February 14, 2019: SOAP #3360:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:23 [Jerusalem church leaders to Paul] so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

Observation:  Paul takes the advice of the church leaders to openly follow the law, the law which he clearly declared could not bring righteousness.  He did it to prove that he, a Jew, was continuing to live as a Jew.

I wonder, is this a parallel to Satan’s temptation to Jesus to prove He was God by throwing himself off the temple?  This would force the angels to protect him, thus proving himself to be God.

It is interesting to me to note that it was during the proving of his Jewishness that he was accused of breaking the Jewish law, arrested and eventually taken to Rome.

Application:  My opinion is that Paul should not have followed their advice.  But clearly God used this situation.  First, it was while Paul was in prison that he wrote the letter we have in our New Testament.  Second, God used the Roman government to fulfill his word to Paul that he would testify before kings.  (Acts 9:15)   Rome even provided transportation for Paul.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I do not want to make mistakes, but it is comforting to know that you can work through anything, even my mistakes, to accomplish your will for my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 13, 2019: SOAP #3359:  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. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Observation:  As Paul was making his way back to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit had warned Paul about trouble awaiting him in Jerusalem.  In the next chapter we read of even more specific warnings.  Why wouldn’t Paul take the warnings and go in another direction.  He could have returned to the church in Antioch from where he had been first sent out on his missionary journeys.  But he had to go to Jerusalem.

Large flocks of birds follow an inner map across the skies of Kansas to their breeding grounds.  Salmon migrate through the ocean, swimming upstream, jumping the barriers, fighting the current against them, making their way up rivers and the little streams to the very place their fish ancestors had laid the eggs from which they had hatched.  It is amazing.

And the Holy Spirit in Paul served as just such an inner compass.  He heard the warnings, but he had no choice.  He was “compelled by the Spirit.”

Application:  The Holy Spirit can serve as my “inner compass” today if I submit my will and desires to Him.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, lead me today as you led Paul.  Impress on my thoughts and will your desires.  Be the inner assurance of what You have planned for me.  Make your will clear in my heart and mind.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 12, 2019: SOAP #3358:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. 37 “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.’”:

Observation:  This chapter contains many varied commandments for the Israelites.  They range from harvesting, family relationships, sexual issues, sacrifices, etc.  And attached to fifteen of them we read, “I am the LORD,” or “I am the LORD your God.”

God was declaring that He had the right to put these boundaries on the Israelites.  He was Creator God!   More than that, He was their personal God!  They were not trying to identify with Him; He was identifying with them!!!   They were not claiming Him; He was claiming them!!!

Application:  It is one thing to hear a speaker claim to have met the President of the United States; it is a much greater thing when the President calls that person by name out of a crowd!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so blessed to call you my Heavenly Father.  But it is a far greater honor to hear you call me Your son!  You know me.  You know my name!  Holy Spirit, help me be a faithful and fruitful son.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2019: SOAP #3357:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no-one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Observation:  When Paul arrived in Corinth, he met, stayed, and worked with two tent makers.  On the Sabbath day he would go to the synagogue to witness about Jesus.  Although he was well received by some, others became abusive in their resistance to Paul’s message.  So, he moved from teaching in the synagogue to a private home.

Then the Lord gave him the specific instructions in the verses above.  Paul was not to let opposition hinder him from continuing his ministry in Corinth.  Paul was to rely on God’s greatest promise, the promise of His Presence!  A secondary promise was of the presence of God’s people.

Application:  There is great peace in knowing I am where God wants me to be and doing what God wants me to do.  There is nothing more assuring than knowing that God is with me.  I can rely on His Presence.  It is also encouraging to know that other believers are nearby and available to pray for me and help as needed.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of your Presence!  Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to make this promise a reality.  Holy Spirit help me to stop taking this great promise for granted.  Help me to talk and act like I am aware of your Presence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 10, 2019: SOAP #3356:  Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture:   Acts (NIV) 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.

Observation:  Paul was not a weekend warrior for the Lord.  His was a daily commitment.  On the Sabbath he presented Jesus as the Promised Messiah of the Old Testament scriptures to the Jews and Greeks who attended the synagogue.  The rest of the week he presented Jesus as the God who created the earth and the heavens; He gives life and breath to every man and every living thing on the earth.

There is no “off and on” switch to a life of ministry.  There are no days off.  Opportunities to share God’s love happen anytime and anywhere.

Application:  My ministry should follow Paul’s example.  On Sunday I minister to those with whom I join in worship.  During the week, I minister to everyone with whom I happen to come in contact.

