S.O.A.P.

S(cripture) "The Believers Prayed For Courage"  Acts 4:23-31
V. 31 - "After this prayer the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached The Word of God with boldness." 

O(bservation) There is a very real fear associated with being a strong witness & disciple for Jesus, that has nothing to do with doubting who He is or what we believe, but rather worrying about the reception we will receive from other people. How we may be rejected or ridiculed plays a huge part especially when we approach our discipleship from a human standpoint. However, even in that fear, we have to continue to pray for the power that the Holy Spirit brings.  God doesn't want us to deny our fear, but He doesn't want us to allow our fear to become our focus. God uses the peculiar things of this world to show how magnificent and powerful and perfect He is. That includes US. We can't even take a breath unless He allows it, yet He allows us to have free will. We get to choose whether we will go right or left, choosing the straight and narrow path that leads to life or the wide and crooked path that will eventually lead to death. Even when we have been called we still have a choice. We have a choice to understand that God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. In just being called alone God has qualified you to do the very thing He has called you to. Each one of the 12 disciples had been called and through their following Jesus all the way to the cross and discovering His empty tomb, they were qualified to carry out the work that God had planned for them. John and Peter were certainly afraid they would also be put to death when they were arrested by the religious leaders for preaching the Gospel "In Jesus name".  God favored them -- because of their faith and obedience they were set free from THAT persecution. Their first reaction was not to say "I can't do this" "this is too much." Because they saw and remembered what Jesus just suffered for us all, they pressed on even though they were afraid.  Instead, like Jesus did in the garden they turned to each other and they all prayed for God to strengthen them to carry out "with boldness" the task that He lay before them and called them to do. God rewarded them with the strength that comes ONLY by His spirit. The Holy Spirit, allowed to do His work in them, caused them to preach the Word of God with boldness! It is not by our own might or wisdom that we can accomplish anything for the Kingdom of God, but by us FULLY surrendering as a vessel for God's Spirit and allowing Him to use us to HIS full and complete Glory. 


A(pplication) For quite some time I have realized the calling on my life. I've accepted that all of the things I've suffered and overcome were specifically for that purpose. I've been fearful when I think about that calling from a carnal perspective. Fearful enough to run in the other direction, to ignore my calling all together, and to even show behavior that dishonors God and my faith in Him. BUT in the times where I've truly surrendered, I've seen and completely understood the Power of God to make me able to do ALL things through Him. I do not believe that that passage of scripture (Phil. 4:13) refers to the menial things we are faced with on a daily basis. While I understand fully that we are to live so that EVERYTHING we do, we do as if we are doing it for the Lord - I know in my heart that that passage is referring to those things that God puts before us, those situations that He allows us to face that seem impossible. The times where we fear we will surely die of this happens or we will never survive if that happens. These are the instances when God wants us to trust Him the most. There is nothing too hard for God. So I am comforted that if He puts a task in front of me (or you)...IF HE PUTS A TASK IN FRONT OF ME (we're not talking about the things WE get ourselves into...) it's in my best interest to move out of the way and let Him do His work in me and through me. I have to set my fear, doubt (in myself), and disbelief aside. Anything that will hinder what God wants to do has to go. I must pray for His continual strength to overcome all of those things because that is where/how the enemy sneaks in. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy by turning my little fears into all I can see! On my own I remain uncovered. By my own might I am afraid, apprehensive and confused. I am ready to stop, run away, and hideout until it's over. By God's might I shall run and not grow weary, I shall walk and not faint. I shall mount up on wings like an eagle and SOAR!

P(rayer) Dear God, My God, you have been so mercifully kind & so generous w/your forgiveness, love and understanding. I asked for answers and you have freely and abundantly provided exactly what I need. Thank you for helping me understand that I cannot depend on my own wisdom, understanding or ability, but that even in my fear and lack of confidence, I have to trust and receive your Spirit and every single thing you set before me will be completed successfully. Help me to stay out of the way so that your will can be done in me, through me and for the sake of others.

Amen.