June 20, 2015: SOAP #2025

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 2:2 …[Pray]… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Observation: Those who love God should always be interested in what pleases God and what He desires. If God is a priority in our lives, His desires become our desires—His priorities become our priorities. We begin to look at the world through His point of view.

Application: The greatest tragedy in the world today is that the church, which includes me, does not love the world the way God loves the world. His love for me caused him to give His Son; what does my love for Him cause me to give? Jesus love for His Father caused Him to take on the limitations and suffering that accompanied His earth assignment. His assignment was to make the way for people to enter a relationship with His Father. During my earth assignment I should not be surprised if my love for the Father is not tested and proved by hard times also. My assignment also involves helping people enter a relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, people are so important to you that you sent your Son to die in payment for their sins. They should be important to me also. May my love for you be seen in my sacrifice to do your will. Amen

June 19, 2015: SOAP #2024

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation: Hope and faith are related, sometimes like identical twins. Faith is being certain of something specific; hope is the general confidence that everything will work out for good. Romans 8:28 is a great explanation of hope: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

Application: To me, faith is the certainty of my salvation and God’s word spoken to my heart by the Holy Spirit. Hope is the general attitude that things are going to work out for my good and His glory. I may not know the specifics, but how can they not work out for good when Jesus, by His Holy Spirit is living in me! It is illogical to think anything different. When Jesus is my LORD, Jesus is my HOPE.

As Lauryn Hill wrote: “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home? When JESUS is my portion, a constant friend is he. His eye is on the sparrow. And I know he watches me…”

Prayer: Jesus, as the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to Timothy, you are my hope! You not only watch over me; by your Holy Spirit, you live inside me! Amen

June 18, 2015: SOAP #2023:

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 4:1 Masters [Employers, Overseers], provide for your slaves [employees, subordinates] what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Observation: Those who have authority over another must always remember that there is a Master of all masters. People may be required to give answer to them, but they will be required to give answer to the Master in heaven.

Application: Knowing that it is God to whom I will answer, I must provide for those under my authority what is right and fair. It is not what is right and fair in my eyes, nor in their eyes, but what is right and fair in God’s eyes, for it is He to whom I will answer.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, ultimately I answer to you. You are not fooled by circumstances or the claims of others. You see things perfectly and understand completely. Guide me by your Holy Spirit to provide what is right and fair in your eyes. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 17, 2015: SOAP #2022

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Observation: Our clothing, being worn on the outside of our body, is what those around us can see. If we “clothe” ourselves with the above attitudes, people should be able to see them. Of course for them to be seen on the outside, they must be established in the heart. How can we develop these characteristics in our hearts? How do we learn to express them in our actions? Instead of focusing on those characteristic, we need focus only on one—on love. 1Corinthians 13 tells us that love includes all these characteristics.

Application: God knew that I would have trouble with these characteristics, even when they are simplified in love. He placed His Holy Spirit to live within me, enabling me to live like Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know me well. You know my limitations. You know that I cannot live up to your standard on my own. I need your Holy Spirit to live in me, to guide me, to enable me to live a life of love. Amen

June 15, 2015: SOAP #2020:

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 1:25 I have become its servant [the church’ servant] by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Observation: Jesus did not come to earth because God wanted to live among us or with us. He came to make it possible for God to live in us!!! To the Galatians Paul would write, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Application: That God would desire to have such a close relationship with me is astounding and humbling. The treasure God has given me is Himself. In sharing my life, He will be a part of everything I do today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a magnificent plan you have for me/us. May my life bring you glory today. Take the lead as we walk together in this body. Amen

June 14. 2015: SOAP #2019: 1Kings 15; 2Chronicles 13, 14; Philippians 4

Why this promise?

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Observation: Here is a verse that all Christians would like to claim for themselves. What a privilege, and a relief to know that God is not only able, but willing to meet all our needs! Why would the Holy Spirit direct Paul to write such a promise! What was it about the Philippians that would bring such a promise? Why did not Paul write this promise in his letters to the other churches? The obvious answer can be found in the immediate context, verses 10-18. Those in Philippi had been giving and giving and giving to Paul. What would be God’s obvious response to such givers? He would meet all their needs.

