February 17, 2021: SOAP #4094:  Numbers 1-2; Acts 24

SCRIPTURE:  Numbers (NIV) 2:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites are to camp round the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.” 3 On the east, towards the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard.” …  5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. …
34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.

OBSERVATION:  The Israelites left Egypt as a mass of people.  Later when they entered the Promised Land, they entered as a well-organized army.    Here in chapter 2, God begins the organizing process.  He divides them into their tribes and assigns them a place to camp around the tabernacle.  He sets a traveling order while moving across the wilderness.   God is being God!  One only needs to look at creation to see that God is a God of order.  In the New Testament we see He put order in church leadership. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

APPLICATION: I need to let God work His order into my life.  He desires to organize my thoughts around His Word.  He wants to organize my values around His values.  He wants to organize my affections around what pleases Him.  He wants to organize my actions around His purpose for my life.   When I ask, “Why?”  He says, “Because I love you and I have organized myself around you!”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the Bible is the story of how you organized yourself to meet the needs of fallen man.  Lord, you took on human body to become the sacrifice we needed.  Holy Spirit, you were sent to indwell the church. It only seems natural that you desire order in my life.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 16, 2021: SOAP #4093:  Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul has been taken into custody by the Romans.  The next night, he had a visitor.  The Lord tells him what is ahead.  He does not tell him that he would be in prison for two more years before being sent to Rome.  The Lord did not tell Paul to do anything; He told him what was going to happen.  Paul did not need to figure out how to make God’s word happen. 

Paul did not need to raise any money for His trip to Rome, nor His ministry in Rome.  That does not mean that money was not needed, but God used Rome to house Paul (in prison for two years) and for transportation by ship accompanied by a Roman centurion. 

APPLICATION:  Sometimes God gives an assignment that I can do.  Usually, it is a simple test of my obedience.  I have never been told to do something I was unable to do.  It is often obvious that what I was given to do will not accomplish what is needed, but when I obey, God comes through with an adequate answer. 

Sometimes, like Paul, God tells me something that I have no way of bringing about.  I need to wait patiently and trust God to bring it about.  I do not need to pressure others to support what God has told me.  God will impress others to help as He determines.  The temptation is to impress on others what God has told me in order to gain their support. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are more than able and willing to provide for any assignment you give me. In trusting you, I get to see your hand at work to accomplish your will.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 15, 2021: SOAP #4092:  Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 10 we have two foundational characteristics of God, love and holiness.  (Faithfulness is an expression of His holiness.)  Together they make Him good.  If one was missing it would be hard to call Him good.  We have probably all known people who are so holy and legalistic but do not have any love.  It is hard to call them good.  And we know others who are so loving but have no moral basis for their actions.  Everyone can do as they please.  It is also hard to call those people good.  Goodness is the biproduct of joining holiness and love.  In God alone are those characteristics perfectly joined.  God is always perfectly loving; God is always perfectly holy! 

APPLICATION:  For those in whom God dwells by His Spirit, whose sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus—for those born again as children of God—for His children—God desires these characteristics be developed in their lives. 

Much of the work of the Holy Spirit in me is to grow these in me.  They are expressed as the fruit of the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23) He is making me like Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, Jesus came to earth so that we might know you, not just know about you.  But as we come to know you, we learn more about you.  We learn your ways.  We learn what pleases you.  Holy Spirit, continue to work the character of God in me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 14, 2021: SOAP #4091:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

SCRIPTURE:  Leviticus (NIV) 23:22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’”

OBSERVATION:  In this verse we find one way God provided for the poor.  They were allowed to reap the grain growing at the edges of the field.  In this way those needing assistance were allowed the benefit of working.  It was not just a hand-out, it was a hand-up.  They had the opportunity to use their own strength, talent, and time to provide for their own family. 

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor.  The emphasis on giving alms and helping the poor is directed to those able to give and to the wealthy. They are to be generous and make sure workers are paid in a timely manner.  The passage above is directed to the landowner. 

