February 08, 2019: SOAP #3354:  Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 15:36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Observation:  The emphasis of Paul’s first journey was planting churches; his second emphasized strengthening the churches.  He did this by his presence, joining in their gatherings.  Paul’s letters are such an important part of this ministry, the part that remains as books in the New Testament.  But in his letters, we read that he longed to be with them.  He desired to minister to them with his presence.

Application:  The ministry of “presence” is so important.  It is the ministry of God’s Presence that assures, comforts, encourages, motivates me.  God is WITH me!  As God’s Presence ministers to me, I want my presence to minister to others.  How special it is when my presence is linked to God’s Presence.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as Sharon and I travel the roads of Kansas to visit churches on behalf of ministry to senior adults, use us to encourage and strengthen the churches.  Use us to strengthen and encourage individual we meet every day. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 07, 2019: SOAP #3353:  Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Observation:  Paul planted many churches in the cities he visited on his missionary journeys.  He did not leave them leaderless, but “appointed for them in each church.”  Paul did not send back to Jerusalem to get a recent graduate from a Bible college; there were no colleges.  There were no trained leaders.  From among the new believers, Paul chose, not just one, but several to serve as elders.  They would serve as a leadership team. They would be responsible to gather the new believers together.  They would be responsible to settle any disputes among the believers.  Probably some of the new believers came from the Jewish synagogue, so they would have some knowledge of God’s holiness.

But Paul was not just relying on leadership capabilities of these new elders.  He committed them to the Lord!  They would need the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

Application:  Today, even with specialized training, we do not have perfect leaders.  Leaders need to be “committed to the Lord” in their own hearts.  Leaders need to be “committed to the Lord” by the body of believers they are serving.  The elders, and the believers in the church need to maintain their “trust in the Lord!”  All are serving the same Lord!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for leaders.  As leaders, we commit our hearts “to you, Lord.”  As members of the church, we commit our leaders “to you, Lord.” We trust you to use our leaders, with their weaknesses, for our good and your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 06, 2019: SOAP #3352:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said:…

Observation:  In the days of Acts, communication was slow.  Hand carried letters took many days to reach their destinations.  So, visitors in the synagogue would be most welcome.  They would bring welcome news from other places.  Paul and Barnabas were asked for a message of encouragement.

Application:  We live in a mobile world.  Families are often spread across many miles.  As we travel, we have opportunity to visit Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, worship services, etc.  May we bring words of encouragement wherever we go.  Like Paul, may we take the opportunity to boast of Jesus and testify of His goodness and grace!  May we not consider our visit complete until we have exalted the Name of Jesus!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as you send us east and west, north and south across the state of Kansas, use us as ministers of encouragement who lift up the Name of Jesus. Use us to encourage those we meet today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 05, 2019: SOAP #3351:  Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 12:13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison.

Observation:  An angel woke Peter as he was sleeping in prison, chained between two guards.  As he got up, his chains fell off and he followed the angel out of prison, the gates opening on their own accord before them.  Peter was left alone in the street, so he went to Mary’s (the mother of Mark) home.

As easy as it was to get out of prison, Peter found it quite difficult to get into the prayer meeting.  In verse 13 above, Peter “knocked.”  Then in verse 16, Peter “kept on knocking.” On the other side of the locked gate (above) was a gathering of believers joined in prayer.

Application: When God opens impossible doors for me, I need to follow Him in walking out of the prison.  But I also need to knock and keep on knocking to get through other doors and gates.  As the servant girl in her excitement forgot to unlock the gate, so the enemy of my soul will sometimes stir a brother or sister to say or do something that discourages me from joining the other members of the body to which God has placed me.  I need to keep on knocking until I get back into fellowship with my brothers and sisters.  Fellowship is too important to let offenses keep me on the outside!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to value the fellowship you have provided for me that I will knock, and keep on knocking! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 04, 2019: SOAP #3350:  Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Observation:  David wanted his words to bring joy to the heart of God.  People would hear his words and they may be influenced by what David says.  David loves God and wants everyone to love God.  He wants his words to have a positive effect of people.

BUT more than that, David loves God and knows that God is always with him.  People may hear his words, but God knows his thoughts!  David does not want his thoughts to be offensive to God.  He wants God to enjoy spending time with him.

Application:  God, through the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit today lives in each believer.  On my confession of my sins and receiving His forgiveness, God entered my heart.  Because I love God and want others to love God, I want my words to be pleasing to God!   AND because I love God and want Him to enjoy living in me, I want my thoughts to be pleasing to Him!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep working with me to bring my words AND MY THOUGHTS in line with your holiness and love.  May I bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 03, 2019: SOAP #3349:  Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 36:4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so, the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Observation:  Moses did not need to beg the people to give.  He did not need to remind them of what God had done for them.  He did not need to offer them a “gift” for giving.  He did not need to tell them how important this project would be, not only to Israel, but to the whole world.

Moses had received his instructions from the Lord.  He was faithfully carrying out the Lord’s plans.  The workers carrying out the individual tasks had been anointed with their skills by the Holy Spirit.  And the Lord had given the people a generous willing heart!   What happens to people whose heart God has made willingly generous?  They give, and give, and give, and give!

Application:  If it was Moses’ vision, Moses would have needed to motivate the people to give, but it was God’s vision.  It is interesting to me that Moses did not expand on God’s project to use the extra offering.  He could have added a chair or table.  He could have made the holy place a little larger.  He could have added some gold to the entrance.  But it was important that they stuck to God’s plan.  (Exodus 39:32)   Everything in the tabernacle had a purpose and was a picture of the grand plan God has for man.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the God of Moses and You are my God.  I trust You to provide what is needed to do what You have assigned.  Check me if I ever start to take advantage of the generosity you have place in the heart of Your people.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 02, 2019: SOAP #3348:  Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 16:2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance.

Observation:  In verse two, the Psalmist chooses the Lord.  In verse 5, he finds that the Lord has chosen him!  Chosen him to bless him.  Chosen him to give him security.  Chosen him to make his way pleasant.  Chosen him to receive a delightful inheritance!

Application: It is good for us to choose the LORD as our Lord!  But it is amazing that the LORD would choose us to be the object of His love, His grace, His kindness, His future!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when I chose you, I discovered that you had already chosen me.  I want you to be blessed in my choice for I am certainly blessed in your choice! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!