Application: I give out of my resources; God gives out of His resources! I give in this life; God gives in this life time—and also in eternity!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a giver and when your Holy Spirit has control of my life, He makes me a giver also. I am thinking that it is only as a giver that I can fully appreciate what I have been given. Amen

June 13, 2015: SOAP #2018:

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 12:7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 8 They will, however become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.

Observation: Praise God, there is a difference!!! What a difference it is!!! What a blessing it is to us when we can learn about the difference from others rather than needing to learn it personally.

I remember two platoon commanders I served under in Viet Nam. One cared about his men, spoke out for them, did his best to get what we needed. The other one used us, volunteered us to take on every patrol. Our every accomplishment was a mark toward his advancement. In serving under the first, the men served willingly and did their best to make their commander look good. In serving under the second, the men did a lot of complaining and did not have their heart in their assignments.

Application: There is no question; I am called to be a servant. I am seeing it is much better to serve One who loves me rather than to serve one who is using me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you designed me to be your child, but it is such a great honor and privilege to serve you and your Son, Jesus. He is my Lord! Amen

June 12, 2015: SOAP #2017:

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 11:14 For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam [king of Israel] and his sons cast the out from serving as priests of the LORD.
15 And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their father. 16. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah…

Observation: The Nation of Israel had split. The northern 10 tribes made up the kingdom of Israel and the southern 2 tribes made up the kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom’s king feared that his people would find a way to go to the temple in Jerusalem (located in the southern kingdom). He replaced the priests with those who would do as he pleased. Then with great sacrifice to themselves, many of the priests moved to Judah. In verse 15 we see that many non-priests followed their example.

Application: This reminds me of how the pilgrims, at great personal cost, left England to find freedom of religion in the “new world.” One does not have to watch the news very long to see that our government today is telling Christians that political correctness is more important than personal beliefs. What price am I willing to pay in order to keep God’s Word as the guiding beacon of my life?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the Bible and in our history we find people who believed that it was worth the sacrifice to obey your Word. Help me to follow their example. Amen

June 10, 2015: SOAP #2015

It Is A Battle!

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God…

Observation: — We see that evil is not a problem limited to earth. Evil had found a place in heavenly realms. Although we often look to Adam as the first sinner, the Bible clearly teaches that there was one before Adam; that one is Satan.

God can take what is meant for evil and turn it to be an opportunity for good. Earth was prepared as a place where God’s grace and love and wisdom would be clearly demonstrated as being greater than sin. The stage was set, the Son was sent, the struggle was started, and the Servant subdued the serpent! Hallelujah!

Application: The battle has been won, but I still struggle. It is because the enemy has been left to tempt me to see that my commitment is sure. He has been left to teach me how to use authority. He has been left here to give me opportunity to participate in his final demise.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit who is teaching me to walk in your authority. Communication is so important in time of war, and the Holy Spirit is my communication avenue to you! Amen

June 7, 2015: SOAP # 2012:

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Observation: Of all God’s characteristics, what is it that Paul brings to the forefront here as he closes out this prayer? It is His power! It is His ability to perform, or bring to pass. God can do more than we can even think. Even while we are forming the thought in our mind, He can already have it done! What a God! No power on earth or in heaven can ever stop him, unless He chooses to allow it to do so.
And this great power is not kept away from us. It is not in eyesight, but just out of reach. It is not that we are allowed to know about it but not experience it. No!!! This power actually dwells within us. It is already at work within us!

Application: How can I ever be discouraged! How can I ever think that something is impossible, or unattainable! Surely it could only be that I am not aware of what God has done in me, or have let Satan cloud my thinking!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are amazing! You did not lay aside your love or your holiness when you came to live in me. And neither did you lay aside your power! Amen