The instructions for the poor; they are to ask God.  They are to take their requests to God.  The Bible gives no instructions to the poor on asking people for money, support, or financial help.  It seems to me that when they go to God, they are depending on God.  But when they go to man, they are depending on man.  God loves to have people depend on Him. 

APPLICATION:  People who do not know God will naturally look to others for help.  The Bible has many promises and examples of how God provides.  It must hurt God’s heart to find His people looking elsewhere for help.

What does it say about our God when we become beggars?  Churches should not need discounts or a cut-rate for a contractor’s labor.  It becomes a testimony that our God is too poor to pay the full amount.  If the contractor wants to do something for the Lord, then rejoice, but it is more acceptable to God when it is his idea. 

PRAYER: Lord, we trust you to provide.  You know what we need (Matthew 6:25-34) and have promised to provide for those who seek you first. May your provision for your children be a testimony of your ability to keep your promises. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 13, 2021: SOAP #4090:  Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 20:17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church…
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

OBSERVATION: Paul was making his way by ship back to Jerusalem.  At Miletus, Paul called for the elders of the church in Ephesus to meet with him.  Their position as leaders in the church had been set by the Holy Spirit.  It was a holy assignment.  Like a shepherd would value his flock, they should value the church of God.  How valuable is the church?  It was bought with the blood of Jesus!   Nothing else on earth is more valuable than the church! 

APPLICATION: Through the years, the meaning of some words change into something quite different from their original meaning.  The word “church” is just such a word.  The church mentioned in the two verses above is the body of believers who are washed in the blood of Jesus and are banded together by the working of the Holy Spirit.  Today the word “church” has come to mean a physical building where the real church—the biblical church—can engage in worship, fellowship, discipleship, and some evangelism.  Of course, any building can serve for those activities.  Verse 20 says that Paul taught them “publicly and from house to house.”  He used schools, riverbanks, and homes.  The real church does not need a building to be the church.  Building the body of believers takes precedence over building a physical building. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me keep my focus on the assignment you have given me to build up the church, the body of Christ.  Keep me aware of how greatly you value the church.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 12, 2021: SOAP #4089:  Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue [in Ephesus, province of Asia] and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So, Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

OBSERVATION:  Timing is so important in Kingdom ministry.  Earlier (Acts 16:6) the Holy Spirit stopped Paul from going into the province of Asia, directing him instead into Macedonia, to the city of Philippi.  Now, in chapter 19, Paul teaches in the synagogue for three months and then moved his ministry to a lecture hall for two years.  This was not a sabbath day ministry, or a Sunday ministry, or Sunday and Wednesday Bible Study ministry—this was a daily ministry.  This was the time for Asia.  Everyone in the province received a witness of the word. 

APPLICATION: The Christian life is so much more than a weekly life; it is a daily life.  Daily life and daily ministries are important.  Each believer has a daily ministry to the Lord in praise and worship.  Each believer has daily ministry opportunities in their work and living places.  Each believer has daily ministry opportunity in prayer.  There is not a more important daily ministry than that of Christian parents raising their children! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, keep prompting me every day.  Show me ways to serve God and those around me.  Stir my heart several times each day to opportunities in which I can let Jesus shine through me. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 11, 2021: SOAP #4088:  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.

OBSERVATION: In this passage we see two different, but compatible characteristics needed in the body of Christ.  First:  Apollos, had a good understanding of the scripture (which would be limited to the Old Testament in Apollos’ day), and a good speaking ministry—yet he was not too proud that he could not receive teaching from Priscilla and Aquila.  Second: we see Pricilla and Aquila not so much looking for a ministry to a crowd, but willing to minister to a single person.    

