S.O.A.P. for 09-29 Wolves in Sheeps Clothing..

Are we??

S: Isaiah 58: 1-14

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!
2 Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting
when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves
by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

O: My observation is this: God is calling us out. He is calling us to meet Him at the table and He's holding a mirror. Even when we THINK we are doing right, how much of ourselves have we truly examined? It goes beyond our skin. He sees how we treat others, how we relate to the world around us, how we handle our "things", how we deal with the world around us, and then it seems we have the audacity to think we "deserve" something simply by having shown up to the party.

A: I must not forget to examine my own heart. I must not forget to examine my outward actions to others. Have I shared my bread? Have I shared my coin? Have I shared my home and hearth? Have I shared my love and my friendship in a real and personal way? Not thinking that I'll ever get it back, for then it is truly not giving. When I give and expect to get something in return that is not generosity. How do I treat my neighbors? My brothers and sisters in Christ? The man on the street? The friend in the congregation? The helper? How have I spoken of them to others? How have I stretched myself to help them? Have I said prayers to my God for help and release from oppression when it very well could be that I am doing the oppressing?
Are we being wolves in sheep's clothing? And who are we trying to fool? Certainly not God, for if we believe we can fool Him, then we truly are the fool.. How deep is He rooted in our hearts? That will answer the question of whether our worship to Him is true or false.. So ask yourself, are you being True? Or are you being False? There is only one answer, and whatever it is, act on it. Let it open your eyes so that you may see beyond the box and study that person in the mirror. For He wants to be your delight. And to me, what could be better?


P: Father God, I come to You with love in my heart and a prayer in my heart. Lord I seek to know You and have You truly change me from the inside out. Lord , please do not let me be a casualty of this false worship. Reveal my heart and open mine eyes that I may notice everything around me and respond to it in a way that is pleasing in Your sight. Lord, You are my strength and my redeemer, truly You must know this. Truly You must know the depths of my heart, and if I'm guilty of false worship, it is not intentional. Remove my blinders and heighten my senses. Lord, help me lead others to a true sense of worship, being honest in love, and careful to step lightly but with the word of Truth as my sword, that in my quest to Truly worship You as I should, with a pure and honest heart, behaving as a child of God, that I may steer others along the path of righteousness as well, Lord! Lead me always, Lord. I thank You for never giving up on me and loving me through my mistakes. I thank You for helping me learn to be more like You and being such a good Father.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

My heart and my soul,
I give You control,
Consume me from the inside out, Lord.
Let justice and praise,
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out!!
*Hillsong*