight, on a table and they arrested the man who was suspected of being a drug pusher.  We were informed by the sitting Judge that because the information was not legally attained, we as jurors must ignore it, and then the judge ask for anyone who could not do this to raise their hand.  My hand went up and to my shock it was the only hand that did.  This is what happen next, the judge a tall gray haired man who was retired but because of the case load on the court was ask to hear this case, repeated the question and ask me if I understood that he had the authority to require me to do just that?  I said very respectfully that I did understand, but that I would not be able to remove that knowledge from my mind, and it would affect my judgment in the case.   The judge ordered me to come down and stand before him, and I was more than somewhat concerned about his action.  Once more he stated the question, but this time letting me know that I was totally off base and that I should rethink my answer, and when I once more stated my position, he told the bailiff to remove me from the jurors and I was free to leave the court.

My reason for sharing that story is; if you are brought before a judge, as Paul is, you hope he is an honest person, but that was not the case with Felix.  This is a summary of Felix; “Marcus Antonius Felix was originally a slave from Cilicia, Paul's home province, but had gained his freedom thanks to his brother, Marcus Antonius Pallas, a freedman well-liked by Emperor Claudius. As Felix' political fortunes rose, so did his reputation for corruption, cruelty and base lusts.  He governed Judea from 52 AD to 60 AD with “the power of a king but the mind of a slave” according to Tacitus, the Roman historian.”   (Taken from Bible Study Verse. Com)

Doctor Luke gives this account of Paul’s defense; “And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” (Acts 24:10-21 ESV)

Paul also plays nice with Felix in his opening comments, but from then on he states the facts, and nothing but the facts.  He ask Felix to verify the facts and then he ask why are the Jews from Asia not bringing the case against me, in that they are the ones who started the faults accusation and then back on message; ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”  One of the things we should hold to in this dark and fallen world is the promises of God, and one that is dear to me is, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice