Acts Day 12 — My S.O.A.P.

Scripture: Acts 12:23

Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Observation:

Herod played to the applause of the crowd and rejoiced when they said he spoke like a God.  God will NEVER share His glory with man, and He proves it by causing Herod to die.  As if to make a statement, God takes this extremely proud man and causes him to be consumed with worms.

Application:

It can be easy to enjoy the applause and celebration of people, but if it’s ever given, it’s completely misdirected. I must always remember to point at Jesus and give Him all the glory and honor alone.  I’m imagining the crowd didn’t stay and celebrate Herod after he was consumed with worms.  Neither will the crowds applaud when I point fully at Christ.  Remember that it’s not the applause of the crowd I play for, but the approval of one, the One, Jesus. Don’t take the honor that is only due to Him!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for saving me and calling me to represent you. I give you all the glory and honor, I want none. I celebrate you and recognize all I am and have is from and for you.

Acts Day 11 — My S.O.A.P.

Scripture: Acts 11:18

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”

Observation:

The jewish believers are confronting Peter about his decision to go to the homes of gentiles and fellowship with them.  This had previously been against the jewish law, and was a grave offense.  However, Peter had heard from God and knew that he must obey God’s voice.  Peter is strong in conviction and does the right thing; therefore he’s standing on solid ground when confronted.

Peter’s strength of resolve and character afforded him true and righteous words that changed the hearts of those accusing him. They agreed and praised God because they have grown in faith; this is great leadership.

Application:

I want to be on such solid ground that no confrontation or accusation can ever stand against what I know to be the will of God.  I want to be so intrinsically connected to Christ that I am humbly confident in all that I say.  This is John 15, “He is the vine, I am a branch”.  I need to continue to tune into His voice so that I can determine His will; then I will be a greater representative and leader for Him.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit, guiding and directing me to know your will.  Give me greater confidence in your promises, that I might boldly proclaim them to your people. Help me to lead your Church where you want them to go, not where they want to go.

Acts 10 — Guest S.O.A.P. — Sean Smith (from Haiti)

Scripture: Acts 10:42- 43
42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.

Observation:
Peter is convicted by God in a vision to not “discrimiate” or call something unclean, but allow God to judge what is clean. He then goes to the gentiles and delivers the Gospel message to them. He declares that God has ordered him to “preach everywhere and testify that Jesus” is the one to judge. Peter is simply convicted to preach to everyone.

Application:
It is often that our declaration of the Gospel message is stopped by our judgment of others. We are often quick to judge but slow to offer the love and hope of Christ. Like Peter we should be convicted to preach everywhere and testify. Instead we often allow our judgments about peoples lifestyle, social status, history, and even their current “lostness” to distract us and keep us from sharing the good news. I need to be convicted to truly believe that “everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven” and because of that be willing to preach everywhere and testify to everyone.

Prayer:
God allow me to see with your eyes the purity and forgiveness that you see in others. Allow me not to be distracted or diverted from sharing the hope and love of Christ because of who people are or how they act. Remove the barriers that I put in the way.

Wednesday Night In Haiti

Sorry about spotty updates, and light information on Acts reading; it’s tough getting reliable internet here.

This has been an absolutely incredible trip!  We’ve been able to spend a great deal of time with Pastor Luc and his team at our orphanage.  A great number of adults from the church Luc pastor’s in the neighborhood are involved in loving on and developing the kids.  Gives them a little bit of a family situation. Many of the parents lost children in the earthquake, so it’s a great a connection both ways.

Palm Valley, your team did an awesome job painting the orphanage and cleaning it up so that the kids would have a nicer home.  The team also enjoyed Muncheez pizza, a surprise I took them for last night.  They didn’t believe you can get good pizza and wings in Port Au Prince; they’re believers now!

Today I was able to travel with Pastor Luc and see some land he’s been praying for.  It’s a great piece of land just outside the main city, would be ideal to build the orphanage on.  Pray hard for the price, we talked with the owner of the land a little, and he needs to come down on his price!

Tomorrow morning I will be speaking at a Pastor’s Conference for about 250 Pastor’s in the area. So humbled to speak to these great leaders, pray I will be able to encourage them in their vital role here!

I appreciate all the prayers for safety as we will drive a lot tomorrow, then fly out to Miami.  Hope to give more update then!

I love and miss you Palm Valley Church family, can’t wait to be with you this weekend for part 2 of “Trinity”. Invite, invite, invite!

Acts 9 — my S.O.A.P

Scripture:
“The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers live… Acts9.31.NLT

Observation:
As the believers lived in fear of the Lord, there was unity, and there was growth. When God is honored, people are attracted, and lives are changed.

