October 26, 2018: SOAP #3249:  Job 17; Acts 24-26

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 26:24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.

Observation:  That Paul had great learning could not be ignored.  That Paul understood the law was clear.  Paul was making perfect sense, but the logical conclusion was unacceptable to King Agrippa. He declared Paul insane because he did not want to accept the logical conclusion Paul was making. In a few verses we read that he walked out of the hearing.

Application: When an argument is so logical that it cannot be refuted, it puts the opposing side in an awkward position.  Often the response is in some emotional way.  Note how the pro-abortion people respond to the truth about life in the womb.  When abortion first became a national issue, there had not been as much research as we have today, so they argued that the fetus was just a blob of tissue.  Now that we have pictures of the baby developing in the womb, they cannot refute the truth.  It would not surprise me to hear one say, like King Agrippa, “Too much learning is making you insane!”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, Jesus told us that you would guide me into all truth (John 16:3).  (“All truth” would include truth about abortion.)  You protect me from going insane by helping me grow in understanding truth.  Continue to reveal truth to my heart and mind, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 25, 2018: SOAP #3248:  Job 16; Acts 21-23

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 23:23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

Observation:  The irony of the situation cannot be missed.  Here the same Roman government that crucified Jesus at the insistence of the Jews, now goes to great ends to protect Paul from those same Jews!

It is interesting to me how God used the Roman government for His glory.  First, the tax that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  The crucifixion (Acts 4:28). The arrest of Paul by the Romans protected Paul from the Jews.  The peace of the Rome (Pax Roma) allowed Paul to move freely to spread the gospel.  The later imprisonment of the Romans gave Paul the impetus to write much of the New Testament as letters to churches.

Application:  That which seems to stand against my ministry may be used by God to expand my ministry!  Lack of resources may limit Leon’s plans, but it can never limit the gospel!  Like blowing wind and flowing water, when its movement is limited, it will find another way around, or over, or under.  The Holy Spirit is more powerful than blowing wind and flowing water!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, may I be a channel through which you can readily flow.  Keep reminding me that what limits me does not limit you!  Keep reminding me that what seems to be against me, may work out for good!   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 24, 2018: SOAP #3247:  Job 15; Acts 19-20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:2 He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

Observation:  Again, the Holy Spirit is directing my attention to Paul’s ministry to churches as he traveled through their area.  In chapter 20 Paul has started the trip towards Jerusalem, but he paused in the towns along the way to meet with believers.  His ministry was one of encouragement.

When entering a new area, the Apostle Paul had the ministry of an evangelist.  When he stayed for an extended visit he probably did more teaching.  However, when he was only stopping by for a few days, his ministry was one of strengthening and encouraging.

Application:  As my wife, Sharon, and myself travel from church to church, we see our ministry as one of encouraging.  We are senior citizens encouraging senior citizens.  As senior citizens, we should become experts in this important ministry of encouraging.

To counter the tendency to get involved in complaining or criticizing, we need to stay filled with the Holy Spirit and current in the ministry of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will help us see people who need encouragement and give us the words to say.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I make myself available to you to minister encouragement to someone today who needs encouragement.  Make me a blessing.  Help me lift of the Name of Jesus and cause others to consider His love for them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 23, 2018: SOAP #3246:  Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

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:  Upon the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul gives himself “exclusively to preaching.”  What was he doing before?  From verse 3 we see that Paul was supporting himself working as a “tent maker” alongside Aquila and Priscilla.  Now that Silas and Timothy were present, they could work to earn the money needed and Paul could give himself solely to preaching.

Application:  I am thankful for the servants of the Lord who work a second job to support themselves and their families while they are faithful serving in ministry.  My father worked as an automobile mechanic while pastoring a small church.

I am also thankful for the ministry of people like Silas and Timothy who give themselves to supporting those in leadership ministries, enabling them to put all their attention, strength, time and energy to fulfill the call of God on their lives.  They accept the vision of ministry; they accept the challenge of ministry; they personally accept the support of ministry! They have the ministry of enablers!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, bless and anoint your servants who labor to support themselves and their families while serving in ministry assignments.  Bless their sacrifice!  I pray that you would bless them with people who share their vision and accept the challenge of enabling them to work at it full-time.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 22, 2018: SOAP #3245:  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:6 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Observation:  “…kept by the Holy Spirit,”  “…the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them,” “…Paul had a vision…concluding that God had called them…”  The Great Commission to go into all the earth and preach was given by Jesus.  Now, as Paul moves out from Jerusalem and Antioch, God has some guidance for Paul.  God spoke to Paul about the specifics for Paul’s ministry.

Application:  God has specific direction for fulfilling what God has given me.  When thoughts that come to my mind, and feelings that grow in my heart are in alignment with what I have been reading in the scriptures—I am quite probably hearing God speak to me.  I need to be quick to obey.

When thoughts that dominate my mind and the feelings I have in my heart are contrary to my plans, I need to back off.  I need to lay aside those plans and wait for clearer direction from God.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, You are speaking today just as you were in the book of Acts.  Please do not stop!  Develop in me a keen awareness of your presence and your will. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 21, 2018: SOAP #3244:  Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Observation:  Barnabas and Paul had been sent out on this missionary journey by the church in Antioch; now they started back home.  They visited the churches they had started in cities they along the way back.  Their ministry was to strengthen and encourage the believers.

