July 11, 2015: SOAP #2046: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Fear vs. Love

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 8:11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people, He said:
12 “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…”

Observation: When people go looking for conspiracies, they are easily convinced that a feather blowing in the wind is proof of some plot. There is a tendency for "leaps of faith," jumping to conclusions that can only be seen by those wanting to see it. (That two men once lived in the same city does not mean that they are in a conspiracy together! Opportunity, in itself does not prove guilt!) If such flimsy evidence were applied to our lives, people would think that we are in a conspiracy with the devil because we once sinned.
-In the verses above, the people were giving to man what should only be given to God, fear. The Hebrew word used in referring to fear is the same Hebrew word used for fearing God.

Application: Fear is a form of worship. When I fear man, I am giving to God what belongs to God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, (Ps 111:10; Pro 1:7; 9:10) and when we come to God we experience the grand truth that perfect love casts out fear! (1John 4:18) Truly I should greatly fear a holy and all-powerful God. But in receiving His great love into my life, the fear melts away. He is amazing! That is why I sing the words of John Newton: “Amazing Grace…’twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved…”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a most wonderful God, both holy and loving! You are amazing! Amen

July 10, 2015: SOAP #2045:

Scripture: Micah (NIV) 6:8 He has showed you, O man what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Observation: If we love someone, we are concerned about them. We always look for ways to bring joy to their heart. We want to please them. We want to make them smile because a smile on the face of one we love is our reward.

Application: Here are three characteristics I can have in my life that will make God smile. First: He is pleased when I act with justice and do right things. Before making a snap judgment, God is pleased that I search out the truth. Second: God is merciful and wants me to “love mercy.” He wants me to enjoy being merciful. In showing mercy to others, I am demonstrating my thankfulness for the mercy He has shown to me. Third: He wants me to walk humbly. Humility is a natural response to the greatness of the One who died for me and is now my Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you do so much for us, thank you for making it clear what pleases you. Amen

July 9, 2015: SOAP #2044

Scripture: Micah (NIV) 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills and peoples will stream to it.
2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sward against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

Observation: From other passages in the Bible, we understand that this reign of peace will come after a time of great trouble and war over Israel. The preparation for this war is happening even now. At the height of the battle to destroy Israel, the Lord comes down to deliver Israel and to set up His kingdom with its headquarters in Jerusalem. It will be a 1000 year reign of peace. What no dictator could do, God does! What powerful nations could not do, God does! What the League of Nations could not do, God does! What the United Nations cannot do, God does! The Prince of Peace brings true peace.

Application: This Prince of Peace is not only able to set nations in order and establish peace, He is also able and willing to set my life in order and give me peace! His peace is established in my life as I surrender to His loving and holy rule. Surrendering to Him by confessing that I am a sinner and turning control of my life over to His Lordship establishes His loving and holy and peaceful rule!

Prayer: Jesus, what a special blessing is mine to call you Lord! Amen

July 8, 2015: SOAP #2043

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 102:11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

Observation: Our time on this earth is temporary. On the contrary, God has been present in all generations. Long before anyone had any thoughts about my being here, there were people serving and loving God. He was the center of their lives. And should the Lord not come in the next few years, long after I have been forgotten, there will be people still serving and loving God. He will be the center of their lives.

Application: So while I am here, it is my privilege to make the LORD the center of my life. While I am here on this earth, I know that there are many loving and serving God. But as far as I am concerned, there will be at least one person loving and serving God. I will do it joyously for I am convinced that He is worthy! What a day that will be when I join those from the past and those yet to come in worship at His throne!

Prayer: Lord, I love to sing: Jesus I’ll praise You forever; Jesus I’ll praise

You forever. No matter what the cost may be I’ll praise you

eternally. My heart’s made up. I’ll praise You forever! (unknown author) Amen

July 7, 2015: SOAP #2042:

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin.

Observation: We have a Great High Priest! He is great because of what He accomplished. He is High because he is the priest appointed by God to offer the ultimate sacrifice. He is a priest because he was chosen from among men.

Application: My Great High Priest is qualified because he is human. He is qualified because he was tempted in every way I have been tempted. He is qualified because he overcame every temptation and remained without sin. He is qualified because he presents the perfect sacrifice to cover my sins.

So, what does that all mean to me? I need to hold firmly to the faith I profess. My faith is to be a part of every day and every activity in which I participate. With my faith, I can face every opportunity and every difficulty.

Prayer: Lord, living out my faith is possible when I remember that you, the one in whom I have faith, is actually living inside me! Amen

July 6, 2015: SOAP #2041: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

If-s and Because-s

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we has at first…
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? …
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Observation: If—probably the biggest little word in the English language. It has the power to change the whole progress of a thought. It provides understanding as to why something did or did not happen. The “if” phrase often provides the basis for the “because” phrase.

