SOAP 02/08/2014 Acts 15:28-29

Today's reading: Leviticus 7, 8, 9; Acts 15


S) "^28 'For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: ²⁹ that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.'"

Acts 15:28-29 (NASB)

O) The role of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible as a unifier is one of my favorite ways He interacts with us. Also, this verse speaks to the "baby Christian" and is a reminder not to overwhelm people with rule upon rule about every single thing. There are the most basic things, like the Ten Commandments, and then we build from there more and more toward holiness.

A) Seeking the unified confirmation of the Holy Spirit should be paramount to decision making. Ultimately, if something contradicts the written Word of God, then we can't accept it. However, much of the Bible must still be interpreted to some degree, in order to apply it to our lives today, and that can cause a lot of confusion or division among people. But the unity of the Holy Spirit clarifies things for us, so seeking that clarity and confirmation is a big deal. Beyond that, the second half of this verse mostly applies to my kids at this point. Sometimes, I want to just download all of my knowledge directly upon their brains, but that's (a) not possible, and (b) not Biblical. In order to teach, especially regarding God and His commands and our relationship with Him, we need to start at the base and build - even if it takes a lot of time and effort.

P) Father, make me sensitive to the Holy Spirit and give me unity, especially with my wife. With other believers, let the Holy Spirit minister between us, to be unified in our understanding of the word, one to another, and also with Your Spirit. When I minister Your Word, whether to my kids or anyone else, let me be patient and obedient to build one piece at a time, to ensure that what is built will stand. Let me lay the foundation starting with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and go from there. Let it be an encouragement to those who hear it. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/07/2014 Leviticus 6:13

Today's reading: Leviticus 4, 5, 6; Acts 14

S) "¹³ Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out."

Leviticus 6:13 (NASB)

O) I was immediately struck by a parallel when I read this verse. So, reading through the last few chapters of Leviticus, God is instructing Moses and Aaron about how to conduct all of the different sacrifices on the alter. They are for myriad offenses, all about atonement. God is laying out the various requirements for His people and they are all well defined. Do blank, and when it's done, it's done and the guilty is forgiven. Every act of atonement, every process, is finite. And then there is this order. There is this infinite command. Get this fire started and keep it going. Do not let this fire die. Do not let the flames go out.

Now, it's pretty easy to see the practical reason for this. Anyone who's ever built a fire in their living room or while camping, they know that it's harder to start a fire than it is to keep a fire going. While I think God is all about practical applications, I don't think this command is as simple as that. I think it's about posture. It's about expectation and setting the tone.

In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist tells the people to, "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." And I think the ground work for that verse is set in this command to Moses and Aaron. You see, I think true repentance isn't a singular act, so much as it is a posture of the heart. And that posture is set before we sin. A repentant heart is one that is quick to admit fault, accept blame, and return to God. That is how we will bear fruit. That is keeping our fire alive. The priests were told to keep the fire going because God knew the people would sin continually. The priests needed to be ready to facilitate constant atonement, constant repentance, constant forgiveness from God.

A) Our God is an all consuming fire and I need to let that fire, His fire, burn continually in my heart. I think it is constantly stoked by a humble heart that invites God to convict me regularly. This is the best way to keep the posture of a repentant heart. I need to let God purify my heart perpetually, and ask Him to burn away all impurities, and sacrifice everything to Him in true repentance, every time I am found guilty.

P) Father, I want Your fire in me to burn continually. Do not let it go out. Continue to work on my heart, burning up everything that You determine should not be there. I humbly submit myself to Your sovereignty. Let me be burned up. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/06/2014 Acts 13:43

Today's reading: Leviticus 1, 2, 3; Acts 13

S) "⁴³ Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God."

Acts 13:43 (NASB)

O) Because I am no Jewish, I'm always very interested in the verses that mention Gentiles who served The LORD before the Gospel was manifested (or, at least, the earliest converts after the Gospel). I mean, it really takes the Gospel to a new level. On the one hand, the Israelites were waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah to come and fulfill hundreds of prophecies. On the other hand, you have this group of people, recognizing the truth and power of The LORD as the only living God, but they're never truly accepted into the fold, because no matter how obedient and faithful and devout they are, they are still Gentiles. But now they're adopted.

A) There are 2 applications here, I think. First, these new believers were encouraged to continue in grace. It's so important, especially early in a believer's life, that we are not bogging people down with rule after rule, and regulation after regulation. The Pharisee's were guilty of laying heavy burdens on the people instead of helping them be free. On of the most important aspects of our faith is that it's the grace of God, and His lovingkindness and compassion, that leads us to repentance. Righteousness and obedience are important, but it all starts with grace. I need to remember that. Second, I need to look at this example of hearing a message an following up about it! I should not hear a sermon on Sunday morning, and then never do anything with it. Even before applying the message, it's worthwhile to discuss it further with other believers, if not the preacher who actually spoke it. Our Life Group is taking advantage of study questions our church develops each week. I need to be sure I'm not taking those for granted.

P) Father, keep me humble. Don't allow me to neglect the message I hear each week at church. Let me be faithful about the study of these sermons every week, especially with our Life Group. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, to know what You would have me know, according to Your will, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/05/2014 Psalm 15:1-5

Today's reading: Exodus 39, 40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

S) "15 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
² He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
³ He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
⁴ In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
⁵ He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken."

Psalm 15 (NASB)

O) I used the whole chapter here, because there was no real way to separate any of these verses. They're kind of a run on sentence, beginning and ending with the benefits; the fruit of the middle verses. It's promise, instruction, promise.