APPLICATION: Like Apollos, I must remain open to learning from others.  Like Pricilla and Aquila, I must remain open to ministering to individuals.  Jesus always had time for individuals, i.e., Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the blind man, the man at the pool, etc.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, keep me learning.  Teach me from your Word and from others ministering Your Word.  Heavenly Father, keep me humble.  In working to get to the important task, help me not to overlook the individuals needing attention. May I be like Jesus to them. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga: 

February 08, 2021: SOAP #4085:  Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28  ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

OBSERVATION:  Paul is preaching to unbelievers in the city of Athens.  He had found an altar dedicated “To The Unknown God;” beginning with that, he preached to them about The Creator God who made everything.  He does not live in man-made temples and He is not served by men as though He needs something they can give Him.  God placed men on the earth so that they could “find” Him.  He wants to be found. 

APPLICATION: We live on the earth He created.  We live in the atmosphere He created.  We breathe the air He created.  We eat the food He created.  We drink the water He created.  The omnipresent God is all around us.  He wants to be found.  He makes Himself find-able.  That is why He sent Jesus.  God wants to be found. 

King David’s charge to his son, Solomon, “If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” Creation proves God’s existence to those who have faith.  Jesus proves God’s love to those who accept Him. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, looking for you is like playing hind-and-seek with my mother.  She would hide, but when I came close, her laugh would give her away.  When I seek for you, you have so many ways of giving yourself away—of making yourself known.  If you did not want me to know you, there is no way I could find you, but you do!  …and I am so thankful!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 09, 2021: SOAP #4086:  Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 16:40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.

OBSERVATION:  Paul and Silas had come to Philippi because of specific leading by the Holy Spirit.  They met a small group of women meeting at the riverbank for prayer.  The freeing a demon-possessed woman brought them into contention with the city leaders.  Paul and Silas were “severely flogged” and put in jail with their feet in stocks.  While they were singing and praising the Lord at midnight an earthquake freed all the prisoners resulting in the salvation of the jailer.  They were now released from prison with strict orders to leave town.  But on their way, they stopped by Lydia’s house, quite probably the meeting place of the new church. 

It is interesting to note, that they did not stop by Lydia’s house to get some help on their way out of town.  They did not stop to get some encouragement to help them on to the next town.  (I am sure meeting with other believers did encourage them.)  This verse tells us that Paul and Silas were the ones doing the encouraging!!!  Just released from prison, but they were encouraging others.  Recently “severely flogged,” yet they were the ones doing the encouraging. 

APPLICATION: Being an encourager does not depend on my circumstances.  It does not depend on the difficulties I am presently facing.  Just sharing my testimony often serves to encourage someone else. 

Encouraging is a self-less ministry, putting others before one’s self.  It is focusing on the difficulties that someone else is going through.  It is giving a word of cheer, or of hope.  It is sharing a thought, or doing a deed, that helps lift a heavy load.  It is saying, “I believe in YOU!” 

PRAYER:  Lord, today help me to see the potential you have placed in someone I meet.  Then show me how to encourage them to become all you mean for them to be. Help me lift their faith to trust You!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 08, 2021: SOAP #4085:  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.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

OBSERVATION:  Barnabas saw something special in Mark.  Maybe it was only with the eyes of faith, but he remained true in accepting Mark.  How blessed we are that Barnabas did so or we would not have had the gospel of Mark.

Barnabas has proved to be a special blessing to the church.  In Acts 9 we read that Barnabas accepted Saul/Paul when it was unpopular; here in chapter 15, he remained true to Mark when Paul would not accept him as a traveling companion.  These two (Saul/Paul and Mark) benefitted greatly from the ministry of Barnabas and both wrote parts of the New Testament (Paul’s letters and Mark’s gospel).  Saul/Paul and Mark were like fruitful trees that grew out of the fertile soil of Barnabas. 

APPLICATION:  May I not be so quick to write people off my “acceptable” list.  They may not be perfect, but neither am I.  The Lord’s Prayer tells me to ask for forgiveness in the same way I forgive others.  That would imply that I should ask for acceptance in the same way I accept others!

PRAYER:  Lord, like Barnabas, help me to allow imperfect people to grow out of the soil of my life. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!