SOAP 10/22/2011; Job 12:11

Today's reading: Job 11,12; Acts 15,16

S) "¹¹ Does not the ear test words,
As the palate tastes its food?"

Job 12:11 (NASB)

O) It's funny, I'm not sure I've read this verse before. It's quite the proverb, and it actually encapsulates a concept I've preached for several years. Imitation Crab. Here's the briefest version:
My dad was a butcher and, upon rare occasion, would bring home a giant bucket of crab for dinner. My mom loved the stuff. When my parents divorced, we got poor, and my mom didn't so much have crab dinners anymore. Instead, she had started buying imitation crab. She made it very clear that this crab was hers, and we were not to touch it. But, that didn't stop me from sneaking a small piece or two, upon occasion. Over the next several years, growing up, I became quite fond of the stuff. Then, as a young adult, I had crab legs at a restaurant. I was offended. I couldn't believe that, for so many years, I had been led to believe that imitation crab tasted good! It was NOT the same thing! Not even close! But I didn't know that, because my palate had no definition. I had become unused to tasting real crab, so the imitation tasted "good enough."

A) This is a direct parallel to how we are, hearing the Word of God, and it's inherent Truth. As we read it daily, it's like we're actually consuming it on a spiritual level (see Matthew 4:4), and we live and die based on how well "nourished" we really are. In the same way, we also grow accustomed to what the truth "tastes" like, and it sharpens our discernment. I've honestly already noticed some improvement in the last 100+ days. I'm hearing from God more (little improvements, but still there), and I also feel a sort of spiritual-hunger-pang, when I haven't read and journaled late into the evening... I want to know what the truth tastes like, and I don't want to accept imitation spiritual bread.

P) Father, I never want to neglect Your Word again. Holy Spirit, move upon me to feel a literal hunger, anytime I've not been reading the Bible with enough regularity. For the rest of my life, God, help me to feel the deficiencies that come from neglect, well before those deficiencies really affect my life. I want to feel pangs if it's getting late into the day and I have not yet read Your Word. Likewise, God, nourish my soul as I consume Scripture. Feed me, and let my life, marriage, family, and ministries grow, as a direct result of me living off Your word daily. Refine my discernment, Lord. Help me develop a very distinguishing palate, with which I can taste falsehoods and truth. Help me become accustomed to hearing Your Word, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/21/2011; Acts 14:14-15,18

Today's reading: Job 9,10; Acts 13,14

S) " ¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out ¹⁵ and saying, 'Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God...'
¹⁸ Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them."

Acts 14:14-15, 18 (NASB)

O) So, I wonder how long it would have taken God to smite Barnabas and Paul, had they not "rushed" out into the crowd to to assert their humility... I mean, just a few chapters earlier, in Acts 12:22-23, God strikes down Herod immediately because the people were saying he was a god and he didn't refute it. If God had recently defended His diety with such lethality, I think more people would be quick to declare their humility. That's obviously on the fringe of extreme examples, but Paul and Barnabas still provide a very, very good discipline here. If you're going to do great things for God, it is inevitible that there will be some who misappropriately place credit to you, instead of God. All believers, especially those who are in the public eye, need to "rush" toward humility. We need to take note of vs.18, too, which is why I included it after the ellipsis. Being actively humble will be hard work. People have a hard time accepting humility in those they esteem. It's seen as an admirable quality, but sometimes that actually fuels their praise even further.

A) I've been thinking of Tim Tebow a lot. I've been praying for him. He's a gifted athlete, but he embodies 1-1-Six better than most Christians I know. I don't actually want to be famous; in my past, I've struggled with humility enough as it is. But, I want to emulate Tim's boldness. I also want to emulate his humility. I'll be praying for Tim Tebow for as long as God is putting him on my heart. I'll also pray for my own humility. In order to remain humble, I have to be proactive, like Paul and Barnabas, and that starts with confession to God that He is great, and I am not.

