February 18, 2019: SOAP #3364:  Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 25:10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no-one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Observation:  Paul had been in jail before, but this was going to be different.  The Romans had taken him prisoner to protect him from the Jews who were trying to kill him.  But Paul had a very important Visitor the night following his arrest.  Acts 23:11: And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”  So, Paul’s appeal was in keeping with the direction the LORD gave him earlier.

God always has a way!  He is never without a solution to what seems like an impossibility.  How would Paul get to Rome?  The Roman governor would send him and Rome itself would provide the passage!

Application:  Many things God gives me to do are impossible for me.  BUT, there is nothing God gives me to do that is impossible for God!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you have sent your Holy Spirit to live in me, to lead me, and to work through me.  May I be a clean channel through which the Holy Spirit can easily flow!  I walk in faith that you can do your will through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 17, 2019: SOAP #3363:  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 favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Observation:  When Paul was first converted, God had spoken to Ananias that Paul was a chosen instrument to go to the Gentiles and their kings. (Acts 9:15) Now he was in prison.  And when first arrested, the Lord appeared to Paul saying that he would testify in Rome. (Acts 23:11)   But with no concern about Paul’s importance to God and to the church, Felix kept Paul in prison for two years!!!  Then passed Paul on as a prisoner to Festus!!!

Prison time is not only hard time, it is slow time, with no mail, no magazines, no radio or television.  I do not see Paul as a person willing to sit around.  He moved from place to place.  He was a traveling man.  Day after day in prison would not be easy for Paul.  But God was with Him.  God’s will would be fulfilled in Paul.  God would be glorified in Paul, even in prison.  He might not be able to preach, but he could write.  He might not be able to go, but he could send letters.  He was limited, but fruitful.

Application: I like the song by G.A. Young; I think Paul could have written it:
God leads His dear children along. …  Some through the waters, some through the flood. Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.

The Holy Spirit was with Paul in prison, just as He was with him while preaching and healing the sick in the cities to which he traveled.  The anointing was upon him as he wrote letters in prison the same as when he was preaching in Corinth.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, you are the same today.  And you are with me every day, as you were with Paul, through good times and hard. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 14, 2019: SOAP #3360:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Observation:  The Lord came to Paul in prison.  “You must testify in Rome.”  Paul could not get up the next morning, say goodbye to his friends and start out for Rome.  He had no power to make this happen.  In prison, he had no choice.  There was no way Paul could make this happen.

To make this happen, God used Paul’s young nephew to report what he had overheard about forty men with a plan to kill Paul.  God used two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen (verse 23) to take Paul out of danger.  Later Paul was transported at the Roman government’s expense to Rome.  God made it happen!

Application:  I must always walk in faith that God can provide for me to do what He has assigned me to do.  He can, and He will, and He does!   We do not read of Paul’s complaining because God used wooden ships and a Roman escort to get him to Rome.  At that time, it was the best mode of transportation.  In the past God used the US Navy; now God is using school bus driving and the internet for me to provide for His will in my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness to provide for me to fulfill your assignment.  Through the presence, the anointing, the guidance, the empowering of the Holy Spirit You provide all I need and more Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 15, 2019: SOAP #3361:  Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 25:23 [God’s instructions to the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land.]  The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. 24 Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

Observation:  The land was very important to God.  He claimed ownership!  In God’s eyes, people living on the land were only tenants.  If a family needed money, they could sell their land, but in the Year of Jubilee (every 50) years, it would be returned to the original family.  And during the time leading up to the return, it could be bought back.  The price would be determined by the number of years remaining to the Year of Jubilee.

Application:  When I surrender my life to Jesus, …when I ask and receive His forgiveness for my sins, …when I confess Him as my LORD, I am recognizing His ownership of all I am and all I have!  I now look at all my possessions as belonging to the Lord.  I should not sell them without His permission.  I should not keep them when He directs me to give them. They are not mine to do with as I please.

Prayer:   LORD Jesus, by your death on the cross, you purchased all rights to my life.  In surrendering to you, I have found it is my great honor and privilege to be your servant.  Your great love for me continues to amaze me.  May my life, my love for you, the way I use my/your possessions, and my service to you bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 14, 2019: SOAP #3360:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:23 [Jerusalem church leaders to Paul] so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

Observation:  Paul takes the advice of the church leaders to openly follow the law, the law which he clearly declared could not bring righteousness.  He did it to prove that he, a Jew, was continuing to live as a Jew.

I wonder, is this a parallel to Satan’s temptation to Jesus to prove He was God by throwing himself off the temple?  This would force the angels to protect him, thus proving himself to be God.

It is interesting to me to note that it was during the proving of his Jewishness that he was accused of breaking the Jewish law, arrested and eventually taken to Rome.

