February 13, 2020: SOAP #3724:  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.

Observation:  Two different messages from the Holy Spirit to Paul.  One that He should go to Jerusalem.  The other that he would face prison and hardship.  Two totally different messages, but both from the Holy Spirit and both important.

If Paul only had the leading that he was to go to Jerusalem and not the information about the hard times, Paul might have thought that surely God would not have him suffering and that he must have missed what God was saying to him.  If Paul only had the message about the hardship ahead in Jerusalem, he might have determined that he was being warned to stay away from Jerusalem.

But when Paul experienced prison and hardship in Jerusalem, he was certain that he had not missed God!

Application:  When finding one’s location using a compass, one needs to find the angle to two recognizable points that can be located on a map.  Drawing lines on the map through those two points (triangulation) allows one to identify their location where the lines intersect.

As I have continued to walk along the direction God gave me years ago, there have been times when God has given me additional insight, scriptures, prophetic words.  In considering the old and new together, I was better able to understand God’s ultimate direction and see how it all fit together.  God is amazing!!!

Prayer:   Lord, continue to lead me and I will continue to follow.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 12, 2020: SOAP #3723:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 19:33 “‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Observation:  There are two reasons given in this passage for Israel to treat the non-citizens, later known as Gentiles, –to treat them with respect and help them with their needs.  One reason was because they had been aliens in Egypt for 400 years.  Egypt had taken them in and saved them from the seven-year drought.

The other reason was because God was their LORD!  The Creator of heaven and earth, the Creator of man.  He is the ultimate authority.  He has every right to tell us how to treat each other.  We are foolish to ignore His command!  To God, the aliens were as valuable as Israelites.

Application:   My mom’s family, and my dad’s family, came to the United States in the 1870s.  It seems to me that a large majority of people in our nation have roots in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Central and South America.   We have a history of being immigrants.

And surely a high percentage of US citizens live within 5 miles, or cross paths every day with people who have been in our nation for less than a year.  We have opportunity to “love them as ourselves,” as the Lord commanded the Israelites.   We should treat them as though they belong here.  We should expect them to obey our laws as we do.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me to remember that I am an alien on earth.  I am here temporarily; I am passing through on my way to heaven. Use me to bring others with me when I enter my heavenly home. Use me to help others along the way.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2020: SOAP #3722:  Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Observation:  In the ministry of Apollos, we see many people had an important part.  From his initial learning in the scriptures, to his continued education provided by Priscilla and Aquila.  But what caught my attention was the letters of introduction written to the believers in Achaia.

It is a ministry of opening doors for others.  It is making a recommendation for someone’s ministry.  It is opening a door of opportunity for someone’s ministry into a new area, an area where they are not known.  People in that area may need that ministry, but it might take a letter of recommendation to open the door.

Application:  When God has blessed me with someone’s ministry it would be proper to write a letter of recommendation or introduction.  It is a good way to appreciate how God has used that ministry to encourage my life.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you have placed ministries in my path to build me up, to encourage me, to give me guidance, to correct me, and to inspire me.  Thank you.  Show me ways to appreciate those who have had an important part in my life and ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 10, 2020: SOAP #3721:  Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 14:12 “Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. …
14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put…
15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil…
17 The priest is to put some of the oil…
18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the

Observation:  In chapter thirteen God gave instructions for determining if something was infectious.  Here in chapter 14 we have the ceremony is for the one to be cleansed from an infectious disease.  After reading this through, I wondered why the Lord brought this to my attention.  Then the Lord showed me that the ceremony for atonement was all done by the priest on behalf of the one needing cleansing.  (Note: verses 29 & 31)

It is a picture of what Jesus has done for me.  I could not save myself.  I had the communicable disease known as sin.  I could not cleanse myself.  If I was to be cleansed, it would be necessary for someone else to do it for me.

Application:   I love to sing:
“He paid a debt He did not owe.
I owed a debt I could not pay.
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And now I sing a brand-new song, Amazing Grace.
Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.”

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, no one understood my predicament like you.  You knew what I needed, and you sent Jesus to provide the cleansing sacrifice for me.  Thank you for forgiving my sin.  Thank you for coming to live in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 09, 2020: SOAP #3720:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 10:8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”

Observation:  There was a different standard for the priests than for the other Israelites.  The Israelites could drink strong drink, although they clearly were not to be drunk.  The priests were to be careful not to drink any wine or fermented beverages when they were ministering to the Lord.  (Note:  believers today are a priesthood that is always on duty with the Lord dwelling in our hearts.)

To the priests were given the responsibility (verses 10 & 11) to make judgments between what was acceptable to God and what was not.  They were to serve the nation of Israel by making good judgments and for this they could not have their minds numbed by strong drink.

Application:   Two things are of great importance, both for me and for the sake of those who read these SOAPs.  It is important that I hear from God. I must be sensitive to the voice of God, the Holy Spirit.

Also, of importance is that I be able to teach.  I rely on the Holy Spirit to communicate clearly.  Those receiving the SOAPs must have confidence that God’s words are being explained and applied correctly.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am just a man, beset with limitations.  The ministry you have assigned me is far beyond my limited ability—but it is not beyond Your Ability!!!  Holy Spirit, I rely on you to quicken my thoughts and to communicate through these SOAPs.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 08, 2020: SOAP #3719:  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.” ,,, 40 …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:  On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas planted churches.  Now on this second missionary journey, they strengthened the churches.  They encouraged the leaders and believers and helped them grow in faith.  They reminded them of what they had taught them on the last visit.  They reported what God was doing in other places.

