From a devotional written by Skip Heitzig and forwarded to me by my cousin, Don Boese: “If you just have the inerrant Word of Scripture but you don’t have an experience with God yourself, then it’s not personal. If you have your personal experience but it doesn’t match what the scripture says, then it’s not reasonable. Put them both together, it’s powerful. It’s unshakeable.”

Friends, I trust you have a wonderful time of celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! What an amazing victory He won for us on the cross! What an amazing victory He won over the grave! What an amazing future He has in store for us! May your celebration be personal, reasonable, and powerful! Wow! Pastor Leon J

What’s Ahead!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 31: Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1Corinthians 16

Scripture: Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (NIV)

Observation: If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith would be useless. Death is the final result of sin. Jesus overcame sin in his living and overcame death in his resurrection!

Application: The resurrection is the proof that my faith is not in vain! His resurrection is proof that death is not the end for me. The Resurrected One lives inside me! He empowers my living and He will escort me through death into eternity!

Prayer: Lord, I am amazed at what you have done for me. But I know what is ahead will even be better! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 30: Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1Corinthians 15

Scripture: 1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Observation: Paul has been writing about death and the resurrection. Presently we live and die in the physical realm, but when we die we will come alive in the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm is so far superior to the physical that death will have lost its sting! Instead of death being seen as a defeat, we will see it as a glorious door through which we enter into the spiritual realm. This victory over the power and sting of death has already been won for me and is given to me in the Lord Jesus Christ as He dwells in my life! Wow! It is one of the bennies (benefits) of knowing Jesus!

Application: The great joy is in knowing the wonderful Person of Jesus! The more I get to know Him, the more I learn about the other great benefits I have in His Lordship. Sharon and I recently purchased a newer car for our trip to Delaware. We took possession just a few hours before we left. We bought it for dependable transportation, but it has several extra benefits to make driving more enjoyable. On the long drive we often read the owner’s manual to find out how something worked or the purpose of a particular button. And in life’s journey with Jesus, I often get out the Bible (owner’s manual) to learn about something new I have discovered in Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, every day I have the potential of discovering a new benefit! I want to be faithful in Your Word and open to Your Spirit. Teach me, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 29: Judges 6-7; Psalm 52; 1Corinthians 14

Scripture: 1Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, or a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. (NIV)

Observation: When we gather for our church meetings, we expect the pastor to have something prepared to say; we expect the teachers to have their lessons prepared for their class; we expect the worship leader and musicians to have songs prepared. Many go to church prepared to receive, but not prepared to give. However this verse says that “EACH OF YOU” has something to give.

Application: What the Lord has for me to give may not be a public expression of God’s grace from the front of the congregation when everyone is listening to me; it may be a word of comfort or encouragement given to an individual. It may be more than the tithes I put in the offering; it may be the two or three, five or ten dollars the Lord has me give to someone with a special need. I must go ready to give as the Lord shows me a need. When I arrive at the church, even in the parking lot, I should begin looking for an opportunity to share God’s grace.

Prayer: Lord, prepare me to be an instrument of Your grace when I gather with other believers. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Continuing to Please Him

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 28: Judges 4-5; Psalm 39, 41; 1Corinthians 13

Scripture: Psalm 41:1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in time of trouble.
2 The LORD protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. (NIV)

Observation: The weak are important to God and those who care for the weak are important to God. God considers those who help the weak as His helpers. Of course He protects and preserves them; they are doing His work. Of course He restores them to health so they can continue doing His work. (This would be like Dorcas in Acts 9:36-41 who was “always doing good and helping the poor.”)

Application: I know that God is a gracious God and treats me FAR better than I could ever deserve. But still I want to live my life is such a way that God would want to restore my health. It would be to His benefit, and the benefit of others, to have me continue doing what I had been doing.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be like Dorcas. I want to please you in the way I live my daily life. May you smile and may others be blest. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 27: Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (NIV)

Observation: The blood of Jesus is applied to each of our lives to cover our sins and make us acceptable. The Holy Spirit is given to make us useful.

