October 22, 2017: SOAP #2880: Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Observation:  To receive non-Jewish people into the church without them being first circumcised was a major issue to some of the Jewish members of the church.  Many Jewish Christians saw the church as “Jewish” and expected people joining the church to become Jewish.  But it was not their church.  They did not have the authority to say who could and who could not be a part of the church.  Only God had that authority, and His decision had been made clear when He gave Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Application:  Even today there may be issues, like styles of music, we try to settle with our own arguments.  We need to consider what God has done and is doing.  His decision regarding some issues may be easily seen in His actions.  After all, Jesus is the Head of the church and He does have the final say.

Prayer:   Lord, I will keep my eyes on you and follow your lead. I will rejoice in what I see you doing in the lives of those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 21, 2017: SOAP #2879: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

Scripture:    Acts (NIV) 13:2 While they were worshipping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Observation:  In these verses we see the official beginning of Paul’s (then known as Saul) missionary journeys.  Wonderful things happen when the church is in sync with the Holy Spirit!  Verse 3 reads that they were sent off by the church.  Verse 4 reads that they were sent by the Holy Spirit.  Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were submitted to the church in Antioch.  They were sent out by the church in Antioch and later they reported back to the church in Antioch. (Acts 14:26)

Application:   It is no surprise to me that God gives authority to those who are under authority.  In submission one learns to lead.  If I cannot submit to others, I am not qualified to lead.  If I cannot hear the will of God for my life through people God has placed in my life, I probably cannot hear His will from God.  My ministry is greatly hindered when I cannot submit to the authorities God has placed in my life.

Prayer:   Lord, in complete submission to your Father’s will, you became the Head of the church.  You are the perfect example of a submitted leader.  Keep reminding me of this.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 20, 2017: SOAP #2878: Job 6-8; Acts 12

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 12:4 After arresting him [Peter], he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Observation:  If one reads further into the chapter, they see that Herod’s intention never happened!   Instead of being escorted out of jail to a public trial by a squad of Roman soldiers, Peter was escorted out of the jail by an “angel of the LORD!”  The chains fell off and the first-century prison doors became twenty-first century super-market doors that open as one approaches.  Instead of being escorted to a public trial as Herod intended, Peter made his way to an all-night prayer meeting.

Application:  I need to remember that man never has the absolute final say.  When I place myself under God’s authority by obeying His directions I can trust Him to take care of the results.  Obedience is my responsibility; results are His.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I trust you to take care of the results.  You alone have the final word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 19, 2017: SOAP #2877: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 11:20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Observation:  Antioch was the city where Paul’s ministry became accepted and from which he started his missionary journeys.  However, it was not the apostles from Jerusalem that traveled to Antioch to plant the church, but men from Cyprus and Cyrene.  (Acts 8:12, 11:20)   The Holy Spirit was not hindered by the fact that these were not disciples.

Application:  The Holy Spirit is more than capable of using anyone to advance the Kingdom of God.  It was not the ministry of great men, but the ministry of humble men anointed by The Great Holy Spirit.  Often, He chooses to use people of no reputation to ensure that only God gets the glory.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I want to be a vessel that you can move through. May you be glorified in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 18, 2017: SOAP #2876: Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Observation:  Yesterday, the Lord drew my attention to Stephen.  Like Stephen, Philip was not one of the apostles, yet God also used him to perform miracles like Jesus, and Peter, and Paul.  Like Stephen, Philip was a Jew with a Greek background, yet the Holy Spirit spoke mightily though him.

And when the Holy Spirit noted that the treasurer of Ethiopia was traveling back home from Jerusalem, it was not one of the apostles in Jerusalem that He sent, it was Philip!  God did not use the ones we would have expected Him to use.