Application: God has made promises “if” I obey. God has also made promises “if” I disobey. I must be careful not to think that God will remember His promises for blessing and forget His promises for judgment! God keeps His promises because He is true to Himself.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9. If I confess my sins and turn from them, He has promised to take the payment Jesus made on the cross as payment for my sins! Wow!

Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father for clearly laying out your plan for my life in your Holy Word. Thank you for revealing your character. Thank you for the “if-s” and the “because-s.” Amen

July 5, 2015: SOAP #2040

Scripture: Hosea (MSSG) 5:6 When they decide to get their lives together and go off looking for GOD once again, they’ll find it’s too late. I, GOD, will be long gone. 7 They’ve played fast and loose with me for too long…

Observation: Israel had turned away from God. They did not need to be bothered with the LORD’s requirements. But trouble would come to them as it comes to everyone. And in trouble, the Israelites will run to make their sacrifices to the LORD…but the LORD will be gone! People need to come to God when the Holy Spirit emphasizes it in their heart and mind. We come on His time, not on our own time.

Application: I recently saw an advertisement of a young lady sitting in the doctor’s waiting room. She was working on her computer. When her name was called, she commented on the great internet connection available and that she needed to finish her project. The doctor would have to wait. The humor in the ad is that we have all had to wait in the doctor’s waiting room, many times past our assigned time. But we patiently waited because we did not have a choice, and because we highly value the doctor’s evaluation, and because we understand how those before us may have required more time then allotted, and because… When called, we quickly responded.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is so important that I respond quickly to your call. I do not want to drag my feet and then find I missed the opportunity to hear what you wanted to tell me. Amen

July 4, 2015: SOAP #2039

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 1:8 But about the Son he [God] says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Observation: In these verses we see God the Father speaking to God the Son, Jesus. Jesus is the King whose kingdom will never end. He reigns in righteousness; He hates wickedness. He hates evil because He understands what evil does to those He loves. Evil goes contrary to His nature. He created the earth. Yet because of evil, the earth will not last, nor any of the governments on the earth. Only God’s Kingdom will last.

Application: My King loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Those are characteristics of His kingdom and of those in His kingdom. My King loves people and wants His kingdom full of people. My King hates what evil does to people. My King died for me to take the end results of evil on my life. By His Spirit my King lives in me and gives me victory over evil.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for including me in your great Kingdom. Amen

July 3, 2015: SOAP #2038: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

My Focus

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Observation: King Uzziah reigned in Jerusalem for fifty two years. It was a very prosperous time for the nation. In the prosperity and stability of the government it would be easy for Isaiah to have his eyes on the capable leadership of King Uzziah. But when the king died, Isaiah’s focus changed. He looked beyond the earthly throne and saw the heavenly throne. On that throne sets One who is “high and exalted”—One who will never die!

Application: When the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the United States government all disappoint me, I must look beyond to see the One who is “high and exalted” and still seated upon the throne of heaven.

I have learned to see doctors as having a license to “practice” medicine. They are not the perfect all-knowing healers we would like them to be. I must see the politicians and statesmen in the same light. As great as our republic is, it is not the perfect government. It too will pass. Imbedded sin will cause it to fail. But I am part of a kingdom whose King will never die, Whose authority is supreme, and Whose rule is righteous and loving.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, lift my eyes above the failure and disappointment I see around me. Help me keep my eyes focused on the heavenly throne. Amen

Pastor Leon

Chaplain

Andover Police and Fire Department

Andover, Kansas 67002

July 2, 2015: SOAP #2037: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

What He Desires

Scripture: Jude (NIV) 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe

Observation: Jude warned about evil teachers who taught that because God is so gracious believers were free to live in immorality. James reminds them of something these Jewish Christians should already know. Just because the Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, they did not all make it into the Promised Land. They were free from the land of Egypt, but some of Egypt was still in them. Because of their unbelief and sin, God brought judgment to all who were older than twenty years of age when they left Egypt (Numbers 32:11; except for Joshua and Caleb.)

Application: God has freed me from the world, but I must be careful not to let the world back into my life. What was true for the nation of Israel is true for the United States. What was true for the Israelites is true for the Hiebert family. My past may be a blessing to me, but I am not saved by my past. I am not saved by what God did in the past. I am saved by maintaining a current, living relationship with the Great God of Creation. It is not a once-a-week thing, or something-from-the-past thing; it is a today thing! My past cannot guarantee my current relationship; neither can my past prevent me from enjoying a current relationship with the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, to walk and talk with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—that is what you desire. Amen