Application: As my wife, Sharon, and I visit churches in Kansas, our goal is to strengthen and encourage the Senior believers.  We want to encourage them to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in their church, in their homes, and in their daily lives.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is too valuable to allow to dry up as we get older.  It is too valuable to limit to just Sunday mornings.  It is for every day, and for every age.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are needed in the home, in the work place, in the retirement center.  They are needed at graduation time, at middle age, and in retirement!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, You are not just someone I read about in the Bible.  You are not just someone from the past that people have written about.  You are powerfully present today!  Find me a vessel you can work through. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 20, 2018: SOAP #3243:  Job 6-8; Acts 12

Scripture:  Job (NIV) 7:17 “What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, 18 that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?

Observation:  Looking back at the book of Job through the cross I want to shout out to Job, “Job, if only you knew!  Man is so important to God that He will send His own Son to become a man and live among us.  His Son will give His very life to redeem us back to God!”

Even in his great suffering, Job remained faithful to what he knew about God.  He was certain that God was over all and had created Job for His glory.  Not having any of the written scriptures, Job was limited in seeing the big picture.  He honored God in the time abundance; he would honor God in his time of trouble even though he did not understand.

Application: It is true, God gives us much attention.  He examines us as the baker examines his cake so that it can be taken from the oven at just the right time.  He examines us as the foreman examines the work of the laborer so that the building may be exactly according to the blueprint.  God examines us as His prize creation.  He examines us as the Four-H presenter examines the animal scheduled for the judge’s review.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as you examine me, may you find things that bring you joy.  I pray you find me quick to turn from any wickedness. When your blessings seem to come without end, I will praise and honor You.  When your blessings seem few and far between, I will praise and honor You.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 19, 2018: SOAP #3242:  Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 108:1 A song. A psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.  2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.

Observation:  As I read the Bible every day, I listen in my spirit to hear what God is saying to me—to Leon.  Then I am careful to put the thoughts I believe He has given me into the SOAP I am writing for that day. The passage above was written by Israel’s King David.

Today as I was reading verse 3 above, I thought of it as: “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will send SOAPs of you among the people.”  Then God started speaking to me as clearly as He did to Philip, and Saul, and Ananias in yesterday’s SOAP.  (Yesterday’s SOAP was a set up so that Leon would be listening to what God would say today!)

Application:  The SOAP ministry has been focusing mainly on USA, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.  A few Christian believers in those countries translate them and/or publish them to encourage believers in their daily relationship with the Lord.  This is not a public ministry to large crowds gathered to hear God’s word and witness the moving of the Holy Spirit; this is a faithful ministry to individuals imparting understanding of how to apply God’s word to their daily lives.  God uses both the “up-front” and the “behind-the-scene” ministries for His glory!  The SOAP ministry is the latter.  The Lord showed me the pattern He has established in my life and it is now time to expand.  Those of you who have been reading these SOAPs, please pray that I will recognize the doors God opens.  If the SOAPs have been a blessing to you, please pray that God will use them to bless others.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, find me faithful in serving You and Your people. May I bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 18, 2018: SOAP #3241:  Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
10: 4  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5  “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
10:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

Observation:  My attention has been drawn to the various ways God spoke to people in the book of Acts.  The copies of the Old Testament that were available were written on scrolls—too cumbersome to be carried from place to place—and there were not enough copies for even the leaders to have their own copy.  But lack of the written Word did not hinder God from speaking to His people.  God spoke to them.  They recognized that God was speaking and understood what He was saying.  They asked questions and heard His answers.  Their relationship was more than with words in a scroll or a letter, but with the Living Word and the Holy Spirit.   God spoke to them about things that would not have been found in the written scriptures.

Application: Holy Spirit, I appreciate how you speak to me through the scriptures.  I also need you to talk to me about my everyday life and the specific things you want me to do.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for opening my heart and mind to the scriptures.  And, thank you for walking with me through each day.  Keep talking to me, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 17, 2018: SOAP #3240:  Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

Scripture:  Job (NIV) 1:10 [satan to God] “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Observation:  Not the main issue, but a major issue in the book of Job is possessions.  Here are some thoughts from the book of Job:
1.  Abundance of possessions MAY be an indication of God’s blessings.
2.  Loss of possessions MAY not be an indication of God’s displeasure.
3.  If the possessions belong to God, satan must get permission from God before he can mess with them.
4.  Increase or decrease of possessions can be affected by spiritual activity beyond our control.
5.  My response to possessions (gaining or loosing) can be a blessing to God.
6.  However great the loss, God can restore even more.

Satan was put to shame by little old Job!   The beautiful created being that dwelt in the presence of God had allowed pride to enter his heart and he decided to set himself above God.  He is defeated by a mere man who had never seen God yet was so committed to God that nothing satan could do would turn Job against God!!!  Don’t you know that God was proud of Job!!!

Application:  Today God uses my possessions to prove my commitment to Him.  That is what tithing is all about.  That is why God invites us to prove Him in the matter of tithing.  We prove Him, and He proves us!  (Malachi 3)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I desire that all my possessions to be inside your hedge.  If Satan is going to mess with them, I want that he must get your permission.  I desire that you be glorified in the possessions you have given me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!