P) Father, forgive me for my pride. I know there are always opportunities for me to declare Your goodness and my own insufficiencies, to glorify Your Name, and I know I've missed some of those opportunities. God, I want be used by You, however that looks, but never let it jeopardize my humility. Holy Spirit, speak to me strongly every time my pride swells. Help me be gracious while being humble, and to proclaim Your strength, wisdom, provision, protection, healing, and everything else You've done for me. You are good, I am unworthy, and that just makes Your grace so much more amazing. Thank You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/20/2011; Job 8:6-7

Today's reading: Job 6,7,8; Acts 12

S) "⁶ If you are pure and upright,
Surely now He would rouse Himself for you
And restore your righteous estate. ⁷ “Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly."

Job 8:6-7(NASB)

O) SPOILER: Bildad was right, he just got the timing wrong. Job was, in fact, pure and upright and God did, in fact, rouse Himself for Job and restored his righteous estate. And, he was also right that Job's end increased greatly. His mistake was assuming that all of it would happens sooner than later. God has His own timing and His own purposes. He knew that Job could endure, which he did, and so He was able to use Job's life.

A) I need to assume nothing with God, particularly with regard to His timing. I know several Bible verses that promise tremendous prosperity and security and all-around good things; however, I do not know when I'll see all of that. There have been, and will continue to be, Christians in great numbers all over the world who face terrible circumstances. For my part, I need to be sure that whatever I face, I remain faithful and patient, even beyond death. If all God's promises only come to fruition after I leave this earth, He will still have blessed me greatly. I need to endure everything, praising Him throughout it all.

P) Father, You know and I don't. Holy Spirit, remind me of that fact as often as it takes, for me to be humble in every circumstance. You protect, provide, heal, and bless all according to Your own divine timing. I will choose to trust in Your will, knowing that You are a good Father; You are a good Lord; You are a good God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/19/2011; Acts 11:17

Today's reading: Job 5; Psalms 108; Acts 10,11

S) "¹⁷ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?"

Acts 11:17 (NASB)

O) The proof is in the pudding. Peter had a hard time, at first, accepting that God had offered His gifts to the Gentiles. Having seen them be baptized with the Holy Spirit, as they were on the day of Pentacost, he had no choice but to believe that God had legitimately chosen them as well. After all, he had just seen the conversion of Saul; if he could be saved, how hard would it be for God to accept a Gentile? It's important to note that Peter didn't accept them based on their words alone, but on the evidence he immediately saw in their lives.

A) Thank God, also, that He does accept Gentiles, or else I'd be lost for sure! Now, I need to be sure that I am bearing fruit accordingly! I need to be sure that, if Peter saw me today, he would recognize that I am saved by the same grace, walking in the same Spirit, and operating in the same gifts that he saw among the apostles of the first century church. It's not for his acceptence, but because he was able to see that God was at work in them based on the evidence that was apparent to him. Likewise, the evidence that God is at work in me should be evident.

P) Father, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem all people, God! I had no chance, not even under the law. While I was yet a sinner and apart from Your people, You chose me and sent Your Son to die in my place, taking my death upon Himself, bearing my punishment. God, I want to honor that sacrifice. Holy Spirit, let the work of the Father be evident in my life. Lead me to the kind of personal growth and practical actions that glorify the name of the LORD, God Almighty. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/18/2011; Acts 9:13-16

Today's reading: Job 3,4; Acts 8,9

S) "¹³ But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; ¹⁴ and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.' ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; ¹⁶ for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.'"

Acts 9:13-16 (NASB)

O) How much faith and bravery did Ananias have?! He must have been very, very sure he was hearing from the Lord on this one. In fact, we actually see him question God, essentially asking if God is sure on this one, although he never outright doubts what God is telling him. Also, I find it a little interesting that God acquiesces to give him more details, which I'm sure were taken as further assurance for Ananias.

A) I do think God asks for obedience without questioning. He wants me operate in the trust that He has my best interest in mind, as well as working in the submission that I've already laid down, even my life, for service to Him and the work of ministry and spreading the Gospel. Having said all of that, it is apparent, in this passage, that it's okay to express my fear or confusion, as long as I am still willing. I think Ananias was still willing, he was just double-checking. It's almost like he was confirming which Saul God wanted him to go meet. I will determine now, to obey God even in the scariest of missions, knowing that He works all things for my good, as I love Him and am called according to His purpose, because of the promise in Romans 8:28.

