October 17, 2021: SOAP #4336:  Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 7: 30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.  31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord’s voice: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

OBSERVATION: In making his defense before the religious leaders in Jerusalem, Stephen gives an overview of Israel’s history.  He covers forty years with five words: “After forty years had passed…”   It was a long forty years.  It was the time between Moses having to leave Egypt until the time God appeared to him in the burning bush telling him to return. 

Joseph spent years in an Egyptian prison until God gave Pharaoh a dream that needed to be interpreted.  If Joseph was not in prison, he very likely would have returned to his family in Canaan, but being in prison, he was immediately available.  (Genesis 41)

APPLICATION:  God’s timing often requires periods when I am sitting on the sidelines just passing time.  It may be an hour while waiting on a family member, or it may be a year or more waiting on a job or ministry opportunity. 

Waiting time can be productive time for prayer and Bible study.  God will use the waiting time to prepare me for the next assignment. 

I must be careful not to think that God is finished with me, or I am useless to Him. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the timing for your plan for my life may require times of just being available. You are worthy of my whole-hearted service.  You are also worthy of my being available by waiting. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 16, 2021: SOAP #4335:  Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”… 9 Peter said to her [Sapphira], “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

OBSERVATION: Here is a good example of how God takes personally what we do to each other.  Ananias and Sapphira agreed to sell their property and give part of it to the church, but they told the church that they were giving it all.  Maybe it did not seem like much of a lie.  They were probably giving a large portion.  It would seem a reasonable amount to receive for their property.  No one would know.  

BUT they did not realize that when they spoke to the church, they were really speaking to the Holy Spirit! 

APPLICATION:  If they had known that the Holy Spirit was listening to their conversations about the sale of the property, would they still have gone through with their plan?  Maybe not. 

What about me?  When I make promises or do something less than I could have done…do I pretend that I have done all I could have done?  When I make an excuse for something I did not do, do I realize that the Holy Spirit is a part of that conversation.  He takes lies, even “white lies,” personally.  

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, forgive me for not considering that you are a part of my every conversation.  Help me remember that when I talk to others, you take my words personally.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 15, 2021: SOAP #4334:  Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 4:18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

OBSERVATION: The disciples were caught between two authorities.  The priests said do not teach about Jesus.  Jesus had commanded them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person.  Jesus had told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them! 

A man crippled from birth had been made whole.  The number of believers in Jesus grew to five thousand.  The Jewish religious leaders were alarmed.  They gave them a command that was contrary to the command Jesus had given. 

Their reply was not that they “would not” obey, but that they “could not” help speaking about what they had seen and heard.

APPLICATION:  People take very little coaxing to begin talking about things that arouse their passions, and things that are current in their lives. 

So, I need to keep current in the word.  I need to keep current in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  And I need to keep current with other believers. 

I should always have a current testimony of what Jesus IS DOING in my life.  Also, I should always have a current testimony of what Jesus IS DOING in the life of another believer!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, do your work in and through me.  May I live at the point where  I “cannot help” speaking about Jesus!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 14, 2021: SOAP #4333:  Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

OBSERVATION:  Who would not like to have this said about them?  Who would not like to be compared to a well-watered tree that is always fruitful and is highly successful? But this description is not for everyone.  This person is living in the favor of God. 

Verse one says that this person does not follow the advice given by people who have no faith.  This person does not hang around with planners of evil.  This person does not sit around all day bad mouthing everything they see. 

That is what this person does not do.  So, what does he do?  Verse two says “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and on his law he meditates day and night.”

APPLICATION:  God lives in me.  He has promised to never leave me.  So, what I do inside me is more important to God than what I do on the outside.  (Oh yes, He cares about the outside too.) 

If I want God to feel at home living in me, then I need to make the inside of me a place where He is comfortable.  He dwells inside me with all my thoughts and attitudes.  May the attitudes and activities of my life make the atmosphere of my heart like the atmosphere of heaven. 

As I delight in Him and His word, He delights in me and my words.  He enjoys my favor, be it ever so small; and I enjoy His favor, be it ever so great! 

PRAYER: Lord, I am blessed to live in your favor.  As you favor me and bring so much joy to my heart, may I favor you and bring joy to your heart.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 13, 2021: SOAP #4332:  Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

OBSERVATION: Jesus had died and been resurrected; He had ascended into heaven; the Holy Spirit had descended and filled them.  Their lives had changed!  No one told them to read their Bible every day because they had no Bible.  The Old Testament books were on scrolls in the Temple and synagogues.  The New Testament books had not been written.  So, they met together EVERY DAY!  They met publicly and in their homes.  They encouraged each other with their testimonies.  They listened to the disciples tell them of Jesus.  They prayed.  They praised God together.  They enjoyed the ministry of the Holy Spirit moving among them. 

APPLICATION:  Praise God for the scriptures!!!  We might not be able to meet together every day, but we can read God’s word every day.  If we do not have a Bible, we can meditate on what we have heard or read in God’s word.  We can share what we remember with someone who can share what they remember. 

