February 01, 2019: SOAP #3347:  Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Observation:  Philip did not have time to prepare for this assignment.  He had no idea of what he would find.  He just went to the place he was sent.  He saw a man in a chariot.  He heard the Spirit telling him to go up to the chariot.  He found a man reading from the book of Isaiah.  God was already at work.  He started a conversation about what he was reading.  Philip had the key to what the eunuch was reading.  God sent Philip there because Philip could answer his questions.

Application:  When God sends me to a place, or I find myself in a place with no specific idea of what God might have me do, I need a plan.  If God has sent me, I believe I can be assured that God has arrived before me and is already at work in some way.  I need to look around to see what God is already doing.  Then I need to find a way to involve myself in what God is doing.  God has me there because I have something that is needed.  If something was needed that I do not have, God would have sent someone else!   An important key to discovering what God wants me to do is to see what God is already doing!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I trust your wisdom in placing me where what I have can be of benefit to others.  I trust you to bring into my focus what you are already doing.  I am confident that you will lead me today to where and how I can be useful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 31, 2019: SOAP #3346:  Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 38:36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE ORD. 37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. 38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.

Observation:  The Old Testament high priest was human, just as all the worshippers he represented before God.  He also was a sinner.  He was required to make sacrifices for his own sins.  And the sacrifices he offered for the people never had enough value to cover the cost of their sins.  So, God had them make a gold plate with the words “HOLY TO THE LORD” engraved on it and the high priest was to wear it hanging from his head covering onto his forehead.

It was righteousness imputed to him.  It was righteousness under which he could minister to man on behalf of God and to God on behalf of men.

Application:  But a time was coming when a sacrifice would be made that was of more than enough value to cover the sins of the world.  That sacrifice would be made by One who did not need righteousness imputed to him; He had been born without sin and lived without sin and died as the payment for sin!  He needed no gold plate hanging on His forehead; His whole life was HOLY TO THE LORD!

Prayer:   I am not trusting in an animal sacrifice to cover my sins and make me holy.  Jesus, you cover my sins with Your sinless blood and make me HOLY TO THE LORD!  Holy Spirit, you are living in me!  Help me to live in a way that honors and brings glory to Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 30, 2019: SOAP #3345:  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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Observation:  The church was experiencing growing problems.  So many people had joined that the apostles could not properly minister to all the needs.  They needed some people to take care of the benevolence needs, especially of the Greek speaking believers, while they continued to minister to the spiritual needs.  Instead of choosing who should do this, they assigned the body of believers to make the choice.  The people chose seven men with Greek names who were “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.”

Application:  People are often known for their most dominant characteristic.  I am tall and bald with a beard, usually smiling.  Some are known for their job—a carpenter, a baker, a salesman, etc.  Some are known for their demeanor—grumpy, worried, positive, confident, etc.  The men in the scripture above were “known for being full of the Spirit and wisdom.”  It was a recognizable characteristic that was obvious to others.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, may Your presence in my life be an observable characteristic easily recognized by those around me.  May Your presence be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 29, 2019: SOAP #3344:  Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Scripture:  Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men
Acts 5:38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Observation:  From among the religious leaders who wanted to put the apostles to death came a word of wisdom.  If what the apostles were preaching was of man, it would soon die out.  But if it was of God, they would never be able to stop it!

Application:  Recently several of our national leaders have taken strong steps to oppose our President in dealing with our southern border.  Their opposition seems to me to be motivated by their extreme dislike for our President.  But God has reminded me of what He had told me.  God will bring one unwanted alien into our nation for every unwanted child we have aborted.  As Pharaoh’s heart was hardened by God and his actions led to the destruction of Egypt, so God is using several hard hearts to bring judgment to the USA.

But it need not all be bad news!  If our government will weed out and prevent those wanting to enter our country with criminal intent.  If the church will reach out in love and acceptance and win the others to Jesus.  If individual believers will show God’s hospitality and love to all.  We will have revival!  God is bringing a mission field to us!  Let’s do this!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, anoint us to turn this crisis into a great win for the Kingdom.  May many of those entering our borders come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 28, 2019: SOAP #3343:  Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Observation:  If ever there was a day in which this verse is proved true, it is today.  When homosexuality is protected by the supreme court, when city leaders speak of it as an acceptable alternative life style, we have “gay” pride parades in our cities!  Amusement parks have publicly opened their doors to the “gay” community.  I sense in a foreboding way that this trend will continue in our nation.