Application:
A healthy fear of the Lord will compel me to live at peace and in unity with other believers. I want to remain soft to His work in my life; bless able.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to keep short accounts and be one with other believers.

Prayer:

Acts 7 — my S.O.A.P.

Scripture:  Acts 7:54-56

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.*55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Observation:

Stephen has just preached an incredible history of the jewish faith, up to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Everything he said was truth, and now the very people who rejected and demanded the crucifixion of Christ, are now enraged that they are being blamed.  It’s amazing how religious people love to come against God’s work, then run from accountability when they’re called to the carpet. The leaders get so angry then begin to stone Stephen to death.  Stephen looks up and gets a glimpse of the throne of heaven, where Jesus is standing.  This is the only time after His ascension that we see Jesus standing, not seated at the right of the Father.  I believe He’s showing honor to the first martyr for the name of Jesus!

Application:

Living for and preaching in the name of Jesus will not always lead to favorable response. Sometimes the name of Jesus will put us in opposition with others; this is when I really determine the level of my faith.  It’s not an option to shrink back and not preach Jesus and Him crucified; I must be bold.  I’d much rather be rejected by man but applauded by Jesus than the other way around!

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be bold in my faith; help me to love you so passionately that my one desire is to honor you. I want to honor you with my life; that you may be pleased with me.

Acts 6 — Guest S.O.A.P. — Darius Sanders

Scripture:
Acts 6:1  But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.  The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

Observation:
As more and more believers were added to their number, problems began to break out.  In this case, there were issues with the food program.  One group of followers felt they were being discriminated against by another group.

Application:
Amazingly some 2000 years later, this is still the case.  As a church or ministry gets bigger, there will always be rumblings of discontent.  As a leader, I can’t take that personally.  I just need to know that it is going to happen.  The apostles were proactive in coming up with a great solution and I need to do that as well.  The apostles taught me to address the problem but then move on to the things that I should focus on (time in prayer and teaching the Word—Acts 6:4).  I need to keep my eyes open for leaders that can be of assistance to me as issues arise, godly people like Stephen (Acts 6:5), so that I can focus on the things that God has called me to focus on.

Prayer:
God, thank You so much for this amazing example of leadership.  Please help me to accept the fact that rumblings will come with a growing ministry.  Please give me the courage to place other leaders in positions of authority to be part of the solution process.  I love you and I pray that this will be a lesson I keep in mind, in Jesus name, amen.

Acts 6 — Guest S.O.A.P. — Sean Smith

It’s been a busy weekend, and I’m a few days late posting, but here’s a guest S.O.A.P. from Sean Smith, Pastor of Creative Arts…

Acts 5

Scripture: Acts 5:29  ”But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’”

Observation: The apostles had witnessed so much, the life and miracles of Jesus, His death and resurrection, even the supernatural killing of Ananias And Sapphira. After witnessing so much, they had settled the issue in their heart and mind; Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, God in the flesh, and they would obey and fear only God.  There was no waffling, no fear of man, the apostles were willing to be jailed, flogged, even eventually put to death for their faith in Jesus.  They even rejoiced that they were worthy to be dishonored on behalf of Jesus’ name (Verse 41).

Application: I have settled the issue of Lordship in my life, but am I willing to undergo persecution, even flogging, and count it joy to be dishonored on his behalf.  So often I take personal offense at what people say, this shouldn’t be; I’ve died to Christ and dead man have no feelings. I want to follow Jesus so fully with everything I have that it is no longer I, but Christ that lives within me.  The deep convictions of the apostles compelled them to a ministry in Jesus’ name that changed the world; I want my life to have that impact for His Kingdom sake!

Prayer: Lord, help me to fall so in love with you that nothing else matters. Help me to have such deep convictions that my feelings no longer matter. Help me today to take every opportunity to share Christ with people who need to know His love.

Acts – Day 4

Scripture: When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.  And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.

Observation:  Peter and John were ordinary guys who were filled with the Holy Spirit, this made all the difference.  His presence is better than any education or training.  These are necessary, but we first need God’ Spirit in us, filling us.  Peter and John preach with boldness the truth.  Try as they might, the Sanhedrin cannot refute truth, it’s undeniable.

Application: I can never become academic about following Christ.  He is not a subject or philosophy, He is my Lord and Savior!  Everything I learn about Him should cause me to love Him more and become more like Him.  My time with Him should compel me to preach truth with boldness, not fearing or caring about people’s approval.

Prayer: Lord, help me to fall in love with you more each day.  I want to know you better and give you more of me.  Fill me with your Spirit so I will serve and preach with boldness.