Application:  My opinion is that Paul should not have followed their advice.  But clearly God used this situation.  First, it was while Paul was in prison that he wrote the letter we have in our New Testament.  Second, God used the Roman government to fulfill his word to Paul that he would testify before kings.  (Acts 9:15)   Rome even provided transportation for Paul.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I do not want to make mistakes, but it is comforting to know that you can work through anything, even my mistakes, to accomplish your will for my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 13, 2019: SOAP #3359:  Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Observation:  As Paul was making his way back to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit had warned Paul about trouble awaiting him in Jerusalem.  In the next chapter we read of even more specific warnings.  Why wouldn’t Paul take the warnings and go in another direction.  He could have returned to the church in Antioch from where he had been first sent out on his missionary journeys.  But he had to go to Jerusalem.

Large flocks of birds follow an inner map across the skies of Kansas to their breeding grounds.  Salmon migrate through the ocean, swimming upstream, jumping the barriers, fighting the current against them, making their way up rivers and the little streams to the very place their fish ancestors had laid the eggs from which they had hatched.  It is amazing.

And the Holy Spirit in Paul served as just such an inner compass.  He heard the warnings, but he had no choice.  He was “compelled by the Spirit.”

Application:  The Holy Spirit can serve as my “inner compass” today if I submit my will and desires to Him.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, lead me today as you led Paul.  Impress on my thoughts and will your desires.  Be the inner assurance of what You have planned for me.  Make your will clear in my heart and mind.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 12, 2019: SOAP #3358:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. 37 “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.’”:

Observation:  This chapter contains many varied commandments for the Israelites.  They range from harvesting, family relationships, sexual issues, sacrifices, etc.  And attached to fifteen of them we read, “I am the LORD,” or “I am the LORD your God.”

God was declaring that He had the right to put these boundaries on the Israelites.  He was Creator God!   More than that, He was their personal God!  They were not trying to identify with Him; He was identifying with them!!!   They were not claiming Him; He was claiming them!!!

Application:  It is one thing to hear a speaker claim to have met the President of the United States; it is a much greater thing when the President calls that person by name out of a crowd!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so blessed to call you my Heavenly Father.  But it is a far greater honor to hear you call me Your son!  You know me.  You know my name!  Holy Spirit, help me be a faithful and fruitful son.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2019: SOAP #3357:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no-one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Observation:  When Paul arrived in Corinth, he met, stayed, and worked with two tent makers.  On the Sabbath day he would go to the synagogue to witness about Jesus.  Although he was well received by some, others became abusive in their resistance to Paul’s message.  So, he moved from teaching in the synagogue to a private home.

Then the Lord gave him the specific instructions in the verses above.  Paul was not to let opposition hinder him from continuing his ministry in Corinth.  Paul was to rely on God’s greatest promise, the promise of His Presence!  A secondary promise was of the presence of God’s people.

Application:  There is great peace in knowing I am where God wants me to be and doing what God wants me to do.  There is nothing more assuring than knowing that God is with me.  I can rely on His Presence.  It is also encouraging to know that other believers are nearby and available to pray for me and help as needed.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of your Presence!  Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to make this promise a reality.  Holy Spirit help me to stop taking this great promise for granted.  Help me to talk and act like I am aware of your Presence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 10, 2019: SOAP #3356:  Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture:   Acts (NIV) 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.

Observation:  Paul was not a weekend warrior for the Lord.  His was a daily commitment.  On the Sabbath he presented Jesus as the Promised Messiah of the Old Testament scriptures to the Jews and Greeks who attended the synagogue.  The rest of the week he presented Jesus as the God who created the earth and the heavens; He gives life and breath to every man and every living thing on the earth.

There is no “off and on” switch to a life of ministry.  There are no days off.  Opportunities to share God’s love happen anytime and anywhere.

Application:  My ministry should follow Paul’s example.  On Sunday I minister to those with whom I join in worship.  During the week, I minister to everyone with whom I happen to come in contact.

Walking in the Spirit, He keeps me ready.  He keeps me aware of those around me that need His touch.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep me ready to share God’s presence, love, and willingness to be involved in people’s lives.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 09, 2019: SOAP #3355:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Observation:  Yesterday I was visited by two men promoting a religion whose core book cannot be verified with any historical or geographical realities.  What a joy it is for me to read the above verses.  My faith is based on a book that is full of verifiable truth.  The people of the Bible lived in verifiable historical times.  The events in the Bible happened in verifiable geographical places.

Application:  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  God is looking for people to live by faith.  It is by our faith that we know that there is a God and that He rewards those who seek Him.  But it is not irrational faith.  It is not illogical faith.  For me, the more I understand the Bible the more I learn to live by faith in God’s Word and in relationship with the Holy Spirit.  And the more I grow in faith, the more He reveals proof of His existence and workings.  I am finding proof all around me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all that I see.  You placed man in this place You created for him.  How logical it is to read in the scriptures of Your interactions with man in geographically and historically identifiable locations. This world is Your Creation and history is Your Story!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!