October 25, 2020: SOAP #3979:  Job 16; Acts 21-23

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying good-bye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. 7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.

Observation:  The above verses give insight into Paul’s travels.  There were limited hotels or motels.  Paul stayed in the homes of people who shared his vision of a local church.  His visits were an encouragement; they loved to see him come and they hated to see him go.  Paul’s ministry was a series of relationships.  In a day with no copies of the Word to have in private homes, it must have been a special blessing to have someone like Paul in a home for an extended time.  Oh, the things they could learn about God and His plan for our lives. 

Application:  A relationship with God leads to relationships with people.  So much of the Bible concerns our relationships with people. Perhaps we should consider any visit that does not end with a closing prayer or a blessing a wasted opportunity. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for today, allowing Sharon and myself to celebrate 52 years of marriage!  Wow!  We are so blessed!  Thank you for the special relationships you have placed in our lives that have encouraged and strengthened us.  Use us to do the same for others.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 24, 2020: SOAP #3978:  Job 15; Acts 19-20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight….
9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”
11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.

Observation:  Paul spoke till midnight, and people listened.  Then after a time of excitement, Paul went back to speaking.  He talked until daylight!  

As I contemplated this passage, I became amazed at how the people valued the preaching of Paul.  They stayed with him all night!  Then the Holy Spirit showed me that these believers did not have a Bible in their home.  There may have been some scrolls with some of the Old Testament books in the synagogue in their town.  But there was nothing written to have in their homes.  They did not have the opportunity to rise early in the morning and spend some time in prayer and reading of God’s Word.  Their appetite for God’s Word could only be met by meeting together to hear someone bring an anointed sermon based on the scriptures.  They would have stayed longer!  

Application:  What an honor to have the Word of the Creator of the universe in my possession!  What an amazing privilege it is to have the Words of the one who loved me so much that He sent His Son to die in payment for my sins!! What in our home could be more valuable than the Word of Almighty God!!!

What could be a greater tragedy than to have the Word of God so available yet be too busy to read it for myself! 

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, burn the Word of God deep in my heart.  May I never be satisfied with leaving it in a book.  Develop a hunger for the Word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 23, 2020: SOAP #3977:  Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. …
11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Observation:  In chapters 17 and 18 we do not read of healings and miracles.  The emphasis is on teaching and reasoning from the scriptures.  Paul’s emphasis for this journey was on “strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:36 & 41) He did it primarily through teaching. 

The Word, in Paul’s day, was not available in the many forms we have it today (books, CDs, tapes, records, phone aps, computer programs, etc.).  It was written in scrolls mostly kept in the temple and synagogues.  People did not have a copy of the Bible (Old Testament) in their private homes.  They needed someone with knowledge of the scriptures to teach them.  Through the Word presented by anointed teaching, and through the presence of the Holy Spirit, people learned to live like Jesus, the Living Word. 

Application:  Last week, my wife, Sharon, had a stroke that greatly affected her left arm and hand.  She could not hold a pen in her left hand (she is left-handed), nor make it move to write.  But she has been writing SOAP devotions for 10 years.  The scriptures have become a part of her everyday life.  Today, 7 days after the stroke, she wrote out a complete SOAP devotion!  It is very legible, and her unique writing style can be seen, but there is still room for improvement.  The Word flows through her mind, her heart, her spirit, and her hand!   Praise the Lord!!!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your eternal and complete wisdom can be seen in your Word.  Not only in the pages of your Word, but also in how your Word was preserved for us today. Thank you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 22, 2020: SOAP #3976:  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 15:36  Sometime 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.”…
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:  During Paul’s first missionary journey, he and Barnabas evangelized and planted churches.  Now as they prepare for a second journey, Paul and Silas have the emphasis of lets “see how they are doing…” and on “strengthening the churches.” 

APPLICATION:  As I ponder Paul’s ministry during this second journey, I see his goal at the beginning of this journey—to strengthen the church.  I see that he did not stop evangelizing and doing miracles, but there are several other emphases. Paul’s presence, his teaching, his writing letters, his setting the churches in order, and his discipling Timothy and others who traveled with him.

In Paul’s ministry, parents may find good ideas about their continuing ministry to their adult children. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in considering this aspect of Paul’s ministry, I see some similar aspects to the ministry you have given me.  Lord, use these SOAPs to faithfully explain your word and strengthen believers.  Use our visits in this area to encourage and strengthen churches. May you be glorified!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 21, 2020: SOAP #3975:  Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders… 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:  Last year the Lord used verse 7 for a SOAP devotion.  Yet today I feel drawn to this verse again.  Paul and Barnabas had such a successful ministry in Iconium, that they encountered viable threats to their lives.  So, they moved on.  They changed location, but they did not change ministry.  Opposition did not discourage them or stop their ministry.  Opposition moved them to another open field where they continued their ministry.   

