February 10, 2016:  SOAP #2260:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 17:29 Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone— an image made by man’s design and skill.

Observation:  Some people like to design their god in the way they think he should be.   Their god looks at things the way they look at things.  What is important to them is important to their god.  What is not important to them is not important to their god.  But, in truth, the opposite is reality.  Man did not create God in man’s image BUT God created man in God’s image.

Application:    Being created in God’s image, I find that my life works best when He is in control.  Surrendering my choices to Him brings several desired results:  First, it honors God.  Second, it causes things to work together for my good.  Third, it raises the level of my faith; God is actively working in my life!

Prayer:   Lord, sin has destroyed many things, but it cannot destroy the potential I have to be your child.  It cannot destroy your love for me.  Though I cannot save myself, I can respond to the call of your Holy Spirit.  You have designed me to be a living temple in which you live.  What a great privilege is mine!!!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 9, 2016:  SOAP #2259:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:4 As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Observation:   As Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled from town to town they delivered the message that Gentiles were welcome in the church without first becoming Jews.  They had a two pronged ministry:  encourage people in their faith and seeing new people become believers.

Application:  At this time in our life, Sharon and I are traveling from church to church.  We are encouraging ministry to senior adults. Strengthening people in their faith and seeing new people added to the Kingdom of God should be the goal of my life wherever I go, be it next door or to another country, be it sitting in a local restaurant or checking into a motel on a trip.

Prayer:   Lord, keep me faithful to the opportunities you will give me today to encourage people in their faith and to witness to people needing Jesus in their lives.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 8, 2016:  SOAP #2258:   

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. … 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:   Paul’s had love and concern for the people who had become believers during his first missionary journey.  He wanted to go back and visit them to see how they were doing.  After some disagreement with Barnabas about who to take with them, Paul chose Silas and headed out.

Application:   When God uses me in someone’s life, it is good to follow-up.  God can use me to review and re-emphasize what God previously did.  God can use me to further what He is doing in their lives.  God can use them to encourage me.

Prayer:   Lord, I know that you are sovereign and that many times you use someone else to follow-up on the ministry you used me to start.  I may plant the seed, a second person may water, and even a third bring in the harvest.  But when you give opportunity for me to follow-up, I pray that you find me useful, willing and joyful.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7, 2016:  SOAP #2257:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Observation:  Their journey was complete, but their responsibility was not complete.  They needed to report back to those who had sent them.

Application:   I may have a need or know of a need that only God can meet.  I feel it is my responsibility to request prayer from my family, my church friends, my Facebook friends, and anyone else I can find.  If I am sincere in requesting prayer, I should be sincere about letting people know how God answered the prayers.  My responsibility is not over until I report back to those who have prayed.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for the power in agreeing together in prayer.   Remind me to be faithful in being thankful to my Heavenly Father and to those who joined me in prayer.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 6, 2016:  SOAP #2256:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:32 We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.

Observation:   The Eternal God is a promise maker, a promise remember-er, and a promise keeper.  God is interested enough in people to make promises.  His promises provide vision for the future.  There is something beyond the present trouble we experience.  Even though generations may come and go, God still remembers His promises and fulfills them.  How thankful we should be to those who pass along God’s promises.

Application:  As the Apostle Paul in the verses above, I too have been blest by promises God has given to previous generations.   I pray that promises God gives to me will in turn be a blessing to generations to come.  I must be faithful to pass them along.

Prayer:   Lord, Your plans are bigger than any one generation.  Should your promise to return tarry through another generation, may those who come behind me find that I have been faithful to pass along what you have given me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 5, 2016:  SOAP #2255:   

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 39:1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Observation:   God had given specific directions for building the tabernacle and they had done just as he commanded.  (Exodus 25-40) Along with the directions for the tabernacle, God gave specific directions for the clothing the high priest would wear when serving in the tabernacle.  They carefully followed the Lord’s instructions for the garments as they had for the tabernacle.  From man’s viewpoint, this was careful obedience to the One Who had just saved them from slavery in Egypt and was leading them to a land He promised to give them.  But from God’s viewpoint, this was a prophetic picture of the True Sacrifice that would be made by the True High Priest presenting the sinless blood of that sacrifice in the True Temple.

Application:   Many times my obedience has a much higher purpose than I know.  Being careful to the details was important to Moses and it should be to me also.  Only God sees the big picture.

Prayer:   Lord, keep me mindful of the details of obedience to your commands.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 4, 2016:  SOAP #2254:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 11:23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Observation:   News had arrived to the Jerusalem church about a revival in Antioch.  They sent Barnabas to check on what was happening and to be of help as he could.  Barnabas did not focus his attention on the fact that Gentiles were joining the church, but focused his attention on what God was doing.  He saw “the evidence of the grace of God.”  Instead of being critical, he “was glad.”  He added his encouragement to what God was doing.  (Note:  this was the same pattern of ministry Barnabas had with Saul then later with John Mark.)

Application:   First: look for the hot ember in the dying fire.  Second: blow encouragingly on it until it burst into flames.  First: I must look for “the evidence of the grace of God” at work in someone’s life.  Second: I add my encouragement to what God is already doing.  This is a great ministry for every believer!

Prayer:   Lord, help me to see the evidence of your grace, no matter how small it may be.  Then make me an instrument of your encouragement.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 3, 2016:  SOAP #2253:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Observation:  Many people heard about the power of Jesus and sought Him out to meet their needs.  Even in the book of Acts, people were drawn to the church because of healings and miracles.  But with Cornelius, it was different.  He was not seeking God’s help; God was seeking him!!!

Application:   I am so thankful that I can take my problems to God and expect Him to provide what is needed.  But more than that, I want to be a person that God seeks.  I want God to see me and bless me just because it pleases Him to do it.
Prayer:   Lord, bless me when You want to, how You want to, and just because You want to!  I want to live my life in such a way that You enjoy blessing me.  May I be quick to tell of Your blessings which are abundant and undeserved.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 2, 2016:  SOAP #2252:   

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 33:15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Observation:  Because the sins of Israel had hurt God and made Him so angry He told Moses that He would not go with Israel into the land He had promised to give them.  He would send an angel to accompany them.  But this was not acceptable to Moses.  God’s Presence was proof that they were going where He was sending them.  God’s Presence was the difference maker!   God’s Presence made them unique.

Application:   God’s Presence emphasizes the uniqueness of my life and my ministry.  I am not like everyone else; my ministry is not like everyone else.  It is God’s Presence which validates its genuineness.  When others recognize God’s Presence, they expect God to speak through me to them.  When others recognize God’s Presence they realize that God can work through them also.

Prayer:   Lord, make me a vessel you can work through.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit.  May your Presence be easily seen in me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 1, 2016:  SOAP #2251:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his [Steven’s] death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Observation:   If the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, then who were these that “preached the word wherever they went?”  They were those who believed in Jesus and had been filled with the Holy Spirit.  Obviously they did not need a church building in which to preach.  They did not have a license to preach nor a pulpit to stand behind.  They had the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in their hearts.  They preached by opening their mouths and telling others what God had done for them.  They told/preached to those living next door.  They told/preached to those they met in the market place.  “Wherever they went” they spoke about Jesus!

Application:  I have the same Holy Spirit living in me.  At the bus barn, at the grocery store, waiting at the gas station for my car to be filled with gasoline, at the restaurant, everywhere I go I can do the same!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, embolden me and use me wherever I am to tell people about Jesus and what He has done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!