October 16, 2018: SOAP #3239:  Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Observation:  What does a person do with good news?  They share it!  They shared it in public places and in their homes.  They gathered to talk about the good news in public places and in their homes.  They never stopped talking about it.  It was the center of their conversations.  It was good news; it was too good not to share!

They did not need any evangelism courses to encourage them to witness.  No one had to tell them how important it was to share the good news.  That Jesus had been sent by God to die for man’s sins is good news!   Once it is experienced it is natural to share it!   The indwelling Holy Spirit would not let them be silent!

Application:  Evangelism courses in churches should not be needed to encourage people to start witnessing, but to increase the effectiveness of those who are already witnessing!!!   Motivation comes from the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.  If Leon is not sharing the good news, it is quite possible that Leon is not living full of the Holy Spirit.  If I am filled with the Spirit every day, I will be sharing the good news every day.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep the fire burning every day in my life!  May I talk about Jesus everywhere I go.  Holy Spirit heat my words with Your holy fire. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 15, 2018: SOAP #3238:  Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say….
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.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

Observation:  In Acts 3:2, we read that the man was crippled from birth.  Every day he was carried to the temple gates to beg.  He accompanied Peter and John into the temple walking and jumping.  In Acts 3:10 we see the people recognized him.  They were familiar with this man.  This caused quite a stir among the people.  The number of believers grew to 5000!  It was a big deal.

The religious leaders put Peter and John in jail for the night and questioned them the next day.  They had trouble deciding what to do with these whose actions had drawn such a crowd.  They had three problems:  the beggar who was seated every day at the temple gates was present; he was well known (even by the religious leaders); and he was standing!

Application:  May I be living evidence that God is at work today!  My presence in the world allows people to evaluate my life.  The people who know me best should be able to verify that God is at work in me.  And I should stand for God and with His people.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, make my life an example of what it means to love and serve Jesus. May people see that it is my joy and privilege to serve you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 14, 2018: SOAP #3237:  Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Observation:  What makes the difference between the righteous and the wicked?  Are they smarter?  Are they more talented?  Do they have greater resources?  No!  Verse 6 above says the LORD watches over the way of the righteous.  They have the favor of the Lord.

Application:  It is good to have the favor of man.  It can be a source of blessing.  But there is nothing like the favor of God!  God’s favor brings joy as He smiles on us.  It brings peace in forgiveness.  But unlike man’s favor, God’s favor continues into eternity.  The grave does not stop God’s favor.  Only on the other side of the grave will we truly understand the great value of God’s favor.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me today to recognize the many expressions of my Heavenly Father’s favor that will come my way.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 13, 2018: SOAP #3236:  Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Observation:  In Exodus 40, the glory of God descended on Moses Tabernacle in the wilderness.  And in 1Kings 8, the glory of God so filled Solomon’s Temple that the priests could not stand to do their ministry.  But this was different!  They were not standing in worship; they were sitting!   They were not at the temple; they were in a house!

God had not called them to gather at the temple, but their encounter with God that day changed the world!  God was breaking out of the temple.  He was breaking out of the Jewish religion.  He was expanding beyond the boundaries of Judah and Israel.  The Holy Spirit was taking Jesus to the world!  He is not willing that any should perish.

Application: What a difference!  We do not have to go to a special place where God is.  He comes to where we are!  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, I can enjoy His presence in my home, at my work place, at school, wherever I meet another believer, walking from the bus barn to the school bus I drive, driving the bus down country roads…just wherever I am, He is there!

He is the same Holy Spirit that was present in Genesis 1:2; the same Holy Spirit that moved on Old Testament prophets, the same Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at His water baptism, the same Holy Spirit that descended on the Day of Pentecost—Yes, that same Holy Spirit is with me!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to properly appreciate your presence in my life wherever I am!  Anoint me to take Jesus to my world!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 12, 2018: SOAP #3235:  Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

Scripture:  Nehemiah (NIV) 8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

Observation:  “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”  This is an often quoted and sung phrase.  It has meaning within its context, but it also has meaning as a stand-alone thought.  “The joy of the Lord is my strength!”  For me, it has two meanings.

First:  I have strength in the joy the Lord gives me.  The joy from the Lord gives me strength.  Jesus said, “My joy I give you.”  Sometimes it is a “song in the night” that imparts strength.  The joy He imparts makes me want to be faithful in the hard times.

Second:  I have strength when I know that something I have done brought joy to the Lord.  Just knowing that I made Him smile gives me strength to press on.  The joy of the Lord, His joy that He gets from me, is my strength.  There is so much sin and unbelief in those He created and for whom He died, that His heart must be continually broken.  There should be some people who live to bring Him joy.

Application:  My goal for today—make Jesus smile.  Do something that will bring joy to His heart.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, no one knows Jesus better than you.  Help me not to miss any opportunities today to do things that will bring joy to His heart and a smile to His face.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 11, 2018: SOAP #3234:  Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds, so they could understand the Scriptures.