Application: There are times when tired and weary that I can feel used. Sometimes I can feel like others are taking advantage of me. But much worse than feeling used is feeling useless. The Holy Spirit works in my life to make me useful. He works through me for the benefit of others. When I am useful, I get used! When I know I am useful and being used by the Holy Spirit, being used by people is not an issue.

Prayer: Lord, to be used Oh God, to sing, to speak, to pray. To be used Oh God to show someone the way. I long so much to feel the touch of Your consuming fire. To be used Oh God is my desire! (Audrey Mieir) Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 26: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

Scripture: Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seem undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD

Observation: It is so important to God that we choose to serve Him. His love can never be satisfied by a love that has no choice. Our choices prove our love for God. Through our choices, those around us can see what we think of God. How important He is, how great He is, how worthy He is, how wonderful He is—all this and more can be seen in how we choose to talk and act—in how we choose to live our lives. There are so many things in life over which I have no choice, but I always have a choice in how I respond.

Application: I want my choices in lifestyle, how I speak and how I act to clearly show those around me that I believe that Jesus loves me and gave His life for me. The result of His death was the forgiveness of my sins, but He did not die for my sins, He died for me!

Prayer: Lord, how can I say thanks for the things you have done for me, things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love to me. (Andrae Crouch) May my choices today show my love and high esteem for you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 25: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

Scripture: 1Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

Observation: These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling. Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.

Application: It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others. Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible. The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders. How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Bible! Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders. I do not have to be perfect to be used by You. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 24: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Scripture: 1Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Observation: Paul boasts of his freedom, yet he uses his freedom to choose to be a servant. He sees himself as a slave; he lives as a slave.

Application: God has set me free and given me the power of choice. When I use my freedom to choose to be a servant, I bring great joy to the One Who Used His freedom to choose to serve me by dying for my sins!!!

Prayer: Lord, I am your servant, not because I have no other choice, but because I choose to be your servant in response to your great love for me and the many ways you have served me. Nothing else makes any sense! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 23: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Corinthians 8:12 When you sin against them in this way and would their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Observation: Paul knew that idols were really nothing spiritual, but some people saw them as having authority and influence. Paul knew that he could eat meat that had been dedicated to the idols because the idols were really nothing more than wood or stone. But if some who were still convinced that the idols really had spiritual authority saw Paul eat meat that had been dedicated to the idol, they may become offended. Paul does not berate them for their lack of faith and maturity; he loves them; he takes the limitation on himself, not eating such meat. His love for them was stronger than his privilege of exercising his own freedom! Instead of demanding His rights, Paul saw that offending a younger believer was really sinning against Christ!

Application: In dealing with the devil, I need to know my rights and exercise them! But in dealing with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I need to be willing to limit myself. There are times when demanding my rights can actually be a sign of immaturity in me. It can be an expression of selfishness, not caring how my actions affect others.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you love them. May I see them as you see them! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A Chuckle!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Scripture: Joshua 13:1 When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, “You are now very old, and there is still very large areas of land to be taken over.”

Observation: I had to laugh when I read this verse this morning. If the LORD says you are old, you must really be old! Ha! Here is the Ancient of Days saying that Joshua is old! And the LORD just does not call Joshua “old,” but “very old!” The King James Version reads, “The LORD said unto him, ‘Thou art old and stricken in years…’” God did not say that Joshua had entered into his “senior” years, or was “elderly. Today I think He would have said, “Face it Josh, you are really old!”

Application: The Lord knows the seasons of my life! He knows my childhood, my youth, my adult life, AND my golden years, as some like to say. Joshua was old, but God still had an assignment for him. God has an assignment for me—and those who read the SOAP know what it is.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the chuckle this morning. Help me be faithful in fulfilling my “senior” assignments. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!