February 13, 2017: SOAP #2629:  Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-bye and set out for Macedonia.  2 He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

Observation:  Paul ministered in many ways, through teaching, preaching, healings, miracles.  Here in the above passage we see another important ministry.  It is the ministry of encouragement.

Application:   Encouragement does not carry the load, but gives strength to the one who does carry it.  Encouragement can be reminding people of what they already know.  It can be letting them know that they are not alone in their struggle.  It can be giving them a verse of scripture.  It can be a compliment.  It can be providing some assistance.  It can even be a simple smile.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, work with me in the ministry of encouragement today.  May someone have hope because you spoke through me.  May someone do their job better because we encouraged them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 12, 2017: SOAP #2628:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.  3 “‘Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

Observation:   Why should people keep God’s commands?  Five times in chapter 18 and sixteen times in chapter 19 we have the reason.  It is not because keeping God’s commands is good for us.  It is not because keeping God’s commands is good for those around us.  Yes, keeping God’s commands is good for us; yes, it is good for our neighbor.  But the reason given is because He is the LORD our God.

Application:  The overriding reason for my life is that God alone is God and that He created me for His glory.  His word is the final authority.  As Lord, He has veto power over all my choices.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, though I am undeserving, you have proved your love for me.  God, you alone are God!  Lord, you are my Lord!    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2017: SOAP #2627:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.  4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.  5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Observation:   The Apostle Paul was no different from the rest of us:  he needed money to live.   He did not expect others to carry his load, so he joined with Aquila and Priscilla in their work as tentmakers.  His schedule was to work all week then preach in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday).   When those committed to Paul arrived in Corinth to join in the ministry they must have started working to earn living expenses because Paul was then free to give all his time to preaching.  Silas and Timothy now share in Paul’s reward!

Application:   Sometimes my schedule is difficult as I try to balance driving a school bus with opportunities to minister.  I am blest in knowing that God assigned me to drive the bus and driving the bus is just as important to God as other ministry.  He considers it all ministry.  Bus driving and daily SOAPs are priorities because God specifically directed me into these ministries.  I believe an important part of my ministry is helping believers see that their “job” is an important ministry.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for the privileges of daily sharing Your Word and of driving the school bus.  I enjoy being Your servant. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 10, 2017: SOAP #2626:  Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

Observation:   My attention was drawn to the word “carefully.”  Paul had been carefully looking around.  I imagine he was carefully looking to find something he could use as a starting place to tell them about Jesus.

Application:   I need to have faith that God has things for me to use in telling people about Jesus.   Like Paul, I need to look around carefully to find what God has strategically placed nearby.  I need to be open to the Holy Spirit as He draws my attention to something useful.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me notice what is available for me to use in telling people about Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 9, 2017: SOAP #2625:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 10:1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Observation:    In God’s eyes, all fire is not the same.  There is worldly fire, and there is holy fire.  The fire to be used by the priests in presenting the offering was fire from the altar where the sacrifices were made.  (Leviticus 16:12)

Application:    In serving the Lord, I can light my fire from what people like to hear, or from the latest trends, or from the needs of people.  But the only acceptable fire is the fire that comes from Jesus sacrifice for me on the cross. (#Leviticus 16:12)   Pleasing God always involves serving others, but when pleasing people becomes more important than pleasing God, I am getting my fire/passion from a corrupted source.   Other motivations may lesson or prove unworthy, but not Calvary!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of how much God loves me and the great sacrifice He made to pay for my sins. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 8, 2017: SOAP #2624:  Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

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.” 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.

Observation:   Earlier in Acts 9 we read that when the apostles in Jerusalem did not want to accept the new convert, Saul (whose name was changed to Paul), it was Barnabas who accepted Saul and spoke on his behalf.   And in chapter 15 when Paul does not accept Mark, we see that Barnabas accepts Mark.  It was Barnabas just being Barnabas.  Barnabas had an important input in two men used by God to write portions of the New Testament—Paul’s letters and the Gospel of Mark!

Application:  How the church today needs people like Barnabas.  We need people who will accept the youth today who dress differently and talk differently but have great futures ahead in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:   Lord, use me to be an acceptor and encourager to those who are rejected.  May I see you at work in those around me.  Help me see what they can be and not just what they are.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7, 2017: SOAP #2623:  Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 5:1 “‘If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible…. 5  “‘When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned 6 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; …or two doves (vs 7) …or a tenth of an ephah of fine flour (vs 11).   .

Observation:  People who had witnessed a criminal act or had knowledge about a criminal act were expected to report it to the proper authorities.  If they did not, it was considered a sin and they were required to pay a penalty.  For a justice system to be just, every citizen must be willing to participate.  Not just the police officer, not just the judge, not just the jury, but every citizen.   Justice is everyone’s responsibility.

Application:  It is my privilege to live in a society where the justice system is designed to discourage criminal activity by holding guilty people accountable.  However, for that to happen, I must be willing to tell what I have seen and what I know.  The cost of justice can be high as evil people may try to keep me from telling the truth.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are just and want your people to live in a just society.  So, you require each of us to participate.  When/If my turn comes, give me courage and clarity of speech.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 6, 2017: SOAP #2622:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 1:1 The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.

Observation:   A offering/gift reveals information about two parties.  First it reveals the ability and willingness of the giver.  It may reveal a special relationship.  Second, it may reveal a need or a preference of the one receiving the gift.  Often the gift is chosen to be something enjoyable and useful to the one receiving it.

Application:   When I give to the Lord, I want to give a gift that the Lord will enjoy.  I want to give it in a way that the Lord will enjoy receiving it from me.  The way a gift is given can be more important in making the gift acceptable as the nature of the gift itself.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I willingly give myself to you.  Use me to bring you glory today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 5, 2017: SOAP #2621:  Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 39:42 The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  43 Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So, Moses blessed them. [also in verses 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32}
Exodus (NIV) 40:19 …as the LORD commanded him.  [also in verses 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 32]  34 THEN the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Observation:  Seventeen times in these two chapters we read the same phrase: …just as the LORD commanded him/Moses.  They had been so careful to follow exactly the LORD’s commands.  That sets the foundation for verse 34 when the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  God approved their work!         

Application:   The LORD’s presence is the approval I desire.  If I do as He commands, I can expect His Presence.  

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, in both large and small assignments, may you be pleased and may Your presence fill life.  Amen     

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 4, 2017: SOAP #2620:  Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world….

Romans (NIV) 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Observation:   Although I do not know the words, every language spoken on earth has words for sun, moon, and stars.  No one on earth is unaffected by the sun.  The language of the sun is spoken in every language and every location on earth.  The Creator is easily seen in His creation.

Application:   I should never walk through a day on earth without taking time to appreciate creation and to express my appreciation to the Creator!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, this morning I was privileged to enjoy the beauty of your sunrise.  If I had no reason to praise you from within my heart, I have abundant reasons to praise you from what I see around me. I have no excuse for not praising you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!