Application:  Looking at Stephen’s and Philip’s lives shows me that one’s background need not hinder them from being used by God and anointed by the Holy Spirit.  It is not so much about where we came from, but where we are going that is most important.  That in no way lessens the importance of a godly heritage, for which I am extremely thankful.  But when I became a new creation in Christ Jesus, my heritage goes back through the cross.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for including the ministries of Stephen and Philip in the Holy Bible.  They may not have been the ones expected to be used, but they were available and willing.  Holy Spirit, use me too, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 17, 2017: SOAP #2875: Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Observation:  Stephen was not one of the apostles, yet God used him to perform miracles like Jesus, and Peter, and Paul.  Stephen was a Jew with a Greek background, yet the Holy Spirit spoke mightily though him.

Application:  Looking at Stephen’s life shows me that one’s background need not hinder them from being used by God and anointed by the Holy Spirit.  It is not so much about where we came from, but where we are going that is most important.  That in no way lessens the importance of a godly heritage, for which I am extremely thankful.  But when I became a new creation in Christ Jesus, my heritage goes back through the cross.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we all travel a different route to become your child, saved by faith in the death of Jesus and filled with your Holy Spirit.  Like Stephen, use us for your glory!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 16, 2017: SOAP #2874: Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture:  Malachi (NIV) 3:13 “You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’
14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?

Observation:  The people were serving God, not because He was worthy of their service, but for what they could gain.  They expected a payoff for what they had done for Him.  They were not keeping His commandments because it was the right thing to do.  God was offended.  He wanted a love relationship; they wanted a business relationship.

Application:  Andre Crouch wrote: “But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God’s promise to live eternally. It’s been worth just having the Lord in my life. Living in a world of darkness, You came along and brought me the light.”

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you love me and you are generous.  I need not worry about my needs.  My priority should be on what I can do for you.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 15, 2017: SOAP #2873: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

Scripture:  Malachi (NIV) 2:7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.

Observation:  As God brings judgment against the unfaithful priests, we read about God’s intended purpose for their ministry.  Religious leaders should proclaim and defend truth, not just spiritual truth, but all truth.  People should be able to ask them questions.  They should grow in understanding as they listen to the religious leader talk.  God intends these leaders to speak as His representatives.

Application:  I should value the people God has placed in my life as His representatives.  I should expect to hear wisdom.  I should expect to hear God speaking to me through them.  I should expect God to use them to confirm what He has spoken to my heart.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are a speaker and are faithful to speak to me.  Thank you for the knowledge and wisdom you give through your faithful messengers.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 14, 2017: SOAP #2872: Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture:  Nehemiah (NIV) 12:45 They [ministering priests and Levites] performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon.
46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

Observation:  Under Nehemiah’s supervision, not only did the walls get rebuilt and the temple repaired, but he also restored the ministries within the temple.  A prominent place was given to the ministry of music.  The ministry of a musician was valued.

The musician ministers in two directions.  First, their ministry is to the Lord in honoring and appreciation and love and thanksgiving, etc.  Second, their ministry is to the people.  They teach and lead the people in ministry to the Lord.  They also teach people truth in their songs where the melody helps us remember the words.

Application:  Many years ago the Lord had me develop a four-part study on worship:  1. Worship and the Word, 2. How worship works, 3. Worship and the worshipper, and 4. Worship and warfare.  I believe the Lord wants worshippers on earth that will feel right at home in heaven.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, teach me how to join in with the worship of those around me.  Help me to grow accustom to the various expressions with which I come in contact.  Help me be ready to join the heavenly choir around the throne in heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 13, 2017: SOAP #2871: Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Observation:  The very worst men could do was the “set purpose” of God and was done according to His “foreknowledge!”  God turned the very worst man could do to Jesus into the very best God could do for man!

Application:  When God shares my life, there is no situation in which God cannot work it for my good.  All things [both good and bad] really do work together for good because I love God and have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) God can turn the worst man can do to me into the best that God can do for me!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for your promises to me.  Thank you that you are strong enough and wise enough to work through each trouble for my good.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!