Application:   My attention has again been drawn to the above passage.  It speaks to me about the present ministry God has given Sharon and myself.  We travel throughout the state of Kansas, visiting the churches and encouraging the ministry of senior adults.  We enjoy the classes where a teacher presents the lesson and leads the discussion.  The knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that comes from people who for years have experienced God’s word stirs my heart.  If you have Sunday School classes or similar Bible fellowship study groups in your church—let me encourage you to make any extra effort needed to participate.  God will bless you and use you to bless others.

[Note:  when I visit in another home, I should make it my goal to strengthen, encourage, help them grow in their faith, remind them of what God has been doing, and testify about what God is doing in me.]

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, thank you for the blessings Sharon and I enjoy in the churches we visit.  Make us a blessing we pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 07, 2020: SOAP #3718:  Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Observation:  A paralyzed man had been healed.  The people of Lystra thought that Zeus and Hermanus (Greek Gods) had come to them in human form.  They wanted to sacrifice animals in their honor for the great miracle that had been done.  Paul and Barnabas spoke to them about the true God trying to prevent them from making sacrifices.

But the crowd quickly changed.  The wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas, but they stoned Paul and left him for dead!

It was not unlike some years earlier when a large crowd welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem and later shouted “Crucify Him!”

Application:  I cannot take the value of my ministry from the response of people.  Their response may quickly change.  Satan has people who like to sow seed of doubt in their minds.  There is only One I can trust, and it is Him I must please.  Making Him smile is my goal.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am so glad that Paul did not stop his ministry because of the response of the people in Lystra.  What a loss that would have been!!! I wonder how much loss your kingdom has suffered because a chosen vessel let the opinion of others stop them from stepping out in ministry.  Holy Spirit, I want to listen to your voice more than the voice of people. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 06, 2020: SOAP #3717:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:6 They travelled through the whole island [of Cyprus] until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

Observation:  Barnabas and Saul were sent out by their home church in Antioch on their first missionary journey.  They traveled to the coast and then sailed to the island of Cyprus.  They did not have an advance crew to let people know they were coming.  News of their presence probably traveled by word of mouth.

Barnabas and Saul met a “Jewish sorcerer” who had the ear of the Roman governor of the island.  I get the idea from reading the scriptures that what the governor heard sparked his interest and he wanted to hear “the word of God” from Barnabas and Saul for himself.  Maybe he did not trust Bar-Jesus to give him the full story.

Application:  Reading this passage, started some questions in my mind.  If someone wanted to hear the word of God, would they send for me?  Do I speak of God in a respectful way?  Can people tell from my conversation and lifestyle that I have a personal relationship with God?

Even more important, can God use me to carry His word to someone who needs encouragement, comfort, or hope?

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, I want you to trust me to speak for you.  Send me with your word to someone today.  Holy Spirit, speak through me and touch through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 05, 2020: SOAP #3716:  Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 40:33 And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar and hung up the screen of the court gate. So, Moses finished the work.
34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Observation:  Progression is an important concept we find in God’s plan dealing with man.  God is a God of order!  His kingdom is an orderly kingdom.  It is run on laws and rules.  Accomplishments are reached in orderly fashion.

In Exodus 39 and 40 we read that the Israelites built each part of tabernacle just “as the Lord commanded Moses.”  Moses then assembled the parts and “finished the work.”  Verse 34 above says “THEN the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle!”

Application:   Many of God’s promises have a “THEN” preceding.  If we do what God commands, THEN God will release the blessing.  After I learn to tithe, THEN God opens the windows of heaven.  After I learn to give, THEN I learn to receive.

I need to give attention to God’s order—to the progression entwined in God’s plan.  For me the progression started at home, then in Sunday School, then in youth ministry, then in Bible College, then in the US Navy, THEN to pastoring.  Be patient as God leads you through His progression.  Be faithful in each station along the path.  The “THEN” is just around the next bend in the road.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, keep me anticipating the next “THEN.”  And while waiting, help me be patient,  May I be faithful in doing my part. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 04, 2020: SOAP #3715:  Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 11:12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.

Observation:   Jesus had been with them in a physical, a seeable and feelable body.  He spoke to them with a hearable voice. The Holy Spirit used neither, yet Peter heard Him speak so clearly that he obeyed His direction.

The early disciples had no Holy Bible, no pocket New Testament, no app on their cellular phone, which they also did not have.  Yet they heard the Spirit speak to them and recognized His “voice.”

Application:    The disciples walked and talked with the Holy Spirit as they did with Jesus.  Since that same Holy Spirit dwells in me, I should expect a similar relationship.  I too can walk and talk with the Holy Spirit!  I need to pay attention to thoughts that come to my mind.  Thoughts that cannot be linked to the progression of my thinking, thoughts that line up with the Bible, thoughts that are persistent and refuse to be ignored—those thought are quite probably the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  As I step out in obeying those thoughts and see the Holy Spirit backing them up, I gain confidence in following through with those thoughts.

If I am wondering if that is really the Holy Spirit speaking to me, I ask myself a question: “If I ignore those thoughts will I later feel that I missed the Lord?”  When the answer is “yes,” I push my doubts and fears aside and move ahead.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you are a wonderful Treasure given to me by Jesus.     You are valuable to me.  Work with me to develop the same relationship you shared with the early church.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!