A) I was reading a daily correspondence I get from an evangelist (Dea Warford). It was talking about how, in the end days, there will be a falling away in the church, and how scary that will be. He referred to a few different verses, like 1 Timothy 4:1 and Hebrews 12:27. It has potential to be a very scary thought and topic, but then there is the Psalm above. Salvation is not earned, and we cannot simply run through a checklist to make sure we are saved - it's not that simple. But this Psalm is a reminder, that as I chase after God alone, as I take up my cross to follow Jesus, and seek first the kingdom of God, the above things should work as a barometer, to let me know I am fully after God. This Psalm serves to either convict with red flags, or confirm with green lights.

P) Father, please continue to reveal my own heart's condition to me. I want to be sure that I am one who walks with integrity and works righteousness, and all of the other things noted in this Psalm. Most importantly, as I continue to chase after who You are, Lord, let these longings in my heart be a reaction of love and not simply fear of You. In either case, thank You for the grace in my life, that puts me in a place to know Your blessings. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/04/2014 Exodus 38:26

Today's reading: Exodus 37, 38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

S) "²⁶ a beka a head (that is, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for each one who passed over to those who were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men."

Exodus 38:26 (NASB)

O) This verse is specifically referring to how much gold was collected by the people for the free-will offering. So, I did a little bit of research, because this verse was so intriguing to me, and the general consensus is that a sanctuary shekel in the OT was about 10 grams. Solid gold weighs 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter (cc). That means a gold shekel of the sanctuary was a little more than half a cc of gold. To put some perspective to that, a US nickel is roughly 0.59cc. That means a sanctuary shekel of gold was about the size of a US nickel. But, in the above verse, we see that each person accounted for only half a sanctuary shekel. A US dime is roughly 0.34cc. So then, each man gave a gold coin smaller than a dime.

A) The thing that is so incredible to me about this small, but revealing verse, is how perfectly God prepares the way for things. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, He told them to ask their Egyptian neighbors for gold and silver as they left Egypt. But, the beauty of doing this, was in the power of unity and numbers. It took a small donation per person as they left Egypt, and then it took even less of a donation from the people, per person. I have seen this first-hand at our church. Occasionally, our church will take up a free-will offering to support one ministry or another. It's a spontaneous, infrequent happening. The last time it happened, our Sunday morning congregation, which hovers around 3,000 per week, raised over $12,000 for our partners at CareNet (Kenmore, WA). I remember the morning we were asked to give, and I literally had no money on me, and no way to write a check, or anything. I was full of regret instantly, mostly for being utterly unprepared. I think the biggest takeaway from this scripture is to remember, even if my gift is only the size of a dime, I would be blessed to be a part I such a tremendous movement. God tells His people they should not appear before The LORD empty handed, and I've always taken that to be relative to tithing, but maybe it's more about being prepared to respond to The LORD.

P) Father, I will make this change. I will bring a free will offering to Your presence on Sunday mornings, even if it's as little as a nickel or as small as a dime. I want to be ready to answer any call. I am blessed to be used, and I don't want to be found empty handed ever again. Thank You, God, for bringing this out from me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/03/2014 Acts 10:24

Today's reading: Exodus 35, 36; Acts 10

S) "24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends."

Acts 10:24 (NASB)

O) This man was told by God that Simon Peter would give him a message, from God. What's his reaction? He doesn't figure, "Well, God said the message is for me, so I better meet him alone," nor does he doubt and think, "I know I'm ready to hear this, but maybe my friends and family just aren't ready," and neither does he worry, "Well, I'm kind of afraid of rejection, so I didn't want to put myself out there." Instead, he gathers everyone he loves in order to hear a word from The Lord, through Simon Peter.

A) Now, I might be tempted to rationalize, here. I mean, sure, if an angel of The Lord appeared to me, and told me to summon a man who has a word from The Lord... but that's just a convenient excuse. I truly believe God called my family to the church we attend. Everything fell into place as we hoped. Everything. As for the word? I know that week-in and week-out, our pastors preach directly from the Bible. It doesn't get much more "from God" than His written words. So then, I have no excuse. I need to start inviting friends and family to church.

P) Father, give me courage. There are too many people I love, who don't know who You really are. They don't know that You are slow to anger and full of lovingkindness. They don't know that You are a Deliverer. They don't know that You give rest to the weary and that You bind up the brokenhearted. Give me courage to invite them to church, and trust that You will handle the rest. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/02/2014 Exodus 34:8

Today's reading: Exodus 33, 34; Psalm 16; Acts 9


S) "⁸ Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship."

Exodus 34:8 (NASB)

O) This is a pretty straightforward verse. Moses was confronted with the absolute sovereignty of The LORD in the previous verses, when God is proclaiming how good He is to whom He is for, and how powerful He is against whom He is against. But what really struck me about this verse was the haste with which Moses bows down to worship. That haste seems to be a rare thing. I don't recall a lot of stories of hasty worship of The LORD.

A) There have been times I have felt drawn to spontaneous worship of The LORD, but I don't know that I've ever perceived a need to worship hastily. I suppose I've never been in quite the same position as Moses, needing to quickly move on behalf of an entire nation on the brink of The LORD's judgment. On the other hand, I have faced difficulties that were fairly time sensitive. I think the main point is that, if I feel drawn to worship and pray, I should do nothing to tarry, and quite possibly, I need to consider moving to that as quickly as possible, if not actually immediately. I need to hustle and pray.

P) Father, the truth is, that You are worthy of my constant, unending, complete worship. I know that You have still given me a life to live, but I acknowledge there are angels in heaven that never cease worshiping You around the throne, Lord. So, when the Holy Spirit is drawing me to worship and pray, remind me to do so with haste. If it should be done at all, then it should be done sooner than later. Let me sacrifice my time, as well as anything else that would stand in my way, like dignity, sleep, food, or any other temporal things. I want to worship with haste. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.