We can ask the Holy Spirit who is the author of the scriptures, to help us remember them, and help us understand how they apply to our lives and circumstances. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, keep God’s word fresh in my heart and mind.  Bring the words of Jesus to my memory.  Every day bring to my memory what I need to hear for that day.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 12, 2021: SOAP #4331:  Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

OBSERVATION: Reading the above reminded me of a friend who told me, “I know that there is a God; and I know that I am not Him!”   There are things not for me; but there are things for me. 

APPLICATION:  I am not designed to be able to carry the burden of knowing when certain prophecies will be fulfilled.  But there are things planned specifically for me.  Jesus came to save me.  The Holy Spirit came to empower me! 

God is not depending on my strength and wisdom.  He knows that I cannot make it by myself.  God is depending on the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit working in and through me!  As I grow in Christ, I too will come not to depend on my strength and wisdom.  I too will come to live a life depending on the Holy Spirit! 

In God’s plan, my weaknesses are valuable.  When God works through me He does things that everyone knows I could not do.  Everyone must recognize that God is at work and give Him the glory! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, make me a vessel you can flow through.  Use my life to demonstrate your presence and your power.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 11, 2021: SOAP #4330:  Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

OBSERVATION: These servant-hearted women had just suffered a great loss.  Their love for Jesus needed some expression.  Because of the sabbath, they were limited in what they could do.  So, they used the time to make preparations to anoint the body of Jesus. 

Their preparations demonstrated their love, but not their faith.  They had all heard Jesus say that He would raise from the dead.  Jesus would not need the spices they had prepared. 

APPLICATION:  In serving the Lord, my priority is to listen to what He says.  His words will direct my efforts.  Obviously, I cannot take every opportunity to serve my Lord, so I need His direction as to which opportunities I accept and which ones I leave for others to do. 

Many times, God speaks to me as I read His word; the Holy Spirit sparks my attention.  Sometimes He speaks to me through the Holy Spirit drawing my attention to my circumstances.  And sometimes God speaks to me through other people.  Eleven years ago this month, Pastor Dayton gave me the assignment to write these SOAPs.  I did not want to do it, but God told me that I should do as he said.  Everyday, God has shown Himself faithful! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, letting you take the lead in my life is the key to maintaining a victorious spiritual life.  You walked with Jesus, and you walk with me! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 10, 2021: SOAP #4329:  Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Nehemiah (NIV) 4:6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

OBSERVATION: Israel had been taken into captivity because of their sins.  Nehemiah had risen to a place of service to the King.  Nehemiah heard a report of his home city that caused his heart to grieve.  The king noted Nehemiah’s sad disposition and agreed to send Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with a group of volunteers; their assignment: to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.  Back at Jerusalem, they faced challenges and opposition…but “the people worked with all their heart.”

God had plans for Jerusalem.  The Messiah would walk the streets of that city.  Outside Jerusalem, the Messiah would sacrifice His life to pay for the sins of the world!  God would not allow this city to remain in ruins!

APPLICATION:  They succeeded because: 
1.  They were working in accordance with God’s plan. 
2.  They had godly leadership who had a passion from God. 
3.  They worked together, each building the part of the wall assigned to them.  4. They “worked with all their heart.” 
5.  They did not allow the opposition to change their vision. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, rekindle the fire of passion in my/our hearts.  Keep me/us on track when opposition or challenges arise. I make your assignment to me the most important thing I do.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 09, 2021: SOAP #4328:  Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 133-134; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 133: 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.

OBSERVATION: Unity: such a big subject for such a short chapter!  It is good and pleasant for the believers who are a part of God’s work to live together in unity.  It requires willingness to put others first.  It requires being able to forgive and to ask forgiveness. 

It is good and pleasant for unbelievers to see how we love and serve each other.  Unity is not uniformity.  In unity we use our differences to serve one another.  Our differences help determine our ministry/service.  Jesus said that the world would know that we are his disciples because we love each other.  Our love is seen by what we do for each other. 

It is good and pleasant for our Heavenly Father to have his family walking in agreement, loving one another and serving one another as God has done for us. 

APPLICATION:  Since it is God’s will for me to live in unity with my brothers and sisters, it must be a priority for me.  Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Knowing that my relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ affects my witness to the world motivates me to not allow offences to fester. 

But my main motivation comes from bringing joy to my Heavenly Father.  I want to do things that make Him smile. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, you are the One that teaches me and guides me into living in unity with my brothers and sisters.  I need your help.  Make me a blessing, I pray.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 08, 2021: SOAP #4327:  Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus saw everything they saw, and then He saw more.  The rich were proud of their offering.  They knew that the people would be impressed.  The widow did not give to impress anyone.  No one would be impressed by the size of her offering.  She gave because she wanted to give.  She did not expect anyone to pay her any attention, BUT SOMEONE was watching! 

APPLICATION:  Jesus watches what I give, but He also watches how I give.  He watches how I serve, and He also watches my attitude.  He watches my heart.  Do I do give to be seen or because I love?  Is my arm twisted or do I have a willing heart?    

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may my love for you be seen in my worship, my giving and my serving.  May you be pleased with the way I treat others.  May your heart rejoice as you see me doing those things that please you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

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