October 22, 2019: SOAP #3610:  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Observation:  Paul and his traveling companions had been in the city several days.  They probably checked out places where they could meet other believers.  Something about this place by the river caught their eye.  So, on the Sabbath, they headed off to that location, “expecting to find a place of prayer.”  They went to “church” with expectations!   They expected to find praying people.  People should expect the same today!

Application:   I remember first arriving at Balboa US Naval Hospital in San Diego.  I had been sent there for medical training.  I knew no one.  The only friends I had were those I had not yet met.  How would I find a Christian friend?  I am sure it was the Lord who put a thought in my mind.  I entered the mess (dining) hall expecting to fine a person who would bow his head in prayer before eating his meal.  Before I was through the line, I saw a sailor bow his head to pray.  I took my food to his table and did the same thing.  And that is how I met Boyd Adams.

What do people expect to find when they join with other Christians.  Do they expect to find a place of prayer?  Prayer is always appropriate when two Christians meet!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, remind me to pray with and for each believer I meet.  May I be praying when I meet them, may our conversation contain an element of prayer, and when we part, may I continue on my way praying.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 21, 2019: SOAP #3609:  Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:5 There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the good news.

Observation:  Their lives were threatened in Iconium where powerful preaching and the ministry of miracles had a great affect on Jews and Gentiles.  Their ministry was so effective that Jewish and Gentile leaders who did not accept their message joined forces and developed a plan to stone them.

So, what did Paul and Barnabas do?  The moved on to another Roman province and continued to do as they had done in Iconium.

Application:   Everywhere Jesus went, He was anointed by the Holy Spirit and He was doing good!  Paul and Barnabas followed the same life pattern.  It is a good pattern for me today.  Wherever I go, I should carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit and continue my ministry to proclaim the good news!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful like Paul and Barnabas in continuing the ministry of representing Jesus and inviting people to join me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 20, 2019: SOAP #3608:  Job 6-8; Acts 12

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him…
12  When this had dawned on him [that he was out of prison], he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying….
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. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Observation:  It was easier for Peter to get out of prison than for him to get into the prayer meeting.  Ha!  Before leaving Peter gave them a message to pass along, “Tell James and the brothers…”  This would not be the apostle James, brother of John because he had just been killed (Acts 12:2).  This is James, the half brother of Jesus who became recognized as the leader of the early church in Jerusalem.

Peter led by the Holy Spirit goes to the home of John Mark’s mother where a prayer meeting was in progress.  Amazingly, the answer to their prayer walked through the door!  (–when they finally opened the door!)  That must have been an exciting prayer meeting!  But the church leaders were not there!   Obviously, the presence of church leaders is not necessary to have a good prayer meeting!

Application:   Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name…”   (Matt 18:20)   It can be in a hospital room, at a dining room table, in the market, in the bleachers at a ball game, over a phone connection, or at an altar in church…wherever I gather with another believer He has promised His presence and we can talk to Him!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, prayer!  What a special way to communicate with you.  What a faith-building opportunity to join with others at your throne! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 19, 2019: SOAP #3607:  Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened…

Acts (KJV) 11:4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying…

Observation:  Peter was a Jew and had been raised as a Jew.  He knew the restrictions on mixing with non-Jewish people. When the Holy Spirit told Peter to go with the men asking for him (Acts 10:19), He left out one detail—they were Gentiles!!!   Would Peter break the tradition and obey God’s clear instruction OR would he keep the tradition and refuse God’s instruction?

Peter went.  The Holy Spirit filled the Gentiles the same way He filled the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).  Here in Acts 11, Peter explained to the other Jewish disciples as to why he broke the tradition.  It is not difficult to understand why Peter “explained everything to them precisely” and “expounded it by order.”

Application:  Last night I was at two middle school football games.  A gentleman in the bleachers asked about my cap with “Navy Corpsman” and the symbol of the Third Marine Division.  (In Viet Nam I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman assigned to Golf Company 2/4, Third Marine Division.)  Giving “precise” answers and “expounding it by order” gave opportunity to show the work of God in directing my life.  Many things in my life make no sense if I leave God out of the story!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, there are so many things in my life that have no purpose or reason if not considered in the light of Your involvement.  You are the reason, my sustainer, and my shield of protection.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 18, 2019: SOAP #3606:  Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Observation:   Being scattered was not a pleasant ordeal for the early Christians to endure.  But they did not become bitter and complain about the terrible way they were being treated.  What they had with Jesus in their heart was much greater than what was in the homes they were forced to leave.

They considered their permanent heavenly home of greater value than their temporary earthly dwelling.  Wherever they went they spoke of the great treasure waiting for them.  Jesus had left and the Holy Spirit had taken over His ministry.  These disciples became the living proof of Jesus life!