Observation:  The disciples were gathered talking about the events of the day—the stories they had heard about Jesus’ resurrection.  Suddenly, Jesus appeared with them.  They were startled, but Jesus assured them.  He invited them to touch Him.  He ate a piece of fish.  He reminded them of what He had previously told them about His death and resurrection.

“Then He opened their minds, so they could understand the Scriptures.”  He made the Scriptures understandable.  The Prophets had written about Jesus.  Jesus had accomplished what He had been sent to do.  They were witnesses!

Application:  How I need Jesus to “open my mind so that I can understand the Scriptures.”  The Scriptures reveal God’s plan of sending Jesus to die as payment for my sin.  The Scriptures reveal God’s plan to send the Holy Spirit to continue the ministry of Jesus in the church.  I need to understand how the Scriptures apply to me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, as you anointed Jesus in His ministry on earth, so anoint me.  Open the Scriptures so that I can understand Your plan for me.  Enable me to fulfill that plan.  In my life, may the Heavenly Father be pleased and may Jesus be glorified.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 10, 2018: SOAP #3233:  Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 23:20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

Observation:  This past Saturday (Luke 19:48) and Sunday (Luke 20:6) the Lord drew my attention to two passages in which the power of the public prevented the religious leaders from arresting Jesus.  Yet, in the above passage we see the power of the public causing Pilate to act contrary to his desire to release Jesus.    It was easy to be influenced by the crowd.

As we have seen recently in the USA, “the crowd” is unstable and very often illogical.  Yet, it is easy to be influenced by the crowd.

Application:  There is only one voice that remains constantly in line with truth and with God’s will—the voice of the Holy Spirit.  The more I learn to recognize His voice and the closer I walk to following His voice, the more I will fulfill the purpose God has for me.

Prayerfully considering what God speaks through the Bible sharpens my sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit.  And stepping out in faith to do what He has told me builds my confidence to obey even more quickly next time.  It is the process of maturing from being His child to becoming His son, especially when His voice leads me contrary to the voice of the crowd.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, cause me to hear, understand, and obey what you speak to me.  Thank you for developing maturity in my life. May there be no stopping of my growth in knowing and serving you.  Make me a profitable servant, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 09, 2018: SOAP #3232:  Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 133-134; Luke 22

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Observation:  The disciples were celebrating the Passover Supper with Jesus on the night he would be taken off to be crucified.  Jesus knew what was in store for Him; He also knew what was in store for Peter.

Amazingly, the Creator of the universe had taken the time to pray for Peter!  He did not pray that Peter would not endure the troubled time, but that Peter would not be lost.  He did not pray that Peter would not fail, but that his faith would not fail!   And He gave Peter an assignment for Peter to do after the failure!   Yes, Peter would fail; but Peter would still be valuable to Jesus!

Application:  I am sure Jesus has prayed for me more than once!  And even after many failures, He still finds me valuable.

Prayer:   Jesus, your Word tells us/me that you ever live to make intercession for us/me!  How we/I need your prayers.  Thank you, that in your grace, you go beyond our/my failure.  We are/I am still valuable to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 08, 2018: SOAP #3231:  Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 131:1 A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and for evermore.

Observation:  Starting as Psalm 120 we have 15 psalms entitled “A song of ascent.”  Some have said these were sung as the priests approached their assignments in the temple.  Others suggest the title refers to the music to which these songs were sung.  Still others suggest it refers to a first psalm ending with a word or thought from which the next psalm begins, linking them together.

Whatever the original reason, I see that there is an emphasis on encouraging people to lift their eyes to God in faith and thanksgiving.

Application: What I look at is very important.  I can become concerned with matters over which I have no control, things too big for my little mind.  I can let them stir my emotions and sow doubt in my heart.  I need to lift my eyes to the Lord.  He is high and lifted up!  He has perfect understanding!  He is almighty and more than able to change my/our circumstances!

Prayer:   Lord, I put my trust in you.  I trust you to work in this life, and to take me through death’s door into the next life.  My hope is in you, both in this life and for eternity! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 07, 2018: SOAP #3230:  Ezra 7-8; Luke 20

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 20:3 He replied, “I will also ask you [the chief priests and the teachers of the law] a question. Tell me, 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?” 5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men’, all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”…
19  The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Observation:  As in yesterday’s SOAP, today my attention was again drawn to the power of the public.  The religious leaders were fearful of the people.  They were restrained from doing what they wanted to do

Application: Especially in the United States of America, those in authority can be intimidated from taking certain actions.  I do not believe those in government need to fear stoning, but the public has the power of the vote.

When God’s Spirit brings revival to a nation, the power of the public among whom the Holy Spirit is moving can compel those with political power to rule in righteousness.  Spirit-filled individuals can be elected and those who are already in government can be personally affected by the Holy Spirit.

The prayers of God’s people are a mighty force against evil in a nation.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, send a revival of repentance of sin, and of righteous living in our nation.  From every individual house to the White House, move by your Holy Spirit. Lead us in forsaking sin and embracing righteousness.  Draw us to Your Throne of Grace in intercessory prayer for our nation. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!