P) Father, I want You to entrust me with scary tasks. I know that opens my life up to a lot of faith-stretching, but I want to be found worthy of just such a calling. I want to be bold with my faith and with the calling You place in me. Holy Spirit, speak to me the will of the Father. Even tonight, Lord, I ask that You would speak to me as I sleep, give me a vision, send an angel to deliver Your will - whatever it takes. I want to be found as a willing and able disciple, Lord. Find me and use me, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/17/2011; Job 2:13

Today's reading: Job 1,2; Acts 6,7

S) "¹³ Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great."

Job 2:13 (NASB)

O) Seven days of sympathetic silence. Sometimes, people don't really want to talk about tragedy right away. Often, they need time to really process everything that's happened to them, or around them. Job needed a week to come to terms with his losses, I think, and his friends recognized that and gave him that space. at the same time, it's comforting just to have loved ones close, especially during difficult times.

A) I don't have all of the answers. Sometimes, I don't have any answers at all. A few years ago, my uncle had passed away while sleeping in bed. My aunt had gotten up in the middle of the night and when she returned to bed, she found him. I got the call around 3 am. It was the first time I'd ever been called for ministry of such greivous circumstances. I had no idea what I was going to do when I got there. My brother was also there. We both prayed for my aunt; we prayed for my sister, who was very close to this uncle; we prayed for my mom, who is very close to this aunt. And that was about all I said that night, those three prayers. Otherwise, I sat with them for about 3 hours, then hugged them and went home for the night - err, morning... I learned an important lesson in those twilight hours. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit within us will do all the ministering for us, just by proximity. We just need to be available and literally, just show up.

P) Father, I know that You always equip those You've called, so I never want to be fearful that I won't be able to do what You're asking me to do. You'll never ask me to do more than I can, I thank You for that, God. Holy Spirit, I pray that You are constantly ministering to the people around me. Even if it's only by proximity, I pray that they would see You in me, and that their hearts will hear the call of the Father through Your Spirit within me, Lord. Beyond that, though, never let me become complacent, when I'm called to act. Encourage me to be bold when I'm called to minister, taking action where You say, "action" and staying silent where You say, "silence." Holy Spirit, help me discern the difference. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/16/2011; Acts 5:38-39

Today's reading: Malachi 3,4; Psalms 148; Acts 5

S) "³⁸ 'So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.'"

Acts 5:38-39 (NASB)

O) This is one of my favorite examples of two Biblical principles, often overlooked by today's Christian. The first is logic. I feel like a lot of Christians follow God without really thinking about why. They live their daily lives without really considering their actions, or without considering why God may be asking them to do, what He's asking them to do. The second thing is that there are very wise, godly things to learn from people who aren't exactly serving God. The above verses are the words of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, but not a disciple of Jesus. And yet, here he is, speaking the very words of God Himself. I'm not, by any means, saying we should all just start taking our advice from mormons or Jehovah's witnesses, but I am saying that they still present some good things of God. Mormons tithe with crazy-faithfulness and JW's hit the streets harder than any other religion, false Christianity or not.

A) Later this morning, I'll be preaching on "eyes that see and ears that hear" and one of the principles I cover, is to be able to recognize God speaking to us, even if it's through an unrighteous person. I cannot be arrogant and presume to know how God will teach me. I cannot presume to know whom God will use to teach me. There is too much wisdom in the world for me to simply ignore it all, since it's "of the world" and "not from God." The Bible says that every good and perfect gift is from the Father (James 1:17). So, if there wisdom from an unexpected source, I need to weight it and see if it is good, logical, even Biblical wisdom. If it measures up, by all means, I should allow God to use it to edify me.

P) Father, I will not assume to know how or when You are teaching me. I want to keep an open mind. I know the Bible is unfailing Truth. So, I will keep an open mind and Holy Spirit, use whatever is needed to sharpen my mind, to give wisdom to my heart, and to discipline me into the man I am called to be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.