Application:  When circumstances force me to relocate, I want to be so full of Jesus and His joy that any complaining will be replaced with joyful anticipation. If sickness causes my earthly body to be confined in a hospital room, may the faith of my heavenly life spread the news to everyone who enters my hospital room.  If a bad business endeavor results in bankruptcy, may the contentment and faith of my heavenly life cause me to tell banker and lawyer of my great Heavenly Advocate!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, in good times and bad times you remain worthy of my praise! May you always shine through my circumstances.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 17, 2019: SOAP #3605:  Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

Scripture:  Job (NIV) 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Observation:  There are times in life when we need a character reference—someone who knows us and is willing to speak on our behalf.  A good reference must themselves have a good character and be believable.  Job’s character reference is the highest available.  Job’s reference knew Job completely and only, always speaks the truth.  Here is a character reference whose character is above reproach!  What this Character Witness says about Job is true!

People who impugned Job’s character in his day did not have the benefit of this great Character Witness; so, it is understandable that they tried to make sense of Job’s trials by questioning Job’s character.  Job must have sinned.  Job needs to repent.   People who question Job’s character today should pay attention to what God says about Job!

Application:   Before speaking what I think I know about somebody, it is wise to find out what God is saying about them.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, nudge me when I start talking about things of which I have no knowledge. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 16, 2019: SOAP #3604:  Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Observation:   This new life was important to them!  Jesus had lived among them.  Jesus had taught them.  Jesus was the Messiah!  Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  Jesus had taken away their sin.  This was fantastic!  Of course, they met together every day!

Not having a Bible at home, they depended on these gatherings to learn the truth about God.  They would read from the scriptures available to them.  They may have had a copy of one of Paul’s letters.  There were leaders in the gatherings responsible to teach them God’s priorities—apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers.

Application:  We may not consider our physical life a daily life, but each of us could make a list of daily things we do to take care of our physical life.  We do many of them without thinking.  It should not be difficult to understand that our spiritual life needs daily care also.

The daily care I give my physical life (which certainly is going to die) shows the value I place on my physical life.  The daily care I give my spiritual life shows the value I place on this life that will never die.  The daily care I give to my spiritual life determines its growth and strength.   My life in eternity will be determined by the spiritual input I take in now.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, in creation you abundantly provided for our physical lives.  AND you have carefully provided for our spiritual lives also.  Through the scriptures, through your Son, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit you have abundantly provided for my spiritual life.  Thank you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 15, 2019: SOAP #3603:  Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. … 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Observation:   The truth of verse 28 can be seen throughout the scriptures.  In their anger against Jesus, they conspired to put him to death.   In their hateful course of actions, they fulfilled the prophecies about God’s suffering servant.  And they gave opportunity for the greatest of all miracles, the resurrection.  The crucifixion gave opportunity for the resurrection!!!

His claim to be God infuriated them; and in their anger they provided the greatest opportunity for it to be proven!!!

Application:  God still works in this manner.  He turns what others mean for evil to provide the proof of His blessings!  He turns obvious defeat into glorious victory.  For the believer, the humility of death is the glorious door to a new awareness of the presence of God!

The very thing that I most complain about mat be the thing that God will use/is using to bring about my greatest victory.

Prayer:   Lord, I trust you to work out the details of my life.  My heart is set to praise you in the good times and in the bad times.  You alone are worthy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 14, 2019: SOAP #3602:  Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 3:2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. …
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. …
16 [From Peter’s message to the crowd] By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Observation:   God makes changes in people’s lives that are seeable.  When the Spirit of God interacts with human flesh and blood, some things are going to change—and the change will be easily seen.

Application:   Some changes will be temporary and seen in my reaction to what God is doing.  It may be a shout, or a burst of joy.  It may be weeping.

Other changes will be lifelong.  Changes in how I see things.  Changes in my attitude.  Changes in how I talk.  Changes in habits.  Changes in health.  Changes in finances…

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, for a God who never changes, you sure bring a lot of change to our lives, and I am so glad you do!  Every change you make is me is for my good.  Keep changing me to be like Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 13, 2019: SOAP #3601:  Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 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.|
Acts (NIV) 2:2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Observation:   They had been told to “go into all the world” but then they were told to wait.  Then, in a moment of time, everything changed!  Suddenly!  Suddenly they were empowered and equipped to go into all the world.

Soon and suddenly are two different words.  God’s suddenly does not always happen soon enough for me, but it is worth the wait.

Application:   When the Lord tells me to wait, I can be assured that it is worth waiting for!   I find that I am thinking too small.  God has something better and bigger in mind.

Suddenly God gives me a thought or word that changes my perspective.  Suddenly God gives me insight to a scripture passage.  Suddenly I receive a phone call.  Suddenly I hear a song on the radio.  Suddenly I see inspiration in something along the road.  Suddenly someone lifts my spirit or my thoughts by something they say.  Suddenly I become aware of God’s Presence—suddenly God speaks and everything changes!

Suddenly a word is impressed in my mind.  Suddenly I know what needs to be said or done.  Suddenly I have faith to interject myself into the ongoing process.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I am finding that you often work in the “suddenlies.”  Help me be ready when you bring a “suddenly” my way.  May I respond in faith and obedience.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!