Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 17, 2023: SOAP #4824: 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:  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.

2,000 years later, the Holy Spirit is still using the letters Paul wrote in prison to bring life to people.  Millions and millions of people have heard God speaking to them through Paul’s prison letters!   I think it would be correct to say that Paul’s limitations made him fruitful beyond his wildest imaginations!  

APPLICATION: God can use my limitations to focus me on His priorities. 
The limitations on me do not limit God!  
I must not allow Satan to discourage me by focusing me on my limitations!
I must remember that I am serving a limitless God! 
I must be faithful in working within my limitations. 
I must leave the results up to Him! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, may the dreams of great possibilities never cause me to stop doing what I can do for the Kingdom.  May the dream of ministering to hundreds never cause me to overlook the single, lonely person on the side of the road.  Use me.  Find me faithful in little things. I like to sing, “Even though its humble, help my will to crumble.”  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon