S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #7, February 7, 2023 "Resilient-Extreme Faith"

S. Acts 14:19-20 (NIV) “…They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city…”

O. Paul would not be deterred. He had EXTREME FAITH. He was a RESILIENT follower of Jesus - He did not let opposition (verbal, intimidation and physical assault) stop him from sharing Jesus with others.

This is what we need to be - like Paul - to be a RESILIENT Christ follower (if you’re knocked down, you get back up) - You demonstrate Extreme Faith.

A. At times I have let “fear” or “doubt” enter into my mind and keep me from faithfully finishing what God has called me to do and what I may have set out to do. I desire, like Paul, to keep building up my faith that I might also demonstrate EXTREME FAITH - to be a RESILIENT disciple of Jesus. No matter what. I am moving forward.

P. Thank you Father for your word today- for Paul’s example. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to greater levels of EXTREME FAITH and RESILIENCY for your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #6, February 6, 2023 "Reaching to the Jew First"

S. Acts 13:6-13 (NIV)

6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

O. The Jewish people were God’s people to evangelize the world - yet they rejected the Lord’s plan. In the OT they rejected (numerous times) God’s appointed leaders and then the prophets. In the NT they rejected many of the disciples and apostles as well rejecting Jesus as their Messiah. Because of this, God sets Israel aside and starts a new creation called the Church, The Body of Christ (c.f. Romans 11). In this text, Elymas ried to prevent a gentile ruler from placing his faith in Christ Jesus and for this - Elymas was blinded for a time. Perhaps a picture or symbol of the blindness that Israel is experiencing.

A. Paul remained faithful to his mission to share Christ with the gentiles - yet he also had a great desire to see his fellow Jews receive Jesus. He wrote in Romans 1 that the Gospel of Jesus was the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

I am so thankful that I have the blessing of leading a church that supports taking the gospel to the Jewish people. I will continue to pray for the Gateway Center for Israel and for Jewish evangelism.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you for “stirring” my heart to love and reach out to the Jewish people. It’s an honor and privilege to do so. I pray that the prayers and financial support from our church, Better Life Church, will result in a great harvest and that Jesus will be continue to be exalted. I pray this in Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #5, "Look In the Right Places" - Acts 12:24

S. Acts 12:24 (NIV) “The Word of God continued to spread and flourish.”

O. We live in a fallen and far from perfect world. At times it seems we take 1 step forward and 2 steps back. There are, at times, things that happen that makes absolutely no sense at all.

That seems to be the context of Acts 12. Imprisonment, escape, executions, death - yet the “Word of God continued to spread and flourish.” Regardless of what was (is) crashing down, God was undistracted. He remained focused on increasing and spreading His word.

A. Satan often throws setbacks and roadblocks to distract us. He enjoys planting thoughts in our minds to keep us from moving forward in doing God’s work. Through this passage God dials us back to what is important. Despite setbacks, roadblocks and negative thinking - only when we keep our focus on God’s agenda - reaching others and sharing His word, will we be able to overcome these times of distractions.

P. Thank you Father for directing my thoughts back to you. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to focus on the Father and His agenda - reaching people with and through Your Word. In Jesus’ name!