Walking in the Spirit, He keeps me ready.  He keeps me aware of those around me that need His touch.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep me ready to share God’s presence, love, and willingness to be involved in people’s lives.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 09, 2019: SOAP #3355:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Observation:  Yesterday I was visited by two men promoting a religion whose core book cannot be verified with any historical or geographical realities.  What a joy it is for me to read the above verses.  My faith is based on a book that is full of verifiable truth.  The people of the Bible lived in verifiable historical times.  The events in the Bible happened in verifiable geographical places.

Application:  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  God is looking for people to live by faith.  It is by our faith that we know that there is a God and that He rewards those who seek Him.  But it is not irrational faith.  It is not illogical faith.  For me, the more I understand the Bible the more I learn to live by faith in God’s Word and in relationship with the Holy Spirit.  And the more I grow in faith, the more He reveals proof of His existence and workings.  I am finding proof all around me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all that I see.  You placed man in this place You created for him.  How logical it is to read in the scriptures of Your interactions with man in geographically and historically identifiable locations. This world is Your Creation and history is Your Story!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 08, 2019: SOAP #3354:  Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 15:36 Some time 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.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 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:  The emphasis of Paul’s first journey was planting churches; his second emphasized strengthening the churches.  He did this by his presence, joining in their gatherings.  Paul’s letters are such an important part of this ministry, the part that remains as books in the New Testament.  But in his letters, we read that he longed to be with them.  He desired to minister to them with his presence.

Application:  The ministry of “presence” is so important.  It is the ministry of God’s Presence that assures, comforts, encourages, motivates me.  God is WITH me!  As God’s Presence ministers to me, I want my presence to minister to others.  How special it is when my presence is linked to God’s Presence.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as Sharon and I travel the roads of Kansas to visit churches on behalf of ministry to senior adults, use us to encourage and strengthen the churches.  Use us to strengthen and encourage individual we meet every day. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 07, 2019: SOAP #3353:  Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Observation:  Paul planted many churches in the cities he visited on his missionary journeys.  He did not leave them leaderless, but “appointed for them in each church.”  Paul did not send back to Jerusalem to get a recent graduate from a Bible college; there were no colleges.  There were no trained leaders.  From among the new believers, Paul chose, not just one, but several to serve as elders.  They would serve as a leadership team. They would be responsible to gather the new believers together.  They would be responsible to settle any disputes among the believers.  Probably some of the new believers came from the Jewish synagogue, so they would have some knowledge of God’s holiness.

But Paul was not just relying on leadership capabilities of these new elders.  He committed them to the Lord!  They would need the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

Application:  Today, even with specialized training, we do not have perfect leaders.  Leaders need to be “committed to the Lord” in their own hearts.  Leaders need to be “committed to the Lord” by the body of believers they are serving.  The elders, and the believers in the church need to maintain their “trust in the Lord!”  All are serving the same Lord!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for leaders.  As leaders, we commit our hearts “to you, Lord.”  As members of the church, we commit our leaders “to you, Lord.” We trust you to use our leaders, with their weaknesses, for our good and your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 06, 2019: SOAP #3352:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said:…

Observation:  In the days of Acts, communication was slow.  Hand carried letters took many days to reach their destinations.  So, visitors in the synagogue would be most welcome.  They would bring welcome news from other places.  Paul and Barnabas were asked for a message of encouragement.

Application:  We live in a mobile world.  Families are often spread across many miles.  As we travel, we have opportunity to visit Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, worship services, etc.  May we bring words of encouragement wherever we go.  Like Paul, may we take the opportunity to boast of Jesus and testify of His goodness and grace!  May we not consider our visit complete until we have exalted the Name of Jesus!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as you send us east and west, north and south across the state of Kansas, use us as ministers of encouragement who lift up the Name of Jesus. Use us to encourage those we meet today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 05, 2019: SOAP #3351:  Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 12:13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 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.

Observation:  An angel woke Peter as he was sleeping in prison, chained between two guards.  As he got up, his chains fell off and he followed the angel out of prison, the gates opening on their own accord before them.  Peter was left alone in the street, so he went to Mary’s (the mother of Mark) home.

As easy as it was to get out of prison, Peter found it quite difficult to get into the prayer meeting.  In verse 13 above, Peter “knocked.”  Then in verse 16, Peter “kept on knocking.” On the other side of the locked gate (above) was a gathering of believers joined in prayer.

Application: When God opens impossible doors for me, I need to follow Him in walking out of the prison.  But I also need to knock and keep on knocking to get through other doors and gates.  As the servant girl in her excitement forgot to unlock the gate, so the enemy of my soul will sometimes stir a brother or sister to say or do something that discourages me from joining the other members of the body to which God has placed me.  I need to keep on knocking until I get back into fellowship with my brothers and sisters.  Fellowship is too important to let offenses keep me on the outside!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to value the fellowship you have provided for me that I will knock, and keep on knocking! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!