February 1, 2018: SOAP #2982:  Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

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:  One of the characteristics of a genuine move of God is joy.  When sins are forgiven, and the Lord is set as the king in a heart, there is joy in the person.  And when a city turns to God, there is joy in the city.

Lasting joy cannot be found by seeking joy.  Joy comes as a by-product from doing what is right.  Joy is a by-product of a heart that is right with God.  Joy comes in serving others.  We find joy when what we do brings joy to others, to those we love, and especially to God!

Application:   Great joy and peace comes when I confess my sins to Jesus and ask His forgiveness.  There is nothing like the foundational joy that comes when I know my sins are forgiven.

Prayer:   Jesus, come into my heart.  I accept your death on the cross as the payment for my sins.  Forgive my sins.  I confess that you are my Lord and I set myself to obey you and do what pleases you.  Holy Spirit, I will need your help to live each day to please my Lord.  Jesus, thank you for forgiving me and making my heart your home.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 31, 2018: SOAP #2981:  Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 7:54 When they [the Sanhedrin] heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Observation:    In yesterday’s SOAP from Acts 6, we saw that Stephen was recognized by others as being like Jesus, a man full of the Holy Spirit.  Like Jesus, the Spirit worked miracles through him which brought him to the attention of the religious leaders.  Anointed by the Holy Spirit, he stood before them and gave a defense of his ministry.  As they rushed on him to take him out to be stoned, still full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen saw a vision of Jesus, standing at the right hand of God!!!   And like Jesus, Stephen faced death with brave resolve and with compassion for those bringing about his death.  What an arrival Stephen had when he arrived in heaven!

Application:  I can count on the presence of the Holy Spirit wherever I am, whatever I face.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, fill me and help me to be like Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 30, 2018: SOAP #2980:  Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them… 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also, Philip…
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…
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Observation:   In verse 15, Stephen was on trial.  He would soon give his life for his faith.  False witnesses had accused him.  Before Stephen even said a single word, those present could read Stephen’s face like a book.  And what a story it told!  His face did not show fear, or anger, or worry, or concern…  His face gave clear witness to the condition of his inside; full of the Spirit and wisdom, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and full of God’s grace and power.

Application:   When I am full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith, wisdom, grace, and power—it will show on my face too!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, help me be a walking display of your presence.  Situations that stretch me beyond my capabilities, never stretch you beyond your capabilities.  Help me to step out of the way and let you shine.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 29, 2018: SOAP #2979:  Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

It is obvious!Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
…
27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

Observation:    Who should they obey?  –the ones who could lock prison doors, or the One who could open prison doors?   Who should they obey, the ones who can kill, or the One Who can live again?

Application:   Who should I obey? –the ones who can lock prison doors, or the One who can open them?   Who should I obey? –the ones who can kill this body, or the One Who can bring it back to life?

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of the obvious.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 28, 2018: SOAP #2978:  Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 4:17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we [the Sanhedrin,  a council of Jewish leaders] must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

Observation:  This council was faced with difficult circumstance.  They wanted to quiet all the talk about Jesus.  Everyone living in Jerusalem knew what had happened.  The crippled man, who had just been healed in the name of Jesus, was well known and was STANDING with Peter and John!  What could they say?  They could not deny what had happened!  They commanded Peter and John “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”  Peter and John threw their command back in their face!   They were going to obey God, the very one the Sanhedrin was supposed to represent.

Application:   God likes to work through people to do things that are so obviously His work that they cannot be denied.  God wants to work through me for His glory.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may there be some things accomplished through my life that were clearly not done by me, but by the Holy Spirit working through me. May my life bring you glory!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 27, 2018: SOAP #2977:  Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 3: 3 When he [the crippled man] saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Observation:   I wonder how long the beggar sat at the temple gate before Peter and John came along.  Surely, he was appreciative for each one who carried some money with them and gave him a coin.  But his greatest appreciation would go to two men who had no money!  Perhaps they had given money at other times when passing through this gate into the temple.  But today they did not have any money!  These two men did not let their lack of money stop them from giving what they had.  The beggar was blessed because their pockets were empty!

Application:   There are times when having money hinders what God really wants to do.  It is easy to consider how I can minister based on how much money I have rather than what God can do.  What a disappointment to God when I think I cannot do anything because I do not have any money.  And, what a disappointment to God when I think I have enough money and do not stop and seek His guidance.   Yet, what wonderful things can happen when even a very small amount of money is used with the anointing of the Holy Spirit!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, give me clear direction in how to best apply the money you have entrusted to me for the good of the Kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 26, 2018: SOAP #2976:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 2:16 [Peter addressing the large crowd that had gathered because people from Galilee were speaking in the home languages of the hearers.]  No, [they were not drunk] this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Observation:  These verses tell us what God will do, and what people will do.  He will pour out His Spirit; people will prophesy, see visions and dream dreams.  He will pour out His Holy Spirit on both men and women; both men and women will prophecy.   He will show signs in heaven and on earth; people who call on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Application:  If those living in the book of Acts were living in the last days, then today, 2000 years later, must be the last days also!   If God’s promise about pouring out His Spirit was true for then, it also must be true for today!  Men and women share equally in receiving the Holy Spirit and ministering under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me and to flow through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 25, 2018: SOAP #2975:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 1:1 In my former book [gospel of Luke], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. …
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Note verses 8,16)

Observation:   As in his gospel about the life and ministry of Jesus, here in the very first chapter of Acts Luke emphasizes the important role of the Holy Spirit.  In the book of Luke, it was the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit that moved Jesus into ministry.  Here in the book of Acts, it was the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit that moved the church into ministry.  The church could only continue the ministry of Jesus under the anointing of the same Holy Spirit as Jesus.

Application:   And it is the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit that moves me into ministry.   I can only continue the ministry Jesus started by being filled with the same Holy Spirit as Jesus.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you knew that I was not able to live like you have called me to live.  So, you gave me the Holy Spirit to live through me.  I surrender to you.  Holy Spirit, live, speak, and move through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 24, 2018: SOAP #2974:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 24:46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.  49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Observation:   In the beginning of the book of Luke, we read of the Holy Spirit’s part in the life and ministry of Jesus.  Now, just five verses from the end of Luke, we read that what the Holy Spirit started in Jesus (Luke 3:22), He would continue in Jesus’ disciples.   They were to go into all the world to preach the gospel, but first, they must stay in Jerusalem until the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus, empowered them.

Luke continued his narrative of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts.  What the Father had promised was imparted to the disciples in Acts 2:1-4.  The book of Acts proves it was worth their wait!

Application:   I am finding it is always worth waiting for the Holy Spirit.  His leading sets the right timing.  His anointing provides the right empowering.  His presence imparts boldness.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, The Father knew what I would need to do what He sent me to do.  So, He sent you to live in me and work through me.  I depend on you.  Touch through me and flow through me, I pray.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 23, 2018: SOAP #2973:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 6:2 And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Observation:  Of course the all-knowing God remembers what He has said.  He remembers His promises.  He remembers what He has pledged.  He remembers his sacred promises.  And this all-knowing God is also perfect in wisdom, so He knows how to keep His word.  And the all-knowing, all-wise God is also all-powerful, so He is more than able to keep His promises.

Application:   He remembers!  He remembers every promise He has made to me; He also remembers the promises I have made to Him!   He remembers His part and He remembers my part in the agreements we have made.  He has sent His Holy Spirit to live in me, helping me to remember AND keep my promises!  This all-knowing God knows me; He knows I need help!

Prayer:    God, You are the great Promise Keeper.  Holy Spirit, help me remember the promises I have made and help me keep them.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!