S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #14 February 14, 2024 “Purity In Worship IS Blessed By God.”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #14 February 14, 2024 “Purity In Worship IS Blessed By God.”

 S. Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV) Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and indication from God their Savior.6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

 O. David asks the rhetorical question- “Who can stand in God’s presence and offer Him true (my word) worship? The answer is those who have purity in their hearts and actions. He then describes how it is those worshippers who are blessed and protected by the Lord.

A. This is my desire – to be a worshipper of the Lord in purity and truth. I pray that my worship will be pure, wholesome, and truly directs others to the Lord. I know He will continue to bless and protect me.

 P. Thank you Lord for saving me and calling me to follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to have purity in my heart and truthfulness in my actions. Thank you for your blessings and watch care in my life.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #13 February 13, 2024 “Completing the Task.”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #13 February 13, 2024 “Completing the Task.”

S. Acts 20:24 (NIV) “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the goodness of God’s grace.

O. Paul knew of the hardships he had faced and the ones that he would yet face – yet he did not consider his own comfort. His only aim or goal was to complete His God given task – to live out his purpose in testifying (proclaiming) the guidelines of God’s Grace. He didn’t quit in hardships, nor did he “retire” – He kept going. He remained productive in the face of aging and hardships.

A. This is my desire as well. Despite the hardships of ministry or simply the process of getting older – there is not quit or giving up or retirement in my life. I desire and I will continue to live a spiritually productive life as long as I’m able. I’m going to live out God’s purpose for me. I’m going to complete the task of letting others know about the Gace of the Lord Jesus.

P. Thank you Lord for Paul’s example. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to complete the task God has called me to – the task of preaching and testifying to the Grace of the Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #12 February 12, 2024 “Receiving the Holy Spirit For Power and Witnessing.”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #12 February 12, 2024 “Receiving the Holy Spirit For Power and Witnessing.”

S. Acts 19:1-6 (NIV) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

 O. Paul encountered some disciples in Ephesus who had not heard that there was a Holy Spirit. They knew of John’s baptism. Perhaps they had not followed Jesus closely. It’s possible they believed in Him but had not walked closely to experience all of His teachings. I note that still happens today.

It is unclear (to me) if these disciples were baptized then by John only or if they were baptized again in Jesus’ name (I favor the re-baptism thought). But also – they received the Holy Spirit for empowered living and witnessing (as those did at Pentecost).

A.I recall receiving Christ early in my life. But I did not follow the Lord Jesus in baptism until years later. However, in between those two events, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit which has given me much more boldness, power and faith.

P. Thank you Lord for giving me the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to continue to advance the Kingdom of God with boldness and power. In Jesus’ name.