October 27, 2016: SOAP #2520:  Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 27:41 But the ship struck a sand-bar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way, everyone reached land in safety.

Observation:   The Roman centurion’s desire to spare Paul not only saved Paul’s life, but the lives of all the other prisoners.   Paul had developed a good relationship with someone that could have been considered his enemy.  It was the Roman government that held Paul captive and was taking him to Rome for trial.  Yet it was the Roman centurion who determined that everyone should have the opportunity to jump overboard and swim to shore in the storm.

Application:   Relationships are so important in life.  Not one should be overlooked and/or considered of little importance.  Every person has been created by God and should be considered a unique creation of the God I love and serve.  I must remember the great price God paid for their salvation—and for mine.

Prayer:  Lord, each person is so important to you!  Help me see each person as you see them.  Help me not to focus on the inconveniences they may bring into my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 26, 2016: SOAP #2519:  Job 17; Acts 24-26

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 26:30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.  31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Observation:   Paul had just made his defense before visiting King Agrippa.  In Agrippa’s mind, it was a miscarriage of justice.  Paul was clearly innocent.  Paul should have been set free.   But God saw things differently.  Paul would testify as to the Risen Savior in Rome and Rome was going to provide the transportation and the security for the journey.  Also, Paul would need some settled, quiet time to write letters which would later become part of our Bible.

Application:   More than once have things that appeared so wrong to me proved to be so right.  Instead of letting things get me unsettled in my spirit, I must remember just Who lives inside me; How powerful He is, He loves me immensely; He can turn what is against me to be for me.   God enjoys working thing out for my good and for His glory!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, becoming overly alarmed at how bad things are around me is proof that I am spending way too much time looking at my circumstances.  I need to gaze on You, your wisdom, your power, your ability, your knowledge, your understanding.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 25, 2016: SOAP #2518:  Job 16; Acts 21-23

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Observation:  Paul had been beaten by men who were trying to kill him.  He had been rescued/arrested by the Roman soldiers.  The commander had him taken before the Jewish council which ended in a turmoil.  In prison that night the Lord appeared to Paul and told him that there was still more for Paul to do.  Paul had not finished his assignment.  Some of his most important ministry came out of prison.  There were still some letters that needed to be written.  His letters continue to minister to us 1900+ years later!

Application:   There have been times when it looked like my ministry was over, yet the Lord was not finished.  There was more; there is more.  People whose bodies have aged to a place where much of their previous ministry is not possible are many times limited down to a ministry that covers the whole world—an intercessory prayer ministry.  They now have time to spend before the throne of the universe pleading for revival in spiritually barren places.  Their ministry is not finished!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may I not quit too soon!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 24, 2016: SOAP #2517:  Job 15; Acts 19-20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Observation:  As Paul was speaking to the leaders of the church of Ephesus, he reminds them of how hard he worked when he visited them earlier.  Later he would write to this same church: Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Application:   One of the great blessings of work is being able to give, being able to “help the weak,” or “share with those in need.”  What I earn from working is in my power to use as I decide.  When I tithe (give the Lord His 10%) I am confessing that He gave me the strength and wisdom to accomplish the work.  I am acknowledging that He is my partner in work.  For me, tithing is not giving; it is just returning to the Lord what belongs to Him.  My giving comes from my 90%.

To man, generosity is valued by the amount given; to God generosity is valued by the amount remaining.  To man, it is the size of the gift, to God, the size of the sacrifice.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I am blest to be able to give.  May those in need be blest in my generosity.  Mostly, may you be blest in my stewardship of the finances you bring my way.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 23, 2016: SOAP #2516:  Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

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:   God did not always tell Paul to go; here God told Paul to stay. Paul was to continue doing what he was doing.  Instead of moving on, like he usually did, Paul stayed a year and a half in Corinth.

Application:   Many times I remember singing: “Not what I wish to be, nor where I wish to go; For who am I that I should choose my way?  The Lord shall choose for me; tis better far I know; so, let Him bid me go or stay.”  (I could not find the author of this song titled: Submission.)

Prayer:  Lord, to do your will is my priority.  I pray you find me faithful to do your will, to go or to stay—to change what I am doing or to continue do what I am doing. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 22, 2016: SOAP #2515:  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message… 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling… 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Observation:   The church has never needed a building to have a place of prayer or a place to sing to the Lord!  In the city of Philippi, believers met on the bank of a river and later Paul and Silas had church in the inner prison with their hands and feet in stocks.  As the church lives its daily life out in the open people can hear and see what God is doing.

Application:  While church buildings are a blessing and allow for many different avenues of ministry, we sometimes forget that the church’s best ministry usually happens outside the building.  It is a family praying over their meal in a restaurant.  It is praying in the yard with a neighbor who has recently experienced a death in their family.  It is what is overheard as two believers stop to chat in the market place.  It is how the believer handles the difficult boss at work.

Prayer:  Lord, being a part of your church does not start when I enter a building or stop when I leave.  I carry your Presence with me everywhere I go.  Holy Spirit help me to live the truth!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 21, 2016: SOAP #2514:  Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Observation:  Worship is a good setting for God to speak to His people.  The heart is aware of His Presence.  The mind is contemplating His character and ways.  The ears are open to hearing what God is saying.  The person is in an attitude of faith and ready to commit to doing what God directs.   And for the church in Antioch, it was also a time of fasting.  Fasting is saying “no” to the flesh so that we can better hear God and say “yes” to Him.    The word to Saul was confirmation for what Ananias had spoken to him in Acts 9:15.   It was a word of timing; now was the time God would fulfill that word in Saul’s life.

Application:   It is good to tune my spirit to the Lord by tuning out things of the world, things that appeal to my human nature.  And during times of worship, I should expect God to speak to and through me.   When God speaks to me, I should be quick to take action to obey.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, as you have created and called me to do your will, I expect that you will reveal your will to me.  Lord, as in the verses above, you did not talk specifically to Barnabas and Saul, but you spoke to the church about them.  May I also be present in church when you speak to someone about me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 20, 2016: SOAP #2513:  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.

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.)

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
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 19, 2016: SOAP #2512:  Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 11:28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Observation:   Giving is a MAJOR part of a Christian’s life.

Application:    Sometimes God speaks to us to give a specific possession or amount of money.  We give in obedience to the One we call Lord.   Sometimes God has us give sacrificially.  We give more than our budget will allow.   We give in faith that God will make up the shortage.     Sometimes God shows us a need and we respond as the disciples did in verse 29 above.  We give according to our ability.  We recognize that we only have what God has given us and it all really belongs to Him.  So we exercise our authority over our finances and give as we are able.  We make a choice to manage our/His possessions in a way that will bring Him the most joy.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I know my Heavenly Father is a giver and it brings Him joy when I am a giver.  Teach me to give, show me how and what to give.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 18, 2016: SOAP #2511:  Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his [Steven’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  … 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

Observation:   As Jesus was leaving He gave what we today call the Great Commission:  Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Just before He ascended into heaven He gave some instructions:  Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. However, the church seemed content to remain in Jerusalem until persecution caused them to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria.

It is interesting to me that Paul was key in fulfilling Acts 1:8.   First, as a passionate persecutor he helped scatter the church throughout Judea and Samaria.  Second, as a passionate believer, he personally carried the gospel to the uttermost part of the Roman Empire.

Application:   Times of trouble can motivate me and give me opportunity to shine the light of God’s presence and glory in my world.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to be focused on the big picture and not just my comfort. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!