February 20, 2020: SOAP #3731:  Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Observation:  This is a psalm full of many promises.  It contains 12 special promises that God does for His children.  …rest in green pastures, a drink from quiet waters, restoration, guidance, fearing no evil, comfort, supply, healing and joy, etc.  These are promises that we all could enjoy, but they are not for everyone.

These promises are for those who, along with the author of this psalm can say with confidence, “The Lord is my shepherd.” (verse 1.)  Not “was my shepherd;” not “will be my shepherd;” but IS My Shepherd!

Application:   I need to walk with a continual awareness of the special relationship I have with The Good Shepherd.   I can trust Him.  What He does is for my good.  I give Him glory by learning His voice, going where He goes, eating what He feeds, responding to His words, and following close to Him.

Prayer:   Lord, You are my shepherd.  There has never been a better shepherd than you.  You care for your sheep.  Your sheep are your concern.  It is good to be in your care.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 19, 2020: SOAP #3730:  Numbers 5-6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

Scripture:   Numbers (NIV) 6:23 Tell Aaron and His sons, “this is how you are to bless the Israelites.  Say to them:
24 “The LORD bless you and keep you
25 The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
27 So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Observation:     The Israelites developed traditions to respect God’s name as Holy.  In fear of “taking it in vain” they refused to even speak it.  When reading the scriptures, they would respectfully pause when coming to that name.  Here I see that God did not desire His name to be withheld but spread.  The leaders were to place His name on His people!  They were to know that name.  They were to experience blessings in that Name.  They were to look forward to hearing that name and being blessed in that Name.

How sad that today, that references to God and His Son Jesus are publicly heard more in cursing than in blessing.  They are heard more in thoughtless phrases (Oh, my god!) than in meaningful blessings (like the verses above.)

Application:   How special to know my Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus!   How special to be blest in the name of Jesus!  What a privilege to be allowed to pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus!   What a high privilege to be encouraged to bless others in the Name of the Lord!

Prayer:   Lord, what a high honor to be identified with your name!  May the words that come out of my mouth show that I am blest and thankful to know you and be your servant.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 18, 2020: SOAP #3729:  Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

Scripture:  Numbers (NIV) 4:29 “Count the Merarites by their clans and families. 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 31 This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.

Observation: To move the Tabernacle of Moses through the wilderness required some coordinated effort.  It had to be disassembled, carried, and reassembled in an orderly fashion.   It was carried in pieces, but each piece had to be returned to its proper setting within the whole for the tabernacle to fulfill its purpose.

Surely as the pieces were carried by individuals, they noticed the length, the width, the weight, the smoothness, the color of the individual boards, BUT when they were assembled, the individual characteristics of each board were lost as the characteristics of the tabernacle were seen.  The purpose of the boards might not be easily recognized when they were carried individually, but it became clear once they were assembled with each board in its proper place!

Application:  Although I am not carrying a physical part of the tabernacle through the wilderness on a journey to the Promised Land, I am carrying a unique expression of Christ as I journey through this life on my way to heaven.  The expression of Christ in my life must be set up in relationship to the unique expressions of Christ in my brother’s and sister’s lives, for it is only when we are connected and seen as a unit that the world can see the full expression of the body of Christ.

Prayer:  Lord, let my individuality be lost in the beauty of the body of Christ.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 17, 2020: SOAP #3728:  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.
Genesis (NIV) 40:23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. 41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,

Observation:  Two different men, Paul and Joseph.  Two different times separated by 17 centuries.  Two different places, Egypt and Palestine.  Two different authorities, an Egyptian Pharaoh and a Roman governor.  Two men, both serving the same God in their generation.  Both falsely accused and in jail.  Both were in jail for over two years.  Both did not get bitter but looked for opportunity to serve their God and those around them.

Both were released from prison, Joseph to become 2^nd in command of all Egypt and Paul eventually to a martyr’s death.

Both had key positions to fill in God’s plan in preparing a body of redeemed people to rule and reign with Him for eternity!   Their faithfulness in the bad and good times led to much fruitfulness.

Application:   I have (Each one has) a specific place to fill in God’s kingdom.   I (we) must learn from Joseph and Paul that faithfulness leads to fruitfulness.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, being faithfully committed to you leads to fruitfulness.  Encourage and strengthen me to be faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 16, 2020: SOAP #3727:  Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

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.”
…23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

Observation:  It is interesting to me how God used the Roman government for His glory.  First, the tax that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  The crucifixion (Acts 4:28). The arrest of Paul by the Romans protected Paul from the Jews.  The peace of the Rome (Pax Roma) allowed Paul to move freely to spread the gospel.  The later imprisonment of the Romans gave Paul the impetus to write much of the New Testament as letters to churches. And the Roman government provided Paul’s transportation to Rome where God told him he would go.

Application:   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 to provide for His will in my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I trust you to take care of me and provide for me.  Your ways are much higher than my ways.  I know I can count on Your Faithfulness.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 15, 2020: SOAP #3726:  Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 25:17 Do not take advantage of each other but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.