APPLICATION:  If God has called me to be a witness, then all I need is a testimony of what he has done in my life, and people who will listen.  If God has called me to be a preacher, all I need is a message from God and one or many people to listen.  I can do this standing on a street corner or talking with co-workers around a water fountain.  I can do this in a church building or while buying groceries.  I can even do this over the internet!!!  I must not let circumstances stop me.  I must continue using what I have in the completion of my assignment.                               

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what I have may seem small to me, but I know that you are not depending on what I have, but what YOU HAVE!  Holy Spirit, help me be one who continues ministering wherever I am and with whatever I have.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 20, 2020: SOAP #3974:  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. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

Observation:  If anyone should have been praying, it should have been Peter.  But the Bible says he was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike Peter on the side to wake him up!   Peter logically should have been sleepless trying to think how he would defend himself. 

But Peter was not living his life for himself.  His life belonged to God.  It was for God to decide how to best use Peter.  Peter could sleep knowing that God would determine what would happen tomorrow.  He had been faithful doing God’s work; He could rest in God’s faithfulness to work through what was ahead. 

And we know that God did work it out for Peter’s good and God’s glory!!!

The church expressed their faith by praying.  Peter expressed his faith by sleeping.

Application:  If I have been faithful in doing God’s will for my life, I can count on God to take care of that which is out of my control.  I do not need to frantically call for help.  I do not need to twist people’s arm to get their help and support.  The Holy Spirit is far better than me in convincing people to help.  And if the help needed is greater than man can provide, then God can send an angel!   God’s provision is proof of His calling. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I cannot out-faithful you. I must be focused on what you give me to do.  I know I can trust you to be focused on what I cannot do.  I know the expression of my faith is powerful in your sight.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 19, 2020: SOAP #3973:  Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
[Meanwhile back in Joppa…]
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. …11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. … 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Observation:  As in yesterday’s SOAP we see God at work on both sides.  God spoke to Cornelius to send for Peter AND God preparing Peter to go with these Gentiles.  Later Peter reported, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.” Acts 11:15   God was making it clear that Gentiles, along with Israelites, were to be a part of His church!

Application:  If God sends me somewhere, I can rest assured that He has made necessary provision for my arrival.  There is no better advanced person than God.  And those times someone comes to me looking for help, I can rest assured that I have, or I am capable of doing my part.  My part might not be the final solution, but God brought them my way because I could glorify God by doing my part.  God is not only working in my life, He is already working in the lives those coming my way! 

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for making a way that I can participate in what you are doing. I trust you to work through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 18, 2020: SOAP #3972:  Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the

Observation:  God tells Ananias where to go and for whom he should ask.  God also tells Ananias that Saul will be expecting him.  God had prepared Saul for the visit from Ananias.  God was able to send Ananias to Saul AND prepare Saul for the visit!   

Application:  When I recognize that God is wanting me to go somewhere or to someone, I can rest assured that God is already at work at the destination!  I can move ahead with confidence that what is needed for the assignment will be adequately provided.  

He tells me to go; He goes with me; When I arrive, I find He is already there!!!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, it all starts with hearing your voice.  The priority is to hear your voice.  When I am faithfully following your directions, I can trust your provision.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 17, 2020: SOAP #3971:  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.”…
2:3  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. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Observation:  Was God proud of Job? or what!!!  Wow!

If you are looking for a character reference, you can go no higher than God.  The above verses are quotes of God speaking to Satan on behalf of Job!!!  God not only said it once; He said it twice! 

Between these two verses, the world has changed for Job.  He has lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, sons, and daughters.  His whole world has turned upside down.  Everything has changed, but two things have not changed – Job’s commitment to God, and God’s testimony of Job!

Application:  What God says about me is so much more important than what any man says about me.  I want to live my life in such a way that God can speak the same of me when I am going through the good times, AND when I am going through the bad times.  I know my circumstances do not change God, may He have the confidence that my circumstances do not change me.  

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you are so absolutely holy that nothing can change you.  Help me to grow through the tough times I am experiencing so that nothing can change me.  I am held to you with the super-glue of your Love.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 16, 2020: SOAP #3970:  Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

Observation:  If someone read the above scriptures and missed the part about Peter’s shadow, they may believe these were from the gospels and were written about the ministry of Jesus.  Of course, they would be wrong.  These are post crucifixion, post resurrection, post ascension, post Pentecost!  The same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus, is now on the early church and He is continuing His ministry through Peter and the early church. 

Application:  I believe the Holy Spirit can bring about church growth today as He did in Acts.  We need to step out in faith.  From reading the Gospels, healing was a major part of Jesus ministry.  From reading the book of Acts, healing was a major part of the early church’s ministry.  From looking at the world in which I live, healing needs to be a major part of today’s church ministry! 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I know I am praying according to God’s will when I pray that you stir up the gifts of healing in your church—in me today.  Be glorified today as you were in the gospel and book of Acts days. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!