Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 20, 2022: SOAP #4704: 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. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell….

OBSERVATION:  Peter was in prison, but the church was praying. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, but the church was praying. Peter was bound with chains, but the church was praying. There were sentries at the entrance and two levels of guards, but the church was praying.

The church was not picketing the jail; the church was praying.  The church was not standing outside the governor’s house; the church was on its knees in Mary’s house.  The church was not talking to its representatives; the church was talking to its God!   The church was not organizing a letter writing campaign; the church making a direct appeal to the One who has many creative ways of dealing with such problems.

APPLICATION: In times of trouble, I can think of many things to do. If they work, I may receive the glory. But when I pray, I am acting like it all depends on God; and when God answer’s my prayers, He gets the glory! God has many creative ways of answering prayer. Sometimes His creative ways include me, but my part can never be interpreted as bringing about the needed answer. (i.e. Moses lifted rod could never be seen as the reason the Red Sea parted for Israel to cross.)

NOTE:  10/19/22   Less than a month ago the Lord answered a prayer for extra finances.  I had obeyed God to give out money set aside for taxes. I was confident that God would replace them but wondered how.  I told no one, but God spoke to several people who responded to His direction!  The money was replaced along with extra to meet several other SOAP needs!   PTL!!!  Now, God gets praise and thanksgiving from me for his hearing and answering my prayer.  He also gets praise from those who gave because they had heard and followed His direction.  And God received thanks and praise from the extra needs that were met!    PTL!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, use my prayers to cause people to look to you for the needed answer and then give you the glory as they see your answer. Amen

Pastor Leon
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