Observation:  The context of this verse has to do with buying and selling their land.  The land belonged to God and he gave it to them to use.  They could sell the use of the land only until the year of Jubilee (every 50 years) when all land would return to the original owners.  The price of the land should be determined by the number of years remaining until the year of Jubilee.

This verse is a universal principle here applied to their land deals.  But it also applies to how they are to treat each other—at all times and in all deals.

Application:  I must remember that the people around me are made in the image of God.  How I treat them is important to Him, so it is important to me.  God so loved the people around me that He sent His only begotten Son to die for them; they are very important to Him; they must be very important to me.

If I fear God, I know that I am not here to take advantage of others, but to serve them.   I am God’s servant, so I am their servant!  My priority is not getting other people to serve me but finding ways to serve them.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, as I love and serve my Heavenly Father, show me how to love and serve those He loves.  May my service to others bring joy to His heart today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 14, 2020: SOAP #3725:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.)

Observation:  Paul had longed to preach in Rome, but he never dreamed that his transportation to Rome would be provided by the Roman government with a military escort!  Nor that the journey would start with lies from people assuming something that did not happen.  (verse 29 above)

Application:  As I considered the above, I could not help but consider all the people against President Trump.    I pray for God to give him strength and hard-headedness to not let the all the attacks reach his heart.  He has stood for Jerusalem and God is standing for him.  I see that God is using the attacks to turn people to support him.

God has done the same in my life several times.  God used what people did against me to propel me toward what He wanted me to do.  He has done that in the past; I am sure He will do it in the future!   I even know of God using a bout of sickness to propel people into the courts of heaven!!!   I know murders and terrorists have propelled some of God’s chosen servants into His Presence.  Surely there will be centuries in heaven when we just go around listening to stories of how people got into heaven.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, many times you have proved that all things do work together for good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose.  Like you did for Joseph, you still take what people mean for evil and use it for the good of your people and for your glory!  Keep our President strong, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 13, 2020: SOAP #3724:  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.

Observation:  Two different messages from the Holy Spirit to Paul.  One that He should go to Jerusalem.  The other that he would face prison and hardship.  Two totally different messages, but both from the Holy Spirit and both important.

If Paul only had the leading that he was to go to Jerusalem and not the information about the hard times, Paul might have thought that surely God would not have him suffering and that he must have missed what God was saying to him.  If Paul only had the message about the hardship ahead in Jerusalem, he might have determined that he was being warned to stay away from Jerusalem.

But when Paul experienced prison and hardship in Jerusalem, he was certain that he had not missed God!

Application:  When finding one’s location using a compass, one needs to find the angle to two recognizable points that can be located on a map.  Drawing lines on the map through those two points (triangulation) allows one to identify their location where the lines intersect.

As I have continued to walk along the direction God gave me years ago, there have been times when God has given me additional insight, scriptures, prophetic words.  In considering the old and new together, I was better able to understand God’s ultimate direction and see how it all fit together.  God is amazing!!!

Prayer:   Lord, continue to lead me and I will continue to follow.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 12, 2020: SOAP #3723:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:33 “‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Observation:  There are two reasons given in this passage for Israel to treat the non-citizens, later known as Gentiles, –to treat them with respect and help them with their needs.  One reason was because they had been aliens in Egypt for 400 years.  Egypt had taken them in and saved them from the seven-year drought.

The other reason was because God was their LORD!  The Creator of heaven and earth, the Creator of man.  He is the ultimate authority.  He has every right to tell us how to treat each other.  We are foolish to ignore His command!  To God, the aliens were as valuable as Israelites.

Application:   My mom’s family, and my dad’s family, came to the United States in the 1870s.  It seems to me that a large majority of people in our nation have roots in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Central and South America.   We have a history of being immigrants.

And surely a high percentage of US citizens live within 5 miles, or cross paths every day with people who have been in our nation for less than a year.  We have opportunity to “love them as ourselves,” as the Lord commanded the Israelites.   We should treat them as though they belong here.  We should expect them to obey our laws as we do.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me to remember that I am an alien on earth.  I am here temporarily; I am passing through on my way to heaven. Use me to bring others with me when I enter my heavenly home. Use me to help others along the way.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2020: SOAP #3722:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Observation:  In the ministry of Apollos, we see many people had an important part.  From his initial learning in the scriptures, to his continued education provided by Priscilla and Aquila.  But what caught my attention was the letters of introduction written to the believers in Achaia.

It is a ministry of opening doors for others.  It is making a recommendation for someone’s ministry.  It is opening a door of opportunity for someone’s ministry into a new area, an area where they are not known.  People in that area may need that ministry, but it might take a letter of recommendation to open the door.

Application:  When God has blessed me with someone’s ministry it would be proper to write a letter of recommendation or introduction.  It is a good way to appreciate how God has used that ministry to encourage my life.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you have placed ministries in my path to build me up, to encourage me, to give me guidance, to correct me, and to inspire me.  Thank you.  Show me ways to appreciate those who have had an important part in my life and ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!