Application: I wrote the above paragraph several years ago in a note attached to verse 8 above.  This week, my heart hurt as I saw the jubilation to the passing of a law in New York removing almost all limitations to abortion.   My heart hurts for our nation.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a meeting at our public library to request that the library board not to classify some pro-homosexual books as fit for young children.  My heart hurts for our nation.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, fill the heart of the church with a love of holiness, empower the church to step out for truth and holiness, embolden your people to speak for you, and back up their words with signs following them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 27, 2019: SOAP #3342:  Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 3:6 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. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Observation:  They saw him “walking” and heard him “praising God!”  They saw what had happened and they heard who was getting the credit!

Application: When people can see that I have received a blessing, may I be quick to make sure they know who gets the credit!  My exuberance may not rise to the level of the man crippled from birth, but having my sins forgiven surely deserves some level of excitement—at least a happy heart and a smiling face!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may people see and hear my joy in being a part of your great family.  I pray that my joy is attractive and will cause people to want to join me in Your family.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 26, 2019: SOAP #3341:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

Observation:  The previous verses show that God had strategically led the Israelites to a place that would invite Pharaoh to attempt to capture them.  And God had specifically hardened Pharaoh’s heart, leading him to think that he could get the Israelites back under his control.

This was all God’s plan, BUT the Israelites totally misread the situation.  God was preparing a great victory, but all they could see was the Egyptian army, the mountains, and the Red Sea!  They were hopelessly trapped!  (If you do not know the rest of the story, please read Genesis 14:15-31.)  (If you do know, you will probably enjoy reading it again!)

Their position between the mountains and the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army closing in, it was all God’s plan to give them a victory far greater than they could have ever imagined!

Application:  Before we moved from Hawaii, I can remember blaming the devil, and our landlords for something that God had set up to bring a victory far greater than I could ever have imagined!   Today we own our home without a mortgage!  I may not have a Moses to keep reminding me of what God has said, but I have someone better, much better!   I have the Holy Spirit living in me!!!!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your help to properly evaluate my circumstances.  Keep reminding me that nothing is too difficult for God; no situation is too hard; nothing is impossible.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 25, 2019: SOAP #3340:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 21:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David.  O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

Observation:  In this psalm, David writes about himself as though he was writing about someone else.  In writing about “the king” he is writing about himself.

David rejoices in the Lord’s strength.  It is matchless!  If it was working against David, it would be terrifying.  But it was working for him; it was a great source of great joy.

Application:  David’s God is my God!  The strength of David’s God is the strength of my God!  I can rejoice in God’s strength!  He has given me victories that I could never gain for myself, the greatest being my salvation.

How can I not be a joyful person when I think when I consider the victory Jesus has provided for me!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, like the psalmist, how great is my joy in the victories you have given me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 24, 2019: SOAP #3339:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 24:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

Observation:  Out of their love and devotion to Jesus, the ladies had been at the cross and had watched where his body was laid.  Now they were bringing spices to place around the body.  There was a barrier that concerned them; they did not know who would roll away the stone.

In their journey motivated by love, they discovered that the barrier had already been removed!  

Application:  The indwelling Holy Spirit often motivates us by stirring compassion in our hearts.  We should prayerfully follow that compassion.  We can make excuses that we do not understand the need, we should keep to out of other people’s business, we do not know what to say, etc.  But we should follow the flow of love, trusting the Spirit to either show us what to say/do, or He will use just our presence to encourage the one needing compassion.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, let your love flow through me.  As I follow that love, I trust you to inspire me to speak words that encourage faith.  I trust you to lead me to do things that make a path for your power to be effective. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 23, 2019: SOAP #3338:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”…9  Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

Observation:  Moses had gone to Pharaoh and given him God’s message, but Pharaoh ridiculed Moses and The Lord God.  Then he increased the task of the Israelites who had become his slaves.  To the task of making the bricks, he added the responsibility of obtaining the raw material.  Yet he demanded the same daily quota of bricks.

This was not what Moses expected when he gave Pharaoh God’s message.  Moses was a failure in bringing about God’s plan.  God had given Moses a task that Moses was unable to accomplish.

Surely Moses breathed a great sigh of relief when He heard God say that Pharaoh, who did not respond to Moses, would certainly respond to God’s mighty hand!   God was not depending on Moses!

Application:  There are times when I do my best to faithfully complete the task God has assigned me.  It seems I am just marking time.  I am keeping in step with God’s plan, but I am not making any progress.  I am like Bucklin, Kansas High School band where I learned to mark time—to march in place without moving ahead.  I wait for the time God comes to me like He came to Moses.  I am looking for the time God’s mighty hand moves God’s plan forward to completion.  I must be careful not to allow discouragement to hinder my faith in God’s Word!  (Note Exodus 6:9)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to keep my eyes and ears open to what God is doing.  Help me remember what God has promised!  I make myself available to you to accomplish through me what I could never do on my own.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!