February 18, 2017: SOAP #2634:  Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 25:23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.  24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

Observation:    As a street preacher, Paul would have never been able to preach to high-ranking officers.  As a teacher in a synagogue, Paul would have never had to opportunity to minister to King Agrippa.  As the Apostle Paul speaking to the church gathered in the cities to which he traveled, he would have never had opportunity to minister to key leaders in the city.  BUT AS A PRISONER, these people came to see him!!!   He did not advertise his meeting.  He sent out no invitations.  But there they were!

Application:  God has His ways of getting me to the people to whom I am to minister OR of getting them to me!   If I am willing and obedient, I will always have those to whom I can present Jesus!

Prayer:   Lord, Your ways are so much higher than my ways.  I can accomplish so much more when I walk in simple obedience to you. You can get me to the people or you can get the people to me!  And often you are working in both directions so that we meet in your timing! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 17, 2017: SOAP #2633:  Numbers 1-2; Acts 24

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 24:27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favour to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Genesis (NIV) 41:1 When two full years had passed, [Joseph was in prison] Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,

Observation:  As I was reading about Paul’s time in prison, something seemed familiar.  So, I went looking.  I thought I remembered two years being mentioned about Joseph’s prison time in Egypt.  Sure enough.  Both Joseph and Paul were held in prison for over two years.  Both were in God’s care and faithfully serving God.  Both proved victorious.  Joseph was elevated to being second in Egypt.  Paul eventually gave his life as a martyr.

Application:  Being a committed follower of the Lord does not mean that I will not experience trouble.  Trouble may come for an extended time.  I can overcome by loving my Lord more than my life.  Satisfaction comes in knowing that my life is pleasing to Him.   Knowing that He is receiving glory from my life strengthens me to persevere.

Prayer:   Lord, you are worthy of all the glory.  You are worthy of your servants being committed even unto death.  In heaven, no one who gave their life for being faithful to you will ever feel like they got a bad deal.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 16, 2017: SOAP #2632:  Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 23:12 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.  15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”  16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Observation:   Now who was Paul going to believe?  The night before He had a special visitor—the LORD!   Acts (NIV) 23:11 …the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Application:   When the Lord has told me one thing, and the world tells me something else, who do I believe?  The world may have many supporting reasons why I should believe its story.   With God, I may have only His word!   Everything I know about God tells me that He is trustworthy.  His is faithful to His word.  He has many ways to bring His word to pass.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am going to believe You and Your Word!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 15, 2017: SOAP #2631:  Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 22:25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”  26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered…. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Observation:   The Roman law protected its citizens.  Although the Romans soldiers could have flogged someone else, they could not flog Paul before being found guilty because he had been born a Roman citizen.    There is confusion in the United States of America because some want to use our laws to protect non-citizens while not protecting citizens.   Even aliens who have committed criminal acts are being protected.  Citizens should be both governed and protected by their nation’s laws.

Application:   Every human on earth comes under the laws of the Creator.  Some people want to claim the protection and blessings of Christ’s kingdom but do not want to be governed by Kingdom laws.  Citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom can only be obtained by being born again.

Prayer:  Jesus, I am sorry for my sins.  With the forgiveness you purchased on the cross of Calvary, please forgive me.  Be my Lord and govern my life with your holiness and love.  Let me walk in your blessings.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 14, 2017: SOAP #2630:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”  37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.  38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?”  39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

Observation:  The Roman commander had totally misjudged Paul!  He had no clue who it was he had taken into custody and to whom he was talking.  “Do you know Greek?”  Ha!  Here was one who had studied under a great Jewish theologian and would come to write most of what we now know as the New Testament.

Application:  I recently have come to know some things about people I have long counted as friends.  I found important parts of their history about which I had no clue.  I was surprised and amazed.  It made me consider them with a new appreciation.        The questions people ask often reveal that they really do not know Jesus, at least not very well!   I need to pay attention to what people around me are saying.  Maybe I can help them find a new appreciation for Jesus!

Prayer:    Jesus, You came to earth to be known.  You lived in the public’s eye.  Holy Spirit, help me to make Jesus known today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 13, 2017: SOAP #2629:  Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-bye and set out for Macedonia.  2 He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

Observation:  Paul ministered in many ways, through teaching, preaching, healings, miracles.  Here in the above passage we see another important ministry.  It is the ministry of encouragement.

Application:   Encouragement does not carry the load, but gives strength to the one who does carry it.  Encouragement can be reminding people of what they already know.  It can be letting them know that they are not alone in their struggle.  It can be giving them a verse of scripture.  It can be a compliment.  It can be providing some assistance.  It can even be a simple smile.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, work with me in the ministry of encouragement today.  May someone have hope because you spoke through me.  May someone do their job better because we encouraged them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 12, 2017: SOAP #2628:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.  3 “‘Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

Observation:   Why should people keep God’s commands?  Five times in chapter 18 and sixteen times in chapter 19 we have the reason.  It is not because keeping God’s commands is good for us.  It is not because keeping God’s commands is good for those around us.  Yes, keeping God’s commands is good for us; yes, it is good for our neighbor.  But the reason given is because He is the LORD our God.

Application:  The overriding reason for my life is that God alone is God and that He created me for His glory.  His word is the final authority.  As Lord, He has veto power over all my choices.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, though I am undeserving, you have proved your love for me.  God, you alone are God!  Lord, you are my Lord!    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2017: SOAP #2627:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.  4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.  5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Observation:   The Apostle Paul was no different from the rest of us:  he needed money to live.   He did not expect others to carry his load, so he joined with Aquila and Priscilla in their work as tentmakers.  His schedule was to work all week then preach in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday).   When those committed to Paul arrived in Corinth to join in the ministry they must have started working to earn living expenses because Paul was then free to give all his time to preaching.  Silas and Timothy now share in Paul’s reward!

Application:   Sometimes my schedule is difficult as I try to balance driving a school bus with opportunities to minister.  I am blest in knowing that God assigned me to drive the bus and driving the bus is just as important to God as other ministry.  He considers it all ministry.  Bus driving and daily SOAPs are priorities because God specifically directed me into these ministries.  I believe an important part of my ministry is helping believers see that their “job” is an important ministry.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for the privileges of daily sharing Your Word and of driving the school bus.  I enjoy being Your servant. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 10, 2017: SOAP #2626:  Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

Observation:   My attention was drawn to the word “carefully.”  Paul had been carefully looking around.  I imagine he was carefully looking to find something he could use as a starting place to tell them about Jesus.

Application:   I need to have faith that God has things for me to use in telling people about Jesus.   Like Paul, I need to look around carefully to find what God has strategically placed nearby.  I need to be open to the Holy Spirit as He draws my attention to something useful.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me notice what is available for me to use in telling people about Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 9, 2017: SOAP #2625:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 10:1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Observation:    In God’s eyes, all fire is not the same.  There is worldly fire, and there is holy fire.  The fire to be used by the priests in presenting the offering was fire from the altar where the sacrifices were made.  (Leviticus 16:12)

Application:    In serving the Lord, I can light my fire from what people like to hear, or from the latest trends, or from the needs of people.  But the only acceptable fire is the fire that comes from Jesus sacrifice for me on the cross. (#Leviticus 16:12)   Pleasing God always involves serving others, but when pleasing people becomes more important than pleasing God, I am getting my fire/passion from a corrupted source.   Other motivations may lesson or prove unworthy, but not Calvary!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of how much God loves me and the great sacrifice He made to pay for my sins. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!