S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge Day #28 February 28, 2022 "Gifts That Help Until Jesus Returns"

S. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

O. I was once taught this text was a good proof text for why tongues and other listed giftings would cease, and no longer be needed. The phrase “when completeness comes” (that which is perfect) was a neuter gender in the Greek and therefore had to refer to the occasion when God’s word (our Bibles) would be complete. There would be no additional revelation. We had everything we needed. This was the time of perfection or completion and therefore these other gifts, tongues, prophesy and such would die out, end or cease. This teaching is often referred to as “cessationism.” because certain gifts were said to “cease.”

However as I continued to read God’s word, I came to a certain point in my life when I simply needed to not use this as a proof text to defend a theological position, but to simply ask the Holy Spirit to help me see what it is that I needed to see to better understand this particular text.

Over the course of time I realized it is a nueter gender however that simply refers to the event of Jesus’ return, His second coming. When Jesus does return, He will bring in times of refreshing (Acts 3) and a completeness. The word “completeness” is the Greek word “telios” and it means “perfect, full grown, of full age, completness of Christian character.” Further it is neuter gender and refers to a perfect state of all things, and I believe contextually refers to this time of perfection that is ushered in by the return of Jesus Christ from Heaven.

We presently do not always see clearly (in the natural) what God is communicating to us, so he sends us gifted people who can communicate God’s word (tongues, prophecy, preaching, teaching, etc.) in ways that will build each of us up. It’s sort of like the illustration of the old pirate’s telescope, which as it unfolds or extendsd one state at time until it is functioning at full strength (there is clarity in what one is viewing).

A. I am so thankful that God has given us the variety of gifts in the church today that are to help us see His will and His way with greater clarity. It is my desire to be among those who use their gifts to help build up the faith of others until Jesus returns at which time we will all see perfectly.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you for these gracious gifts you have given. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me with the gifts you have given, especially the gift of prophecy (to speak God’s word in ways that build up others) so that your church will continue to be established and built up in the faith. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge Day #27 February 27, 2022 "Grumbling or Gratitude?"

S. Numbers 21:4-5 (NIV) 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[a] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

O. The people of Israel looked at their circumstances - the long journey, the limited diet and the lack of natural water (though God supernaturally had their back on the water supply) and grumbled. They grumbled against God and they grumbled against Moses!

I think it’s easy to grumble or complain when things don’t transpire as we expect them to. For Israel, and what they most likely did not know, was that God at times takes the long view to prepare His people for what’s ahead in their lives. As the song writer says, “God sees a way when we don’t see a way.”

To get through this journey, Israel really needed to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for what they did have and for how the Lord has and is blessing and leading them.

A. I don’t always see the long view either. I at times am focused only on the immediate and wonder why God has done such and such for me. However, If I will look back and see where He has brought me from, how He has and continues to provide for me, I can cultivate a spirit of gratitude and be excited for my present situation knowing He desires to favor me in the long run.

P. Thank you Father for all of your blessings. I don’t always catch on to what you are doing in the immediate, but I will continue to praise you seven times a day (Psalm 119:164) and follow your favor. Holy Spirit fill me and guide to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and to continue to follow His favor. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge Day #26 February 6, 2022 "Cultivate A Grateful Heart."

S. Numbers 20:1-13 (NIV) In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

O. Afer dealing with rebellion and people who were grumbling, Moses likely was tired. He displayed his anger publically, a dangerous leadership mistake. Because of Moses’ behavior at Meribah, God barred Moses from the promised land.

Whether we are in leadershsip or not, we all need to be sure we are rested before we make critical decisions that can be immensley impacting. Having served in full time ministry for the past 28 years I have learned that, at least as a pastor or leader, you never want to make a decision on Monday. Decisions that are made when one is tired or has had emotions challenged, need to rest and do all they can to cultivate a grateful heart. No easy trick, but with God’s help, not impossible by any means.

Moses, I think, made a huge mistake by venting publically (striking the rock). In terms of leadership, this can be costly. It certainly cost Moses his leading the people of Israel into the promised land.

A. I desire to be the “voice of more” to others that God brings into my sphere of influence. I will continue to be sure to practice such disciplines as honoring the Sabbath so that I can hear God’s voice, cultivate a grateful spirit and be sure that I do not make decisions when I’m tired or emotional (regardless of the situation). I also desire to teach these principles to others.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to cultivate a spirit of gratefulness regardless of what is happening around me. In Jesus’ name!